Another week...though interesting

So yeah, this week kinda flew by. Not too much happened but at the same time a lot I guess. Friday I bought a bunch of soccer balls and bibles for the church. That was pretty cool. They have definately enjoyed that. I also finally recieved letters sent to me from a month ago. haha. A little late but always good to hear from home. Saturday was pretty chill till youth group, which was a blast. We played all sorts of games becuase this week is Carnaval, a popular holiday here in Ecuador. Here in Quito they play with water, which meant that everyone gets soaked. Definately a good time as I walked home dripping wet. haha. But everyone had a good time. Sunday I went back to Ambato with Juan and Rosa. Sunday morning was a parade that was nice. The floats are gorgeous and designed completely out of flowers, fruit and bread. Afterward we went to a park where we walked around and looked out over the city of Ambato. That night as we were on the roof watching fireworks, I turned around and was able to see the volcano, Tungurahua, erupting. Lava glowing red and all. That was real real awesome. It was too far away to take a picture though. All that same it was mad sweet. Monday was fairly relaxed during the day until around 5 we went to get seats for the parade. The parade that night was better. Tons more people and more floats and bands and everything. I caught a number of prizes thrown including an apple, a clementine, a poster, a candy and bread. (It helps I'm always one of the tallest people around. haha). Afterward is when the madness began. In Ambato they play Carnaval with spray foam. Soooo, everyone was quickly armed and covered in foam of varying colors. It was absolutely crazy with just tons of people packed in the streets, music blaring, foam flying. It was crazy but tons of fun. When we finally got back to the house around midnight my hat was soaked and my arms and face were multicolored from the foam. I was exhausted and passed out pretty quick. Tuesday morning Juan and I woke up and returned back to Quito where we showered and changed and felt soooo much better. haha. That afternoon a couple girls from the church came over for help with their math. Fernando and I helped them admist our competitions to solve geometry problems. Man I'm rusty. I really miss math and calc and physics. After that we continued to talk for a while about relationships and other stuff. It was a good time of just talking and sharing. Afterward, Fernando remembered he had an English project due the next day so We spent the next hour or so making a history of his life as I helped him with the English.

Wednesday I resumed work, only to find out that they had been working Monday and Tuesday, which Fernando told me they weren't. Oh well. We finished removing the forms and supports for the new floor and cleaned up the second story. It was a pretty easy day filled with removing nails. Although I did get in a tussle with board as I removed it from the cieling. I got a nice cut on my hand and wrist but not too bad fortunately. That morning I finally gave into the fact that I have a cold so my nose has been running like a faucet. Last night I spent a lot of time relaxing and reading and watched the first half of Wall-E before going to sleep. Good movie. This morning I felt better and headed off to work as normal. The morning went by fine and I prepared columns for the maestro to plaster. However after lunch my stomach started hurting, cramping real bad. I tried to go to the bathroom but couldn't and quickly started buring up and sweating till I threw up. Not a plesent experience. On top of it all my stomach was still cramping I was reduced to laying on the tile floor to rest and cool off. Finally I got up and walked to Lynford's house where Sharon, his wife, helped me lie down and gave me some tums. I ended up falling asleep for about and hour or so and have felt better since I woke up. Not perfect but better. Now I just gotta take it easy and hope it gets better. So yeah, definately a prayer request for my health as I work to get better. Also that I will continue to turn to God in everything that I find everything I need in him and that I don't grow tired or weary of serving. I am over 2/3 done and closing in on the 3/4 mark (Monday). It gets easy at times to dwell on returning home but I know that there is still plenty of time and plenty that God has for me here. Help to trust and rely on that. Thanks again as always for your prayers and support and love. I'm praying constantly for you and love and miss you all.

I know you can't really tell but its about midnight and the street is still packed with people for about a 1.5 mile stretch and foam is flying.

This is Tungerahua again with an overlook of Ambato.

A whole LOT

Hey all. So I know, I know I didn't post last week. I apoligize, work ran late and my time for calls and posting got cut short. However... Everything was a complete success. The group from the States arrived Thursday night and we worked real light on Friday as we finished preparation for the pour. Saturday was an absolutely perfect day, clear sunny and plenty warm. We had more than enough help and got it all done in 5 hours, less than planned. It turned out perfect. That night we had a fun time with the kids during youth group and the kids loved having all the American's there. Sunday was a good time, after church a lot of the kids hung out and we played soccer and american football. The later didn't go over so well but it was great fun all the same. haha. All the next week we spent tiling and painting the sanctuary and the bathrooms. I learned how to plaster cement, lay tile and crout tile. It was great and with all the help we got it all done. It looks fantastic, completely different from before. Last Monday, my family had the whole group over for dinner. It was busy but great all the same and the food was great. I got to stand in as 1 of only 2 translators, which is a lot more difficult than it looks. My brain doesn't change correctly always and found myself speaking to the Americans in Spanish and the Ecuadorians in English on numerous occasions. haha In the end it was all good and everyone enjoyed the evening. It was great being able to speak English, but according to my family, at the expence of my Spanish. haha. This Monday was there last day of work and we worked to the wire to finish everything up but we got it done. Thanks to God.

Last weekend was incredible. I went with Fernando and Juan to Ambato, a smaller city 2 miles south of Quito. It is well known for it lush and plentiful flowers and fruits. Saturday we went and saw the city of Ambato. It was much more tranquil than Quito. Being Valentines day, I got to talk to Heidi, she even tracked me down in another city. haha. I loved it though, as always. Sunday however was even more amazing. We went to visit Los Banos, a city about an hour from Ambato. It is gorgeous and very popular among tourists, for good reason. It sits at the base of a currently active volcano, Tungurahua, which was mad cool seeing the smoke pour out of as we approached. Becuase of this it is plesently warm and has tons of natural heated pools, fueled by the hot springs from the volcano. It is an absolutely gorgeous city. As you head out there is an route called Avenida de Cascadas, avenue of waterfalls. It is one of the most beutiful places I've ever seen. It winds through the mountains following various rivers and the are tons of waterfalls, absolutely gorgeous. On top of it all, I went bungie jumping over a river. OH MAN!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!! haha I loved it!! It really was intense and deffinatley had butterflies before and after but I loved every second of it. All in all it was an incredible day filled with excitement and absolute beauty.

This week has been real relaxing. We worked Monday to finish everything up but for now there isn't anything to do until next week when we remove the supports from the floor. So Tuesday I met Fernando in the center city after he finished his English class and we spent the day visiting measeums, the bascillica and other cites. It was a real good day with lots of fun. Yesterday Juan, Fernando and I went and visited a couple malls in the north part of Quito, the rich area, haha. We had a good time and we went bowling and played pool. It was their first time and was funny to watch. We had a real good time though. This week has been a good time to relax and experience more of Quito.

So all is well here. God has continued to bless me and my time here. I do miss home a lot but I continue to be filled here. The last couple days my stomach has been bothering me a bit as I think some of the food is catching up to me, though not bad. Don't worry. Just pray for this that it will get better and not worse. Continue to pray that God will provide me with His work and His guidance while I'm here. Thanks as always for the support and prayers and love. I miss and love you all and can't wait to get home in less than 5 weeks.

The bascillica. Impressive, gorgeous and yeah, we had a good time running around there. haha

Me in front of a waterfall in Los Banos. Absolutely gorgeous and yeah, yeah I slipped and my feet were wet the rest of the day. haha

Tungurahua. Awesome. It was real cool seeing a live volcano spewing smoke. Got blessed with a clear shot too. Mad cool.

And yeah, I jumped. haha. INCREDIBLE. I would advise to anyone to do it. But yeah, I can now say I jumped off a bridge.

Another week, another great experience

Wow, freakin incredible week thus far. Saturday we finally installed the front gate for the church, which looks great. Also, the youth went out to the neighborhood and preached the gospel to the neigbors. It was really great to watch them speak and share openly. I spoke some but had some difficulty. It was great to see the people talk about their beliefs about God and see some begin to understand. Others accepted Christ and still others we were able to pray for that someone else might open them more. It was a great experience. Sunday began with another great service. However afterward, the pastor explained the church's plans for the future. eventually they want to build up to 4 floors and have a school there also. They are currently trying to buy the property next to the church for more space. Also, on Sundays they will begin classes for all ages. They will last 6 months and then progress to subsequent levels. A great way to give people a better and deeper understanding of the bible. It is great to see the plans that this church has to grow and the interest and enthusiasm from the people. Monday and Tuesday we continued working on the church as we prepare to pour the floor this Saturday.

Wednesday was incredible. I went with Fernando and Juan, who I am living with and Franklin, the youth leader of the church and we went to Rucu Pichincha, one of the mountains surrounding the city. We rode the Teleferqo (gondolo) half way up and ensued to hike another 2 hours to the top. It was incredible, steep hills, plants, rocks, rock climbing. It was hard, dangerous in parts but absolutely incredible. We were surrounded by clouds and wind. We crossed a death pass, a "bridge" no more than 2 feet wide and from there had to climb a 5 foot wall. haha. I don't know how but we all made it safely. At the summit was awesome. Surrounded by clouds and wind and bit of snow. All around seemed to fall away to steep rocky slopes to nowhere. Afterward when we finally made it down, we traveled into the city for a late lunch. We had pan de yuca, which is one of the best things I have tried here and its freakin incredible. By the end of it all I was exhausted and my legs were more or less rubber however, it was a phenomenal day.

Today was another long day of work, we are almost ready as we finish up preparation for Saturday. The group of 10 from the states arrive tonight and they will be here for 12 days. Saturday is the big pour as people from a number of different churches are coming to help, we are guessing around 60 people to help. It should be incredible. Overall everything is great. I feel good and God continues to refresh me everyday. Its been incredible. Thanks so much for your love and prayer, its going a long way. Hope everything back home is going well. I love you and miss you all.

The "death pass". yeah I was a bit nervous, haha. But we all made it alright.

The 4 of us (and a picture of Franklin's sister who couldn't be with us) at the summit. Lots of clouds and wind.

A view of the city from a bit below the cloud line. The city is huge and this is only one angle but it was incredible to see it all laid out.