explorers till the end

So LOVe love LOVE exploring around town. There is so much to do and discover these pics are from a past little adventure a couple days ago. We went to the mercado today bought flowers for our mommy's in the mercado de flores and ran into some more great restuarants/cafes and museums...

this is Erin! She's from minnesota and lives by me!:) we had a little adventure exploring the city and than journeyed on back home

secret little garden cafe/restaurant...calling my name !

karaoke at the inca lounge!

Today was a blast! We had presentations in spanish class and got to work with clay in art class:) I made a Mayan face out of clay. It was an hour and about 45 minutes of relaxation.:) After class our whole group..(about 19-22 of us) went out to lunch. We are making it our weekly get together. We tried out this yummy place about a block away. We always take up the entire place and sit upstairs. Almost every cute restaurant has a courtyard and paintings along the walls. It's incredible how artistic this city is. From the cobble stone streets and beautifully built cathedrals, to the extraordinary effort and design to the pastries lining the street bakery windows. This city was built for artists! With lunch they serve popcorn for the appetizer and with the soup! haha Corn is extremely abundant here so why not! I love popcorn so I'm not complainin! After lunch a few of us wandered around the city which I find is one of my favorite past times. Good conversation and great for exploring the city and discovering new secret jewels of the city. There are sooo many tucked away restuarants and cafe's. They are hidden within small courtyards and secret gardens. I call it treasure hunting!:)   ..( haha which i also use the term to refer to saturday morning garage sales...lol in the states) After stumbling upon some more treasure we sat down and had some good heart to hearts. Our friend is having a hard time dealing with her overbearing father from home. He is extremely hard on her and brings her to tears just about everytime they speak. Please pray that she will have a better relationship with her father.
I was happy because later tonight we all met up again at Inca Lounge (gringo bar) and we all had a great time hanging out and listening to karaoke. She went up and sang her little heart out. She did fantastic. She has a voice of an angel and you can totally tell that she could lead her own choir. ( She leads gospel choir back home!) I have a blast with her and it was so great to have fun and laugh with her tonight after seeing that she's been going through a lot this week. Our other guy friend that has been really home sick also had a great time tonight. He has never left his home town for such a long time and is especially close to his family. Tonight was good for him to have some american culture and feel like he belongs. Inca lounge is VERY american and sports are on and its just were most gringo's go. ( Especially on wednesdays---open mike night)
This weekend we have another excursion on Sunday and are going to this city Guyali...something and they have great shopping there for really cheep. Looking forward to finding some really great jewlry..:) Jenny and I went to dance class again yesterday and crazy crazy it was fantasticoooo. Different teacher this time and man can she shake it like shakira. We actually learned a lot of moves ffrom the shakira dance video it was fabulous. (world cup one)
Its late and i have class super early. But for some reason I'm awake.! haa
Tomorrow we are starting bible study and I'm pumped for that. Please pray that it will come together and we will all be able to learn and grow from eachother. I pray that we are challenged and pushed by the truth. I pray that it will be centered around Jesus and our fellowship to seek Him.
:)

wow.wow.wow

wow .wow.wow
God is sooooo goooood. Thank you for all of your prayers. Today was insane. I had a great talk with a friend from my group today. I have been praying for him and have noticed that he has a certain light about him. From talking with him earlier, I learned that he used to be a believer and went to a catholic church. After taking a philosophy class at his school he said his whole world kind of turned upside down. He started to view the world differently and changed a lot of his beliefs. ( Similar to another friend in the group-who wanted to be a priest then took a philosophy class and same story...)

I have been praying that God will allow a time for me to talk with him. We usually do things in groups so today when we randomly ended up walking around the city together was a God thing in itself. Everyone had left 'coincidentally'. We wanted to explore and after walking our friend John halfway back to his house we stumbled upon this art museum, that of course was incredible and free!! This is the second time that I've been with a friend walking the city and somehow we find free food, or a free museum! Thanks God!
So the conversation started simply when we entered the museum and I asked him if I could say something without offending him. "God is so good." And from then on we got into a lot and he said that he couldn't explain all of this and that there is a point when its just too far beyond coincidences...!!!! God is so so good. Wow I can't even describe this afternoon. Walking through the museum the holy spirit was so present and we walked out the back of the museum onto a grassy field that overlooked the mountains. There were kids playing and running around laughing. He laid flat on his stomach in the grass amazed at how God was working. I handed him my bible (that I just so happened to have brought in my purse!) He started reading and I went and sat on the grass letting him take a minute.
I could see the light in his eyes after walking back into town. He said that he felt soo good and that he couldn't ignore the fact that it had been God working this afternoon. He said that this wouldn't be the end of our conversation and he has more questions.( Along with our friend that wanted to be a priest in the past..)Just as we were parting ways and walking in separate directions he called back at me..." hey Arielle!.....Thank you."
God used me today. I was brought to tears at the field of grass overlooking the mountains. I just want to be obedient. Thanks again for all the prayers.:)

later had some good family bonding time:) Isa warming up to me. We watched part of Matilda together in spanish and then mami, Isa and I did a little dance workout video together. haha it was silly but really fun :)

strength made perfect in weakness

And [the Lord Jesus] said to me, " My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

O my soul, march on in strength!

Judges 5:21

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life.

Deuteronomy 30:19

honesty

I can't quite describe to you what transition I am in. I have felt more distant in my faith while being in Ecuador. In the first few weeks my reading was good but still was lacking depth. I needed more than just my own time of reading and prayer. I am so excited to have talked with some of the group members and start up a bible study next week. I had an incredible chat with another believer last night, my friend Jen and we both agreed that we have been found wanting. We are hungry, thirsty, and he will satisfy those that thirst and hunger for righteousness. I am so happy to have other believers around to be in fellowship with. I am in a completely different season of life right now and it is great to have times of growth and hardship. I want to be a servant in the hard times, when it's difficult. I want to honor God with my life even when I don't feel him directly like I have in the past. In the desert times are when faith can truly grow. Through tribulations understanding will deepen.
In the past I have had the power of intercession of dreams prayed over me. Last night I had two of the most convicting and powerful dreams I have ever had. I think its time for me to wake up and utilize my time here more wisely. Pray that I am given the words to say when necessary and posture of prayer always. I pray that I glorify my father with every thought and action.
My semester group is thirsty, they are hungry for a real God. They are hungry for our Father. I pray that they will encounter Jesus.

Cedron!

Hola hola hola. Lets see what happened today. Everyday is different and it is what you make it. I want to be intentional about speaking more spanish. Lately its been really easy to talk to the whole semester crew in english and not put myself through the espanol struggle. I decided to not make plans and come home for lunch.
This morning had classes and boy is my art class going to be a lot of work! We have reading and papers every class and just got assigned 70 more pages to read. We have another novel to read on top of that and two quizzes our second week in! I think this class will be more difficult than the one at Loma! Who knows. I'm glad that I am interested in the subject and the professora is really cute and fun. We are learning about Mesoamerican art and central andean art. Its nice when we are learning about something and then we get to go visit local museums later on and see what we are learning about when we visit the ruins this weekend and when we go to Machu Pichu. This experience has been unreal as of yet and I have already been in the honeymoon stage of traveling and I think I am back there again! I will have been here a full month on Sunday!! Craziness!!
Today after classes got to talk with one of the teachers here teaching english to the locals. There are several dozen teachers coming and going and various groups that go through CEDEI all the time. It keeps things flowing and its nice to have new faces to meet. I met Andy and Rob yesterday and spoke with Rob a little today. Its so funny because his english accent is so thick. At first he didn't talk much and I thought he didn't speak english. Turns out there are quite a few people who after graduating or just during summers will travel the world and teach english. Some of the other teachers spent a couple years in China and said the amount of Chinese they learned in 2 years was the equivalent to how much spanish they learned in 3 months in Ecuador. My friend Jenny also has been telling me stories about her "WOLFING" this past summer in Hawaii. She lived for free in Hawaii working on various farms! She went with a friend and said it was an awesome experience. However, she didn't live with electricity or an inside bathroom, or cell service. I think that would be a great time, not sure if many people would agree. She got to soak up the culture and meet new people and work out in the tropical Hawaiian sun for 5 hours a day. They have wolfing all over the world and sounds like a cool way to travel!

I came home for a little almuerzo finally and went on a little drive with mi mami. We took her baked goods to a friend. Mami works at a Panaderia(bakery) and works partly out of the house as well. She does stuff on her own because she's de best! We delivered her goods to this cute, little, old woman who had an immaculate mansion of a house. It was complete opposite of what I would later.
Mami dropped me off at CEDEI and I went to one of the friendly worker's house. Tatiana invited me over earlier today and I thought 'why not!' We took the bus to her house which was a 20 minute ride through the city. We walked up to her house and were greeted by her little sister and her little cousin. I was in heaven. I've been missing my Warren Walker kids and this is just what I've been missing. Her little brother we met later inside and he is 7 and her sister 5 and her cousin right around there. We met her mom and she served me bread and drink of cedron. Cedron- this delightful hot drink that is MAGICAL. She put sugar in it but it is out of this world! It tastes like real tea that has a taste similar to thyme..i think... I dunno but it was incredible. After our little snack we took a stroll around their town. This part of town is way different than where I'm used to living with my family here. Her house makes me realize how you never really know how well off a person lives. Her family is so much fun I loved hanging out with them. Her mom wouldn't let me leave without taking part of the cedron plant home! I ended up taking a taxi home, because who knows where I would end up if I went on the bus home by myself for the first time. The taxi was expensive but worth it.

I had a little cafecita with papi when he got home from work and when the girls arrived home they were really hyper and making fun of Gabby for not being able to sit indian style. Mami complains that she eats to much pan (bread) and Isa says she looks pregnant. Its funny how honest they are..but I think Gabby really does end up taking it personally. Isa is older and picks on Gabby. Gabby confides is Bruno (our dog) hahah and wants to be a vet when she gets older. Isa is studying in the university to be a lawyer.

         My first experience with public transportation :)

the fam (they don't usually smile in pictures...)

precious

cedron

                                                              the 3 musketeers

on the stroll

their cute funky little poses changed every second

galletas, map quest, indian food!

Today was great. I feel like I just always have to start it out like that. I met up with 3 other girls on my walk to school that live by me. :) So much better to have company on the way! I pick up Erin and we meet Flo and Jenny. We have classes that switch days so that will be everyother day. I meet Flo, the little asian everyday. We have 8 o'clock espanol class everyday! yikes.

After classes today our entire group had planned to eat together instead of going home for lunch. We wanna make Wednesdays our little reunion day and try out all the really amazing places...that are SUPER CHEEP. Had an amazing meal today for a total of 3 dollars. WOW. The almuerzo's here usually consist of soup, main BIg dish and a dessert- typical price 2.50$. Out of this world. A lot of food for great prices.

Our group met up with Christian our friend that helped guide our tour last week. It was great to see him and catch up. He's just a free lance guide and doesn't work directly for our program. He wants to take us all of big hikes though and guide them for Freeee!! So excited. We had lunch and enjoyed it thoroughly. Got icecream in the park on a wonderfully sunny day and than did our own thing. I called home from one of the cabinas. So nice! Skype always is on and off so this is a great way to make international calls! Some friends came over later we made cookies and had fun finding our way to a grocery store and the ingredients needed.

After the cookie baking Jenny and I walked about 2 blocks down from my house and took dance class!! INTENSE!!! The class only costs a dollar each time and it was just what wanted. A little latin flare with different dance steps integrated into it. Its really fun and gets ya sweaty!!

It was really really hot today than it was rainy by the time we went to dance.  I love the change of weather here. Keeps me guessing :)

today..this cool place lisa showed us its kinda like indian food?..i had an amazing curryyy

cookie making!!:) high altitude..ehh they were ok.. it was my first time having people over so cool to have them in my own house! We live extremely far away from eachother walking distance...Christ walked back for an hour in the rain and the other girls took a cab

more from the jungle trip!!

 I need to fill ya in on the rest of the jungle crazyyy adventures..It would take forever and a day to write all about so here are some stories from pictures!!

the owl we named Quincy. Came abnormally close to us!!!!

round two of me holding a very large serpent...

                                                       monkey business....one of these guys stole our friends sunglasses! they have warnings all around about the monkey thieves! But he gave it back luckily!

                                                             cocoa ...makes chocolate!:) plant

                                                 swam across a good strong current to get here after our extremely sweaty hike. we found a sweet jungle rope swing into the water!!

                                                    this was another day...we hiked up to this jaw dropping waterfall.... you can't see all of it here..

                                               playing an intense round of signs....lasted forever ..we got very into it. the local worker didn't understand .haha

face paint day! with the local root of a plant

                                           I was one of the privileged few to use the root and got to paint this man's face

                                       this is kerry- KKKrazy blue eyes! thought this pic was intense! sorry guys she's taken

                                                             our crew! ready for adventure! after the water fall we got into tubes and rafted down the river!:)

                            disney song marathon. We sang out little lungs our down the amazon river!

we went to a little "zoo" animal preserve on our hike

this little guy kept following us ::)

crazy beautiful

Now we are back in Cuenca our home for the next 3 and half months! Can't believe I've already been here for 3 and a half weeks! Time has been flyin! Especially now that my semester crew is here. WE all get along really really great and can't believe how different we all are but how well we all work together. Everyone has different little quirks and we definitely have character! They all met their host families sunday night and than had their first night here. Some of the girls were a little overwhelmed because they couldnt really communicate with their families and felt very alone. So Monday our coordinator Lisa was gone so I took our group on a little trip to a local mercado, the one Soledad showed me before. It was good to keep the group moving...I know how it can get when its slow. My family tends to watch a lot of tv and when you don't have a working cell phone yet you just have to find things to do. My first two weeks I watched a lot of friends, painted, drew and made my sister go on a walk with the dog around the park. Its dangerous around sometimes so doing things with other people is a good idea.

Love love love my new group. So happy that they are here! I loved the other group that I went on the hiking trip with but they are leaving tomorrow. Now my crew is here to stay and we all have different classes and weekend excursions together.:) This weekend we are going to some Inca- ruins.

Today was the first real day of semester classes! I had spanish with 4 others (not by myself this time!) and latin american art with 3 others. I think the art history class will be a lot of work but I am really interested in it, so hopefully it will be enjoyable. I really really really enjoyed the museum of Guayasamin that our group got to visit in Quito. If you are interested and have a chance look up some of his stuff! He's awesome.

Went home for lunch had a little siesta than headed back up to CEDEI and met some girls that live by me Flo and Jenny to make our walk back. We took a group picture and they went to get phones. Later I joined the group from Maryland one last time at their goodbye send off dinner. They leave tomorrow for Maryland. Crazzzy because of the guys knows Chris Hoover- my hometown friend that I grew up with till I was like 6. Small world. Anywhoo the dinner was good and I got free food! sweet deal ..I kinda crashed their goodbye meal but I wanted to say goodbye to the group! Most all of their group got sick and was in and out of the hospital this last week...no bueno. Hopefully that doesn't happen to our group!

Tomorrow I have my second day of class and our whole crew is meeting up for lunch manana! I'm excited but my mami will just have to miss meee!:)

love love love love.

Your name is ointment poured forth.

-Song of songs 1:3

The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:5

Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Ephesians 5:2

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious.

1 Peter 2:7