Day's go by

It's WEDNESDAY!

Hallelujah! God is good. He is doing so much here it is amazing.

This week the children have a "VBS". The decorations are so precious...well, not the ones that are in my classroom...but it's ok. They are only intruding until Saturday.

When I first arrived here, I liked it. Then I had to have surgery and I hated it and wanted to come home. I was in much pain and I couldn't do anything. I couldn't go anywhere, I had to miss the beach. I missed my friends. Then, I started working and now I am busy all the time. In the services and while ministering to the people I watch them. I watch the love and joy on their faces. I hear the excitement in their voices and you can see the faith and expectancy in their voices.

The things that would offend someone in the United States are acceptable here and things are ...are tolerated in the United States are rude here. It's very different. At one time...I thought to myself..."oh, well. Whatever." But now, I am learning to appreciate the culture more and I am falling in love with the people...the country...and the culture.

Day by Day...

I walk to work...because I only live about 3 blocks from the church and school. It takes me less than 5 minutes to walk. I usually see some unusual sights on my way. Yesterday, I seen something that grabbed at my heart. There were three women and a little girl going through the trash. They were picking out what could be useful to keep. Everything that they had in their hands and pack to keep...I knew was trash. I would have thrown in out and never thought a second about it...but they were going to find something useful for it.

Also, I learned that a lot of the students at the school were poor. They could barely afford to go to school, let alone on any of the trips. They have the school uniforms, which most of them wear even when not in school. It's not like they have a lot of options for clothing. Their families struggle. I have a lot of clothes...I have a lot of shoes...I have a lot of things that I never use or wear or even know what they are. Im not saying that I shouldn't have those things...I just want to know why we are doing such a poor job at sharing the wealth and telling people about the Word of God.

When you minister the word...you meet all the needs. God said He'd supply them.
Everyday I think to myself...I have to be better at reaching out and helping. Im not doing enough. If someone is starving...or doesn't have clean clothes...we arent doing enough.

En serio!

Ok, so I apologize to all of you for not writing sooner! I recovered amazingly from my surgery and then got super busy...more than a farmer during planting season. (that's for Joshie!)

We are doing a lot of things here and my responsibilities have grown very rapidly. I went from doing nearly nothing to having about 3 jobs, being in church on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and then trying to manage my life at home with normal chores. It's a challenge but I definately recognize that I have the grace to do it.

I have also been picking up random jobs for the church and the school that I teach at.

I am falling in love with this country more and more every day. The people are very personal and the culture is so different and it's an adjustment but it's beautiful. They are part of the character of my Beloved.

Things I am learning:

how to walk humbly

how to work quickly

how to keep my spiritual life a priority

how to write professional e-mails

how to listen to the Holy Spirit on when to hit the "send" button and when to wait.

oh...and patience...the culture helps me with this.

However, I am a missionary and I am here on God's business. That includes the school that I teach at. It is a beautiful Christian school full of love for the students and a desire to see them come into the fullness of all God has for them and to be prosperous children of the Most High. This includes needs. I know most of you probably don't want to read this, but It's necessary. I live in a 3rd world country. The minimum wage is merely 50 cents/hour. We are currently seeking a higher accredidation as well as general needs in the school. We need desks and they are only $25 a piece and they seat 2 students...but there are also bills. If the Lord has put it on your heart to help us in this area, please. Make out a check to "Stonegate Faith Center". It is my church and sending agency in Bedford, IN. The check becomes tax deductable so, keep your copy or make a note. With the check, please attach a note that states: "For desks. Missions. Mary Anne. Ecuador" Please, please, please do not write it in the memo, for this will disqualify it from being tax deductable.

The address of the church is:

Stonegate Faith Center

Stonegate Faith CenterP.O. Box 906                                                                             
Bedford, Indiana

47421

website: www.stonegatefaithcenter.org

You can see a video of the school at: http://www.youtube.com/user/depcomfrater#p/u/79/BMYU7UTW2SU

May the blessings of the Lord overtake you all.

We are blessed to be a blessing.

If you don't believe the Lord is telling you to sow a seed to assist the christian school. Please, please, pray for the Lord to raise up people from the North, South, East, and West with such a heart and desire.

Or, find some missions to get involved in!

Here are some pictures of the school:

New revelation

Okay, so I was totally sitting here and just had a cup of tea and decided to do the facebook thing. It's funny how it's always the Holy Spirit leading us to do things. Anyway- I pop on facebook, and I don't normally like to chat with people...because it's never ending, but I don't know how to sign off of the thing...So, I just leave it.
Anyway a friend of mine back in Bedford, Indiana messages me and asks how I am. I have been in this house for a week and I am definately ready (and healed! Praise Jehovah-Rapha!) to go do something. My helper is my friend Nathalie who comes and visits me and bring me yummy cookies. :) I love you, Natha.
Ok, so my friend asks me how I have been, you know, like everyone does who is very concerned and loves me very much. I say, Im healed. I am. I feel so great! And then I begin to ask my friend how they are doing. They say good, but like everyone right now struggling a little. So, I just asked Holy Spirit to guide me and begin to type to him. In the mean time...
Holy Spirit is totally giving me a new revelation. So, my friend got to share this amazing revelation with me. I just began to cry. I was literally overwhelmed with the love of God.
You know, the Bible tells us in James the 1st chapter to Endure to receive the prize. btw-James is probably my favorite book...I have dreams about it and get a lot out of James. Okay, well it tells us to endure to receive the prize. What is the prize? And what do we have to endure?
The prize is a revelation that you will get from reading the scriptures that are inspired by God but written by Paul and John. (I know...I'm not going to let you stay spiritual-babies...not even on facebook!)
What is to be endured, is life. It is the good times and the bad times. The callings, the destinations, the destiny. It is the race. When you run, which is something I used to do and unfortunately has gotten away from me, you go through a time where your entire body aches. Your toenails even ache from running so long. You have thrown off all the clothing that you started with and are down to the bare essentials...but if you keep pressing. Just a little bit further. Past the pain, the illusion that you may die, the lie that you aren't going to make it...suddenly. The pain. Is no more. It's gone. You're body is used to running and now in a state. You have "left the past behind and looking ahead towards the prize..." Wow. And now, around the last corner, you can see the tight ribbon and the people cheering. That great cloud of witnesses.
You remember the little engine...that could....and did.
This is the way my mind thinks....so, sorry if Im too...la la la la la...for you.
The best part about all of this is trhat...the prize...is worthy to be thrown at the feet...of my King.He is worth it.

Just to catch you up

As I sit at the laptop (because I am able to actually sit with minor aches and pains) and drink my hot spice tea with honey that tastes like a Chai Tea from Starbucks, I can't help but say, "wow."
I just read an e-mail from my biggest supporter and back-up. She is always on it and prays for me everyday. The e-mail was a forward from Rick Renner's ministry. I don't know how many of you know who he is, but he is very smart and has much great revelation on the gospel and he is refered to as, "the greek geek". It's glorious to be a part of the family of God isnt it? Ok, so on about the email. It was so encouraging! It was on apostleship. It gave me great insight and encouragement.

Yes, I have been beaten around a bit. I have had a surgery in a foreign country(appendix), missed the beach, been mocked (over that one), and seen idolatry at its height. All I can say is...when Im done here, Im ready for England. But-not quite so long of a journey.

I am thankful that we are overcomers. I am thankful for the peace that Jesus left here when he asscended. I am thankful for my prayer possy in the U.S. for always covering me and being quick to pass on the word. Thanks you guys! I love you all very much and I am so blessed to have you in my life.
Now...I really want to try and do some laundry. We will see how this goes. :)

Pregnancy in Ecuador

The other day we went to some peoples house from the church to pray for the new baby. The baby was 10 days old and so precious. Her name is Melody Isabella. She was beautiful. I held the baby for some time and I also got to hear the labor story.

When the girl walked in, she was ready to deliver. The nurse told her to walk, while the baby was on it's way out. There was another girl there who had twins but they only delivered one baby and let the other one stay in and it's decaying. Another young girl was sitting in position and the nurse walked to the side to wash her hands and the baby came out and hit the floor and broke its shoulder.

I heard that this was common for Ecuador. I compared it to deliveries in America and how much different they are. It's easy, you go to all your check-ups, the doctor knows you...therefore you have peace about bringing the child into the world with no complications at all. Here it is a different story. Please pray for those mothers who have and are going to have to go through this experience to bring their little one into the world.

Life is precious. Pray for advancements in this area. Thanks.

Friday Night Service

On Friday night's we have a evening church service at 7:30pm. The worship is glorious and the Word is powerful. Tonight we had a few guests (from Cali!) and they spoke english! haha! I was excited to speak English...to an English speaker.

The guests were the ones that were doing the dental work in the Mountains with Pastor Patricio. They said that they were able to treat 100 people but, they will need to come back to do the rest. They seen many needs but were able to be God's hands!

They are planning on coming back in December. They have a church in California of about 80, and 35 of them are youth! Praise God!

Cow stomach...?

Ok so, tia (aunt) calls me to lunch. We always eat lunch at about 2pm. So I go out there and she has me try this soup. I get a bite of a potatoe, it's very salty...but over all pretty good. Then she gives me a bite of something else in it...it's texture was a cross between soy and raw clams...

So, I ask what it was. It was cow stomach. I asked if it was the insides or the skin and they weren't sure...
needless to say... I didn't eat anymore.

welcome to my new life :)

a few differences...

ok! So, we totally don't flush the toilet paper...which is WAY different. We put it in the trash. (that probably has something to do with why the water is very bad.

We have milk in a bag...which is actually good...

Some people put queso (cheese) in their coffee...

Coffee is very very tasty and very very cheap! (probably one of my favorite parts!

The people are very receptive to the gospel...because they have to rely on God to survive through the week.

There are idols...EVERYWHERE.

The money is USD and Ecuadorian...

Here are some pictures!

Pray on, dear one-

Mary Slessor wrote to a friend who had long prayed for her: "I have always said that I have no idea how or why God has carried me over so many funny and hard places, and made these hordes of people submit to me, or why the Government should have given me the privilege of a Magistrate among them, except in answer to prayer made at home for me. It is all beyond my comprehension. The only way I can explain it is on the ground that I have been prayed for more than most. Pray on, dear one — the power lies that way."

All that I can say right now is that God's hand is always visible in my life. If you are praying for me, please continue. I live in a city where there are Idols on nearly every street. It's very grieving. Yesterday, I seen a statue of the Devil in front of a beautiful house. The devil was torturing a man. After much questioning, I found that it was a casino. I will put up more pictures and try to blog more often.

May the blessings of the Lord overtake you!

Okay, soooo...never nails!

Here's the latest update.

I have been to cell groups, the mall, peoples houses.

I have eaten many strange things....like:

They are wrapped in leaves.

I did get sick from some food, very sick. But not from this! :)

I got sick from the McDonalds here.

Go figure.

Today I was able to get my suitcase back. I was very excited! So, now I have all of my belongings and things are going smoothly. Im on a strange diet now because of getting ill. No fried stuff, no grease...etc. It's pretty much fruit and toast and tea.

More to come!

Little Late update

Hola!
This is day 2 of my Ecuadorian journey.
So, I am going to catch everyone up.

I departed at Indianapolis Airport at 2:30pm, There was a technical difficulty so they had to wait for the ok and then we had a new route that was a little longer. I landed at Atlanta, GA at 4:15PM. I came in at gate A and needed to go to gate E15 before 4:45PM so I had to take the underground train to get me there. That flight was about 10 mins late on boarding and none of us knew why, until...a mechanic came in and put a window back in.
While at Indy I had to check 5 bags and at Ecuador I found out that they had sent one (the one with my favorite things in it and my socks...which I am missing right now because its very cold.) to another place and they are trying to get it to me here in Ecuador. I spent 2 hours trying to talk to the Delta Rep about my luggage.
I then went through customs very quickly. This little Ecuadorian man just grabbed my things and threw them through and kept saying, ¨tips? tips?¨ I am finding very quickly that everyone wants a tip.
Í was greeted by Pastor Edison and Teresa, Pastor Angel and Caty and their two kids, and Pastor Henry. They had some flowers for me and had been waiting for almost three hours.

I did not get to sleep until 2:30 AM Indiana time...and they all got up at 6AM Indiana.

I barely get an English conversation, which is at times difficult. muy dificil.
I have been to the school where I will be teaching and all of the children are so precious. They all told me ¨hello¨ in English as best as they could. They all want to hold my hand and just show off for me. It was so sweet.

Food is much different, but it is good. I will eat almost anything. I have been told that in the mountains, if you do not eat all that they give you, it offends them. Im praying that they will not put guinea pig on my plate.

Right now, I am getting to know the culture and customs. One thing I found out right away is everyone hugs and kisses everyone. And when you walk into a room, you kiss everyone on the cheek and you do the same when you leave.

The most difficult challenge is communication. I left my country, my family, my friends, my church, my customs and came (alone in the flesh) to a place I had never been before. I have already had to rely on the Lord to pull me through, when I didn´t get enough rest and I was missing my loved ones. When I was the only English speaker for 9 hours. I am finding I am spending more time in His Word daily than I did before. One, it´s in English and two, it´s my comfort and my direction.

I am very thankful to have been taught how to seek His face and be in the quiet place with my God. Thank you Pastor Jan and Pastor Martie. Thank you to my Mama and Papa bear. Thank you IGO and Susan and Monty Scales! I love you guys very much.

Prayer requests: Language to be absorbed, customs to be learned, relationships to be built.

Dios te bendiga!
Bendiciones!