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