R & R: Rucous and Reflection

Saturday morning I was up, of course, around 7am and couldn't fall back asleep thanks to the group of students congregating outside the cabin. I was pleased to not waste any time during our last few days in Ecuador, though. The shower was an interesting experience. It was electrically heated--as in the shower head was literally plugged into an outlet. Seems safe.

Breakfast was a tortilla dé huevos con queso. The team then gathered in one of the gazebos toward the edge of Finca for a bit of morning worship--the best way to start a day--and a devotional about our future lives in Christ. It's definitely helpful to focus our eyes on the Lord no matter where He leads us. A much needed quiet time followed during which I continued to reflect on the last five weeks we spent doing full-time ministry and look to a future that continues to be centered on Jesus.

For lunch, a few of us girls ordered banana splits due to the heat and...I mean...it's a banana split! They were, of course, delicious with their fresh bananas and banana sauce. The ice cream had a different texture--more icy than creamy. We spent a couple of hours swimming (handstand and breath-holding contests included). Before dinner we met as a team again to "share and celebrate" the last five weeks in Guayaquil. Each of us shared what the Lord taught us along with our favorite memories. Then we celebrated the 300+ people who heard the gospel and 84 who accepted Christ (keep in mind that many people we talked to had already accepted Christ)! We each wrote a brief statement of God's work in our lives on rocks. I learned a lot about faith--daily, in the Holy Spirit, in the plans for my life, and as bigger than my sin struggles. We followed God's instruction to the 12 tribes (Joshua 4) and built a monument to God's work behind our cabins. It was an awesome testament to God's power.

For dinner we enjoyed muchos jugo y menestra, arroz, y carne. That night we had our last bible study about the power for holiness.

After bible study, we discovered that the swan's tail is the grazing llama while star-gazing. Profound, I know. After some rounds of nertz accompanied by creepy animal noises, we called it a night.

Sunday I was up at 7am again but laid in bed for about an hour. Then I went for some scrambled eggs. Our morning session focused on re-entry into the states and methods to alleviate the difficulties we may experience. I'm continually getting more and more excited about ministry back home, so I'm really not expecting much trouble. My heart will always in in Ecuador, but it's clear that the Lord used it to prepare me for ministry in my daily life in the states. I'm ready to meet the challenges ahead.

Then we went on a trail ride!

On real horses!

I love horses immensely despite my allergy to them, so the 30 minute ride through a small pond and around the neighboring village was the highlight of my day--despite the awkward wooden saddles.

That afternoon was pretty chill. I swam some and did more quiet time atop a nearby hill. Everyday I'm thinking more and more about this upcoming year and ways that I can continue to grow closer in my relationship with the Lord. I also want to grow in the ability to challenge those around me--watch out bible study girls :)

The flights home was pretty uneventful. We left Finca in the morning and departed Guayaquil in the afternoon. We stopped shortly in Costa Rica and Guatamala before arriving back in Chicago around 2-3 in the morning on Tuesday. I was exhausted and ready to be home. I can't wait for the next few weeks at home spent reflecting more on all the things God taught me in Ecuador and looking forward to what He has prepared for me back at IU.

This was definitely the best summer of my life.

God be forever praised!

Ashley

Good-bye Guayaquil

I was unable to blog the last few days in Guayaquil due to a lack of internet, so I wrote in my journal and will produce those entries here. I'm dating them as if I wrote them last week just for my own sanity.

The last day on campus was a huge blessing. Hannah and I were sharing together, but it seemed as if everyone at ESPOL lost the ability to speak English that day. Despite not being able to find anyone to share with, we prayed for the campus and spent some time getting to know each other better. I'm going to miss those random conversations with team members about the awesome things God has done in our lives.

At 11:30, we met everyone for the Vida Estudiantil bible study. The highlight of that had to be meeting Ecuadorian Bruno Mars. He doesn't know the real Bruno Mars, which only slightly detracted from my excitement about his doppelganger qualities. We did a study about fellowship vs. relationship with God that was quite interesting before departing for the last time. Our friends Daniel, Carlita, and "Bruno" (Kevin) hung out with us for awhile back home.

We headed to the art market and Tia (grocery store) for last minute purchases. I'm actually really going to miss that place. There's some exhilaration associated with knowing that what you pay for an item is based purely on its worth and your ability to convince the sellers that it's not worth what they're asking. Plus, everything is really bright colored which makes looking around really exciting and sometimes sensorily overwhelming. There's so much stuff packed into that place that every time I looked around there was always some new trinket to find.

The staff surprised us with dinner at LaFondue--a nice Swiss restaurant in Hotel Oro Verde. It was super fancy and delicious with a dessert of chocolate fondu with various fruits.

Back at the hotel some of us played a round of French charades which, as Jenna pointed out, included topics only the Ecuador team would understand ("Vamos a la playa", llama farm, and Jason, to name a few). We were exhausted so our night ended early.

Friday morning we awoke to begin packing and saying final good-byes to Guayaquil. I actually had extra space in my suitcase. Go me. We started our adios-es with Jose, our favorite waiter who serves us breakfast everyday in the hotel, and moved on to 3P, one of our favorite eating establishments. The workers even let our guys hold the shawarma machete. Our last stop was the beloved iguana park. I'm pretty sure I saw one of the iguanas crying.

Alas, 3:30 arrived quickly and we had to depart. Our final Ecuadorian destination was Finca la Gloria  (eng: Glory Farm) for de-briefing. That makes it sound like a military mission, but really it's just a time to reflect on all of summer project and look to re-entry into "normal" life. Anyway, the farm had lots of animals, including cats, dogs, horses, chickens, cockroaches, frogs, dragonflies, iguanas, and even a unicorn. Ecuador's a magical place. There was also a pool and lots of land available to explore.

After a classic Ecuadorian dinner of chicken, rice, beans, and jugo, some of us went for a night swim before heading to bed. I stayed in cabin 704 with Jess, Ann, and Megan. It's merely two beds, a TV that was never used, and a tiny bathroom. I'm incredibly grateful that we had that time to reflect on the ways the Lord used us this summer and then look to our future lives with more mature kingdom perspectives.

Ashley

Loose Ends

Tomorrow is our last day on campus in Guayaquil. Friday afternoon we will leave our beloved hotel and drive to Finca la Gloria, where we will have de-briefing. On Monday night we will board our plane that will take us through Guatemala and Costa Rica to Chicago. Knowing that this week is the last on campus left me wondering how well we've furthered the movement at ESPOL and UG. I can easily believe the lies that every failed conversation or follow-up was unproductive and therefore claim that there's no more time to truly accomplish anything else in the next day. Next week, I can go home and never think about Ecuador again.

That's definitely not in God's plan. Yesterday I was feeling sick on the way to campus and was asked multiple times if I wanted to turn around and go home. In my mind I was screaming, 'yes!' Each time, though, my heart and mouth said, "no." I would have missed the awesome and encouraging conversations I had. The Lord does reward those who trust in Him. He is a God who is gracious.

Today during discipleship with Linsey, we talked about what going home will look like for me. It brought a lot of thoughts of excitement about continuing ministry at home and at school, but I was really convicted when she asked what my relationship with Ecuador looks like in the future. I was initially not sure. I know that I probably will not return to Ecuador, at least definitely not with Cru, and I can't imagine being able to do much more.

However, there's a feeling in my heart that so many loose ends still exist here. I don't know why I thought I would ever feel like the mission is complete. I do believe that we worked in a way that abides with God's plan and, in that way, we have completed our mission, but the work is not done in Ecuador. Just because the gringos are leaving doesn't mean that God is too. We didn't bring God to Ecuador. He was already here working and we merely pointed that out. Just as any other place on earth, the work will continue. The Lord put Ecuador on my heart for a reason. I've realized that even when I'm home, I can continue to pray for the Ecuadorian students and future Cru missionaries. It's awesome to know that the Lord is doing all the work and that just praying for that work is doing as much, if not more, than actually being the physical hands and feet of the Lord in Ecuador.

Just today I met three girls who are thrilled with what we are doing and with the movement growing on campus. Our whole team has been praying for more leaders on campus and in the past week I have witnessed many students who were Christians before we started talking to them embrace the mission we're presenting to them. At the same time that God is connecting His people within the campuses, He's also connecting them with us, Christians from across the Americas. The body of Christ is truly extensive and meant to be united in order to grow a powerful movement that can change the world. Having this kingdom mindset gives me hope and joy about the work I am able to do in my life. I know that all is for a greater purpose that extends far beyond my time. Likewise, the mission in Ecuador does not stop because we are leaving. Our purpose is not to be the driving force behind the movement. God has that position covered.

I'm incredibly encouraged in my own personal growth and seeing others' as well. I recognize hardships and failings in the future, but I have a God by my side who doesn't consider leaving me. I'm satisfied in knowing that nothing is up to me. I don't feel all the pressure that I used to. Hallelujah!

We're about to have extended time with the Lord and then our last full day in Guayaquil. I can't wait to see everyone back home and explain in more detail all the amazing things about summer project and Ecuador.

Hasta luego!

Ashley

Naked Face Mountain

At eight on Friday morning, the team excitedly met in the lobby to await our chariot to Cuenca, which is a city sitting about 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains. The lady organizing our ride called and said they would be a few minutes late, so we waited.

and waited...

and waited...

AND WAITED

until around 10am when they finally sent two 7-passenger vans to drive us the four-hours into the mountains. After the first hour or so, we hit the mountainous region. The winding street did not slow our driver down, but seemed to actually speed him up. Between falling over each other and sliding out of our seats, we attempted to capture our time spent in and above clouds and looking over deep valleys and towering cliffs. Unfortunately, cameras cannot properly capture God's creation. Fortunately, we all got to enjoy it in real life this weekend. 

We stayed at a super hipster hostel with a really chill atmosphere. The cafe had a glass roof and led to our rooms which faced a courtyard. After settling in we walked past various cathedrals reminiscent of 16th-century Europe. Pictures will be up at some point. Our destination was the outdoor art market that sold the one product every person on the team desired above all: a llama sweater. We scoured the stands for the single sweater that spoke to each of us. I had no success on the llama sweater front that day, but made many other purchases for myself and for gifts that I'm quite happy with.

That night, we found out that there would be an "electronic" dance party in the cafe of our hostel. 

"I LOVE DANCE PARTIES," most of us thought.

Eagerly awaiting 9pm, we spent some quality time around the camp fire in the courtyard with each other and other people staying at the hostel. Once the party started, we quickly realized that it would not be the Cru-type dance parties we're used to (lots of random flailing and laughing). Everyone was standing around just kind of swaying to themselves. No matter, two of our guys decided to take over the dance floor with their flailing limbs. Apparently we didn't realize that this party was "slow dancing" only and any obnoxious movement was considered "break dancing" and therefore offensive for this scene. Well. We let them have their night of "slow dancing" to the same song for seven hours. 

The party ended around three in the morning. I seem to be in this disgusting habit of waking up at seven no matter how much sleep I get. My morning consisted of a freezing shower (thank goodness for the hair-flip method), french toast in the cafe, and another trip to the art market. After much more desperate searching for the perfect llama sweater, Helen mentioned that she saw some in a shop around the corner. Approaching the sweaters hanging up, I suddenly felt very warm inside. I knew the one hanging in front of me was meant for me. I imagine it's the same feeling wizards and witches feel when their wands choose them. I haggled it down to $20 from the original $23 and didn't really care that that was still a bit over-priced.

For lunch, six of us went around the corner to find some food when Jason pointed out a place with a picture of nachos on the outside. The lack of name and real kitchen seemed promising so we all ordered.

After determining that we didn't get food poisoning, Jason, CJ, Jeremy, Courtney, Chris, Megan, and I left for a hike up a nearby mountain. Apparently Chris had climbed it last year with some guys, who named it Naked Face, so we had a bit of direction. We walked about a mile or two to get to the mountain and then started the ascent. It wasn't a huge climb--a little over 500 feet (about 50 stories), I think--to the top. The first part was on a road and the rest was through forest and underbrush. It was a strange feeling because even before we were tired, our hearts would beat faster than usual because of the altitude. Anyways, it was a fun climb and the top had an amazing view of all Cuenca and the surrounding Andes. There was even a creepy graveyard at the top with broken caskets and clearly looted graves. Our conclusion was zombies. After many pictures were taken and the view was properly enjoyed, we headed home.

The descent was a lot of fun. At one point we just crouched and slid down a dirt path, keeping hold of what I assumed was a small water pipe. The whole adventure took about four or five hours and we were all very ready for dinner at a pizzeria that evening. Upon arriving back at the hostel, some of us gazed at southern hemisphere stars and played cards.

Instead of a "rave" in the hostel, there was a live show put on by two guys playing guitars and a slide. Thankfully they ended much earlier. We left at around nine on Sunday to arrive home around one. The rest of the day was free until praise and prayer at seven.

Overall the trip was really cool. It was nice to get out of Guayaquil for a few days and experience more culture in Ecuador. This is our last week on campus and already it's continuing to be fruitful. Just today, Jeremy and I had a conversation with a professor at ESPOL who had so many questions that we were able, thanks to the Holy Spirit, to answer and hopefully shed light on. We were actually talking to a student when the professor heard us talking and came over to ask questions. The student was so interested that he missed part of his class to listen.

The professor has clearly been searching for God for a very long time in many different ways, and it's crazy to see God use two 20-year-olds to share truth into a highly-educated man's life. Prayers for him are greatly needed! Jeremy and I didn't even want to continue sharing after such a great conversation, so we had lunch. Of course, God wasn't about to let us rest, so we went up to another group of students, which turned into another fruitful conversation.

God is definitely still at work in Ecuador. I'm still learning and growing everyday as I'm faced with sin struggles and a community that demonstrates moment by moment God's love and grace. Even though it's my last week in Ecuador, I'm excited to go back home and to school and continue doing ministry in "normal" life.  For now, I will enjoy every second I have left.

Ashley

God Bless America

As all my friends from the U.S. are aware, yesterday was our independence day. Although I'm not one to really care all that much about holidays besides Christmas, Easter, and birthdays, this one will most certainly not be forgotten. Jess, CJ, and I went to the Grand hotel for our coop dinner. The hotel staff were probably quite confused when three groups of gringos walked in about five minutes apart and sat at opposite sides of the restaurant. Anyways, I had my favorite meal there--a toasted chicken and avocado sandwich--and we even got free pastries after. Guayaquil celebrates their foundational holiday (whatever that means) during all of June, so that was probably the reason for the free food.

We then had extended time with the Lord, which I spent curled in bed with a devotional and the book of Amos. The Lord used that time to convict me about fasting, for whatever reason. I didn't really have any idea why, but I figured He knew me better than I do so I went for it today. It was much easier than I expected, but deeply instructive. I didn't feel hungry until about five, but even though we went to an apparently amazing restaurant for dinner--Frutabar--I didn't have trouble denying everything except for water (which they brought out in a bottle with a giant goblet). Needless to say, I'm going back there sometime next week. I started thinking about the relationship between needing food to satisfy physical hunger and needing the Holy Spirit to satisfy spiritual thirst. All in all, it has been a great day of self-denial in order to hear God.

Back to yesterday, the leadership mysteriously told us to meet in Linsey's room at nine. We opened the door to a darkened room and a fireworks display thanks to youtube.com. The evening included rousing rounds of "God Bless America," the national anthem, and a U.S.A chant inspired by chocolate cake,. This soon turned into a dance party to very American music; including, but not limited to, "Party in the USA," "Don't Stop Believin'," and " Sweet Home Alabama." Some of us then headed up to the 14th floor--known as the h-core party floor (a wedding ballroom)--to play Nertz. It's basically group solitaire. I have to say it's probably the most stressful game I've ever played as it's a mixture of speed and awareness.

Today on campus was another blessing. Megan and I went out together, which is already scary due to our collective lack of extensive Spanish skills. We ended up having two great conversations with four people and we now have two new sisters in Christ!

This evening we walked to Las Peñas, which is a hill/mountain with lots of colorful houses and a lighthouse at the top with a beautiful view of the city, to take pictures and watch the sun go down. It was more great time bonding with the team. 


Tomorrow morning we're leaving for Cuenca--a village in the highlands. The 60 degree weather is going to be a refreshing break for the daily 80 degrees in the city. Please pray for safe travel, rest, and growth in team fellowship. 

Ashley

God is Greater Than...

EVERYTHING. This past winter's IndyCC's theme could not hold any more true than during the past few days. The ESPOL team was really nervous going back on campus this week because all the students have midterms. There was even discussion about sending the whole team to U.G. this week in the event that ESPOL students proved too busy and stressed to have any conversations. The first group we approached on Monday said they were too busy. I immediately assumed this would quickly become a pattern.

GOD IS GREATER THAN MIDTERM SCHEDULES.

The second group of five people we approached graciously allowed us to spend pretty much the rest of the day with them just talking. Four of them prayed to accept Christ! Can I get a hallelujah?! Even more, we were able to have lunch with them and just get to know them. One of my favorite parts of project are the times we simply get to know the students here and how they view everything from college life to music.

That afternoon we went back to the art market to look around some more. It's the closest thing Guayaquil has to a tourist hotspot. You can find everything from hammocks to llama socks. I've gone a couple of times and have only bought one thing because the place just overwhelms my indecisive shopping. So, if you want anything, please just tell me to save me all the trips spent trying to figure out what to get.

Yesterday was another great day at ESPOL. We had a few great conversations and the weather was great.

GOD IS GREATER THAN STICKY HUMIDITY.

Sometimes it's hard for me to remember that here, so I figured I'd yell it at myself. ALSO, for any of you IU kids reading this, I found the equivalent of limeade here and a bottle only costs 55 cents. Score for Ecuador!

GOD IS GREATER THAN DRINK CRAVINGS.

Last night's bible study was centered around confession and continually establishing good fellowship with God. Confession has been a huge learning point for me this past year as I learned all the things I was keeping between me and God. While I still sin, it's awesome to know that I constantly have the chance to right my fellowship with God by acknowledging my sin, BUT IT GETS BETTER... I don't have to personally deal with that sin!

GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR SIN.

I love that God tells us to give them all to Him. He has already taken the burden of our sins. Woah. So simple, but so astounding. I mean, I don't have to feel guilt or shame? No, sir! Better yet, God provides us with community (in my case, the summer project team) to grow closer to as we grow closer to God through confession with each other. We're called to openly confess to each other and pray for each other not so that we are reminded of the bad things we do and think, but rather to feel grace poured over us. Amen!

After all the confession, we of course needed ice cream so we headed to the hotel restaurant for some helado sencilla (one scoop chocolate, one strawberry, and one something with raisins).

Today we headed back for another fruitful day on campus. Tonight I'm excited for coop dinners--we split into groups of 3-4 and spend two hours getting to know each other better. After that we have extended time with the Lord. I'm planning on continuing a study on the influence of the Holy Spirit in our bible study book called "Thirsty" and hopefully finishing the book of Amos tonight. If you haven't read it, it's basically God giving all the reasons and ways that Israel will be condemned for ignoring Him. It's depressing on the surface, but, upon reflection, a joyful read when I consider all the punishment I deserve that Jesus took upon himself. Praise Him!

Happy July 4th!

Ashley

Hosteria Mandala

This past weekend was the mid-way point of summer project in Ecuador. As is custom, we took a trip to relax and re-group. If I was doubting how well the Lord provides for His workers while in Guayaquil, I no longer have any doubts. He knew exactly what each of us needed to focus our minds on Him again.

We met bright and early on Friday morning to cram ourselves and our book bags into a (questionably) 15-person van. Needless to say, most of us were uncomfortable, but it hardly mattered under the shadow of exhaustion and excitement. The trip took three and a half hours (one less than anticipated) through villages and the countryside. I saw a lot of cows, pigs, dogs, and donkeys and even an ostrich. The last leg of the trip was through the mountains along the coast. This part of Ecuador is so lightly populated that we didn't have any trouble appreciating the natural beauty of the dense forests, rocky cliffs, and sandy (I felt like I need an adjective here...) seashore. Upon seeing the sign pointing us toward our home for the weekend, Hosteria Mandala, we attempted to read the many multilingual signs along the sides of the dusty sand road stating all kinds of interesting facts about whales. Did I mention that it's currently whale-watching season?

None of us were disappointed when we arrived at the wide wooden gates. It was on a private section of the beach that had an amazing view of all the surrounding mountains. Think Lord of the Rings. I'll never be able to fully explain how incredible Hosteria Mandala is, so you'll have to wait for the pictures, but I'll try. It is owned by a couple, the husband being from France and the wife from Switzerland, who have run it for 15 years. They both speak multiple languages and host people from all over the world. The 3-story main lodge houses a restaurant that serves only freshly prepared foods and drinks. Pretty much the entire building, including all the tables and chairs, are made out of smoothly-finished wood. The second story hosts a library, a collection of musical instruments, and all kinds of fun trinkets that leads into a beautiful third story full of diverse plant-life and bright windows.

The living arrangements were even more unbelievable. The compound has many lodges all named after different creatures. Five of the girls, including me, lived in Mariposa/ Butterfly/ Papillon/ Schmetterling. The two best parts were the giant shower with the greatest big shower head I've ever had the privilege to use along with the porch that provided two hammocks and a view of all the surrounding flowers and other plant life.

Immediately upon arrival, I changed into my bathing suit, grabbed lunch with the team (a sandwich made with toasted fresh white bread, cheese, salami, tomato, and basil), and headed to the beach with Jenna to swim. The sand was smooth and the waves were average and full of jellyfish. Almost everyone else on the team suffered stings from the little buggers, but I managed to avoid them. A few hours later we decided to walk down the beach toward a cool-looking cliff. We passed all kinds of dead sea creatures--millions of little jellyfish, puffer fish, a fish I liken to a piranha, eels (they were too decomposed to really tell, but that was the general shape), and unidentifiable skulls. I felt quite adventurous.

We had fish and chips, watermelon jugo, salad, popcorn, and plantain chips for dinner, then discussed how the project is going. I thought it was really sweet and such evidence of God's hand in bringing the team together that we mostly had only good things to say.


I couldn't stand sleeping in when we had so little time there, so I was up at 7 on Saturday and Sunday and in a hammock on the beach doing quiet time ASAP. God has been making me more and more aware of my lack of communication with Him. Many times this past year, I would doubt my salvation because I didn't feel like my prayers and questions were being answered. I've been made aware that I'm not really choosing to listen and communicate with God through extended times in prayer and in the Word. This weekend I felt a lot of growth in that area. Multiple times everyday I desired to have that time alone listening. I've stopped expecting amazing revelations every time I have some quiet time. It has brought a lot more joy into those times. 


The highlight of Saturday was the two or three hours we spent building an entire sand kingdom complete with extravagant castle, complex irrigation system, and a village with a soccer stadium, graveyard, and vineyard. It was marvelous. That was pretty much the whole day. We were so into it that we forgot all about lunch until much later than the standard time. The rest of the day was more much needed relaxation mixed with some not so needed sunburn. WHEN WILL I LEARN?!

Coming back has been actually pretty hard, but in a weird way quite telling about my attitude here. I was getting way too comfortable on campus, and, in turn, too complacent. I haven't been all too intentional about initiating conversations and pursuing students in follow-ups. While I can't put the pressure on myself to win all the students over to Christ--that's a job for the big guns upstairs--I have to let Him work through me and not limit Him by my own inhibitions. This week is going to be difficult at ESPOL, because all the students have mid-terms and are frantically trying to study and finish projects. Prayers for that are needed!

Bonne nuit!

Ashley

Schedule

I have VERY exciting news for you all. Remember the creepy clown music I hear every night blasting out of the garbage trucks? Helen found a video of it! Now you can appreciate the absurdity:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAFMLFyD23M

I've decided that the garbage men are actually elves that skip down the sidewalks collecting the trash and whistling. That makes it seem much more normal.
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I'm still having a fantastic time and growing every moment in my relationship with Christ. After finishing the book of Hosea about a week ago, I decided I needed to balance Israel's condemnation and utter sinfulness (likened to my own sinful state) with all the amazing events that took place after Jesus saved us from our sins and rose to Heaven. Naturally, I'm reading through Acts. I find it inspiring during my time on summer project, because it's all about the disciples proclaiming in the name of Jesus against all negativity and hate and the amazing power of the Holy Spirit. Those two themes are essential for the Christ-centered life I'm living. 


I can't think of much else to talk about--although there are so many exciting things happening! In case anyone is wondering what a day here is like, read the following:

7: Wake up, shower, go to breakfast
9: Whole team meets in the hotel lobby and walk toward destinations
9:15: Catch ESPOL bus
10:10ish: Arrive at ESPOL and split in groups to share/have follow-up meetings/have discipleship
12ish: Have lunch on campus (only $1.50 for soup, meat, rice, and jugo)
1: Catch bus home
2ish: Arrive home
2-5: Free time (blog/nap/quiet time/laundry/grocery shopping/games)
5-7: Dinner (Mon-Whoever, Tues-All girls, Wed-Small group, Thurs-Team, Weekend-Whoever)
7-9: Mon-Training, Tues-BSTUD, Wed-Extended time with God, Thurs-Fun night

I really like the freedom of our schedule. I never feel like I have to rush through anything, which has allowed me to feel very peaceful and productive everyday. Praise the Lord!

The weekends are all different. Tomorrow morning we're driving four and a half hours to Puerto Lopez (a beach) and staying there until Sunday afternoon. Can't wait!

Au revoir!

Ashley

Daily Blessings

I feel as if the past few posts have been quite reflective on the big ways I'm growing in my relationship with the Lord, so I think I'd like to point out the small, daily blessings I'm experiencing.

1. JUGO: (eng: juice) We do not have jugo in the states like the jugo here. Not only is it fresh squeezed, but you can pretty much get any kind of fruit you want. My favorite is piña (pineapple). It literally tastes like liquid pineapple. Jugo is widely available: at ESPOL, on the way home from U.G., and in many restaurants. The best part is it's super cheap. A regular cup at ESPOL is 80¢. "Wonderful things in this world are that cheap," you ask? Yes indeed. Ecuador is a beautiful place.


2. The bus ride to and from ESPOL: (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral) It's about 40 minutes from the center of the city to FEN, which is the main part of campus we're ministering to. We pass through the city, the "suburbs" as we like to call it, and into the mountainous region. I notice new things everyday, like all the tall bamboo and the beautiful architecture. It's also a really nice time to center myself on Christ with a bit of prayer or conversation with the team or a new friend before reaching campus, or time to reflect and discuss the day on the way home. In addition, it's a fantastic place to meet other students. The bus only goes to ESPOL so it's all students. All students who are conveniently trapped for a decent amount of time. They pretty much have to talk to us. In all seriousness, we've met many new friends on the bus (just ask Megan). 


Sidenote story: On the way home from ESPOL today, Megan was impersonating a woman who sells ice cream by the bus line at ESPOL. She repeats "helado" over and over again really quickly (sounds like ladoladoladolado). Really, she wanted to see if anyone around us thought she was funny (she's really creative at conversation starters). The guy standing in the aisle looked at her and said, "are you saying 'ice cream' over and over again?" Most of the time we assume that no one around us speaks English, which probably isn't the best mindset, but it makes for great moments when they understand the ridiculous things we're doing. Well, Megan and him are now best friends. 


3. Butt Cheek Park: Every morning, the whole team walks together toward our separate destinations of UG and the ESPOL bus stop. About half way there there is a park that opens with a giant statue of a man with a clenched backside who is taming a wild horse. Fortunately, we all get to experience CJ's daily welcoming to the park he fondly deems as butt cheek park/clenched butt park/naked butt park/more to come in the next days. 


4. Baby water: On the first day we moved into the hotel, I opened the fridge to retrieve water to find a bottle with a graphic featuring a practically new born baby lying on his back holding a full bottle of water up to his mouth and drinking it. On. His. Own. I immediately proclaimed, "this can't be real!" Upon research this may be true. Despite the fact that it seems to be the most popular water brand in Guayaquil I can't find anything about it online. Sketchy, right? Well, it's my favorite either way. I enjoy the idea of a water so good that a baby can overcome its inability to support any weight, let alone have figured out how not to drown under the pressure of all the water streaming out of the bottle straight onto its face. I can't help but scream out, "baby water!" whenever I see a bottle, which is somewhat too often.


5. Laundry Service: Every week I am able to walk my laundry a couple blocks, drop it off to two kind ladies, pay anywhere from $2-$5, get on with my day, and pick it up either at the end of the day or the next day. Did I mention it's all folded? It's all folded. What a blessing. 


6. Roommates: I could not have asked for better ones in room seven-'o'-crooked six. We have bonded over extreme shower temperatures, scented toilet paper and trash bags, daily naps, "Call Me Maybe", "Waka Waka", finding each others' laundry in our own bags after getting them back from the laundromat, random outbursts of song and dance, constantly failing internet, and, of course, our mutual love for Christ. I'm prepared for all the madness that's sure to come in the next two and a half weeks together. 


7. Per Diem: Part of the support we raised before coming on summer project goes to a daily allowance for food. We get $15 a day to get lunch and dinner (breakfast is free in the hotel). Anything leftover can be saved and spent on desserts, souvenirs, bus/taxi fare, and, of course, jugo. Considering lunch at ESPOL is about $1.50, I usually have left over money. This is a shout out of thanks to all my supporters and especially to the Lord who answered my prayers and provided the means to come to Ecuador and live comfortably.


8. All the people who unashamedly stare at us. Oh wait...NOT. 


9. Internet in the hotel: While it isn't all that reliable, and you have to be in certain spots to connect, it's a great blessing to be able to connect with people back home and with people we meet on campus. Setting up follow-up meetings would be incredible difficult without the internet, so I'll take what I can get. Plus, how else would we get our daily dose of "Call Me Maybe"?

10. Mealtimes: I can't remember the last meal I ate alone. Three times a day I am able to sit down with my roommates (at breakfast), various members of the ESPOL team and any students we meet on campus (at lunch), and the whole team/the girls/a small group (at dinner). I have found it to be a great time of bonding. Quite often, we discuss the conversations we had on campus that day, talk about what we're excited for, or reflect on our growth in the Lord. We sit down and enjoy every meal and that time together.

These are just some wonderful things I am able to enjoy throughout everyday. I constantly feel so blessed and humbled to be here. God is in Guayaquil and He's doing amazing works! Nothing is too small or big for Him to specifically plan. It's all out of His love for the world! I am at peace in His arms.

Good night!

Ashley

Faith

Faith is such a seemingly easy concept. When I first started walking with the Lord my Freshman year of college it seemed so obvious that I have faith in God. DUH. That's the whole point of being Christian. Doubts soon sunk in, though, and I became very concerned that I somehow was not able to have enough faith to be truly saved. I felt like God was distant and that through going to bible studies, living for spiritual emotional experiences, and saying all the "right" things I could somehow bridge the gap I felt between me and God. Did I ever mention that I'm totally an external processor? This may be a long ride.

The Lord has been revealing to me that, as the lead singer of Tenth Avenue North says, "it's not about how much faith we have, but who we put our faith in." It's encouraging to be reminded that my sins were all paid for the moment I accepted Christ as my savior. There's literally NOTHING I can do to deserve God's love. All I can do with the knowledge of the Gospel is live to glorify Him and have faith in all that He has promised us. I won't even pretend to have even close to everything figured out or that I'm going to suddenly be able to live the life God originally intended, but this week I have been assured that faith alone can break down barriers previously left unhindered.

Coming on summer project in the first place was a huge step of faith. I had to give up being a camp counselor for another summer at a place I consider my second home. Along with that, I had to give up making money in the summer. In fact, I had to raise money just to come to Ecuador. Upon arriving in Ecuador, I was faced with a giant language barrier. I am met with person after person who I desire so deeply to talk with, but cannot without a translator. Then, initiating conversations on campus is difficult. It takes courage only the Lord can provide to approach people and ask them if they would be willing to share what they believe and hear what I believe.

A few posts ago, I talked about not being able to see the outcomes of working by faith and being satisfied no matter the results. While many things are left unknown to me, I have already seen beautiful results of God's work through our team. Just today, Helen, Megan, and I waited for a follow-up appointment that didn't show. We decided to walk the opposite way across campus than normal and approached a group of girls. They were absolutely not interested in hearing us out. So we kept walking. We were nearing the edge of campus and decided to talk to the last group of girls we saw.

They were so intent on hearing what we had to say. It was a missionary's dream conversation. They were so thirsty for understanding and a relationship with Christ. After they prayed to receive Christ, we spent the rest of our time talking with them. One of the girls told us that they had been talking about their struggles when we approached. She felt as if we brought light to them and their situations. Hallelujah!

Let me just stop there. The follow-up appointment could have showed up and we could have spent all day with her. We could have gone the way we normally go. That group of girls could have let us share the Gospel. We could have turned around because there weren't a lot of people that way.


So many other things could have happened.

I will never be convinced that it was a coincidence that we conversed with those two women. I will have faith until God confirms it personally that He planned that appointment divinely. The rewards--two new sisters in Christ--far outreaches the fear and worry I feel when I fail to have faith.

I'm feeling humbled and amazed by God. As I learn about faith and the power of the Holy Spirit more and more, I desire closeness with Him. I want Him to be the one who decides my path. I want to never go another moment without remembering His grace.

Amen!

Ashley

The Seventh Day

On the sixth day, we met at the wee hour of 8am to take a short road trip to Milagro (courtesy of the wonderful Daniel and his family) to play some soccer (futbol), swim, and relax. We had some great bonding time between the morning and the not-so-morning people who were all squished in the back of a van. Thankfully, I'm a morning person and therefore did not have to endure my own annoying hyperactivity. 

The day was just flat out fun. There was monkey in the middle, plenty of laughs, tanning under a cloudy overcast (someone please remind me everyday that you can--and will--get burnt even under clouds), and who can forget synchronized diving. It was so much fun that we were all exhausted during the seafood lunch, ride back (once again squished together between exhausted-hyper people and exhausted-exhausted people), and once we arrived home. 

We had the rest of the evening free, so a group of us walked to the Malecón (boardwalk). The highlight of the evening was the very end. We were hanging out around this cool statue when a pretty bird landed right next to us. After a few pictures, Jeremy reached out to touch it.

IT DIDN'T MOVE.

Guys, it let us pet it. We actually got bored with it and walked away before it flew off. 

"WHAT," you're asking, "was it rabid? was it dead? was it a robot?"

NO!

It was just a really friendly bird, and that's the explanation I'm sticking with. 

I will now skip ahead about 10 hours to the seventh day. We walked the now familiar route to church. Once again, it was all in Spanish, but our kind translator was not around so we were left on our own. The Spanish speaking folk on our team sat toward the front again, while we pretended to know what was going on in the back. I didn't doubt that God was still speaking to me during the service, no matter how little I understood. Something I'm still thinking about is how long and intentionally they prayed. As someone on our team said, "I'm pretty sure they prayed through the whole New Testament." While funny, I was amazed at the faith shown during those times of direct communication to God. 

My prayer life has always lagged. I didn't grow up praying and so it's really hard to stay in the habit of intentionally communicating to God. It's weird because I sometimes feel like I'm talking to myself. But then, when my prayers are answered (which is always--just not necessarily in the way that I originally plan for), I'm amazed my God's power and grace. What I witnessed at that church has definitely inspired me and given me a great example to follow. 

The afternoon was, in a word, lazy. We all napped (listening to a two-hour service in all Spanish along with the 20 or so minute walks there and back is tiring), and I took care of a minor toe issue (now you're all so curious...). Trust me, it's entirely unexciting and not worth any more detail. 

We ended the day with praise and prayer time. Thanks to our personal worship leader, Jason, we are able to worship through song, which is something we are all quite passionate about. It's so awesome to center ourselves on Christ before we go into another week of sharing his love and mercy. 

I'm excited about this week and seeing how follow-up sessions go (and of course getting jugo at ESPOL). I'm praying specifically that the Lord will use us to raise up new disciples and leaders at ESPOL and U.G. who will continue the movement. 

Tired but alive in Christ, 

Ashley

Porcupine Caterpillar Attack

On Monday of this week I had my first traumatic experience in Ecuador. It was our first day on campus so Helen, Megan, and I decided to walk around for awhile and get to know ESPOL better. We ended up at the library--which is built like a mini-town of sorts with a "street" as the hallway and cute benches. The scenery there is gorgeous--forested mountains and these cool old stone stairs everywhere. 

Anyways, we were heading back down to the main part of campus when I felt a really sharp pain on the inner part of my right forearm. It felt as if all the hairs on that spot were being pulled as hard as possible at once. It kept getting worse and soon red bumps appeared. I was quite concerned at this point, so we decided to ask two girls if they knew what caused it (sidenote: a great way of starting conversations). Obviously everyone knows everything about every insect found in the place they live. Well, they had no clue, "because there are so many bugs in Ecuador." Helen kept talking to them about other things while I continued to look like a lunatic trying to figure out what was going on.

SUDDENLY (can you feel the tension) my OTHER arm started to sting really bad and red bumps appeared in four different places on my inner arm. 

What is happening?! I thought outloud.

Finally, I had the bright idea to look down at my shirt and, lo and behold, what looked like a porcupine caterpillar was crawling along minding his own business. Obviously, I freaked out and tried to flick him off, but he wouldn't go away. AH. While Helen was at this point about a mile away and still running (love her), Megan grabbed a leaf and pulled the bugger (ha) off. It looked like the picture, but had black prickly things, making it much more terrifying.

It's been a few days now, and I still have bumps on my arm that itched really bad for about two days after. I'm sure you all are very concerned. We're still trying to figure out exactly what it was, but the internet has failed us on this front. No bueno. That's really all I have to talk about. 

Buenas noches!

Ashley

God bless you!

I really love mornings on summer project. Everyday I'm up between seven and eight after about seven to eight hours of sleep, and I feel incredibly refreshed and excited about the day. We meet in the lobby around nine, so I take my time getting ready. I can attribute much of the pleasant feelings in the morning to the three amazing women I'm rooming with--Megan, Helen, and Courtney. We get up around the same time, and somehow our schedules work out perfectly so we're never waiting to use the bathroom or running into each other. We also all love listening to music. I can't complain about preparing for the day to some Jesus music.

We eat the complementary breakfast on the first floor every morning, which is served by our good friend Jose the waiter. We get some kind of fresh fruit juice (pina, guayaba, mango, blackberry, etc), biscuits with butter and jam, and either hard-boiled eggs or scrambled eggs with vegetables. It's such a blessing to be served breakfast every morning for free. I don't think I would be as joyful and energetic during the day if I were hungry and lacking energy.

My other favorite part of the day is the bus ride to and from ESPOL. We walk to a bus stop about 15 minutes from our hotel and then ride for about 45 minutes. It only costs 25 cents and only goes to ESPOL, so we don't have to worry about talking to strangers. I'm pretty sure that during all of the rides, at least a few people from the ESPOL group have engaged students in conversation about everything from futbol to student life. I even spoke with a guy in French a bit! A very little bit. Neither of us knew much French beyond saying our names and what we're studying. The bus tends to be really loud, too, so it was really difficult to hear him. My FAVORITE bus experience so far, though, was yesterday's ride home from ESPOL.

I was already feeling really great, because it had been an awesome day on campus. I witnessed three girls pray to accept Christ and our group met a lot of people who were interested in hanging out more. Even though my spirits were through the roof I was tired on the ride home, so I wasn't planning on trying to talk much.

When all the sudden...the girl across the aisle started listening to Adele.

I LOVE ADELE, I thought. I quietly sang along while trying to decide how to tell her, because we were obviously destined to meet and become very good friends.

I turned to Jeremy and asked, "how do I say, 'I love Adele' in Spanish?"


"Me encanta Adele," he replied, to which I immediately became way too nervous that she would continue to try to talk to me in Spanish. I mean, my accent is obviously so good that she would have no idea I don't really speak Spanish. Right? 

Fortunately, no. After a minute of internal debate I blurted, "me encanta Adele!"

She ignored me.

Now I was committed to sharing our mutual love for Adele, so I pulled out my favorite (and most useful) Spanish word I know.

"Adele! Bueno!!"

She turned to me, giggled, and replied in English. Upon reflection, she probably heard the entire conversation I had about wanting to talk to her. Nevertheless, I was so thrilled to finally meet someone who speaks English that I proclaimed, "you speak English?! God bless you!!" We proceeded to have a great conversation for the remainder of the bus ride, and I'm hoping to meet up with her again.

God continues to baffle me in the ways He works. I've been praying for Him to work through me on campus, and only when I'm the most off my guard, He uses me! I feel encouraged and comforted going into the rest of this week. My prayers are for growth in relationships being established with Ecuadorian students and between people on the team...and more Adele-loving Ecuadorians!

Ashley

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Today was my first day sharing at ESPOL--a beautiful college in the mountains of Ecuador. After much prayer, practice, and training, evangelism remains a struggle for me. 

Going into college, I was against the idea of forcing my beliefs on someone else. However, God has changed my heart through Spirit-filled conversations, messages, and Cru events (retreats, conferences, spring break trip, and now summer project), and I've learned the absolute importance and need for God in this world. Telling people about God's love for us is not, I've come to learn, pushing my beliefs on them, but rather presenting them with a choice they may not have been faced with before. If I truly believe that God saved us by sending His son to the cross, then telling others is an absolute act of love. 

Every time I go out to share my faith, I am humbled. My abilities and knowledge are reduced to nothing no matter how equipped and learned I feel going into a conversation. The Lord has been pulling on my heart for so long to give up any sense of control I think I have of my life, so that He can "take the wheel" (as Carrie would say) and steer me down a glorifying path. I've seen people respond well to the Gospel and not so well. However, I still find myself waiting to have my own awesome story of God using me to lead someone to the point of accepting Christ into his/her life.

It is this waiting that continually leaves me feeling disappointed and useless when I don't see great responses or I feel left out of the equation. I experienced these thoughts all throughout the past week as I faced person after person that I could not communicate with, no matter how much I wanted to, because of the language barrier (I don't speak any Spanish). In this time I have been experiencing spiritual warfare and have found myself discounting not only my abilities, but God's. If I say I believe that God is greater than all things, then how do I have any right to claim that He is not working through me right now?

Today has involved much needed humbling and wisdom at our team's weekly training. This week's topic was about living filled with the Holy Spirit. God comforted me through His Word:

"Though the fig tree does not bud 

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, 

I will be joyful in God my Savior."

Habakkuk 3:17-18

I should not expect to see results, because all joy will be experienced in Heaven. I should not expect growth from my labor. I must praise Him because He works for the good of those who love Him and seeks relationships with us all. God does not work according to what I can do, but by His grace--which is so much larger and greater than I can even fathom in my life. He has brought me on this journey for a purpose, and I pray that He gives me the courage and wisdom to fulfill that purpose without expectations of reward. I am ending this day and going back to ESPOL tomorrow encouraged and excited for whatever the Lord has planned for me next. I pray that He will use me and that I will glorify Him, no matter what that looks like. 

Continued prayers are welcomed and needed! Thanks for holding tight during this one. I needed some reflection time, and perhaps this verse will encourage someone out there experiencing the same conflict. 

Ashley

A Week of Learning

Well, I gave in to the blogging pressure. I mean, I guess no one really told me to, but my thought process is that if I have a public following--as in, my mom and possibly select other faithful friends--that I need to report to at least every other day, then I would be more reflective about my time here. I have a hard time realizing how God is working in my life until after the fact, so maybe this will help realize my immediate potential through the grace of God.

I have been in Guayaquil--the biggest city in Ecuador--since Tuesday with a team of eight other college students, two student-staff, and three Cru staff. These past few days have mostly involved exploration and time spent getting to know the team better. It's kind of loco how well we all get along. The past week has included hilarious games of French charades involving acting out everything from giving birth to hot dog fingers, a museum visit reminiscent of reading a history textbook (not the kind with fun pictures), a walk in the park with iguanas, and many stumbling conversations with Ecuadorians in Spanish. In order to quickly represent this week, I've compiled a list of things one should know about Ecuador:

1. Don't throw toilet paper in the toilet: the pipes can't handle that kind of pressure.
2. It is, in fact, in the southern hemisphere. You'd never know, though, because it's always too cloudy to see the stars and the toilets flush the normal way. 
3. DO NOT DRINK THE TAP WATER. That includes firmly holding your mouth shut in the shower and using bottled water for teeth brushing. 
4. Five liters of water costs less than $2 (U.S. moolah), so long hair don't care to #3!
5. Running into the street with a Sacagawea $1 coin expecting an ice cream truck to accompany the creepy clown-like music around 8-9pm will leave one much disappointed. It's actually garbage trucks doing their nightly rounds blasting the same song. 
6. Ecuadorians will stare at you if you're in a big group of white people...and sometimes shamelessly take pictures. 
7. Upon seeing other white people, you will stare even more intensely than the Ecuadorians.
8. There aren't any tourists in Guayaquil, as indicated by #6 & #7
9. There are no street lanes or rules. It's every car/truck/bus for itself. May the odds be ever in your favor. 
10. Rice and beans: all day e'ryday.
11. The sidewalks look very nice tiled, but are quite slippery. Jeremy's back can relate.

Tomorrow we start our first full week on the campuses (ESPOL and Universidad de Guayaquil) reaching out to students. I'll be at ESPOL along with four other students and a varying number of staff/student-staff. Tonight my prayers are for opportunity and courage to approach and engage students  in spiritual conversations. 

Chao for tonight! 

Ashley