Hello!
Sorry it's been such a long time since I've blogged! I have been a busy bee!
It's been a few weeks with a fair bit of change and drama!
I will start with the bad-ish news first...So I was told a few weeks ago that Pan de Vida couldn't give me a visa and that we would try other options. Well it turned out we could only try the student one which is for 6 months. Thus, we went to find out the things we need to obtain it, as another guy working with me is in the same situation. They said that we needed to start a bank account here. The problem with this is that most of the banks here need you to have a visa first. But the bank which didn't require a visa had some really tricky requirements to say the least! To cut a long story short, after very seriously thinking we would have to home in December, spending a whole week waiting in a bank and Jesus showing his faithfulness time and time again we managed get a bank account...hoorah! We then went to the visa place and waited from 5.30am. Absolute nightmare! But we got our documents in, not without difficulty though! They then told us to come back a week later (my birthday! :( ) we waited there for 4 hours for them to tell us they gave us the wrong day and that we have to come next week....so unbelievably frustrating! But I would so appreciate prayers that we would actually be able to finally obtain a visa next Monday!
However in the realm of good news...I passed all my Spanish tests and have now started working at Pan de Vida full time, yay! Hard work from the off set though. I kinda just exploded with ideas and now I have lots to do! Like doing evangelism in the area and letting the local community know whats going on at Pan de Vida. This morning I also preached at a school, which was awesome! Everyone was celebrating thanksgiving....all a bit odd when you're English! But hey ho :) we are also having Christmas preparation days...very excited! Love Christmas! Just need to find out where to buy the ingredients for mince pies now... But on a more working note, we are also having loads of Christmas parties for the people who live on the streets. Providing not only Christmas dinner but bibles, shoes and clothes too. This coming wednesday, we are having a party and there will be an evangelistic talk. Prayers that this would go well and that people would really have open hearts to see the utter beauty of Jesus' love would be awesome :). In addition, I am helping out with the Christmas outreach at the local dump, for the people who work there.
So yeah I am really enjoying working at Pan de Vida, and feel like I'm getting somewhere, working out ma role and all. For example, yesterday, I was suddenly asked to run the group for 10-14 year olds on the spot. I had no preparation, no time and 25 kids. So, I quickly cut out as many paper men as I could and asked the kids to write their identity in Christ on them and decorate them. They all really enjoyed it and I was given a real confidence boast that I could do it, especially all in Spanish...something I really needed! Today I stuck them all together like a paper man chain and hung it in the hall. Such a beautiful thing to see these children who live on the streets and many whom have very difficult lives, have big smiles on their faces happily writing 'I am a loved child of God'. What a privilege!
It was also my birthday this past Monday, and I had such an odd but awesome birthday! Ross and Michael took me to Mindo for my bday. Mindo is basically the jungle a few hours away from Quito. After a bit of a mad, classicly Ecuadorian journey there...and even worse going back come to think of it, we had a fab time! We went to. Butterfly farm and I held butterflies in my hand...crazy gorgeous! Then we went zip wiring, tubing, swimming in waterfalls and went to a chocolate factory, where I made my own chocolate from scratch and ate it with fresh fruit....gawjus! Stunning place, yet still such poverty. Seems to be wherever you go! Then after my bday morning in the visa place, mi familia gave me a surprise party...which was just so lovely!
So it has been a few weeks of being knackered from desperately trying to get this visa, revising for Spanish exams and starting work flat out at Pan de Vida. However, I have felt such a strength and motivation to keep going. Really been reminded recently about why I'm here and a fresh revelation of the gorgeousness and incredible sacrifice the cross is, this has just helped me battle through a real time of homesickness and lack of focus. I feel much more determined to do as much as I possibly can here and have a real sense of the closeness of the Father. Seeing these families lives be changed by Jesus is so humbling and honestly such a beautiful sight. People who are nothing, who have nothing and live such a hard life are transformed into people with all the worth in the world. What an absolutely stunning thing to see! Thus I've been really challenged to be a humble servant and strive to be the disciple that Jesus called us to be.
Thus I have a lot to be thankful for! Prayers that I would keep feeling motivated and also having more opportunities to serve people would be awesome....also of course the dreaded visa sitch!
Thankyou so much for your support, I will try and do my blog sooner next time! Hope you guys are awl good :)
Izzy xx