Third Week Back in Ecuador...

This past week has honestly been the toughest on my health since I've been here. Normally, people get sick the first couple days they've been in Ecuador; or maybe even the first week. But no, I decide to get sick the week before I leave Ecuador and the last week I am in Riobamba.

My allergies started bothering me last Monday, and Tuesday I went into work at the orphanage and I just couldn't do it; I felt so weak...So I decided to take a bunch of meds and just stay in and rest. After I woke up, I wasn't feeling significantly better, but I felt well enough to go back to work Wednesday. So as the week went on, my allergy problem started to get better. BUT, just as I thought my health was improving, they had a stomach bug going around with some of the children at the orphanage...and guess who got it? YUP, I DID! Ugh I felt so terrible--I haven't felt like that in a long time. Since Saturday, I've been trying to get over this stomach bug. Yesterday I started to feel a little better, but this morning I woke up not feeling well again! So I've had to take TWO days off from working in the orphanage; not to mention, I leave Tuesday morning. Today is my last day in Riobamba and I am so upset I will not be able to be with the children...Please continue to keep my health in your prayers! On to a better note, the time I've got to spend with the kids while I've been well, has been AMAZING! I seriously love these kids here and I am sad to leave them tomorrow morning, but I know I will be back!

Through all the health chaos, I actually planned a fast for this past week. Even though I wanted to give in at times, I stuck with my fast and the Lord surely confirmed everything I'd been praying and seeking Him for; on the last day of my fast, of course (the Lord is never late, but He's always on time)! A lot of people like to blame the devil for everything bad that happens in their lives. I feel as though the issues with my health, have been a distraction from the devil, but mainly, a test from God; especially during this time of fasting for me. Let's not give the devil more credit than he deserves!

Like I 'd mentioned, God confirmed so much with me and where I am headed! I cannot wait to share with you guys when I get back!

HIGHS:
1) Being able to bond with one of the little boys by holding him when he wasn't feeling well. I thought of what my mom did for me when my stomach would hurt when I was younger: she would rub my back/stomach, pray over me, and sing to me. So that's exactly what I did--it was a special bonding time!
2) Being able to lead worship at a church here in Riobamba was an awesome experience! I even got to lead the bridge of "Oceans" in Spanish with another girl :)

LOWS:
1) Getting sick, not once, but twice!
2) Not being able to spend my last two days here with the children :(

With Love,
M.C.F.

Second Week Back in Ecuador...

WOW, I cannot believe I've been in Ecuador for a little over 2 weeks now! Time sure does fly by--in 2 weeks, I will be on a plane back home. It's so crazy to think I will get to see my family and friends soon; I love it here, but I really miss it back home!

Last Tuesday, I traveled to a city called Riobamba to volunteer at an orphanage for 2 weeks. I've almost been here for a week now, and I've already learned so much (from the children and other things)! The first couple of days here, I was doing A-Okay; but as days went by, I began to get extremely tired and more homesick. Since I love you guys so much, I decided to just be real and share my heart with ya'll (missing that good ol' Texas):

This past week has seriously been rough and very tiring. Since I've been here, I've only got to work with the babies; which was cool because at the last orphanage I only really got to work with the toddlers and older kids. Being with the babies has been pretty tough! There are two babies who are actually "babies," and then there are 4 babies who are in that stage where they are crawling/walking and getting into EVERYTHING! I've never changed so many diapers in my whole entire life! If there was a diaper changing contest, I would win first place! From changing poopy diapers and getting poop all on my fingers; to getting spit on when feeding the babies their food; the list goes on and on. Please don't take this as me complaining--I am just being real with ya'll (you will see the reason behind all this at the end)!

I also ran into some personal problems:
1) The first night here, I got attacked by HUGE bugs outside (for some reason they love me here)!
2) The bugs just love to fly under my door and into my room!
3) The other night, I was laying in bed, and a spider crawled onto my arm...it was terrible lol
4) Two days ago, my phone fell out of my pocket and shattered... :(
5) My phone was working just fine yesterday, but today, it started acting crazy and I can no longer use it.

To extend on the shattered phone issue:
After it happened, I came in my room, called my dad, and just started crying! I honestly wasn't necessarily crying because I broke my phone AGAIN (I cracked my screen a few days before I left for Ecuador and I got it fixed just so I wouldn't have to deal with a cracked phone here), but I was tired, worn out, frustrated, and upset that I would have to pay to get my phone fixed AGAIN. My dad felt so bad for me and tried to comfort me, informing me he would take care of it (what are daddies for, right?). He mentioned he would try to get me a phone shipped here and I thought about something...maybe this happened for a reason...maybe God was trying to have me all to himself. So I told my dad not to worry about it because I didn't need a phone! I said, "Okay God, this is what you want? Me all to yourself? Well, you got it Mister!" My God is surely a jealous God :)

With ALL that being said, God is showing me a lot of things here: it's not about whether babies poop/spit on me; or whether I get attacked by bugs; or my phone stops working. I cannot forget the reason why I came here: TO LOVE ON THESE CHILDREN AND BE THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS! At the end of the day, I didn't come here for me. So everyday I wake up and say,"God use me in whatever way you please. I am yours, and I am here to do kingdom work!"

Highs: 
1) I am really enjoying spending time with these beautiful babies :)
2) Tungurahua has erupted 3 times since I've been here already (twice today).

Lows:
1) Breaking my phone
2) Missing my family and friends

With Love,
M.C.F.

First Week Back in Ecuador...

I've been in Ecuador for a little over a week now! Monday through Friday, I was at an orphanage I got to visit last time I was here. I saw some of the kids I got to meet last time, and then I met some new kids! I barely got to go to the baby house, which was totally okay because I got to spend a lot of time with the toddlers! It was mostly a pretty week, so we got to play outside a lot. When it was "down time," after lunch, I would help the Tia's (aunt's in spanish/caregivers) do laundry, clean up the kitchen, do dishes, etc. I also got to spend one-on-one time with AJ and AL (I will not use their names for privacy purposes)! I got to color with them, jump on the trampoline, watch TV, etc.; but mostly I got to love on them. I really enjoyed this because it allowed me to connect with the both of them on a more personal level! It allowed me to take time out and pray for them individually; which was a very special bonding time. I also bonded with one the Tia's: Tia L! I would teach her English words when I would see her, and she would write whatever word I taught in her journal. You should've seen the joy on her face when I taught her a new word; she got all excited and even started dancing! She wanted to know how to spell the word and how to spell the pronunciation of the word. It was crazy cool :)

Overall, I had an awesome first week back, and an amazing time volunteering at FHC! Next week I will be headed to another orphanage in another city for two weeks! I am excited to see what all God has in store for me there! Please continue to keep me in your prayers. I will be blogging at the end of each week (Sundays), so stay tuned!

At the end of each blog, I will list my highs and lows for the week, so here they are:

Highs: Spending personal time with AJ and AL

Lows: Missing my family and friends back home


Chow for now,
M.C.F. :)

Finally Back in Ecuador!

Sooooo yesterday evening, I flew into Ecuador, and arrived late last night. My flight (thank God), actually was one of the best flights I’ve ever been on! Oswaldo (one of the missionaries) and his father, greeted me at the airport, and took me back to their apartment. It was there where I was greeted by Denise (the other missionary/Ozzy’s wife)! I was super exhausted, so I grabbed a bite to eat, and went straight to bed.

Early this morning, I was awakened by construction workers making a bunch of racket (lol), but I was excited to open the curtains and see the beauty of Ecuador that I had missed oh so much! Later that morning, Ozzy and I went to an outreach that his church was having. We cleaned the windows of cars that would stop at the red lights on the streets; give them a card with the church information on it; and of course, tell them about Jesus! It was such an awesome and fun experience!

When we got back to Ozzy and Denise’s apartment we had lunch, and then Denise helped me settle into “Bethel,” the apartment below them we stayed in when we were here in October! She informed me that I would be alone here for a few days until the next team arrived sometime next week; but she welcomed me to come up to their apartment anytime. As she left Bethel, I thought, “wow, there’s no TV or internet here, and I am all alone.” I guess you could say I got a little homesick for a bit (yes, already), then I decided to just not sit and stare at the wall (lol). So I got up, opened the window, and found a nice little spot to just look outside and read my bible for a little while; let's just say I found my "safe haven." When I began to read, the Lord began to comfort me; He let me know that I wasn’t alone, and that although there was no TV or internet, it was all for a reason: TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM! It made me realize how much I watched TV and used the internet back home; which seemed to be a hindrance to hearing His voice. BTW, I am not saying watching TV or being on the internet is a bad thing; don’t get me wrong, I love it! There just obviously needs to be a balance in my/your life: MORE of Jesus and LESS of everything else!

With that being said, I just wanted to let everyone know how my first day back is going! I want to thank all of you, once again, for your prayers and financial support. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I embrace this new journey God has called me to!

P.S. I will most likely blog about how my week went on Sunday nights, so stay tuned for more post to come!

Hablamos más tarde de Ecuador,

M.C.F :)