i lied.

i went to guayaquil on friday. it was wonderful.
and cremo had a blast.

------------------

in other news:
1. i'm currently experiencing a quarter-life crisis.
2. josefina made me a bracelet this evening. i can't take it off until i go back home to the united states. her words.
i'll probably wear it forever.
3. covering the shift of someone else when you were planning on sleeping in and taking a shower and listening to conference talks is the most devastating event that can occur.
4. only ten days left in cuenca.

can it be next thursday already?

fifteen girls + nine hour workdays + relatively small living space = me wanting to run far, far away.

that's all i have to say for now.

como se llama mi mami?

earlier today i had the opportunity to go to an orphanage that we only visit once a week. compared to the other orphanages we volunteer at daily, it's rougher all around.
the first time i ever went to this orphanage, a little girl who must have been a little under two years old was walking around the area we were playing in with feces and urine all over her pants. she wasn't even wearing a diaper.

when we arrived this afternoon, after getting mobbed by the children, a little boy ran up to me and put his arms up, signifying that he wanted me to pick him up. as we walked to the yard to do the activity emily had planned, he wrapped his arms around my neck and asked me, "como se llama mi mami?" which means, "what's my mommy's name?". i was so taken aback by this question i didn't know how to answer it. all i could do was to just look into his deep brown eyes and tell him i didn't know. it broke my heart and i ached for him.

i have known all along that the vast majority of these children are abandoned, but it never really hit me until this afternoon.

i love you so much, mom and dad.
thanks for loving me always and not abandoning me [even though i probably deserved it once or twice].

it is time.

it is time to introduce you, my faithful readers, to the most delicious food in the world.
friends and family, meet salchipapas.
salchipapas, meet my friends and family.
there's a little roadside stand in front of one of the orphanages i work at that sells them for fifty cents [!!] and these babies are so sinfully delicious, it feels like we're robbing them.

so, what are salchipapas?

imagine this: homemade [and handcut] french fries, mayonnaise, ketchup, and aji [more on that later] topped with half of a hotdog.

it is the most satisfying meal.
especially after a long day of work.
-----------------
in other news, we went to guayaquil today!
we got to go to the temple and i have never felt so much peace and joy as i did this morning within the walls of the guayaquil temple.
the temple president talked with us for a while and told us that the experiences we have here in ecuador will change our lives. he called us elect ladies and future mothers in zion and promised us that after our time in ecuador, we will be more sensitive to the feelings of others, more patient, more understanding, and more loving.
everything he said was just what i needed to hear [which happens a lot down here] and before i knew it, i was crying [which also happens a lot down here--but they're happy tears (don't worry, mom and dad)].
i thought about the sacrifices the humble people of this beautiful country make to attend the temple. how they save up little by little for weeks, months, to be able to make the journey to guayaquil.
i thought about how much i take for granted. in utah, i could go to six different temples and not have to drive longer than forty five minutes. at school, i simply walk there.
how blessed are we to have such an amazing opportunity so accessible?

answer: more than we can ever imagine.


i'm so grateful for this experience in south america. although it's been extremely difficult at times, it's been the most rewarding and joyous two months of my life.

i've never been happier.
i've never worked so hard.
i've never loved so much.
and i'll never be the same after this [in a good way].

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.

en route: the hike to the waterfall

i saw some seriously beautiful scenery on this hike.
breathtakingly beautiful scenery.
it made the difficulty of the hike [pretty much uphill the whole way complete with amateur rock-climbing] all the more worth it.

continental divide

so, we took a field trip today to giron to hike to some waterfalls, and on the way we stopped at the continental divide.
it literally took my breath away.
i'm in love with south america.

more photos from the grueling hike and beautiful scenery to come.

una llamada de emergencia, babay!

i cannot stop listening to this song.

if you want to feel like you're in ecuador, listen to this.
seriously.

ps: off to the waterfalls tomorrow! pictures to follow.
pps: if you have a flickr account and would like to view some photos from ecuador, add me as a friend so that can happen! casatawaytheclouds = my username.

a letter; parte dos

dear dad:

today was a little rough. so i put my earbuds in on the way to afternoon shift, put my ipod on shuffle, and this rascals song played.



it was just what i needed. it almost felt like a pep talk and it made me so happy you're my dad and that you raised me on great music.
talk to you tomorrow!

love kellie

ps: sorry the video is so weird.

te amo, te amo, te amo

the past twenty four hours have been the best.
want to know why?

1. crazy balcony bon boyage dance party at ten pm [gasp!] last night [complete with neighbors taking photos and climbing on their roofs to watch us--haha]
2. freezedance and pretending to be a wolf at casas
3. making paul and victor belly-laugh
4. walking into the comedor and hearing santi scream my name over and over
5. javi
6. beyonce dance party with andres and ana cristina
7. feeding a tearless baby
8. holding an infant for longer than i should have
9. the best beso ever from juli
10. getting the babies ready for bed
11. mastering the art of cloth diapering
12. writing in my notebook
13. making the ugliest face ever and laughing so hard on the way home
14. empanadas at morochos
15. tutto freddo ice cream [again--this bad habit needs to stop]
16. friends

i've never been in love like this before.

a letter

dear kirk:
i've had a few people ask me what kind of food i eat here in ecuador. we mostly eat rice, meat, bread, fruit, and empanadas.
but we also eat pizza.
with peaches on it.
and it is delicious.
love kellie

to and fro

i'm saving the best for last.
the drive was breathtakinglybeautiful.
and i'm completely obsessed with churches and cathedrals down here.

the streets of machala

two of the jorgensens most favorite things: soccer and pizza.

en route: cuenca to machala

machala pictures to come.

jambeli part two

en route to jambeli [3 hour bus ride, 30 minute boat ride].

fried plantains [disc-shaped french fries, basically]

chalae's beautifully presented melon drink

jambeli part one

this photo does not do the house justice.

the beach was wonderful
[aside from a splitting headache, a 4:30am wakeup call, and cool weather for most of the morning] and the ride there had the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery i've ever seen in my entire life [it rivals alberta and provo canyon (pictures to be posted later)].

today is a special day.

because my sister kari and my dad were both born today!!!

if i were in the states right now, i would...

1. hug them both.
2. make chocolate chip pancakes for their breakfast.
3. give them presents.
4. have a fun family dinner.
5. watch a funny movie.
6. sing them happy birthday.
7. and watch them open presents.

but i guess i'll just have to settle for talking to them on skype.

happy birthday, dad and kari! i love you both!

la iglesia de jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias

reasons why i love church in ecuador:

1. testimony meeting.
in the states, testimony meetings are seemingly filled with travelogues, public declarations of gratitude, and longwinded stories.
in ecuador, testimonies are just that: testimonies. concise statements that testify to the congregation of what they know to be true.
also, instead of individuals going up one at a time to speak, families walk up together, each member speaks, and then they all walk back to their seats together. it's beautiful to watch and is such a moving symbol of how families can be together eternally.

2. hymns.
last week we were accompanied by a mia maid-aged flautist.
this week we were accompanied by both a keyboardist and violinist.
beautiful.

3. talks.
like testimonies, talks are concise, to-the-point, and simple yet profound. i never once looked at the clock, felt like i would fall asleep, or grew tired of the speaker.
there were monologues, no jokes to open with. just simple words strung together to form a beautifully constructed, moving talk.

i can't believe how much i've learned since i've been here.
it's hard to believe how much one can change in a little over a week.

but it's possible.

it's the same in any language.

every morning, when i wake up at 6:40 [yes, you read that correctly] in the a.m., i climb sleepily out of the top bunk and peek through the slit in the curtains to greet the day.

and every morning, when i wake up, i feel so much gratitude for the opportunity, the privilege, i have to be here.

it's kind of hard to believe. sometimes, in the van on the way to the orphanages or walking out of our house to town, i look at the beautiful view and say, "we're in ecuador. can you believe it?"

it all feels like a dream. one of those dreams that has the bad timing of entering your mind minutes before waking, causing the harsh beeping of the alarm to jolt you awake and shut your eyes as quick as you can to grasp onto the wispy ends of your beautiful, sleepy vision.

the work is hard, the poopy [cloth]diapers are gross, the kids scream and cry and hit each other, but every cloud has a silver lining and every day has enough good to eliminate the bad.

and that is what i've learned thus far.

ps: expect some funny stories in my next post [teaser = it pays to know a little spanish].

pps: tomorrow is beach day! pictures will follow!

cuenca, je t'aime.

twenty things i love about ecuador:
1. colorful houses and roofs.
2. crazy taxis [just like the arcade game crazy taxi. seriously].
3. ladies in full skirts and fedora-looking hats and colorful tights.
4. flower markets.
5. the hippie market.
6. tutto freddo [the best ice cream in the universe. hands down].
7. little cars.
8. hearing cars honk constantly.
9. the yellow van that says escolar on the side that takes us to the orphanages.
10. SWEET BREAD.
11. granadilla [aka monkey brains. it is SO DELICIOUS].
12. fresh fruit. all the time [i'll take pictures].
13. beautiful, lush, green, mountainous terrain.
14. vivid colors.
15. feeling completely at home.
16. kindness.
17. church.
18. whole pigs being roasted right on the street.
19. perfect weather.
20. hugs and kisses from the cutest kids on earth.

"tu cacapopopish!"

after three flights, two hours of waiting in customs, and three airplane meals, i am HERE!
the picture posted below is proof that i truly am in ecuador.
it's the friendliest billboard i've ever seen!

so here is my readers' digest version of my travels.

slc:
wait, wait, wait for two hours.
hop on plane.
eat sandwich.
head to....

houston:
arrive just in time.
sit down.
relax.
watch 17 again [highly recommended].
eat grossly delicious cheeseburger, salad, and two cookies.
watch race to witch mountain [dumbest movie ever].
look out the window at lights of quito.
practice spanish with a man on the plane.
arrive in...

quito:
wait in customs for almost two hours.
experience the crazy drivers of ecuador.
sleep sleep sleep.
wake up late.
drive to airport [again]
run to shuttle.
shuttle to plane.
sit down.
take off.
eat sandwich and DELICIOUS PEACH JUICE.
see cuenca from a birds eye view.
fall.
in.
love.

this is the view from my balcony.

seriously, though... i love it so much. i never want to leave.
it is HARD WORK. and there are some shifts that are so frustrating that i just don't know how to deal with it.
but loving those kids, receiving those slobbery kisses and abrazos, and knowing that they are safe and happy and loved is totally and completely worth it.

i'm hugging orphans for all y'all.
i'll post some pictures tomorrow [or probably friday] that i took of our visit to a shelter for women and girls on monday. so. fun.

chao!