less than a week to go

Well it's officially less than a week until I am off to Quito again.
I am extremely excited and a bit nervous. The nervousness comes from my lack of fluent Spanish speaking ability.

I'm taking off for Sacramento on Monday night. It's a 6am flight, landing in Ecuador at 10:25pm, Lord willing last year my "10:25" landing turned out to be a 3am landing. So you know if you want to pray for my safe arrival that would be amazing!

That's all I have for now, thank you to all who contributed yet again, I couldn't be on my way without you!

Oh Boy Oh Boy

Quito is less than a month away, I am so excited to return!!
Visa (check)
Plane Ticket (check)
Money well that is for the most part in!

Spanish is still a daily struggle Rosetta Stone likes to taunt me. I'm sure and also hope I am not the only one to experience it. Rosetta Stone has speaking sections in which you are to repeat words, and phrases to the computer when it prompts you. If you've failed to do so as it pleases, it makes a dinking sound, and will repetitively do so until you've proven your knowledge to the machine. It's rather challenging to remain calm while practicing Spanish.

Other than that I've just been spending my time working, being with family and friends. Catching up on reading, and attempting to clean out my parents basement of some of my more youth filled days.

I hope everyone is well during this Christmas season. I can't wait for Christmas eve services at Church it's always been my favorite service. Sitting and thinking about how God gave us his one and only son Jesus, who came and lived among us, and then died on a cross so that we may be forgiven of all sins through Him. How can the birth of Jesus not move a person?

Yo Regreso

The day is just around the corner that I will be headed to Chicago Illinois to good 'ol O'Hare International in the wee hours of the morning to hop some planes only to end my day (hopefully not at 3am) in Quito Ecuador's airport. Most of you already know that I will be heading back down for a full year working along side of Youth World Ministries. Youth World is under the organization of International Teams. If you are curious about either of the organizations I'll be working with our through click on either of the links above and search around!

I hope to keep everyone posted at least weekly about the happenings in Quito. What's going on at Alliance where I will be working, everything coffee based. How God is working with me, through me helping me to grow.

If this is the first you are hearing of my return to Ecuador and you'd like more in depth detail about the mission work. Feel free to shoot an email my way, I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Currently I am home in Paw Paw Michigan (for the next 7 weeks or so), getting the last of everything together. Hanging out with family and friends. And dreading packing and hauling my bags through the airport when the day comes to do so.

Happy Holidays to all, I hope Thanksgiving was lovely, and everyone remains safe while traveling around this Christmas season. Sometimes the Holiday season becomes so much about the lights, and trees and shinny things, presents too. Don't forget to stop and think about the one who gave us life, and all that is in it.

Psalms 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

Debrief Days....

Today I went out to Carmen Bajo for the last time. It was heart breaking. We prepared lunch as always, and everyone was rushing around me underestimating my Spanish listening abilities. They went really quickly to purchase something from the store for me (Juice) and when one came back another would leave. They did this all morning. Laura was the worst with her sneaky face. I tried my hardest just to pretend like I had no clue what was going on. But Laura kept looking at me, so I finally called them all loco. And she got a big smile on her face and gave me this Awesome necklace that she'd made with matching earings. Quina got out the Juice and put it on the table for Breakfast (it was 12) and we had pancakes and coffee, and peach nectar. They all gave me Roses and told me nice things (what they enjoyed of our time together). Lastly I was given a spanish Bible which I am sooo excited for! I told them that when I visit again, my Spanish will have improved much just from this gift alone. Then I cried as I left because it was sooo sad, everyone was sad. Even the kids were chanting that I couldn't go back to the United States. Goodbyes like that are Precious and Tough.

Tomorrow i have to go say goodbye to the house of Casa G. This also will be tough as I have gotten to know and love them all. They are an amazing group of boys who have so much passion for God and pretty much anyone they come into contact with. They are so outgoing and these crazy respectful young men. They make me smile like crazy, they love to sing, rap, dance, play. Never a dull moment. As this is the first i've really talked of them i've also attached a picture.

10 ish days remain....

Well my time here is coming to an end. I have only one more staff meeting, and one more week out at Carmen Bajo, which is only 3 days of working. My cookbook is extremely close to being done, I'll be turning it in this upcoming Wednesday. But first a friend of mine will be helping me to smooth out my spanish a bit more! How awesome.

Everyone is leaving, yesterday we said good bye to Hannah our roommate. She is the one in the Michigan sweatshirt, Tuesday we'll say goodbye to Chelsey she is the one in the blue Trinity jacket. Then Criste was the last to come, she'll be leaving 2.5 weeks after I do. Then I'm gone in 11 days. Crazy. I will have a few days to just do fun stuff though, which I am excited for!! Sorry but that is all I have for now, lately i've been working mostly on the cook book. And I'll be excited to have some time after this Tuesday!

New Digs

Hola Coca-Cola: This is what Fabian says to me Every Day. It still makes no sense to me, except for the fact that it Rhymes? Heneway...It's official there is one month remaining, less than that now.

The cook book is coming along well. I can't wait to see it finished, I'm getting excited.

I moved today, the Jensens moved houses and I moved in with the other Girl Interns for my final month.

In one week I get to go to the beach with my Roomies, Megan and Marlo. This is all of us!
we are going to have soooo much fun! Just so you all can know a bit about who I am now living with this is the Introduction. You have Hannah to the left of me, Marlo (whom I used to stay with) behind me. Next to her is Criste, and Chelsey is in the Trinity Shirt, then their is Megan. She doesn't live in my new apartment. But we hangout often!

And that is pretty much all I have for now. Hang tight and I will get you all some recipes I promise!
All of my Love to Everyone!!

What is Next...

Hello Family and Friends! One day I will indeed post a little more about Carmen Bajo and the project that I am working on their for the last 5 weeks I am around. Also I'll put a recipe or two up. In time!

This post is all about whats next! I am a very big fan of living day by day, but sometimes you have to plan ahead just a little bit, when it involves at least the next 2 years of your life, and a larger chunk of money that you'll need loans for.

Please be in prayer these next few months as I begin to look into going back to school for youth ministry.
I've spent a lot of time in Prayer here seeking what God wants for me in this life, and I'm getting super excited about finding a town/city with Youth in Major need for a comfort place, a place to hang out, and feel welcome at. A place besides home and school where they can go on a daily basis. I've always wanted to own a coffee shop of my own one day. And after college set out to work and save up for that (Then I came here, and well saving went the opposite way) besides the point, I know i was brought here for a reason. Now I'd like to go back to school and get a masters in Youth Ministry so that I can work with local churches in whatever community I land in. Having a coffee shop by day, that turns into a place for youth in the afternoon to evening. A place where they can hold events and just come in off the street for anything they may need. Yes I could just open my own shop still, and be there for them, but personally I would love to grow stronger with God to be a rock for them in life. One more influence in their life to look up to in a Christian way. Hence the decision to go back to school, so please help in praying that I take my time in figuring it out, and choose a place that I will love, and will help me grow to the best of my ability!

When I spend time thinking about school and whats to come and I pray about it. I always think of,
Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Thank You for reading!