trip to quito was nice..long bus rides...which are interesting because while you are riding...people hop on the bus from the streets and go up and down the isles trying to sell various things...on our ride people tried to sell these things: oranges, ice cream, water, juice, pills to cure prostate and ovarian cance (accompanied by a 15 minute sales talk with pictures), beggars, chocolate, mini dinners, chips, ,peanuts, toilet paper...and the list continues! it really is crazy :) and pretty funny at the same time..unless you are trying to sleep :)

i got my hair done at a place in quito by a couple who used to cut hair in chicago..it was nice to talk about familiar places :) kinda funny!

school continues...im starting to get used to rachel, my aide being there...but its so hard...i really dont like it...but i juat have to act like shes not there critiquing me!

also in quito we were able to go to English Fellowhip Church..a church where mainly missionaries go..it was so great to worship God in english..thats the thing i miss most...its hard bc i dont totally understand when i worship in spanish..but the holy spirit still moves in you! crazy how that works!

while i have been here, ive been listening to pastor dave deselms sermons online...from fellowhip missionary church in fort wayne..he is such a great pastor! his series he just finished was amazing..and very challenging! basically, its about waking up the mostly sleeping and lazy churches and accept this dangerous invitation that jesus has for us during our ONE life! basically, bringing God's kingdom down here..in many ways! the Lord sacrificed and did so much for us..but what are we doing for him? the lord never said christianity was going to be safe..so why do we try to be so safe in our faith? was Jesus safe? he was out on crazy seas and talking to people who could have/did kill him! is that safe? so why do we try to lead mediocre and safe lives in our materialistic lives? its hard to swallow..and i am trying to grab a hold of it...
god does forgive our mistakes...but what about our LAZINESS???
"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through teh laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Tim 1:5-8

if you want to check out the series online..download free at www.fmcfw.org ! it will be worth your listen! download onto ipods...listen to on way to work :)

livin it up in shell! have a great week!