orange sky

yesterday was amazing.
i feel like i'm finally getting the hang of things.

[i don't know if i've told you, but each volunteer is put in charge of a site.
halfway through my time here, i was put in charge of hogar miguel leon, a women's shelter that we work at two evenings a week, working with the preteens and teenagers.]

last night we split up into three groups and had a dance contest.
it was seriously magical seeing those girls dance and sing and be creative.
i teared up a little and realized [again] how amazing the girls are,
how caring and kind and protective they are of each other,
and how much i love them all.

i feel like i'm in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.

no event is simply a coincidence.



eta: check out the new header. i'm very excited about it.

escaleras

yesterday was hard.

[1. hugs from hml girls
2. kisses from domenica
3. eating my first fresh mango
4. dancing with martin
5. making my first batch of curry from scratch]

but today has been better.

i apologize for the lack of posts lately.
it's been a busy couple of weeks.
but i promise i will stop slacking and post about
lessons i have learned,
ancient incan ruins,
a cathedral built into a mountainside,
buying locally grown produce,
funny anecdotes,
my deep love for this country and the amazing kids i play with every day,
and salchipapas.

in that order.

i promise.

i love you all so so so so much.

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS!

so, i'm kind of a bad sister...
until i read this post, i had completely forgotten about my brother kris' birthday!

here are ten amazing things about kris:
1. he is service-minded.
2. he's such an amazing father.
3. he is patient and calm.
4. he's hilarious.
5. he's a talented artist [both musically and artistically].
6. he's super smart and loves learning.
7. he's a hard worker.
8. he plays the banjo like a pro.
9. he's a librarian.
10. he's a top-notch brother.

feliz cumpleanos, kris!
i hope you had a wonderful birthday!

el proximo dia.

the sun always dawns on a new day.

circumstances are getting better.

i had no reason to feel the way i did yesterday.

i am blessed with the best people in my life and the truest knowledge that there is a God who loves us, watches over us, and knows us.


and i couldn't be more grateful for that.

thank you all for your kind words and encouragement.
they were much-appreciated and needed.
i love you all. so. much.

ayudame.

so, it's been a rough couple of days.
the work is still great,
cuenca is still beautiful,
i still relish every second i have here,
but for whatever reason, i'm in a slump.

i miss my family,
reliable showers,
curry,
smelling good,
kitchen table talks,
slurpees,
english,
the cantrell/jorgensen ninos.

i feel inadequate, stagnant, alone.



and i think i'm done with living with fourteen other girls.


i expected days like this, but i'm surprised they're coming now instead of at the beginning.

things will get better. i know it. they always do.

1. tangos [delicious, delicious cookies (two vanilla cookies with chocolate inbetween covered in white chocolate]
2. being able to eat lunch again [spaghetti and meatballs, cucumber and avocado salad, and rice]
3. seeing blanca happy
4. learning that just as toast always falls butter-side down, full diapers always land poop-side down
5. the knowledge that i can sleep in tomorrow.

some days are aces and some days are faces and some days are twos and threes.

if a movie was being made about my time here in ecuador, there would be a casas [2-6 year-olds] montage with this song in the background.
because it is a constant battle.

cascadas!

the hike was brutal [as has been mentioned already].
the waterfalls were worth it.
the pictures don't do it justice.
---------------

i am halfway done with my time here in ecuador.
that astounds me.
on my first day, when people kept telling me that time really flies here, i didn't believe it.
i can't believe how much i've learned, how much i've changed, and how much love i have for these amazing kids i get to work with. i love them as if they were my own children.

in other news, i'm really sick.
that's fun.
especially when you're in another country.
far from home.
and dr. mom.