The Royal Wedding

I woke up at 3am on Friday to watch THE wedding! I spent the morning with a small number of British and American missionaries. The house was decorated with Union Jack bunting and people were wearing union jack hats, waving their flags every time a guest arrived into the wedding ceremony. I was not impressed at waking up SO early. It did not help me get over my jet lag! It was strange to be watching London, sat in Ecuador! The Cadburys Dairy milk I brought over was VERY much appreciated! A full English breakfast was eaten and then we all parted ways and went back to our Ecuadorian life. VERY surreal. It stayed in my mind all day. The richness of the wedding, the lavish dresses, the horses, guards, expensive cars and the amount of money that was spent that day must have been immense. It has been very hard to work out in my mind, what I think of it when I am in a country with poverty right in my face. There is not red carpet, posh cars, lavish dresses. It is hand to mouth here. You earn money, how you can, to survive. I couldn’t help but feeling a bit sad during the wedding.

Safetly on Ecuadorian soil.

Hola! I’m here! After an early 3am start to Wednesday, I eventually arrived in Ecuador 11:30pm England time. I don’t think I have ever felt so squashed in on a plane! They always make you walk through First Class and Business Class before your arrival to the Economy class. You walk past lovely big wide, long chairs that extend into beds with a Champaign arrival and through to your class. You may as well sit on top of each other or sit on the floor. It would probably be more comfortable!

So, I arrive into Quito, a busy bustling City. The initial smell is familiar, reminding me of Nigeria, being far from home but knowing that I’m here with a purpose and have a small part to play here.

Friendly welcomes, rice and meat to eat, little Spanish understood, smiles and nods, more rice and meat to eat and then bed! My first few days I have met many people, visited many parts of Quito, getting my passport stamped by many Ecuadorian authorities (getting my VISA in London was just the beginning….that just allowed me into the Country!), walking /exploring in the morning and noon, baking sun and hiding from the rain and storms in the afternoon. When it rains, it rains. Initially when I arrived, my bags were in the back of a truck when the rains came. ALL my belongings became soaked so now as I sit here writing, everything is drying outside! I had to peg everything out. I have quickly learnt that I am going to be totally taken out of my comfort zone and learn to be vulnerable.

Quito is a packed City, full of people and cars but set in the heart of VERY beautiful scenary and mountains.

On Monday I begin Spanish lessons and move in with an Ecuadorian family, who have a 6 year old son. They do not speak English and I don’t speak much Spanish. This will be an interesting experience but good for my Spanish! Good job I have my speech and language therapy experience, so I am used to communicating with people who don’t talk very much!

I’m a visitor in this beautiful and friendly country and look forward to sharing more about it with you.

Life

“My life is not my own, but his.

I’m on a journey, part of History.

So come along with me,

Celebrate in the good times, pick me up in the bad.

Help me, pray for me, love me.

Affirm me, challenge me, help me grow….

And watch me shine.”

Adventurous kitten

My parents have a new kitten, Migo. Although he is gorgeous and has a wonderful personality, loving being around people, he can be very mischievous. Once he gets a bit of energy he races around the house, chasing anything that moves. He loves exploring and everything is exciting to him. I have learnt a lot from our first few days with Migo. Migo loves life. It is exciting for him. It is full of new experiences and risk-taking. He learns through his new experiences. I wonder if sometimes I need to be more like Migo. God has given us life, in all its fullness. How often am I scared to take a leap of faith or see what’s around the unknown corner?

Impossible?

Like licking your elbow or climbing a mountain in flip flops?

Counting the grains of sand on a beach or holding a handful of water without losing a droplet?

Forgiving a hurtful friend or beating cancer that’s spread through the body?

Truly smiling through a dark, depressive time or being a preacher with a stutter?

Being an English Speech and Language Therapist in a Spanish speaking Country?

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11 v 1

Blogging

I've decided to start blogging to share some of what I have been learning in my preparations for going to Ecuador. I don't want to blog in a selfish way; to write just about myself all the time. (If i do this, please let me know!) I want to share what God has been doing, how i have experienced his blessings and seen him at work. I hope to encourage and challenge you as you read this, maybe challenge your way of thinking or open your eyes to a different culture.
Many people have asked me how I am feeling about going, in just under a week. I am looking forward to it, of course i am nervous too but I actually have a real sense of peace. I guess my most noticeable emotion is a feeling of saddness. Saddness about leaving a lot of my good friends and family. I said good bye to one of my closest friends today. It really dawned on me that i won't see her for a year. I hope she remembers me whilst she drives my car! I really don't like saying goodbye. I try and keep my emotions hidden, I guess to protect myself from being hurt. If I don't cry or get upset when i say goodbye to you, it is not that I won't miss you, it's just that I may not show my emotion at the time.

Psalm 121
I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.


He won't let you stumble, your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's guardian will never doze or sleep.


God's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you,
Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke.


God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always.