Processing...

      Life has been moving at breakneck speed since returning from Ecuador. I admit, I am still trying to process my experience in Ecuador. I have a book's worth of stories and thoughts I have yet to sort through and make sense of completely. Probably the most disheartening to me is the reactions I've had in sharing tidbits of Ecuador with the blank faced, unresponsive. I'm not sure if it is the stories I tell or the way I tell them, but I wonder if the expression some people convey has its roots in confusion.

     Typically, I spend my vacation time in Seattle, Washington. The most common reaction when I share about my visits to the northwest are echoes of shared fascinations with Starbucks and rainy weather. I suspect that most vacations are planned sometime when day-to-day life transitions from routine, to mundane, and to torture. So, we entertain thoughts of places to escape our lives we see as prisons. I wonder, when I share about my experiences and my future aspirations, if the blank looks I've received from some are similar to the face many express when hearing about a subject they've never considered or found interesting. The romanticized notion of overseas missions has long passed. The harsh reality of the sacrifice to do my part to change this world is at times a difficult cross bear. Honestly though, there's nothing in this world I would rather be doing.

Helping deliver food, candy, and toys for Christmas near Mindo, Ecuador.
I had the privilege of serving alongside people I consider spiritual giants.

Loving on all of God's creatures. This little guy was neglected
and suffering from malnutrition. One of the guys who went with
us out that day ended up adopting the dog as his own.

Me, Mike, Mike (Miguel) & Claudia
We were able to serve alongside this radical couple living
out God's calling for them in Ecuador. I look forward
to what the future holds for (avi) and Pathways Int.
Check out their site!
Pathways Int.

Livin' la vida loca

#aroomwithaview: 9,000+ft above sea-level. I thought my cardio
was bad already, but this place just rubs it in

#beingbrown: go to a foreign country...
Totally look like a local

#howcouldwesayno: She found it hilarious that we
were reading to her in English. I guess English does sound funny.

Stayin' Alive!

Resting HR: 153 bpm, pulse bounding, Respirations: 36/min, productive cough producing clear, slightly frothy mucous, estimated lung capacity at 30-50%, mild signs of cyanosis of the fingernails/lips, hands/feet tingly and cool to the touch, dizzy, mild disorientation. Hold out until lung capacity decreases to what feels like 10-20% before going to the hospital?
Challenge accepted

Casa azucar casa

Went a little crazy with bed rest. 

Quito, Ecuador

No, it's not the camera. That's what everything looks like after a 15+ hour international flight

Quito, Ecuador. 9,200 ft. above sea-level

So pretty much...I'm here, I'm here!

Leavin' On a Jetplane

On my way to Seattle, WA to surprise my family

A person unwilling to sacrifice

 to change the world forfeits the right 

to say anything is wrong with it. 

- recent journal entry

I was blessed to be able to visit home for Thanksgiving before leaving for Ecuador. My mom, as expected, nearly passed out when I rang the doorbell at a late hour. Also as expected, turkey induced comas were the norm. Being here has brought about a sense of peace, being able to share personally with my family my journey thus far. I am incredibly blessed to have my family fully supporting my life's direction.

My lovely sister and I on Thanksgiving Day

My latest lessons learned sum up in the realization that so often, I've put God in a box. How often do we think that God can only use us when we have our ducks in a row with accomplishing first our personal goals (I'm guilty of asking God to wait until I've married before taking me), substantial bank accounts, and adequate free time? God uses us now. I was about to say, "If we let Him," but on more than occasion, I'm glad God didn't wait for me! Don't miss the blessing folks; experience the joy of being a part of God's work now!

Mike and I leaving from San Jose

Please continue to fast, pray, and seek God on my behalf as I embark on this next chapter of life.

www.advocateventures.org

Feel free to support me with your 

tax-deductible donations at

  http://advocateventures.org/DONATE.html

Responding To Reality

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up and judge fairly;

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

- Proverbs 31:8-9

It's been far too long since I've been in touch with many of you! I'm 2 quarters away from finishing my bachelor's degree in nursing with minors in biology and chemistry. I would love to cherish this Christmas vacation as I usually have alongside my beloved family. Instead, I'm leaving  November 27-December 27 for Quito, Ecuador with the non-profit organization, Advocate Ventures International, serving as the director. 

Good-bye, California skies....

I came to the realization that I am not okay with the condition of our world. I wrote once in my journal that "we forfeit the right to say that anything is wrong with the world if we are unwilling to sacrifice to try and change it." There is something desperately wrong with our world and I am not sure how much I can do to make a difference -  but I'm willing to try. Our basic goal in Ecuador is to assess key locations in need of relevant community resources we will provide through AVI and our affiliated members. We will be focusing on issues relating to though not limited to malnutrition, disease, conflict, environmental devastation, and abuse.

As much as possible, I am using as much of my own resources to fund my personal expenses (travel, food, lodging) as I believe that I have just as much responsibility to give being one who goes just as those who send. I am asking that people would pray, fast, and seek God on my behalf. I sincerely believe that the ones who go cannot do so without the full support of ones who send. Feel free to donate through our website if you want to support what we are doing. All donations are tax deductible. We currently have one other trip in the works for Spring 2012 to Guatemala and are speculating on Africa and SE Asia in mid and late 2012. Thank you very much and God bless!

www.advocateventures.org

Seriousness is not a virtue. It would be a heresy, but a much more sensible heresy, to say that seriousness is a vice. It is really a natural trend or lapse into taking one's self gravely, because it is the easiest thing to do. It is much easier to write a good Times leading article than a good joke in Punch. For solemnity flows out of men naturally, but laughter is a leap. It is easy to be heavy: hard to be light. Satan fell by the force of gravity.

-G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy