Well, here’s a little brief rundown of what’s been going on the past few weeks. We are still working at the same school and starting on our last month on the race!! Honestly, I am really sad it’s going to be over. I love Ecuador, I love my students, I love my hosts, I love the food, I love the time I get to spend with the Lord, I love the adventures, I love my people, but mostly I love my students. Contrary to many of the blogs my squad has been writing, I’m not tired of the race, and I’m not ready for it to end. I don’t say this in a way of being haughty or proud at all, but I really still am finding so much joy and peace as we finish off. This place is my culture, my people, my passion, and what the Lord has placed in my heart. I almost feel like I’m the best version of me when I’m in Central or South America. I know that may sound weird, but I truly love the missions I’ve gotten to serve, and I love the culture it represents. Over my journey, I know the Lord has reminded me that this place, this culture, is the desire He has given me.
Not only do I continually love just being in Ecuador, I love teaching and just being in my school with my students. When you read this, read it feeling the most abounding, uncontrollable love you can muster, and that’s how I am writing it. I know my entire squad is probably sick of hearing stories of my students or hearing me talk about how excited I am to wake up at 5 to get ready for school. Each and every student I love with my whole heart, a love that I truly believe only came from the Lord. They make me laugh all the time, let me play soccer with them, or even just want to hang out after school. Leaving them is going to wreck me more than I can imagine, but that’s just going to make me love them harder.
A quick story: I help the fifth grade class for lunch so of course we talk about any and everything. I play soccer during their break with them. I help teach them computer. We’re buds.
Well, last week I missed Monday for a team leader meeting, Tuesday I went with my teacher to a Microsoft conference, and Wednesday one of my fifth graders wasn’t in lunch. On Thursday, when I was walking to lunch with a tray of food she saw me and grinned the biggest smile. I said, “Jayla, mija, how are you?” She replied holding onto my arm, “I’m fine, teacher. I’ve missed you.” After that, she escorted me into the room and turned to her best friend and screamed, “MATTY! She’s back, she didn’t leave us!!! She hasn’t left yet!!!” That honestly melted my heart and reminded me how sweet they are.
Another time with my same class, I told them I would cry when I left them and all my fifth graders whined, “Oh teacher, me too. We’re going to cry so much!” I have truly been so blessed to have the opportunity to work with all these children.
I love Ecuador. I love the city and all the landscapes that you can adventure to. There are mountains, lakes, volcanoes, beaches, the jungle, cities, and basically any other type of earth you can think of. Over the past two months, we have had the chance to explore many types of Ecuador. I went to the cloud forest, traveled to Sacua, a little town in the jungle, hiked Pinchincha the Quito mountain, shopped in the Otavalo market, and explored Old Town. I’m going to the volcano, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa crater lagoon, and Baños, too. Getting to adventure on the weekends has been such a fun time filled with the beauties of God’s creation.
Also, I have finished the book I was reading in Spanish. It was the longest Spanish book I have ever read, but well worth the challenge. It was a really good book too. Now my student is looking to buy “A Case for Christ” not only for him to read but his mom to read as well to uphold his end of the bargain.
This past weekend a team from an 11n11 squad arrived to stay with us the next month. They are in their tenth month and have this fire still. I think this will be a good thing for our squad. I hope they can influence us with their wisdom and maturity and spread their passion to the rest of my squad who are feeling down and checking out. Having new energetic faces in the house I pray will be uplifting for many of us.
Last week, I was accepted into a freshman housing program at Georgia Tech. It’s called a global living learning leadership community. It focuses on the UN sustainable development goals like education, ending hunger, bettering health, and economic growth. I will get to be living with students who are as passionate about impacting the world as I am. It will be such a blessing to be surrounded by similar minded people and in an atmosphere to work to make a difference. I am so excited about that opportunity, and the Lord truly opened that door for me.
So many good things are happening and falling into place. The Lord is opening doors which for that I am grateful and excited. Although there’s so much blessing that I am experiencing, It’s still been hard the last couple weeks with all the negative mindsets and people wishing they could be home. It’s hard for me to have grace and empathy when I can see so much fruit and good in things, but I also don’t want to dismiss what they are feeling because I know it’s challenging to be upset and homesick. My prayer is that they cling to the Lord during this time of struggle. Recently, I went through one of the most difficult situations on my race, but through the pain, confusion, frustration, and sadness He proved to be right where I needed Him. He held me while I cried. He spoke His truths and promises to me so clearly that I knew He was with me in every step. Was any of it fun to go through? No, but did I experience His presence, love, and comfort, most definitely. That is what I want for my squadmates who are confused, hurt, and frustrated. I want them to ONLY rely on Him.
I ask that you keep my world race family in your prayers as we finish this last month. I ask that you pray for the Lord to prepare our hearts to come home, prepare our hearts to leave each of our brothers and sisters that we have come to love, and prepare our hearts to not just endure but thrive this last month. For me, I would like you to pray that I can be a light to keep people’s spirits up. I pray that all of this struggle would come to pass, and joy and happiness would flow from us. Thank you for all the support you have given me on this journey. I may not be ready to leave Ecuador, but I will be so happy to come home.
Sorry this one was kinda all over the place!
