Wednesday August 10, 2011

SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6

Dear Family and Friends,

How are you all?! Things here in Ecuador are great. I just wanted to update you on our grand adventure. 

We arrived last Friday. Wow, that was a long trip to Dallas, Miami, and then Quito. But it was worth the cheap tickets! We found our hostal and quickly fell asleep and slept like rocks!

Now we didn't quite expect what was coming to us next.....

Before even buying tickets and coming here, we talked to a guy in Bountiful who owns an organization called Charity Anywhere Foundation. We talked to him several times by phone or email and even had contact with him shortly before coming. He told us that we could go and work in their clinic in Quito no problem. We got here thinking we would do just that. NOT THE CASE. We emailed the doctor at this clinic as soon as we arrived to let him know we were finally here and ready to start on Monday. He promptly emailed back saying basically that there was no longer a clinic in Quito (they had been closed there since May) and he thought that the guy would have told us. In Dad's famous words: WHAT YOU TALKIN ABOUT WILLIS! So as you can imagine steam started coming out my ears and I started loading my gun, but thanks to my incredible companion who has a lot more patience with people than I do, we emailed some other organizations here and pressed forward with faith that something else would work out to start on Monday.

And that´s just exactly what happened.  Miracle after miracle began to be poured out upon us. All of the following is our MIRACLE OF THE WEEK.....

On Saturday, we made our way to a small pueblo called Otavalo. What beautiful country! We went to their market and got to know the town a little bit. Matt served with an Otavalanio, so we wanted to try to find him too. We asked someone where the Mormon church was. Come to find out they have THREE church buildings there. Isn´t that wonderful! They have two stakes and hoping to get a third one soon! Amazing!  So anyway, we followed her directions and found one of the church buildings. It was open and there were people inside. We asked the women there if they knew Juan Tituana. They didn't but one of the ladies said her husband was in one of the stake presidencies and knows everybody. So we wrote down his number and called him that night. Long story short, he came to our hostal and explained how to get to the other building where Juan's ward met at nine the next day, a ward that is in Quichua not Spanish (so fun!). And this great brother wasn't even part of Juan's stake but found out for us! I love the Ecuadorian people! They go out of their way to help people. They were that way in Spain too. He didn't need to come to our hostel, he could have told us over the phone. Wow!

Another miracle: We showed up at that church building at nine the next day. Yep, Juan was there! It was a great reunion and such a surprise for him! But much to OUR surpise, we also ran into another one of Matt's mission buddies, Edwin Donoso, who is in the ward at eleven in that same building! We thought he lived in Quito, and we've been trying to get a hold of him. He was so happy to see us too! And he was so excited that we could be there that day because he was being called and set apart as the 1st counselor in the bishopric. We stayed for his ward's meetings too and went to his place afterwards to eat and spend our Sunday afternoon. It was such a miracle. Who would have thought!

From talking with Juan Tituana and Edwin Donoso, we decided to stay in Otavalo instead of heading back to Quito to search for service opportunities. These two men are amazing! They said they could help us and they did!

Juan works for MIES INFA, an organization that helps children 0-5 years old. So on Monday we spent the day with him. We taught over a hundred kids songs and dances, and we also taught the people who care for them about nutrition. It was so much fun! However, it was also heart breaking. These cute kids have hardly anything. Their toys consist of empty water bottles filled with rocks or beans. Matt and I made an inventory of their necessities and are committed in sending this organization materials when we get back. We will need all of your help!! These children need us!

After our day visiting the five different kid centers, we went to Juan's house. They were having a big party for the baby who was blessed the day before. They fed us a ton of food, which was absolutely terrible, and we did their authentic dances. To give you a good description, they just turn on a fast song and you dance around just like Kallie, which is basically just stomping your feet. And it goes on and on!!! The song never ends and they don't do anything but take fast steps! It was so outrageous and so funny! We loved experiencing the Otavalanian culture.

On Tuesday, we headed to the Red Cross (the miracle being that we saw their sign on Saturday when were just wandering around the streets; otherwise, we wouldn't have known they were in Otavalo!) We spent the afternoon there with their sister organization called Hogar de Ancianios, helping them care for the elderly and serve food at their soup kitchen. Later, we went to Peguche to hike and see their beautiful waterfalls. Ecuador is breath-taking!

Wednesday morning, we went back to the Hogar de Ancianos and also helped at the Red Cross children's program. So fun! Then we had lunch with Donoso and his family, and caught a bus to Quito.  And tomorrow we are scheduled to give service at the Hospital Carlos Andrade Marin.

For more fun facts: We are utterly enjoying the 8 big bug bites on my legs, the terrible showers that turn freezing cold and scalding hot within two seconds, the crazy taxi and bus drivers, putting our toilet paper in the garbage can and not the toilet, the million dogs everywhere without an owner, the weird food, etc.

Long email short......This week is working out just wonderfully. Instead of just giving service in one place like Charity Anywhere, we are getting experiences with Mies Infa, Hogar de Ancianos, the Red Cross, and hospitals. Our love for the Ecuadorian people keeps growing and growing. The Lord truly does know better than we do. If we think we have plans and they fall through.....not to worry because the Lord will take care of the rest as long as we put our faith into action.  We just have to trust Him. 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: How firm is your belief that the Lord directs your paths?

Have Faith. Have Hope. Live Like His Son. Help Others On Their Way.
Be Consistent. Please, No Empty Chairs.
Love,
Jaclyn and Matt