bruised cheekbones

Sunday, our first full day in Quito was full. And a little overwhelming. And a little great. Or a lot great.

We hung out at Casa Gabriel, our ministry, with the guys there, some of their family members and some other missionary staff. Too many wonderful people all in the same place.

One problem: there is a greeting here in Ecuador that I need to work on. It is a wonderful custom. It is the touch-right-cheeks-together-and-kiss-the-air greeting. You do this with everyone (everyone) who is at the place you arrive at, and everyone who comes after you will also do it to you when they arrive. It is also done with everyone (everyone) when you leave, and everyone who leaves before you. Needless to say - it is something you do a lot. It is beautiful in that everyone is included, welcomed and it is somewhat intimate. It just sort of connects you right away. Love it.

However, this little custom is not coming easy to me. I seem to go in on the cheek touching too hard and smashed cheekbones with several people. Yes, it isn't a big deal. But remember, there were a lot of people at Casa G. on Sunday. There was a lot of coming and going. There was a lot of hellos and goodbyes.... Therefore there was a lot of cheek smashing on my part. Bone on bone, covered with just a little flesh for protection isn't working well for me. I need lessons on the approach. After that I'm good.

Maybe that should be part of our training.

So glad we are here.

Side note: Need to make sure I drink more water. Not something I'm good at. Something that is, apparently, even more important at high altitude. Headaches, lots of headaches, with out water.

Mariachi madness

Hilarious.

Our first night in Costa Rica we were awakened to a Mariachi band that started to play at 10:00 p.m. next door. We wondered what we were in for. What we discovered was a beautiful, but very loud culture that likes to celebrate late in the evening....often to all hours.

It is our first night in Quito (we are finally here!!). It is just after 10:00 p.m. and the Mariachi band started a few minutes ago. Apparently the people of Ecuador celebrate in much the same fashion (from what we understand it is fairly normal for most of Latin America). At least in this area we know what we are in for!

Party on!

The kids are having a hard time. One has been acting out hugely - worse than her normal....which is already pretty difficult. One is very clingy. And one is weepy and wanting to go home (I'm interpreting that as being California). They are certainly not going through easy times.

I just read this (before settling in to enjoy the Mariachi): "The only thing we absolutely could not survive would be the loss of God's love. And that is a loss we'll never have to try." It is a quote from Beth Moore. Definitely something I need to share with the kids tomorrow a.m. To remind them, and myself, that we will survive this - even thrive in it - because we have God's love. You've got that, you've got it all.

Yup, it sucks.....

saying goodbyes

I'm realizing more and more that part of being a missionary is having to saying goodbye.... a lot.

Can I just be blunt? It sucks.

Over the last year we have said goodbye to a whole lot of incredible people. It started at our training in IL last June-ish. It is amazing how spending 6 short weeks with people can endear them to you forever. But we had to say goodbye. Then we got back home and of course, had to say goodbye to all our family and friends there. Horrible. Now language school. People... wonderful people.... have been coming and going for the last 10 months. Make new friends.... they leave in Dec. Make more new friends, they leave in April. Make more new friends, we leave in June.

Picture to the left? My oldest, saying goodbye to a great friend. I've been trying to convince her and her mom that they need to move to Quito, but they aren't listening.

Can I just say it again? It sucks.

The whole moving again, saying goodbye and all that is taking a toll on the kids. It shows in their faces. In their actions. Hard.

Today we said goodbye to our teacher/tutor. She is just great. Then we went to our dear, dear friends' house for dinner and said goodbye to them. This family was one of God's greatest gifts to us when we got here, and still is as we leave. No fun (well, it was very fun to be there, but no fun to say goodbye, of course).

Sucks.

And tomorrow. We say goodbye to our empleada. I know I'll cry. Again. Then goodbye to more good friends... friends of two of our daughters and their mother - who makes me pee my pants laughing (no, not literally). And then another goodbye to another fabulous friend. I sooooo enjoy her. And she and her husband have been so kind and generous with us. She makes me pee too - in the good, non-literal way, of course!

BUT, even though all of this sucks and I really don't like it at all, I can't help but be incredibly grateful for how rich my live (and the lives of all in our family) are because of it. It is so much better than not meeting any of these people at all. That is some of the richest stuff there is. It is part of what is eternal. God has blessed us incredibly with so many wonderful people that we have been able to know.

Yah, it sucks, but I am thankful.

side note: Sorry if you don't like the word "sucks". Since it is so very not fun at all, it just gets the point across. There is some power in the sound of the word. Blows, bites, stinks, is yucky, is lousy or something of that nature could also be used if you find my vocabulary offensive, but I sure hope you don't.

sad boy tears

We got a package today from my mom. So sweet of her. She sent books for the two oldest, a cool flashlight for our son and a movie for our youngest. And then a olympic stuffed animal and key chain for each of them. Problem is, upon opening the package - no flashlight, stuffed animals or key chains. Upon closer examination, the package was opened and resealed and - obviously - stuff taken. Poor sad boy tears began. He got nothing.

But they left the stuff that was in English.

So once we get to Quito, we are on the hunt for a cool flashlight. It may cost us as much as it cost my mom to buy all the contents of the package and the mailing cost combined.....

Oh, lunch at our Empleada's: Wonderful time was had by all.

She lives in a very very poor neighborhood, but has one of the nicest homes there. To me, it shows evidence of her hard work, care, discipline and faith in God to provide for her. Most of the houses around her are made of rusty corrugated metal. Streets are all mud.

She had her three grandchildren there - whom we all had met before....love those kids - they live with her. Then her cousin and a neighbor. Great people, great food. She showed us a photo album that she has of all the families that she has been an empleada for, for over the past 25 years or so....all missionaries and students of the language school. You can tell she loves all the families and loves to serve the Lord by serving the families. We are so blessed to have her.

I was a little sad that we didn't bring the kids - they were invited, but with how shy they are and picky about food, we just didn't want to have to deal with it....and of course, the youngest is close to always causing grief and we just wanted to be able to visit. But looking back, it would have been great for them to have been there. Seeing how content the family is in a very very small house, with very little, in a highly dangerous and downright (and literally) crappy neighborhood. They have been exposed to this before, and I know they will again, but we know her so well that it would have been good. Well, God will still work that out in them just as He is working it out in me.

Two more days in Costa Rica.

a visit

We have been invited to our empleada's (maid) house for lunch today. I love her. I am going to miss her. While half of the time I am struggling to understand what she is saying, mainly because she speaks so fast, she still manages to make me laugh. A lot. She has shared much of her life with me - not an easy one - and I am so grateful. It will be sad to say goodbye. And then there is trying to keep in touch. #1 problem - I stink at it; #2 problem - she doesn't have a computer. Oh Lord, help me!!

So back to the invitation. I'm really nervous. Not sure why. Maybe it is because I am not going to be on my "own turf" so to speak and so all my comforts are gone (well, Eric will be there too and so that is a fairly large comfort!). But it bothers me that I am nervous about it. I just hope that we can be a blessing to her as she has been to us. God has got to help with that too. And knowing Him, He is faithful.

Psm 25: 4,5

Show me your ways, LORD,

teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.