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.