Hello everyone!! First of all I want to apologize for the
lack of blogging this past week but I’m going to update you on everything that’s
happened so far in these next two blogs.
So it’s been 11 days since we first arrived in Quito,
Educador (population 2 million plus!) The day before we arrived to Quito I
started feeling sick just sinus stuff but it followed me to Ecuador. Carrying a
51 lb bag plus a 25 lb carry-on out of the airport was no bueno (no good) by
the time we got to the bus I was ready to throw up from the altitude change on
top of my sinuses acting up. On Saturday (July 16th) I started feeling much better!
Which was awesome considering our entire squad was going on an adventure.. to
the EQUATOR! It was so awesome not only being in two places at once but two
hemispheres definitely added to the excitement.
After we
left there a group of people wanted to ride a gandala up to the top of the
mountains and another group wanted to go see the new Harry Potter movie (I know!
Haha) Well I was going to ride the gandala but after about 30 seconds of being
on the bus with about 50 other people I started feeling extremely sick. I
decided that I would just get off at the next stop which was the mall/ theatre.
I was just like “please! Someone get me off this bus!” When we finally got to
the mall the movie was sold out so instead went decided to go to McDonald’s and
then walk back to our hostals (oh yea.. by the way for the first 4 days we all
stayed in hostals. They weren’t scary I promise. They were actually pretty
nice.) Anyways.. you’re probably wondering why this blog is the good, the bad,
and the ugly. Well while we were inside of McDonald’s my bag was stolen right
out of my chair. New MacPro GONE! Ipod GONE! Bible and journal GONE! Pictures
of family and friends GONE! Scripture memory box GONE! Team mates bible,
journal, and two rain jackets GONE! Are you kidding me? I thought this might
happen in Africa which is like 5 months from now.. not the 4th day
that I’m in Ecuador! I didn’t even know what to do.. run after someone..
scream.. what? Well I didn’t do any of those things. I’ll admit I was really
upset for about a minute when something inside me just changed. I was like “It’s
okay. I’m safe. My squad is safe. Everything will be okay.” If you know me
personally this would not have been my normal reaction but it was like I wasn’t
myself. I just went on with the day as if nothing was wrong. I thought of these
two verses:
Colossians 3:2 “Set
your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Matthew 6:19-21 “Do
not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and
where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in
and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.”
All these things
that are now gone are things that can be replaced. Though this person seemed to
have taken a lot of things from me.. there’s one thing that can never be taken
and that’s my faith and love for Jesus Christ. Thank you God for this trial; I
know that you have a greater purpose for it is written in Proverbs 16:4 “The
Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of
trouble.” I love you and trust you. Thank you for your faithfulness.
