Happy Thanksgiving to all in the States! I hope you feel very blessed and enjoy your turkey today and the rest of this week! :) I am very thankful for a family here that has invited us over for an American Thanksgiving dinner. It should be fun!
Continuing from where I left off in my last blog, I finally felt a lot better last week and was able to go back to my normal routine of working and classes. I was VERY happy about that, and soo excited to see the kids again, whom I had missed so stinkin much. Last week and this week so far have been incredibly cold and rainy here in Quito. None of the buildings have heaters, so, unlike in the States, it is almost impossible to escape the feeling of freezing alive (I'm not entirely exaggerating!). In the evenings after work and classes, the other girls and I would huddle in our kitchen, wrapped in alpaca blankets, and sit around the oven while we took turns cooking things just so we could have the heat. Who would have ever thought it'd get this cold on the equator? I knew I'd be 10,000 feet high, but I still didn't expect it.
Actually, this cold is really unusual for Quito, and all the Ecuadorians have been making comments about it too. The children at the orphanage have really been affected by the cold and rain because they aren't allowed to play outside unless it's a decent temperature. Being kept inside is a huge deal for them because they typically spend about half their days outdoors. Their involuntary confinement resulted in everyone being grouchy, and the toddlers were biting and pulling each other's hair almost incessantly. Thankfully, the clouds parted for a short period of time Monday morning and we were able to take the kids on a walk. It didn't last long though, and by the afternoon it was pouring once again. Last night we went to Bryan's apartment and the guard at the gate was wearing a beanie, scarf around his face, several jackets, gloves, and bubble-wrap around his shoes, and I still felt really sorry for him. Needless to say, I hope the weather warms up soon! I'm such a Californian when it comes to being cold. :-P
This past Saturday, the 20th, Matt took our group out to El Refugio for a prayer retreat. El Refugio is a retreat center/camp that Youth World runs outside the city. It was nice to get out of the city for a bit again and be surrounded by the beauty and quietness of nature. The director of El Refugio, Paul, guided us in prayer and meditation throughout the morning, leading us through Jesus' parable of the Lost Coin and other passages. In the afternoon we were on our own to meet with God. We began our time in a sweet, “Swiss Family Robinson” style tree house in the mountains, and then were free to roam about where we pleased. Despite the intense cold, and mucho rain in the afternoon, I was happy with how the day turned out. I took the time to talk with God about my future (immediate and long-term) and to pray for the orphans and for a lot of you guys. It was also a time to think about what permanent changes I want in my life as a result of this experience in Ecuador. Though I didn't go into the prayer retreat starved for a time of solitude like many of peers (since I had gotten plenty of that while I was sick), I still enjoyed the time immensely. Regularly planned prayer retreats are something that are strongly encouraged to be a life habit here, and that is one of the MANY pieces of wisdom I plan on keeping with me for the rest of my life.
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, no matter where you spend it this year. :) I have been so blessed and am so thankful to God for each one of you. Whether you supported me through prayer or financial giving to enable me to come to Ecuador in the first place (almost three months ago), or if you have prayed for me every day, or even just once, since I've been down here – this experience would not have been the same without you, so Thanks! As you eat until you burst today, and as the Christmas shopping season officially begins, I pray that you will take the time to think about the beautiful people of Ecuador who hunger both physically and spiritually this Holiday season. And if you take the time to lift up a sincere prayer to God for them, I trust Him that their lives will be blessed. :)
I love you all so dearly!
With overwhelming thankfulness,
Jenni
No comments:
Post a Comment