Filming for Jesus!
Hey everyone, and welcome to another update. I'm so excited to be able to share with you all the different work that the Lord allowed me to be able to be a part of. This past month, one of the really awesome things I was able to do was go to Northern Spain, where I was able to work with another ministry filming series about the story of Esther, for the people who actually live in the region where the story took place. It was really exciting to be able to be a part of that and to be able to see so many people using their gifts to serve and to glorify the Lord. The following week I was able to… Read more
Learning Arabic
Outside of support raising, the thing that scared me the most about moving overseas was language learning. I was (and still am) intimidated by how hard Arabic is to learn for native English speakers. The exciting thing about learning Arabic is that it’s the start of a new journey with God and into this new culture I’m immersed in. Here are three things God has shown me about language learning this month: Language learning is the perfect opportunity to experience the culture firsthand. Language is more than just spoken words, it’s part of the country’s or region’s culture. Coffee… Read moreFebruary means…1 year in Ecuador!!
A Newsletter of Reflection over the Past Year Wow! I can’t believe I’ve already been her for a whole year! I can still remember the first weeks being here with such clarity. It’s crazy to look back on the first days that I arrived when I couldn’t even order food, and now I can hold entire conversations in Spanish! I definitely think language is where I’ve seen the most change over the last twelve months. But outside of language, I’ve seen other growth and stretching too. I’ve seen people come and go from Ecuador. I’ve learned how to make friends, even when I know it’s short term. I’ve also… Read more
Captain Underpants?
If you recognize the title, you are undoubtedly aware of the children's series titled the same. As a young girl, I thought the name and concept ridiculous and internally judged my peers for reading such nonsense. How I wonder where my sense of humor was as a child? I also wonder if you’ve heard of another similarly named character, Madam Underwear? Soon after arriving in my new home, I began to pick up that something was amiss, or rather, I was missing something apparently hilarious. My new home at one time was a British colony, and with that comes a slight variation in the… Read moreBecoming Legal and Settling into Life
I Received My Visa and Cédula At the beginning of April, I went to the “Plataforma” with a lawyer and translator and applied for my extended visa. This was a long and expensive process, but I was approved and am now permitted to stay for two years (if God leads me to stay longer then I’ll reapply for another visa)! I also received a cédula, Ecuador’s ID, which has honestly made my life so much easier so praise God for little blessings! Cortes de Luz Also in April, we had periods of “Cortes de Luz” or “power cuts.” It was my first time learning that electricity is a finite resource, as well as… Read moreFar From Home ไกลบ้าน (Klai Baan)
I walked down a corridor in the Thai history museum I was visiting with my language class. The air conditioning made me shiver and I paused as a poster on the wall caught my eye. “In 1907, King Rama V of Thailand traveled to Europe and kept a journal of his visit. He titled the book “Klai Baan,” which means “Far From Home.” I read the title again, frowning. I had learned that phrase in just the past week in school, and I cocked my head in realization that I understood what those words meant without a translation. Far from home. I understood what that meant too. I stood in silence for a moment… Read more