"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have a prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Cor. 13:1-3
I would like to ask you all to pray for Mongolia. They have declared National Disater, and have asked for help from the Red Cross, which is unusual, as they don't like to accept help from other countries. The las summer was very dry, and this winter was very long and cold, there are many people in the oultying areas who are starving, some have died, and the situation there is very grim. Cristo Vive has planned a trip there in July. As of right now there are about 5 people planning on going. This is an opportunity to reach out with the Gospel and see the country changed. Pray for the Christians, as they are all relatively new in the faith, to have boldness and favor.
Here's the Update on Yours Truly:
Cuenca is so different from Guayaquil, that it seems I am in a different country all together. It feels much calmer. It is a much smaller city than Quito and Guayaquil. The climate is similar to what Wisconsin feels like in the spring or fall. It is cold at night (I actually have had a difficult time getting warm, before I can fall asleep – even with a pile of blankets!), and at midday, when the sun is the most direct, it is hot, though there is usually a breeze. I thought I would never feel cold again, and couldn’t imagine donning a sweater after the sweltering heat of Guayaquil, but here I am. On Saturday, I ran for the first time in a few weeks. There is a nice path with a lot of parks along the river, which is also very beautiful, and calming. Although I don’t know the ins and outs of the city yet, because it is smaller and safer, I feel freer to come and go as I need. Also, due to the beautiful climate, mountains, clean air and calm lifestyle, there are lots of foreigners in this city; it is odd for me to see other random Americans or Europeans here. I am living in a house with two other “missionaries” that work for the church here, Calvary Chapel. The pastor lives next door and the church is just next to his house. I have my own room (with beds enough for 5 roommates!) with big windows and my own bathroom, so lack of space is NOT an issue. I wonder at times if I will ever settle in one place long enough to feel at home, though, I guess that is not the idea! It has been a bit difficult this time, I think because I am alone. There are no other Cristo Vive folks here, besides the ones I am building relationships and a team with. I knew it would be a bit of a struggle after Gene, Jordana, and the teams left. However, I have been trying my hardest to focus on the schedule I have made and do the work! All of you know that, though I need my alone time, I thrive just knowing there are people near me that I can converse with if I want to. I feel like such a fickle GIRL, because I was looking forward to some peace and quiet after the craziness of the last couple of months, and now, I am pining away for more interaction – am I weird or what?! So, the challenge has been set before me. We shall see what the Lord has for me to learn through this. There is hope of someone joining me in this work soon, so please be praying for that. I know that I am just being impatient and I need to trust the Lord to work everything out. It has only been a week.
I have been missing the opportunity to go to the orphanage. Tossing and turning at night, I pray, wonder, and wish that I could do more to fix these situations. Flor is constantly on my mind, and I know the Lord is working in her and all the kids there, and even the director. I keep thinking that the best thing is for these kids to get adopted…anyone have a bunch of money to lend me so I can adopt a few of them? My mom would be thrilled!
My focus right now, for the next few weeks, is to get this team in Cuenca off the ground. It is a challenge for several reasons, and I have to keep reminding myself that this is going to take time…but I like to see results! So far, nothing has gone quite like I thought it would. That doesn’t mean I will stop planning, just that I now plan on my plans changing! We have an event on the calendar for May 15, though that may be too soon. This is a new territory for me, and though there are people interested, it has been a challenge to get them all together at the same time. The people involved in this church are busy, so we have to get other churches involved as well.
The good news (Sorry, this seems to be a bit of a depressing update!) is that the people here are very focused on reaching out to their community and surrounding areas that may not be evangelized. They have planted a daughter church in an unreached community, hold classes with the kids whose parents work at the little market down the street, visit a cancer hospital, and much more. They have a Jewish Dinner at least once a month. People come from many different cities, and many have given their lives to the Lord as a result. Pastor Fredy teaches the spiritual significance of every act and every food item from the reference point of the Last Supper. It is a beautiful way to present the love and sacrifice of Christ.
My health has gotten better, probably due to the fact that it is cooler and I have been eating much healthier here. I can buy fresh veggies and fruits just a block away. My head has been itching for about a week, though it is getting better. The first few days, it was driving me crazy!! I was so afraid I had lice or something, but nobody could find anything, so, it was probably a reaction to some shampoo I bought here or something.
I am becoming famous here for my monster cookies and “tortas” (cakes), which are really just glorified banana bread! When I arrived in Cuenca there was a pile of old bananas in the house, and Jessy, a young Arizonian, can’t eat wheat. I happened to buy an overripe pineapple and a coconut. So, I threw something together with oatmeal instead of flour – inspired by Maricelle’s tropical nut bread. Lorena (my Columbian housemate), asked me to make one for a baby shower, and now everyone wants one! The thing is, here, they don’t really bake, so, when someone does, they’re in awe! I could open up a bakery/beauty shop here and become a rich woman!
For your enjoyment:
I have to tell you a quick story about why I am sick of Ecuadorian men!! No offense if you are one! It never ceases to amaze me, but I can’t tell you how many times short, middle-aged Ecuadorian men have stared, made crude comments, whistled, smooched, and waved at me (Imagine if I were a tall blonde!). I always wonder if it ever works for them…I mean, do girls ever respond to them?? Well, last Tuesday, on my way to Cuenca, topped them all. I was, against everyone’s better judgment, alone at the bus terminal. By now I know the ropes, and wasn’t at all concerned about going there by myself. Of course, if I had had a tall, intimidating ex-cop with me, for instance, I wouldn’t be relaying this story, but all of the guys that I would normally call on to help me out, were gone, and the Ecuadorians were all working. As I waited for my bus to arrive, a man wanted to help me take the pack off my back…I told him I was fine, but he didn’t listen. Then, he wanted to know where I was from, what my name was, etc. He told me I had pretty eyes, and then asked if I had a boyfriend. This was the point of no return, and I was starting to get annoyed. I told him I did (Jesus counts, right?), and of course, he wanted to know where he was. When he started asking for my number and if I liked to go dancing I wanted to punch him in the face, but I figured that would just cause more trouble. Finally, my bus came, and he took it upon himself to help me get my things and myself on the bus. He asked me again for my number (kind of whiney like a puppy with sad eyes and his head cocked off to one side). I was so relieved when he got off the bus, but then, a few minutes later, he was standing below the window! He was holding his chest like he was in pain! He said he wanted to see me when I came back and that he would be waiting here for me, and that he was in love with me (Gag!)! I reminded him that I had a boyfriend, to which, he replied, “Yeah, but he’s not here!” And I said: “Pero, estoy fiel (but, I am faithful!)!” To which he responded that that is exactly the kind of woman he is looking for! ARGH! So I said, “Ok, I will keep my eyes open for one for you!!” (Was that cruel?). It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud. I took out my book and began to “read”, which was a good idea, because twice I saw him coming towards the bus, but when he saw I was reading, didn’t attempt to talk to me again. I arrived in Cuenca, called a taxi, and the driver was chatting about how he worked in New York and likes to travel to Spain etc, and, just as we arrived at the house he asked me “Do you like to go dancing?” I paid him, thanked him, and went inside! So, if you hear that I have eloped with a forty-five year-old taxi-driver or food-stand owner, don’t be surprised…their charm is just so irresistible!
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