Missed a post yesterday...sorry!

Hey I missed a post yesterday, I was soooo tired and not feeling so well:-( 

Yesterday was another filled day! 

We went shopping in the mall (that the team went to in 2011, on a Sunday between church services...the one with the rides in the ceiling) for warmer clothes for me, boy that was not an easy task! Every pair of jeans were SUPER tight! They fit but I definitely didn't feel comfortable at all. I tried on like 7 or more pairs and they were all the same! GROSS! Totally not me all of my pants are loose! This did make me have a bum but still! Lol YUCK!!! 

After like an hour or more shopping I bought a pair of sweat pants and a sweater! Which I felt WAY more comfortable in!  

Then we had lunch! I had coconut shrimp!!! It was yummy!!!! If you know me you know how much I love shrimp!!! 

After lunch we headed back home, that's when I attempted to take a nap but it didn't happen! Jo's friends came over and hung out! And I made a cake!!! 

Chucho is a famous soccer player that died 

At 4 we headed to the church to do more practicing there dances! They are planning on doing a flash mob in Loja to undignified by David Crowder Band. From what I can see in the practices it looks pretty good! 

At like 5:30 I started to feel really yucky, sneezing a ton, coughing like I have smoked for a hundred yrs. it was awful and embarrassing cuz it started in the middle of Jo's meeting with his missions team and everyone looked at me...and again if you know me I hate having people look at me! 

After the meeting we were suppose to go to a movie in the theatre but I was not feeling up to it so we decided to go 'home' (in stead of calling it Jo's home I'm just gonna refer to it as home ok! )

It was 8:30, and I had a tea and took some medicine. And Jo prayed over me for healing! Then I crawled into bed to 'watch' a movie! I say it like that cuz I ended up watching the insides of my eye lids! 

Then this morning I woke up at 7am, and I haven't coughed or sneezed yet...and it's 11:30!!! PRAISE GOD!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!! 

I woke up at 7am cuz the leaders of Jo's mission team came over for breakfast at 8! I made chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, strawberry syrup, and BACON!!! Mmmm bacon!!! It was really cool cuz some of Jo's friends had never had pancakes before...the things I take for granted!  

And then we went to the church to pick up more supplies for the missions experience to Loja.  

Now it's nap time! After nap we are going shopping again for clothes for me! Cuz I don't have any warm clothes and Loja is in the mountains and I guess it's cold! 

Then we will have time to relax n maybe watch a movie like Pitch Prefect. We are heading to Loja at 6pm tonight! 

I'm not sure if there will be wifi...if not I will update you all when I get back! On Monday! 

Please pray that I can feel included on the team even tho my Spanish is very limited, for safety, for courage to step out of my comfort zone, to be open to see n hear from God, for continues health and whatever The Lord lays on your heart to pray! Thanks a bunch!!! Dios  Te bendiga!!! God bless you!!! 

God watches over! N answers prayer!

Today was a good day! I actually slept in a bit today! I woke up at 8...ok now that I hear me say 8, that's not sleeping in at all  in my books. Lol when did I start thinking 8am is sleeping in!?! 

For breakfast Jo made me eggs!!! Scrambled eggs! And yummy bread!!! Ugh I love the homemade bread here! Jo live like 2 or 3 minutes away from a bakery! It's pretty yummy! Love the smell when you walk in the door!!! SOOOO GOOD!!! 

After breakfast Jo's mom invited a friend of hers to come and do my nails. I don't normally get medi n pedis but it was a nice gesture of Jo's mom! So I went along with it! They actually look good! The worst part hands down was when she touched my feet...UGH! I HATE my feet being touch probably more then I HATE mornings lol! But in the end they look nice and feel smooth! However I was told that I need lotion on like every day cuz I was SO dry especially my heels! They were sooo bad! 

After the pampering we went, well I went to McDonalds to eat! And Jo and his friends had steak and chicken! I have learned that steaks here aren't like the Alberta beef juicy steaks that we are use to! They are very thin! Taste good bug definitely not what I'm use to! I've already texted Shawn and Joanne that I really want a steak when I get home! 

After lunch we went to the super maxi and this is my highlight of my day! When we were shopping for vanilla one of the skaters at La Roca was there! His name is Joshua! He was new to Ecuador and La Roca, none of the other skaters knew much about him. I wasn't sure where he was or how he was and I've been praying for him a lot! So it was super cool to see him at the grocery store! He told me that he has a job in the mall at a store called Lee, I guess it's a clothing store! And I didn't get to talk to him much, but from what I hear from the other skaters that Joshua hasn't been around La Roca, which now is understandable cuz La Roca is in the north and he now works in the south. Which doesn't sound that far and doable but it's actually really far! Like 1.5 hr bus ride, and you have to switch buses at least once or twice! So ya it was awesome to see him again! If you don't mind joining me in praying for him! That he will find God, and that God will help heal his brokenness :-( 

Then we went to the church again! Lol I'm beginning to think that Jo lives at the church! He is there like every day for like hours and hours! 

They learned a dance to undignified by David Crowder Band! They are planning in doing a flash mob to that song on Wednesday afternoon! Should be good! Jo wanted me to be in it, I said lol heck no, not gonna happen! Lol 

After the dance lesson a lot of the missions team came to Jo's house to organize supplies to take to Loja on Wednesday night! It took like all evening and they still aren't done everything! 

Wow it's after midnight! I should go to sleep! Thanks for all the prayers! Please continue to pray for my cold, I go through spurts of time where I am ok, and then all of a sudden I'm like sneezing a 10 sneezes or more in a row! And feel miserable. Please pray that that goes away by Wednesday night! And also continue to pray for my nerves, n anxiety that I have at the moment but I know this missions experience is totally God ordained and I'm excited to see what He's got in store for the team n me! Love n miss you all!  

 

Teaching English!!!

This is the day The Lord made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Happy Sunday! Today I got to sleep in, I woke up at 8 tho ready to go but I forced myself to go back to bed and get more sleep. In hopes that this cold goes away! 

At 11:30 we went to church, Jo was already there! Because his missions team was getting commissioned today, it was neat to see a missions team get commissioned in a different language! The sermon was on James 3, watching your tongue! Jo translated some and I was able to understand some of it myself! 

Then we went to a mall, this mall was like like our malls except it didn't have air conditioning...wow it was HOT! I have a hamburger it was yummy 

Then we went to home and I attempt to have a nap but when I was finally relaxed it was time to go back to the church! Lol 

At the church I actually had the chance to help one of Jo's friends with her English homework! It was cool to teach someone English, I never knew I had it in me! We got there at 3 and left 8! Time flew! It felt like no time had passed at all! 

I still have my cold :-( I keep sneezing and my nose is running like a tap :-(  but I'm not letting it get me down!!! Jo's schedule is BUSY! But it doesn't feel that really busy, however he's always going! 

Please continue to pray for my cold, and energy level! As well as that I see God in the little things! On Wednesday I am heading to Loja like 12 hrs away on missions experience with Jo and his church, please pray for me as I prepare for that, and this will be a lot different cuz we are staying at a church sleeping on the floor, and really joining the way they live. I am excited to see the different between the Ecuador mission I was just on with heartland as opposed to an Ecuadorian mission! Please pray for me as the language barrier with really be there! 

Well I better sign off! I'm getting tired n low in energy! Thanks for your prayers n support! Dios Te Bendiga  

Worshipping God without reservation, why do we a lot of time hold back

So get this! Today I had the opportunity to sleep in but of course my silly body was up and wide awake at 7am. However I lounged in my bed for like an hour and a half lol! It was great! 

Today we went to the church and did some craft prep, I cut soooo many small foam pieces it's not even funny! My hands hurt after! 

Then we went came home for lunch and Jo's family had company. They all spoke Spanish, I was able to figure out only a little...but the food was so good! 

After lunch we went back to the church where Jo's mission team practice dances n drama for like 2 hrs while I messaged with Renata and others! Thank God for iMessage n whatsapp!!!! Lol

Church started at '5' lol I say 5 with ' ' around cuz it didn't actually start till 5:45! They started with games, and then moved into worship! 

I was amazed by the worship! There were a lot of guys n and they were even into the worship, you could actually hear the guys louder then the girls! It surprised me cuz at home guys hardly sing at all, it's like they are super self conscious! I just wish we could be like this where there isn't a care in the world, no one is distracted bytheir neighbours beside them. They are just in the moment worshipping God our Creator! They definitely feel free to worship!  

That is why I called this post whet I did! Do u feel free to worship God the way you want? Or do u feel judged, or silly!?! I encourage you all just to let the Holy Spirit lead you in how to worship to experience the best worship experience! 

After church we went out to celebrate one of Jo's friends birthday! I really wanted shrimp but they didn't have any :-( sad day! So I had chicken! A pretty cool tradition that they practice is that after the meal everyone says a little something to the birthday person, like why they mean so much to them, it's like what the Dillons do! Toast to the birthday person! 

I started this post last night, but I was to exhausted to finish it, I got a cold yesterday and it has hit me hard, I can't stop sneezing n I can't breathe outta my nose, and my throat is sore! And as well I wanna learn the language...Spanish, I am picking out some of what people r saying but I was wanna understand more!!!  Please pray for me! Thanks! God bless you all n thank you for following my time here in Ecuador! 

Chucha a famous soccer died :-(

Greetings from Quito so pretty much the city/country shut down today, in memory of Chucho Benítez a famous soccer player passed away for days ago from a heart attack. Sad cuz he was only 27 and has four kids. 😟 

Now for an update on me! Last night the team left it was very weird to say goodbye to the team n still be in Quito! Nice but weird! Last night I stayed at Ashley the teams host apartment. I didn't sleep well cuz I wasn't sure what was happening in the morning...I found myself getting anxious cuz I didn't know what was going on, when Jo was picking me up, what we were doing etc! 

I realized that that is one thing that God wants me to do, is not be anxious but to let go and let God! Give him my anxiety and not worry! Lol way easier said then done! Please pray that I can let go of my anxiety n just live in the moment with God! 

In the morning it all worked out! Jo and his dad did come get me at 8:30! And we loaded the car and headed to his house! Where his mom welcomed me with open arms! I felt great to hug her! Right away the amazing hostess that Jo's mom Rachel is she made me homemade juice and bought the best homemade bread!!! So delicious!!! 

Then I gave all the clothes that some of you guys donated to them! Seeing the faces on their face made it totally worth it! It was like Christmas n I was Santa Claus! They just loved them all! Only thing is I lost on shoe to a pair of Rachel's  favourite shoes lol oops oh well she was given 4 pairs so she was very happy! 

After we were done that we went thru the bags of vbs stuff heartland donated to Jo! It was great again to see Jo's face he looked so touched n blessed! When to other leaders from his missions experience team came n look at all the supplies, and they made a list of more things to buy and then we were off! We rode in a blue bus...it wasn't really busy at all, in fact all four of us got a seat! We went shopping at little stores near the huge church we went to on the first full day as a team in Quito! 

Man craft supplies at these stores are incredibly cheap! Jo bought 20 roles of foam for like 20 bucks, which is nuts cuz that's a buck a role. And each role you could cut up into probably 15-20 sheets. The crazy thing is that a sheet of foam at home is any where from 50cents to a buck! So we spent all morning and part of the afternoon shopping for craft supplies! 

Then we had lunch! Rachel made chicken pasta and a chicken supper, I didn't eat the soup tho! She didn't make me eat it, cuz it had all the left over piece of chicken in it! I told Jo I'd eat it but Rachel said no no she has pasta! No complaining there on my part! And the pasta was sooo good! 

After lunch we went shopping for a tambourine one of Jo's friend David needed one! And then we headed to the church where Jo's missions team practiced some songs n dances! We were there from like 4pm till like 8pm.

At 8pm we came home and I had supper and Jo went for a walk! Needed to pray n spend time with God! 

Well I'm actually going to call it a night! And have some quite time myself and then go to sleep! I'm tired! 

In closing can u pray for me that I can pick up some of the Spanish language, and that I'm not anxious cuz I don't have a schedule a head of time lol that I can rest and trust God that whatever happens its God ordained! 

Thanks!!! Good night! 

Said goodbye to the team:-( another adventure starts :-)

So it's 1am so I can say good morning! What a long day! It started at 7...crazy thing is at 7am I was wide awake, which as most of you know I am NOT a morning person! However during this experience I have been able to deal with the early mornings! And some of them were early! 

So we started the day off at Casa Gabriel which is a house for boys that were on the streets and wanted to straighten up! It was so good to see Phil and Deb again too, as well as some of the boy, well they are more like men now! Amazing ambassadors of Christ! 

At Casa G Deb told us about Casa Adalia! Which is a girls home that hasn't been opened yet....they are just praying that God will open up the right doors, as well as that God will give them wisdom! 

After Casa G we headed to the equator the middle of the world! Where we took pics as well as did market stuff! The girls really enjoyed the shopping! 

Then we went to el Refugio! It's a retreat centre! Where we spend 2 hours in solo time in nature! It really wasn't that difficult which surprised me a lot! It was actually nice to spend alone time with God! 

Then at 8ish we headed to the airport. And the team headed off...it was very weird not to be going with them! 

Now my adventure starts! I'm not sure what all is going to happen but I know that my time is God ordained! I'm super excited to see what God has in store for me! 

Please continue to pray for safety, and that I get the most out of these next two weeks that God wants me to, as well that I find time to rest! 

Oops I fell asleep before I pressed send again! Hope you all have a great day! 

Finished strong with the Team!

Hola chickos! Wow I can't believe that tomorrow is the last day the team is going to be in Quito :-( went really fast!

Today we painted and two groups of four were able to visit some community families 

Painting the gate, didn't have a tall enough ladder! So Jay was the ladder!!! 

Painted the lines on the bball court!  

One really sad story from one of the groups that visited the homes, was there was a family, a mom, a dad, 18, 15, 11, 3 year old kids. And the 11year old son was taking care of the 3 year old. Because their 15 sister got raped by their cousin, the parents took the daughter to the hospital n haven't returned home yet and that was on Monday when they left. The group really took compassion on the little kids n we real able to see things from a new perspective! 

 It's truly amazing how much God has done in our team thus far! It's so weird to think that we have been together for almost a full year! 

Our team really bonded well together! We fit like glue! We became a family! Tonight was debrief and we did an encouraging time! It was really cool to encourage each other even tho I suck at verbal encouraging it definitely doesn't come natural to me. I find a lot of the time I encourage with just a hug, and I've been told that I'm really good at it! And that God can use my hugs to talk to and encourage people! 

Well it's 2:25am! I'm wide awake! But I better try n sleep! Tomorrow we r going to Casa G, the equator, market, el Reg then the airport! Please pray for safety as they travel home! I'm staying for 2 more weeks! Yay! Ok ya I'm fading good night