Ecuador:The story (part one)

I'm not sure how my story telling skills are, I haven't got much feedback besides the fact that I tend to make things seem like they're really really exciting, then my endings are (in the words [or word rather] of my best friend) anticlimactic.  Let's hope that in this story the ending is the best part!

It was Tuesday night, and here I was back in my dorm, all packed up and ready to go! I had my headphones, my sunglasses and my trusty bag (which is basically all you need in life) and most of all I head heart my friends. I was ready to embark on this adventure with my fellow nursing students to the land of spiders and monkeys and big flying bugs. It was totally on! I wish I had a picture to mark this moment in history but alas my broken and incomplete explanation of the event will be the only momentum to this joyous occasion. 

Then after that, I went to bed. (sometimes life just isn't exciting folks, that's just the way it is)

 After waking up bright and early Wednesday morning we left. Way early. Like 4 hours before our plan was going to leave. Apparently our professors wanted to be extra prepared much to the dismay of all 18 of us loitering in the terminal four hours on end (pun intended). However, on a side note, I was super excited to get a call from my good friend Kali who had just gotten engaged! 

Kali and Matt

Waiting in O'hare

Finally on the plane!

After eating breakfast (and lunch) and calling everyone in my phone contact list, we finally boarded the plane! I was tired and I knew we were scheduled to get into Quito late so I decided to sleep as much as I could. There was a layover in Miami which was pretty uneventful. Well, we did eat at this Mexican restaurant with horrible service that I highly discourage anyone who finds themselves in Miami airport to go to. But other than that, nothing. After more waiting we boarded again and after a few hours, finally landed in Quito. 

Eating at the Mexican Restaurant 

It took some time to get all our luggage sorted and get the group through customs, some of us even broke out  our 'gracious' and 'por favors.' Excitement and expectation was in the air as we wondered about our accommodations, what we would be doing, and whether or not the bugs were really as big as they looked on Google.

Bug from Google

We met some of our group leaders for the first time and then headed outside, expecting the warm air to embrace our skin with all the love that summer had taken with it some long months ago. Instead, however, we were greeted with torrential rain fall. Apparently it was the rainy season. Forgot to mention that huh, Google! Oh well, nothing could get these brave hearts down! We were in Ecuador! We grabbed our bags and our determination and headed outside the comfort of the airport into the wet, black night.

To be continued....

Home again

Well gosh darn it, I'm home! 

     Of course Ecuador was amazing and there is so, so many stories to tell! I haven't even uploaded my pictures yet I've been so busy with the starting of another semester.


     I have so many exciting things to write about! Instead of overwhelming you with them all at once I'll start with a simple picture and a promise of lots more to come, both about my Ecuador trip and exciting things happening in my life.

 Shandia, Ecuador in front of Jim Elliots house. 

Almost there!

Wow... what a week! I just had an amazing time at the ONETHING conference put on by IHOP (international house of prayer) not to be confused with pancakes... though there're good to. 


It was an intense 4 day event attended by over 25,000 totally sold out God people. I walked into the convention center auditorium and I immediately got goose bumps over my entire body. The speakers were passionate, the worship leaders completely anointed and the people totally on fire with the holy spirit. I felt like I was "unplugged" of so much junk that was piled up in my spirit over the last few months. It was amazing to let loose, pray and worship, listen to amazing speakers and of course be with awesome friends! What a way to bring in the new year!

Now it's time to pack for Ecuador! WHAt?! I know right, time flies! Can't believe it, i have meetings tomorrow and then wed. I fly out. I'm so excited! I just know that God is going to do amazing things. I'm so pumped right now! I'm so excited to meet the people, taste the food, see the sites and of course meet some amazing people and get to know a little about their culture. 

God is a God of diversity, change and new beginnings. He loves to show us the adventure of his nature and the tenderness of his heart. Whoever said that a life with God is boring is obviously missing something major because it's never, never a dull moment! Have you read the bible?! look at the stories of Joshua, Moses, Ezekiel, David, the apostle Paul, Peter, Timothy the disciples, their lives are so far from boring! But it's a dangerous thing to give your all, it required sacrifice and faith, it requires strength, boldness and endurance, but the good news is that we're not alone, that we don't have to come up with these things by ourselves! It's God that worketh in us both to DO and to WILL of his good pleasure.


 Don't be scared that you'll waver, falter, or fall cause the one who gave everything for you is still there to catch you every time. His love for you is a raging fire, it can't be tamed, it's flames can't be diminished or put out. His eyes are a flames of fire, but his voice is that of streams of water, gentle, refreshing and inviting. He is passion and peace, the very epitome of all that is zealous, wild and raging, yet he is all love, all mercy, all quietness.  


Rest in his love... he invites you to rest.

Stay tuned for more about my trip... stories, pictures and all that wonderful stuff! I'm going to try and post as much as possible in the next couple weeks. 

Ecuador

Shots shots shots! Even on my day off I somehow ended up at St. James Hospital. But today that's okay with me! I just got back from the travel clinic there getting my yellow fever and hep. A shots (So glad I'm set for 10 years! ow!). Other than the slight prick of the needle it's been an exciting day. I ended up doing a bit of shopping and planning for my Ecuador trip in January and I'm getting more than a little pumped! I still can't believe I'm going and the details are just falling into place like butter.

On Monday I had a meeting with those from Trinity's nursing class who are going on the trip and we talked with Olive Fleming-Liefeld, whose husband Peter Fleming was killed  in 1956 (along with four other missionaries including Jim Elliot) from the end of the Acua (now known as the Waodoni) indian's spears. She's an amazing women with an amazing story. It's hard to imagine having to be that brave and strong, "but God gives us all grace  according to the measure of the gift of Christ..." (eph. 4:7).

I have in my hand now Elisabeth Elliot's book 'Through Gates of Splendor' and I can't wait to start the read. Only one month now till my trip!


I'll keep you updated!!!



















If you want to help in any way we're gathering health supplies to hand out while we are there by donation. If you're interested in buying some things ( like travel size toothbrushes, toothpaste, bandaids, ect.) let me know! Everything is needed.






Love love and more love!
Rachel