Well, I’ve noticed that lately I am starting to really miss US food. It’s not that I don’t like Ecuadorian food—I do! It’s just that I’m craving Thai food, turkey burgers, sausage egg and cheese sandwiches from Dunkin Donuts, Frappucinos from Starbucks, grilled cheese sandwiches, my dad’s chili, and anything Italian.
It’s nice living in another culture with its own language, customs and traditional dishes, but what I’m starting to miss about my home culture is the fact that there are so many cultures in one place that you have endless possibilities!
On the plus side, I have been eating much more fruit here, and Ecuador has tons of tropical fruits that the US doesn’t have, and that’s helping me stay content in the culinary department. That, and the fact that my mom and my friend Tara have sent me some goodies from the US! Thank you to both of you, by the way!
I guess when you think about another culture it all seems so romantic, until you go live there and it becomes your culture and you start getting a little burnt out on it! Well, at least on the food!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Week 22: Five Months Married!
This week we had our five month anniversary!
I feel blessed, because I’ve seen how much we’ve grown as a couple, the problems we’ve been able to face together as a team, how much we’re learning, and I feel like it’s getting better every day!
I was talking to a friend of mine who was asking me questions about marriage, and I told her that I think no one really tries to prepare you for marriage. No one warns you about the days between the days when you’re happy and taking pictures for the photo album. The only people talking are worldly people who make us believe in fairy tales that don’t exist, and when we don’t get the fairy tale, we walk away.
I think marriage is something much richer and deeper and more beautiful that a fairy tale, but I also know that to get to that point, you don’t just wake up in the morning and live how you want to. It’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of compromise, it’s shutting your mouth and not being right, even if you are right. Everyone wants a great marriage, but few people want to work at it.
I can’t say that they’ve been 5 perfect months, or five months without a single fight. But I can say that after 5 months of being married, I’m living that happy marriage that I always wanted. I’m just not getting to be right as much as I would like! I’ve decided it’s worth it.
I feel blessed, because I’ve seen how much we’ve grown as a couple, the problems we’ve been able to face together as a team, how much we’re learning, and I feel like it’s getting better every day!
I was talking to a friend of mine who was asking me questions about marriage, and I told her that I think no one really tries to prepare you for marriage. No one warns you about the days between the days when you’re happy and taking pictures for the photo album. The only people talking are worldly people who make us believe in fairy tales that don’t exist, and when we don’t get the fairy tale, we walk away.
I think marriage is something much richer and deeper and more beautiful that a fairy tale, but I also know that to get to that point, you don’t just wake up in the morning and live how you want to. It’s a lot of work, it’s a lot of compromise, it’s shutting your mouth and not being right, even if you are right. Everyone wants a great marriage, but few people want to work at it.
I can’t say that they’ve been 5 perfect months, or five months without a single fight. But I can say that after 5 months of being married, I’m living that happy marriage that I always wanted. I’m just not getting to be right as much as I would like! I’ve decided it’s worth it.
Week 21: Bugs
In Puyo there are a lot of bugs, but while I was there I went to a doctor and found out that some of those bugs are INSIDE of me! Ah!
Apparently I have had two parasites in my blood, which is the reason that I have been sick for literally almost a year. I’m just not sure why no one found this before!
I’m a little worried about taking the medicines that the doctor gave me, because I’m worried about those parasites coming out! The doctor assured me that there shouldn’t be any gross consequences to taking the medicine, but I’m building up my courage just in case! Let’s pray that I can be unaware of this healing process!! Still, it´s such a relief to know what has been causing me to feel so sick for so long! Hopefully once this problem is resolved I will be able to give more time and effort to the things that really matter in my life, like my family and the ministry. It´s hard to be a good wife and a good leader when you don´t even feel like yourself. What will it feel like to not be sick?? I can´t wait to remember!
Apparently I have had two parasites in my blood, which is the reason that I have been sick for literally almost a year. I’m just not sure why no one found this before!
I’m a little worried about taking the medicines that the doctor gave me, because I’m worried about those parasites coming out! The doctor assured me that there shouldn’t be any gross consequences to taking the medicine, but I’m building up my courage just in case! Let’s pray that I can be unaware of this healing process!! Still, it´s such a relief to know what has been causing me to feel so sick for so long! Hopefully once this problem is resolved I will be able to give more time and effort to the things that really matter in my life, like my family and the ministry. It´s hard to be a good wife and a good leader when you don´t even feel like yourself. What will it feel like to not be sick?? I can´t wait to remember!
Week 21: Five Love Languages
As I mentioned, in Puyo we had a lot of free time! I took advantage of it to read another book that my friend Tara sent me, The Five Love Languages.
I think that every married couple should read this book. It’s amazing how many fights we can avoid in our marriages when we start to understand the underlying reasons for the disagreements. I think any married person would change their behavior drastically if they understood that one major reason that spouses react negatively to our actions is that they don’t feel loved! Learning to love someone the way they need to be loved, and not the way we want to love them is not actually as hard as we might think. I think this book goes a long way in helping us start to understand how to do that.
If you haven’t read the book yet, I recommend to all of you that you go get a copy and read it right away! Along with learning about your spouse, you might be surprised what you learn about YOU!
I think that every married couple should read this book. It’s amazing how many fights we can avoid in our marriages when we start to understand the underlying reasons for the disagreements. I think any married person would change their behavior drastically if they understood that one major reason that spouses react negatively to our actions is that they don’t feel loved! Learning to love someone the way they need to be loved, and not the way we want to love them is not actually as hard as we might think. I think this book goes a long way in helping us start to understand how to do that.
If you haven’t read the book yet, I recommend to all of you that you go get a copy and read it right away! Along with learning about your spouse, you might be surprised what you learn about YOU!
Week 21: Puyo!
Our Puyo trip was great! I’ll be blogging about a few aspects of the trip in more detail, but the trip in general was wonderful.
The whole week it rained and the TV was broken! There was literally nothing to do. Sound like a drag? I don’t think I’ve been happier in some time! I was a little disappointed not to get to go to the river to swim, but other than that, I think it was the best vacation I’ve ever had!
Jairo and I were laughing together at one point in the trip, sitting there staring at each other with nothing to do. We both agreed that it was a great feeling to finally be bored! We’re so busy in our day-to-day life, trying to run a very young ministry; it was nice to have nothing to do! The only bad thing is that now I have to readjust to that crazy pace again!
Sometimes it´s good to be still and know that He is God...and sometimes I think God forces us in that direction when we aren´t able to get there ourselves. God knows that we all need some down time if we´re going to be effective in season. So thank you, God, for this much-needed break!
The whole week it rained and the TV was broken! There was literally nothing to do. Sound like a drag? I don’t think I’ve been happier in some time! I was a little disappointed not to get to go to the river to swim, but other than that, I think it was the best vacation I’ve ever had!
Jairo and I were laughing together at one point in the trip, sitting there staring at each other with nothing to do. We both agreed that it was a great feeling to finally be bored! We’re so busy in our day-to-day life, trying to run a very young ministry; it was nice to have nothing to do! The only bad thing is that now I have to readjust to that crazy pace again!
Sometimes it´s good to be still and know that He is God...and sometimes I think God forces us in that direction when we aren´t able to get there ourselves. God knows that we all need some down time if we´re going to be effective in season. So thank you, God, for this much-needed break!
Week 20: Voting Again
Well, because this country is SO organized, they decided to have ANOTHER election...yeah. Even though they just had one.
So, once again we have to travel to Puyo so that Jairo can vote. Personally, I’ll take whatever excuse I can get to go to Puyo, so I can’t say I’m upset!!
Hope you won’t miss me too much, but I’ll write when I get back.
So, once again we have to travel to Puyo so that Jairo can vote. Personally, I’ll take whatever excuse I can get to go to Puyo, so I can’t say I’m upset!!
Hope you won’t miss me too much, but I’ll write when I get back.
Week 19: Organize!!
I’m going to make a confession. I don’t like to clean. Shocking, I know! I mean, I like the house to be clean. I just would rather hire a maid!
Well, I’ve realized that the maid option isn’t open to me, so I decided to become more purposeful in my house-cleaning. It’s not that I haven’t been cleaning up until now, I have, but I felt like I needed to streamline the process a little. I made a list of all the chores I have to do every day and made a schedule for what days I should do what.
I swear, I’m not OCD, I just want to get the cleaning done quickly and over with! I’ve tried it out for a few days now and it’s saving me a lot of time. Plus, I get that warm, fuzzy feeling when I check something off the list!
Reading in Proverbs 31, I think the virtuous wife described there is portrayed as having her home organized and orderly, and the result of her hard work is the praise of her family, which to me seems well worth it! It´s hard to live up to her as a standard for being a godly wife, but I think it´s important to keep trying to get better and better and those things we are told a virtuous woman excells at. I would love for my husband to rise up and call me blessed!!
Well, I’ve realized that the maid option isn’t open to me, so I decided to become more purposeful in my house-cleaning. It’s not that I haven’t been cleaning up until now, I have, but I felt like I needed to streamline the process a little. I made a list of all the chores I have to do every day and made a schedule for what days I should do what.
I swear, I’m not OCD, I just want to get the cleaning done quickly and over with! I’ve tried it out for a few days now and it’s saving me a lot of time. Plus, I get that warm, fuzzy feeling when I check something off the list!
Reading in Proverbs 31, I think the virtuous wife described there is portrayed as having her home organized and orderly, and the result of her hard work is the praise of her family, which to me seems well worth it! It´s hard to live up to her as a standard for being a godly wife, but I think it´s important to keep trying to get better and better and those things we are told a virtuous woman excells at. I would love for my husband to rise up and call me blessed!!
Week 19: Boundaries
My friend Tara from Maine sent me the book Boundaries, and I read it really fast because I couldn’t put it down!! I won’t be able to do it justice in a summary, so I just want to recommend that everyone read it!! It is really fantastic and I think it could really help a lot of people.
Friday, March 12, 2010
I´d like to explain...
If you have been checking back with this blog at all and have been wondering when in the world I would ever start blogging again, let me explain! Our computer, where I have several months worth of blogging saved, has been at the doctor for literally like a million billion years!! I am still blogging on this computer, waiting for the day that our other computer arrives home and I will be able to post all of the posts in order...so one of these days you will check in and find that there are like a billion new posts all of the sudden!! It´s looking like that day should be in the next few weeks (Lord willing!!) so please bear with me! Soon you will get to read about everything that has happened since my last post!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Week 18: Getting More Connected
I have an announcement! In about a week Jairo and I are getting internet at home!
I cannot express how excited I am! I’ll be able to talk on Skype to my family and friends, I’ll be able to download things and upload things in the comfort of my own home, and who knows—maybe I’ll even post this blog on time!
I guess we’ll find out!
I cannot express how excited I am! I’ll be able to talk on Skype to my family and friends, I’ll be able to download things and upload things in the comfort of my own home, and who knows—maybe I’ll even post this blog on time!
I guess we’ll find out!
Week 18: Four Months Married!
We have been married for four months! (Applause, applause) Thank you.
These four months have been marked with both failure and success, sadness and joy, arguing and getting along, work and fun...a little bit of everything. I feel like we’re finally starting to feel married. I don’t know if that makes sense. I guess I mean that I’m used to my cleaning schedule, making meals, falling asleep and waking up next to someone, being accountable to my husband; I think we’re finally fitting into our roles.
It’s definitely not perfect. I never know when I wake up one day how it’s going to go. There’s a lot of variables. In a life as busy as ours, you can’t be too attached to your idea of how things should be. Even so, there’s a certain level of predictability we’ve gained, and not in the boring sense. It’s actually kind of comforting.
I think if there’s a four-month milestone, it’s this: We’re finally married! Go figure!
These four months have been marked with both failure and success, sadness and joy, arguing and getting along, work and fun...a little bit of everything. I feel like we’re finally starting to feel married. I don’t know if that makes sense. I guess I mean that I’m used to my cleaning schedule, making meals, falling asleep and waking up next to someone, being accountable to my husband; I think we’re finally fitting into our roles.
It’s definitely not perfect. I never know when I wake up one day how it’s going to go. There’s a lot of variables. In a life as busy as ours, you can’t be too attached to your idea of how things should be. Even so, there’s a certain level of predictability we’ve gained, and not in the boring sense. It’s actually kind of comforting.
I think if there’s a four-month milestone, it’s this: We’re finally married! Go figure!
Week 17: Organizing the Revolution
We are now in full-swing with Revolution Ministries in Cordero de Dios church in Quito. We’re having 3 meetings a week with our leadership team to try to get organized, brainstorm, pray, and get this thing going!
I’m constantly reminded of how cool God is, how He blesses us even though we don’t deserve it. This week, my blessings, in part, come from our leadership team. There aren’t very many of us, but the people I work with on this are the best people I could have asked for. They are dedicated, responsible, punctual, they love God, and they’re just cool people.
I am always amazed at how great my life is. It’s not that it’s easy—it’s not. It’s that, no matter what else happens, I’m living my dream. I have an organization that is going to help tons of people. I get to work with people I really enjoy. And my boss is a pretty cool guy—His name is God.
I just want to encourage my friends out there who are also trying to start organizations and get things done for God. I know there are a lot of you. Scripture says that with Christ all things are possible. Keep trying, you will succeed. As we say in Spanish, Sigue adelante!! Don’t give up. God’s on your side. And, if it helps, so am I.
I’m constantly reminded of how cool God is, how He blesses us even though we don’t deserve it. This week, my blessings, in part, come from our leadership team. There aren’t very many of us, but the people I work with on this are the best people I could have asked for. They are dedicated, responsible, punctual, they love God, and they’re just cool people.
I am always amazed at how great my life is. It’s not that it’s easy—it’s not. It’s that, no matter what else happens, I’m living my dream. I have an organization that is going to help tons of people. I get to work with people I really enjoy. And my boss is a pretty cool guy—His name is God.
I just want to encourage my friends out there who are also trying to start organizations and get things done for God. I know there are a lot of you. Scripture says that with Christ all things are possible. Keep trying, you will succeed. As we say in Spanish, Sigue adelante!! Don’t give up. God’s on your side. And, if it helps, so am I.
Week 16: Music to Start a Revolution By
Jairo and I just bought the new cd by a group called Rojo. It’s a Christian band from Mexico which happens to be Jairo’s favorite band of all time. We’ve been listening to the cd for last few days and I have to say, it’s pretty cool. I think it’s their best cd yet.
The whole theme of the cd is that they want to see God start a revolution; in their lives, in their country, in this generation and in the whole world. The songs are all really cool, and got us really excited because that theme is right up our alley!
I think music is a hugely powerful tool, and not just in church services. I believe and have seen that listening to God-honoring, Christian music is a huge help to me in my life. It encourages me, it helps me think about God all day long, and it helps me maintain a good attitude. Non-Christian music, however, does exactly the opposite. Sure, I might feel happy while I listen to a song, but the long-term effects are not positive.
There are only two kingdoms in this world, God’s and Satan’s. Everything we do in life has spiritual value, whether we like it or not. When I listen to Christian music, I’m honoring God. When I listen to non-Christian music, I’m honoring Satan. It’s not that non-Christian music is evil. It’s that it’s not for God, and if it’s not for God, there’s no point to it, other than to be for Satan. There’s no one else it can be for.
The same principle is true about life. If I’m not living my life for God, then I’m living it for me, and if I’m living it for me, I’m living it in rebellion to God—in other words, although I would never realize it, I am living my life for Satan. The Bible is clear about this. There’s no middle ground. We can’t live our lives for ourselves. Paul, in Scripture, reminds us that we were bought with a price, the highest price, and we can either be slaves to God, who gives us freedom, or slaves to Satan, who only keeps us in bondage.
I’m very thankful that there is good, cool Christian music out there, so that it doesn’t have to be that difficult to just honor God. Sure, in other areas it’s hard, but at least in music, I can just enjoy it without worrying about what it’s doing to me. If it’s for God, I know it’ll only do me good.
The whole theme of the cd is that they want to see God start a revolution; in their lives, in their country, in this generation and in the whole world. The songs are all really cool, and got us really excited because that theme is right up our alley!
I think music is a hugely powerful tool, and not just in church services. I believe and have seen that listening to God-honoring, Christian music is a huge help to me in my life. It encourages me, it helps me think about God all day long, and it helps me maintain a good attitude. Non-Christian music, however, does exactly the opposite. Sure, I might feel happy while I listen to a song, but the long-term effects are not positive.
There are only two kingdoms in this world, God’s and Satan’s. Everything we do in life has spiritual value, whether we like it or not. When I listen to Christian music, I’m honoring God. When I listen to non-Christian music, I’m honoring Satan. It’s not that non-Christian music is evil. It’s that it’s not for God, and if it’s not for God, there’s no point to it, other than to be for Satan. There’s no one else it can be for.
The same principle is true about life. If I’m not living my life for God, then I’m living it for me, and if I’m living it for me, I’m living it in rebellion to God—in other words, although I would never realize it, I am living my life for Satan. The Bible is clear about this. There’s no middle ground. We can’t live our lives for ourselves. Paul, in Scripture, reminds us that we were bought with a price, the highest price, and we can either be slaves to God, who gives us freedom, or slaves to Satan, who only keeps us in bondage.
I’m very thankful that there is good, cool Christian music out there, so that it doesn’t have to be that difficult to just honor God. Sure, in other areas it’s hard, but at least in music, I can just enjoy it without worrying about what it’s doing to me. If it’s for God, I know it’ll only do me good.
Week 16: The Launch of Revolution
Jairo and I have a non-profit organization called Revolution Ministries. Or, we will have, once we finish the paperwork. It’s a Christian organization for youth and children, and the goal is to start a spiritual revolution in the new generations of youth, so that they can live out their faith and be a light to their peers and their country.
Our pastor agreed to let Revolution take over the church youth group, so we just had an all-night event, no sleeping, called a “vigilia” to launch Revolution with the youth. It was an incredible night. We packed it full of prayer, praise and worship, games, dramas, snacks and much more. There were a lot of teens there, a lot more than we expected, and it was a great night of fellowship and getting to know the teens better. They were very excited about all the new changes and I think it’s going to be a really great opportunity to be working with Cordero de Dios church.
A pastor was there visiting from Santo Domingo, a city on the coast of Ecuador, and he told us later that he is beginning a youth group in Santo Domingo and was wondering if Revolution would like to take it over! I’m not sure if we will or not, because we really need to pray about it and see where God is leading us.
Still, I’m pretty excited that God is opening the doors for this ministry! I feel like the whole has been an affirmation from God that He is pleased with the ministry and wants to use us. I feel very content and ready to get to work! I hope the feeling lasts for a while!
Our pastor agreed to let Revolution take over the church youth group, so we just had an all-night event, no sleeping, called a “vigilia” to launch Revolution with the youth. It was an incredible night. We packed it full of prayer, praise and worship, games, dramas, snacks and much more. There were a lot of teens there, a lot more than we expected, and it was a great night of fellowship and getting to know the teens better. They were very excited about all the new changes and I think it’s going to be a really great opportunity to be working with Cordero de Dios church.
A pastor was there visiting from Santo Domingo, a city on the coast of Ecuador, and he told us later that he is beginning a youth group in Santo Domingo and was wondering if Revolution would like to take it over! I’m not sure if we will or not, because we really need to pray about it and see where God is leading us.
Still, I’m pretty excited that God is opening the doors for this ministry! I feel like the whole has been an affirmation from God that He is pleased with the ministry and wants to use us. I feel very content and ready to get to work! I hope the feeling lasts for a while!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)