Already October 13??

Hello Everyone Once more. 

Crazy to think that it is already halfway through october. Ive been staying busy so the days feel so long but sometimes I will be just looking back like wow that flew. 

Anyways welcome back for those who do keep coming back I love you guys do it all for yall so I appreciate keeping up to date with me. 

Now where did we leave off. Oh yeah. Last Tuesday. Man was that a day. So full of adventure and fun. I was able to for the first time drive into Quito with my mentor Elliot whom I have mentioned before. Now that was an experience itself never seeing a true true city here before it was cool to experience that. There was this huge park right in the middle of the city kind of like New York but not nearly as big lol. Elliot was telling me they are so good at keeping public places clean in order to maintain things which i think is a very good thing. Anyways, the reason we were going anyways was because the first taco bell was opening in Ecuador and if you know Elliot, he is an absolute taco bell fanatic. Let me tell you did that come in handy here. He wore his taco bell shirt and no one knew how he got it because it was the first taco bell so we had to explain we were from the States and all that. Not only that but the average height is like 5’4 here so him being like 6’3 he stands out a little. But anyways, it was absolutely insane they were following him the whole time with cameras filming his shirt having him try the taco rate it and then wave to the camera. I was like they are going to make a commercial for this guy. Not only that but they loved him so much they literally gave us our food for free. Like literally everything for free. On top of that random people were coming up to this tall gringo guy asking for pictures and videos of him. You know no biggie it just got the attention of the GM OF TACO BELL THAT WAS THERE. The GM literally signed a key chain for him and asked for a picture like what the heck. The GM of taco bell. All we could talk about is how we could never have thought in a million years that would happen to us. Also if we wouldnt have experienced it together absolutely no one would have believed us so I am here to tell the tale it was insane. Also got the best haircut of my life on this trip in the same mall for 11 dollars. Which for me is insanely cheap plus a wash and massage but i talked to my friends after and they said thats like insanely expensive for Ecuador. They were telling me usually like 5-7 dollars which is so insane to me. But, tuesday was probably the highlight of my week it was absolutely insane and so much fun so thank you Elliot. 

Next, Wednesday. This was more similar to what we have been doing normally we had another group of kids come which was fun again. Of course cause I love the kids so much and its nice to hang out, build them up, and just have fun with them. I had another spanish class after lunch which went well. This week was full of people inviting the interns over for things at their houses which was so fun for us interns. Wednesday we got to go over to one of my "teachers" (you could say) house. Her name is Joss she is so kind and nice to everyone I really like her she is dating my mentor Elliot which is a cool little connection. Anyways she invited us over for a movie and she ended up making us a cake and Elliot got us ice cream and they made us a ton of popcorn. It was so kind and the movie was great we watched the Elements movie from disney fun little night. 

Thursday, was also fun. Tyler (the leader of the interns essentially) showed us a bunch of different rock climbing techniques and how to rest, grab on easier, etc. This was a really cool workshop actually and we are going to climb on natural rock soon so it was very cool to learn different techniques to help us. After that we were invited to Danny and his wifes house for another movie. He is the head of the maintenance things here which is super important they are always doing so much work on property and different projects. Anyways they have two little kids who are so cute and were with the interns hanging out with us sitting with us it was a great time. We watched a movie that was filmed on the property of El Refugio which was really cool actually. 

Friday was a little different for me very fun day. It was my rest day for facilitating with the kids so the people who arent really just help with all the other things around the camp. I was tasked with helping the cooks which i have always wanted to be an amazing cook so this was so fun for me. I got to help them prep all the meals and get some more experience in the kitchen very fun experience. Also I forgot to say before the interns have been teaching me some things like how to make cake from scratch. Pancakes as well and some other things kinda cool, going to have to use it when they leave. That night we were invited to yet another staff members house. Now this is the night I had been looking for all week. Ecuador Vs. US in fútbol. It wasnt our starting lineup and it was a friendly but fútbol in Ecuador is never just any game. This was so fun me and my friend Christian were running into town to make it to Benjis house on time for the game and we got side tracked when we saw this beautiful doughnut in the window. (It was very good by the way). Everyone brought snacks lots of screaming at the TV, lots of banter back and forth about who it better (it was a me vs 13 other people). It was very fun though ended in a 1-1 tie but the experience made the night. 

Saturday was our day off which usually nothing happens but this one was very unusual for me. I woke up already not in a great mood but I was missing home my family, my lovely girlfriend, my friends, jusy everything honestly. Because you know sometimes when you live in another country you have those types of days and Saturday was that type of day. I have also been struggling recently with what God wants for me. Now that I am here and trusted him to guide me here I am just wondering why. To be completely honest this is not what i wanted to do. I had my whole plan set out, but sometimes God has a different path for us and I wanted to follow that because his plan always has the best outcome. But i spent about 3 hours walking around in a loop on the property listening to music, praying, crying, all you can think of when you are asking God "why me?". It was all of my emotions rushing over me and then I began to miss my family even more I havent cried in a while but when your having a bad day you just are. Throughout all that prayer I just realized that nothing changed Gods plan is still better I just need to have patience. If I am being honest I still feel strongly and have been getting signs about my love for serving others through therapy and their problems but I want to make sure it is what God wants first. I just want to do what he wants but he wont always answer us right away, not because he doesnt care, but because in the long run it will bless our journey. So I just need to keep praying. I ended up like actually ugly crying for the first time in a very very very long time and I called my beautiful girlfriend. She reminded me so well of how God calls us to be in life. She is my little ray of sunshine and light in my life. I really appreciated her words of encouragement and she just kept reminding me that God still has a plan and it will all work out I just need to keep trusting in him. She is always so kind, joyful, loving, and light in the darkness, she is a beautiful reminder that God puts people like that in my life to lift me up and show me the love he has for me because it shines right through her. So thank you for that reminder Kenz. 

Anyways sorry that was a little sappy but for those who care I want to be more vulnerable. Sunday though turned out to be a very good day. My descalzo time was very very good and I continued to read my book about apprenticeship under Jesus. This week was about spreading the gospel and doing as Jesus would but I really loved how he put it. Spreading the Gospel is not going door to door shoving it in peoples faces, going and protesting with signs saying "if you dont follow your going to hell" its not about believing and going to a good place its about showing others his love. Inviting people over for a meal and cooking for them like Jesus did. Serving others, always being kind, loving, joyful. Always bringing the light and good to situations (like kenzie), and showing others that we love them and care like Jesus did. Ultimately people will wonder why you are always nice and kind and we can say because Jesus would love like that. Its not about having someone sign a contract to get to heaven or forcing them to do anything. People have free will to do what they want if they dont want to accept its ok but we most love everyone the same no matter what continuing to show the Love of the Lord because he is so loving to us. 

Anyways thanks for tuning in again for those who have stayed. I love you guys ❤️