Ecuador: part 2 - Sunday

6-5
THe morning started out with breakfast, lunch building  and then we

waited for our ride. There was alot of "hurry up and wait" moments

over the course of the first two weeks.   We met our new translator,

Eric, today. 

 

We all squeezed into the van and rode out to Nigeria for

church.

The church service was wonderful. For part of it the pastor had us

break into groups and each group was to write about different ways

they would like to see the community improve and how they plan to make

those changes happen. It was the best way to truly see these people's

hearts. The church also prayed for our team. The pastor then asked us

to come up and speak to the church one at a time. I had no idea what

to say, but I wasn't nervous. I just spoke from my heart. :]

At the end of the service, the church was served a lunch. After lunch we headed out to do house to house assessments. Jen and I made a team with Andres translating, while Sheri and Manaal went with the pastor and Eric translating. 

The houses we saw were full of children with the flu.We also saw a number of women with arthritis. We didn't encounter anything serious, and  didn't have to hand out any medication. We gave the mom some advice  and then prayed for the family.
One of the cutest things was when a woman excitedly invited us into her home just to talk. She talked about how she had told the pastor that we should have stopped by her house first.
 

We spent the afternoon in Nigeria doing these house visits then headed back.
We asked about a frozen yogurt place and Andres offered to take us to one. So we and Adres and Eric walked to the Naturissmo.
What they call frozen yogurt here is different than what we are used to in the states. THe yogurt is a liquid-drinkable form, they then mix fruit and some ice in with it and blend it.
It was just the treat that the team was craving.
THe rest of the evening was spent cleaning ourselves, eating, reading and relaxing.

Ecuador- another chapter

It's almost here. The thing I have been waiting 4 years for.

I leave today for my first Medical Mission trip.

For those of you who have been on this journey with me for a while know where I am at.

For those of you that haven't let me tell you, it have been a long, hard, and WONDERFUL journey.

It started with my cross-country move from my house in Illinois to Idaho.

I moved in with a lady and her mom whom I had never met.

I have developed a relationship with these women that I wouldn't trade for anything. They have been a HUGE blessing in my life and I could never thank them enough.

I met so many new people.

Watched my parents move to the other side of the globe.

Pushed through EMT school and the 4 tests required to get nationally certified.

Two Skills practicals and two written tests.

All the while working as a barista.

Mission Medic class started the same week as my last EMT classes.
I learned how to poke people with needles, start IVs,
and place stitches along with so many other skills.

I spent Christmas with a wonderful family that took me into their home and shared their life with me for a number of days.

Was blessed with a number of beautiful friends that encourage me and help me be brave.

Got involved in salsa dancing which helped heal my knee immensely and brought even more great people into my life.

I gained an unbelievable amount of medical knowledge.

Mostly I learned what it meant to be brave. 

I leave today for Ecuador to do the very thing that I have dreamed of for years.

To do beautiful things in broken places.

Thank you for all the support and encouragement over the years, this year in particular. 

You mean the world to me! 

I will updates you on the Ecuador trip as soon as I can. 

mini-me showing her Mission Medic support!

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4