Day 55 in Ecuador

God surely provided a great last day. This morning I was able to help again with breakfast and making lunches for the teams here. We got done in the kitchen around 9:30 this morning. Anna needed someone who could speak some Spanish to go with her team to Camp Hope in order to help them know what they should do because no one her team spoke any Spanish. I decided to go help because Dale and I didn't have much else to do in the morning and Dale wasn't able to go so they needed someone to help them. I was kind of nervous that I wasn't going to be able to understand but I was just going to trust that God would help me do whatever needed to be done.

Our walk to Camp Hope was nice because I got to talk with some people from the team and just hear about their lives. Once we got there, the lady at the front desk said that the kids from Camp Hope already went to the pool and that she would guide us there as well. So far I was able to understand and translate to the team what was happening. We got to the pool and the team needed some more direction which I once again was able to help with. It was an awesome morning to be able to help out the team and also see the joy in the kids faces when they were in the pool. I was hesitant at wanting to help at first but God definitely provided a sweet morning.

I got back at around 11:30. I ended up taking a taxi back and got to talk with my taxi driver a bit which I always enjoy doing. Once, back Dale and I finished up some things with Joseph and then took a break for lunch. After lunch we cleaned the bathrooms one last time. We then attempted to create a 60-90 second video summarizing our time here in Ecuador for a professor at school. Dale and I had written a script so that our thoughts would flow better. Many of you know that I am not the greatest actor, so this turned into a very difficult task. Once one of us messed up, we laughed and had to start all over. We probable tried about 50 times and were never able to go through the whole way. It was a fun time though and we had a lot of laughs doing it and watching the videos afterwards.

Once we finished with that, we packed up all of our stuff and then went to the tienda to get some snacks for our trip tomorrow. We also went to our favorite smoothie lady for one last smoothie. We actually found out the other day that she is having to sell her business because her daughter is sick with migraines and she needs time to take care of her. Once we got our smoothies Dale had the idea to pray for her, so we did and she seemed to really appreciate it. Once again another moment that God provided for us to further his Kingdom. He is so good!

Mabe and Fabi! Two amazing people

We then went back to la Casablanca and cooked some dinner for ourselves. Practice was at 7:30 so we had to eat earlier than Fabi and Mabe's dinner for everyone. We left for our final Cumbre Alta practice which was a lot of fun. We just played 4v4 for the whole time, about 1 hour and a half. The hard part about practice was having to say goodbye at the end. We were grateful that most of the guys we had grown close to, such as Meji, Dani, and Rolando were able to come to practice, but it was still hard having to say goodbye to all of them. A lot of them were asking when we were going to return which means a lot to me personally that they are wondering that. I am just so thankful for the opportunity we had this summer to get to play with them and get to know them better.

Meji was able to drive us home tonight along with his brother Alejo, which it was awesome to get to see him again. On the way home Meji thanked us a lot for what we did and shared a bible verse for us also. It was an awesome ride home with him and his brother. We are going to miss him and our friendship with him a lot, but we are also so thankful for the opportunity we had this summer to build a relationship with him.

We said goodbye to Meji and Alejo and went into la Casablanca to do our final debrief with Anna, while Mabe and Fabi were still in the kitchen. We were able to reflect on our trip with Anna which was nice to do and eventually we had to say goodbye to Mabe and Fabi too, which was super difficult. We then finished our debrief, said goodbye to Anna, and got ready for bed.

Today was such an amazing last day here in Ecuador. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity this summer. God has worked in so many ways and I have learned so much. I have built lifelong friendships that I never foresaw coming.

As I write this blog, I am filled with mixed feelings. I am super excited to come home, see my family and friends, and get to be apart of Zach and Rachel's wedding. But the sadness of leaving has really hit me. I have grown to love Ecuador and the people here more than I could have ever imagined. This place will always have a special place in my heart and I can't wait to come back someday and be reunited with the amazing people.

Praise God for giving me this life-changing experience this summer. Words are unable to describe how much this trip has done for me and how much it has impacted me. Thank you all so much for your support throughout this entire trip! Your financial support and encouragement and prayers have meant so much to me and have helped me tremendously.



Dios Bendiga,
Nico

Day 54 in Ecuador

And then there was one...one day left of this amazing, life-changing experience. God provided another great day today. The morning started out the same. I got up around 7:00 and after reading a bit, went to help Fabi prepare breakfast and packed lunches for the day. It wasn't until around 10:00 that we were finished in the kitchen. 

Once done, Dale and I got to work on one final project for Joseph. He wanted us to create a projection of the administrative balance of Inca Link for the upcoming months and for the rest of the year. We were able to get a good amount of work done for this in the morning before taking a break for lunch. We had some empanadas for lunch, relaxed a bit and got back to work at around 1:00 on the project. We were able to finish it at 2:00 which gave us some time to rest and take a nap, which was much needed for energy for the rest of the day. We then ate some snacks and made our way to our last U12 Cumbre Alta practice. 

Practice went well today. Edgar had them do some exercises and running for most of the practice which Dale and I took part in also. We then finished playing 4v4, which wasn't the greatest soccer because most of the guys were really tired. Once practice was over, we said goodbye to the kids and went for about a 30 minute run. It has been awesome getting to play with these kids and teach them some soccer. Please be praying for them that they would come to know Christ if they don't already and that Cumbre Alta would be an avenue for them to worship God with their skills.

I'm gonna miss this view

Dale and I then made our way back to la Casablanca on a very crowded bus, which we have gotten used to over our time here. We ate some delicious food from Fabi and Mabe and spent the rest of the night cleaning up and hanging out in the kitchen with World Racers, Anna, and Mabe. I had a great time getting to hang out with them and I also was able to have a great talk with Mabe. I once again find myself so blessed to be surrounded by such an amazing community. Praise God again and again for that!

I'm starting to have very mixed feelings about leaving. I'm super excited to come back but at the same time I know I am going to miss these people a lot. Be praying that God would just provide anothet awesome day tomorrow and that we would be able to leave Ecaudor on a high note.

Dios Bendiga,

Nico

Day 53 in Ecuador

As I'm writing this blog post, it is 1:00 am in the morning. As much as the lack of sleep will probably affect me tomorrow, it was all worth it. Anyways back to the beginning of the day. Dale and I got up and made ourselves some breakfast and then helped Fabi set out the breakfast for the teams. We then showered, got ready for church, and left to go meet up with Edgar at his house. 

Once at his house, Edgar took us to his church. It was definitely a good service, but I struggled paying attention to the sermon (which I already struggle with when the message is in English). They started the service by having these kids sing some songs and recite bible verses they memorized. After that was the message and then a brief baby dedication. The total service lasted about 2.5 hours, from 10:30 to 1:00. So it was a really long service but it was cool to see where Edgar works and attends church. 

At church we also got to meet Edgar's grandmother. She ended up going out to eat with us after church which was a lot of fun. We ate at a place called Rancho Viejo and I got something called Menestras con pollos which was lentils, rice, chicken, french fries, and plantains. The food was delicious but we also had a great time hanging out with Edgar and his grandmother. We left the restaurant and headed back to la Casablanca.

We got back around 4:00 and spent the next couple hours resting and rejuvenating ourselves for what would be a long night. At 6:30, we left to go back to Edgar's house to play some Fifa with Dani, Rolando, and Meji. We got there and ended up getting some burgers at a local fast food place to eat at Edgar's house. We then started our Fifa tournament which ended up lasting until around 12:00. I was in the finals against Dani and was up 3-1 and ended up losing 4-3 in overtime. Despite this horrific loss, Dale and I had so much fun with the guys. I'm so grateful that we got another chance to hang out with them before we have to head back to the States. God has really blessed these friendships and caused them to grow faster than I would have ever realized possible. Praise God for that! 

So despite the fact that it is really late and I will not be getting much sleep tonight, I am so happy at how today turned out. We weren't even sure if this was going to happen tonight because we couldn't get in contact with the guys. Eventually it all worked out and God provided an awesome night to get to hang out with the guys. 

It's hard to believe there are only two more days left in Ecuador. Nights like tonight make me realize how much I am going to miss it down here. Keep sending your prayers for these last two days that we would just surrender them to God and that we would make the most out of them!

Dios Bendiga,

Nico

Day 52 in Ecuador

Today was another early morning, having to wake up at 6:00 again for breakfast. We helped out and hung out for what felt like a long time in the morning. After all the teams had eaten, Dale and I made some pancakes for Mabe, Fabi, Gustavo, Jake and ourselves to eat. We didn't end up leaving the kitchen until around 10:30, so it was a long morning, but it was definitely fun to get to hang out and help out a lot.

Once we were done in the kitchen, Dale and I took some time to rest and digest the delicious pancakes we just ate. At around 11:30, we made our way to Carolina park to go for a run. I was, once again, struggling with some homesickness this morning and just struggling with checking out already even though we still have 3 more days. I was praying about it a lot and trying to change my attitude but nothing really was changing. What was really nice was that Dale and I had an awesome talk on the bus on the way to Carolina. It was nice to just get how I was feeling off my chest and to have someone to be vulnerable with. I am so thankful to God for having Dale throughout this trip, it would have been very hard to do it without him.

We got to the park and went for about a little over a 3 mile run. Both Dale and I felt good and had a fun time running throughout the park. After we worked hard, we had to treat ourselves to some Shwarma and some more delicious gelato. We then made our way to the market for a final time to make sure we had gotten everything we wanted before leaving. At the market we got to talk with this lady that Dale was buying some stuff from. She wanted to learn English and I told her how La Luz offers English lessons for free on Thursdays. Hopefully she will consider going and maybe even get connected to the church! Anyway she was really sweet and awesome to talk too. That has been something that I have loved about Ecuador. The "gente", or people, are so welcoming and friendly and really easy to talk to.

After buying all of the stuff we wanted, we then made our way to a mall close by where I was able to get a really cheap haircut, only for 4 bucks. The lady was really nice and did a great job. We then made our way back to la Casablanca via bus and had some more good talks just getting to know each other more.

The rest of the night was spent just relaxing, playing some Euchre, and eating some dinner. Dinner tonight was made by one of the short term teams down here who are all Mong. They made some of the most delicious egg rolls I have ever had. They also cleaned up everything also. It was really nice of them and something that Mabe and Fabi needed because they were dealing with a lack of sleep. God is so good in providing rest when needed!

I had a blast with Dale today. Praise God for the amazing friendships He gives us that help build us up in our faith! You can keep praying that for these last 3 days, I would remain checked in and not make my focus on getting to see my family and friends again. I will definitely
need those prayers!

Dios Bendiga,
Nico

Day 51 in Ecuador

Today was the perfect follow up day to yesterday's very hectic day. We did get up kinda early, around 6:00, to help make and get breakfast ready for all the people that are in Casablanca. I don't think I mentioned this yet but there have been about 50 people in Casablanca the yesterday, today and tomorrow. These people consist of about 4 different short term teams. Dale and I aren't leading any of them because we are having to leave wednesday. So each team is lead by one interns as opposed to three so they have needed help with cooking and cleaning so Dale and I wanted to make it a priority to help them out since it has been very crazy in the house. So that's why we got up early to help out.

After helping out with breakfast, packing lunches for the teams, and doing some dishes, Dale and I got started on some more work. The morning was spent, yet again, working on the ministry report. We got a decent amount of work done and ended up taking a break for lunch around 12:00. We ate, relaxed a bit, and then got back to work and finally finished the report we had been working on for awhile. This is the last big project that Joseph had wanted us to do so we were very happy to finish it, and we think we did a good job with it.

More pics from Mindo

Once we finished that project, Dale and I needed to help out with some cleaning that needed to be done. So we went ahead and took on the guys' bathroom. It felt good to do some physical work after working on finances most of the day. Once we finished with that, we went outside and played some guitar, while looking at the beautiful view that Casablanca has. Then we went to the local Tienda to buy some eggs and bread for our last days here and noticed that our favorite smoothie place, Mucho Fruto was being sold. We asked the lady about it who said that her daughter is having migraines and that she doesn't have time to work because she needs to take care of her. This was obviously sad to here so be praying for her and this situation!

We then headed back to la Casablanca and hung out in the kitchen the rest of the night, helping out Mabe and Fabi with having to feed 50 people. It was a fun night getting to relax a bit and also help out where needed. Right before I was getting ready for bed I bumped into the World Race team that is staying here and had a nice chat with them. I am just amazed at all the wonderful people God has introduced me to this summer. He has given and built such a strong community in la Casablanca that has really blessed and encourgaed me throughout the summer. Praise God for that!

As I said before, God provided a very nice day today after being super busy the past couple of days. It was nice to feel like we were able to slow down a bit and relax. Praise God!

Shout out to MMC softball, way to notch that playoff win last night. Can't wait to come back and join the team in the Championship run!

Dios Bendiga,

Nico

Day 50 in Ecuador

Day 50 was one of the most tiring days Dale and I have had so far. The day started out very frustrating as well. I did my usual routine in the morning and decided to go to the ATM in the morning because I pretty much had no money left. I took a taxi there for $1.50 and then found out the place where the ATM was didn't open until 9:30 (this was at about 8:45). So I decided to wait and eventually asked someone for help who told me there was another machine close by. I then went to get money from that one but my card, for some reason, would not work at this one (I tried about 50 times and probably looked like a very stupid gringo). I then decided to wait until 9:30 for the other ATM. Once the place opened, I went to get money out only to find out that the machine was broken. I only had another $1.50 to go home so I was hoping I would get another taxi driver who would drive me home for the same and I did. So I spent pretty much an hour of my morning not doing anything. 

Anyways I got to work around 10:00 with a bad attitude (which I had already had before my trip this morning) and worked for about an hour on the ministry report project. We then left Casablanca at around 11:30 to go help out with the soccer camp that Pan de Vida was running this week (this was the same one our team helped out with last year). On the way there, the song/psalm "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it" popped into my head randomly (which I now see as God's work). It made me realize how blessed Dale and I are here to be in Ecuador and that we should be happy and serve God with a joyful heart today. Again, just another amazing example of how God is always with us and faithful in answering prayers, despite when we screw up. 

Pepe! He's alive and well

Before we went to Pan de Vida, I was able to successfully get money out of an ATM. We then got to Pan de Vida and saw some of the same kids that we hung out with last year. A lot of them even remembered us which was awesome. We hung out with them while they ate lunch and then played a fun game of UNO with some of them. Dale then lead some worship songs (I have the joy in my heart, Ain't no rock, With Christ as my Vessel) and another guy lead a devotional. We then made our way to the field and had a fun time leading some drills and eventually finishing in 3 small sided games. The kids seemed to have a lot of fun and I was surprised how much they enjoyed us being there and were sad that we couldn't come back tomorrow. After the camp was over we headed back, said our goodbyes, and then made our way to U12 Cumbre Alta practice. Edgar lead today's practice, which went well. 

These two events with the kids wiped me out. Working with kids is a tiring experience for me and something I enjoy, but also struggle with. I was telling Dale about how I love seeing the fruit of my work or that my work is really making an impact. When I work with kids, it's harder for me to know that what I am doing is making a difference which makes it more difficult for me. Nevertheless, I know and trust that God put us here today for a reason and that His work was being done.

Pan de Vida soccer camp

After the U12 Cumbre practice, Dale and I did some sprints and the a good abs/pushup workout afterwards. We then went to eat at Que Pincho with Edgar (we were happy to see this was open because it had been close for the past week). Then was Cumbre Alta practice which 10 guys came to, which was perfect for 5v5. We had a good time playing and ended up getting some soda to drink together afterwards. We then made our way home where we were able to hang out a little with some of the interns that were still up. It was a very nice way to end a very long day.

U12 Cumbre Practice

When looking back on today, I recognize and see the many ways that God was at work. I knew my attitude was struggling in the morning and I was praying for God to help me work through it and he proved Himself faithful by putting that Psalm in my head and making me realize His goodness. I also just recognize how God is at work despite my weaknesses such as my lack of energy or my anger and frustration. Praise God for His ending grace and love and praise Him for all the work that He did today. 

Something I am realizing as I write this blog for today is that this trip is all about God and what He is doing in Ecuador. God has blessed me with the ability to join Him and serve Him but ultimately it's all about Him. Praise God for all that He and for all the lessons He is teaching me!

Dios Bendiga,

Nico


 

Day 49 in Ecuador

Today was another whirlwind of a day. Jam packed full of stuff and I'm left feeling very exhausted. The morning began as usual, with Dale and I starting our work around 9:00 after a short meeting with interns. We worked more on the ministry report in the morning until around 11:00. I then did a hill workout close by la Casablanca (because it's pretty much all hills) and ate some lunch afterwards.

I did some more work in the afternoon for about an hour. At 1:30, Edwards came to la Casablanca to learn some more English. Dale and I have a good system of giving him a quizlet full of English words for him to study while we do work. Once he's ready we then quiz him on what he has studied. It's awesome seeing how dedicated he is to learning English and I hope that he can keep it up when we leave.

At around 3:30, I left with Edwards to go to the bus station (Dale had gone to the doctor to figure out why he keeps getting sick)
Once there we parted and I went to go take a bus to La Luz only to remember that I forgot the bag of soccer balls I was supposed to bring for practice with the kids. So after going back to get them I ended up being around 10 minutes late, but the kids had their own ball to play with so they were entertained. I ended up leading the practice by myself and I thought it went really well. Today I taught them passing and then we finished with some fun games. 

Gustavo and Alex then picked me up to go out to eat at a delicious Italian restaraunt with all the other interns. This was our farewell dinner for a lot of the interns since 5 of us are leaving within the next week. We had a time where everyone that was leaving (Me, Dale, Jake, Alex, and Merrick) was affirmed but everyone else at the table. It was definitely a special time to hear lots of words of affirmation from the people that I have grown close too. After dinner we went to a gelato place where I had some delicious mint gelato. We then left and Dale and I had to say goodbye to Merrick, who was leaving that night for the airport.

We ended up getting to practice tonight about 30 minutes late. Practice tonight was hard since I was fairly tired and stuffed from dinner, but it was still fun to get to see the guys. Mejia was then able to drive Dale and I home which was awesome to get to hang out and talk with him more. We then hung out some more and went to bed after a long day.

It felt good to get a good amount of work done today and to also get to do a lot as well. God provided me with the energy I needed to lead the practice for the kids which went well! I could be using some prayer for energy tomorrow as well as it will be another busy day.

Today was a glimpse into how it is going to be when Dale and I leave and have to start saying our goodbyes. The sadness hasn't really hit me yet, due to my excitement to come home, but I think God is starting to show me how much I am going to miss this place and the people I met here. Be praying that I would really take advantage of my last days here and that I would recognize the amazing work God has done here this summer and the amazing work He will continue to do when we leave.

Dios Bendiga,

Nico

Day 48 in Ecuador

Today we had an awesome trip to Mindo, which is a "cloud" forest about 2 hours away. I got up around 5:15 to pack a lunch and make myself breakfast. We then took a taxi from our house to a local bus station where we were expecting to leave at 6:30, but were told wasn't gonna leave until 8:00. So we sat around and waited until around 7:00 when we were told that we could take a taxi for 10 bucks per person. So we took this offer and made our way to Mindo!

The taxi driver we had was very nice and fun to talk to as we were driving to Mindo. I was pleased that I was able to have some conversations with him for the most part. He even told me that my Spanish was very good which felt good to hear! The drive to Mindo was also a beautiful drive getting to see mountains full of green trees and occasional waterfalls on the way.

We got to Mindo and met up with our guide who gave us the plan for the day. We first were going to take a "taxi" to this gondola type thing that would take us across this gourd to where we would hike to some waterfalls. The "taxi" turned out to be the back of a pickup track which actually was a lot of fun. We got to the gondola which was also a sweet experience and had a beautiful view.

We first hiked to a waterfall that was 15 minutes away that was straight downhill going there, but obviously the way back wasn't quite as easy. After visiting that waterfall for a few minutes, we came back to the start and were already pretty tired. We then hiked to the biggest waterfall there which was about a 50 minute hike. This hike was much more peaceful and easier because there weren't as many hills and the ups and downs were evenly balanced. We got to the waterfall, ate some much needed late, and I, along with Jake and Anna, made the choice to actually go into the waterfall. It was freezing cold at first but after getting used to it, being in the water felt amazing. Another really sweet experience.

We then hiked back, took the gondola, and rode our taxi to our next activity which was a butterfly place. We had a little girl as our tour guide who was so cute. She actually knew a lot about butterflies and it was another cool activity. I was able to catch some butterflies as you can see from the pictures. Next was a trip to la casa de chocolate. Here we learned the process of making chocolate, starting right from the cocoa bean. Our guide had us try the cocoa bean and then the cocoa paste, both of which were extremely bitter and not good at all. It was really interesting to see all that goes into making the chocolate, and finally at the end were able to try some chocolate with some fruit. I, however ,still wasn't a huge fan of the chocolate because it wasn't sweet enough for me. But, nonetheless it was still a cool tour.

Once we were done there, we stopped at some stores to get some snacks and then made our way back to Quito on the bus. We then took another taxi from the bus station to la Casablanca. I had another awesome conversation with this taxi driver. I pretty much was able to have a full out conversation with him and got to tell him about Cumbre Alta and encouraged his son, who is 9 years old, to play with them in the future. Who knows if he will but it was cool to be able to share about Cumbre!

We got back to la Casablanca around 7:00 and ended up making a huge dinner to eat together. Everyone was assigned their own task. Mine was to make some homemade garlic bread which actually, with the help of Mabe, turned out to be delicious. The whole meal was very good and we were able to cook for Mabe and Fabi too which was very nice since they always cook for us. After cleaning up, the night was finished and we all headed to bed.

Today was an awesome day. I had a blast at Mindo exploring new things and enjoying God's creation. It was also very special to get to spend all day with the interns, who are all leaving within the next two days, either to go home or to lead teams elsewhere. God provided an awesome today together as a group. He also gave me so much encouragement with the awesome conversations I was able to have in Spanish with the taxi drivers. I have realized how much my Spanish has improved over the summer which is really awesome!

Praise God for an awesome day today. Praise Him for the encouragement He continues to send every day! Also be praying for the rest of the week and continued energy to give it my all!

Dios Bendiga,
Nico

Day 47 in Ecuador

Monday began the last full week of our time here in Ecuador. I had the same usual morning routine and then Dale and I began our work at around 8:30. We spent an hour in the morning tracking the financials of interns by entering in their receipts. We then were able to Skype Joseph in the morning for about 30 minutes. He gave us some clarification and helped us out on one of the projects we were given and also gave us a couple more projects to finish out our time. The rest of the morning Dale and I worked on the financial report for ministries that Joseph had helped us out with. We felt a lot better about our work and were really enjoying it.

We then took a break for lunch to go to a local almuerzo place with Brad, Jake, and Cheng. We ate some delicious food and had a nice time. Afterwards Dale and I got back to work for about an hour and a half more, working on the same project. After finishing work, Dale and I got ready to go to U12 Academy practice with Cumbre Alta. We first had to stop and get the balls, pinnies, and cones for practice at Edgar's house because he was unable to make it to practice. 

I was glad we could help Edgar out and give him a break and also be able to lead the practice. It turned out well and the kids had a lot of fun. The theme of practice was defense, because Dale and I both notice that they are lazy and never defend well. We played a fun 1v1 game that they really enjoyed and then ended up playing a lot of 3v3 at the end which they also loved.

After practice, Dale and I were feeling very lazy and tired but we ended up going for a run anyways that went well. I have been realizing how awesome it has been to be able to have these practices at La Luz because the area around it is perfect for running. God provides in so many ways!

We then made our way back to la Casablanca having to carry a huge bag of soccer balls, pinnies, and cones on a very crowded bus, which made for a very difficult trip. But we made it back and on the way we saw two people that we knew which was crazy, one of them being a Cumbre Alta player who we may not see again, so it was awesome to get to see him. 

Once we made it back to la Casablanca, we met up with all the interns who were going to eat at a local burger place. We had a nice time of reflection of the summer and just getting to spend time with each other. The rest of the evening then consisted of watching a movie and more hanging out.

Looking back on the day, God helped me to have a much better attitude about this week and just about my remaining time here in general. I felt great about what we had planned this week and just great about the work we have been able to do. Right when we were about to start work in the morning I was feeling kind of groggy and prayed immediately that God would give me energy for the day and he answered that prayer amazingly! Later before practice with the kids, I also was feeling a lack of energy and God provided again with an awesome time with the kids. God is so faithful when we seek Him and His will for us, it is so encouraging!

Keep praying for a positive attitude and for safety tomorrow as we (the interns) travel to Mindo, which is this awesome place in the rain forest with waterfalls and cool stuff to do. Praise God for how much he provides!

Dios Bendiga,

Nico

Day 46 in Ecuador

Mejia trying to hide

This Sunday began with another wonderful night of sleep, which felt great. I spent the morning reading some more about Elijah, making myself some breakfast, and just relaxing. I found myself struggling again with feelings of homesickness this morning, which I prayed for God to take away so that I could effectively serve today. It got better as the day went on and as I reflect back on the day, I definitely see how God helped me today.

Around 10:20, Dale and I left to go to the bus station where we were supposed to meet one of the Cumbre Alta players, Rolando, at 10:30. After some miscommunication, we finally met up with him at around 11:00 and then had Mejia meet us and drive us to La Luz. Here we met up with Dani who was the third Cumbre Alta player that would be joining us for the day. So we ended up being 30 minutes late to church, but that happens to be very common in Latin America so it turned out alright.

Dale performing a punishment after losing a card game

After the service was over, we made our way back to la Casablanca to make them some brunch, which was pancakes, bacon, and eggs. We got to talk about the service with them for a bit which they seemed to enjoy. They also seemed to really appreciate us cooking for them which was awesome too. Mejia had to leave to go to a soccer game, so we said goodbye to him. After he left, Dale, Rolando, Dani and I all played a card game and then went outside to play some soccer. We finished with some soccer volleyball which had to end because I accidently headed the ball over the wall. So Dani and Rolando then ended up leaving because Dani had to study for some final exams he has.

Once the players left, Dale and I had a chance to relax and just talk which was really nice. Then we watched two videos that Fabi had shared on my Facebook wall which sort of stemmed from the conversations we were having with Mabe and Fabi last night. I would definitely encourage you to check out the videos on my wall, they are really good!

I then was able to Skype my parents a final time before I head home. It was really nice to see them again and get to talk through how we are doing! Once we hung up, I ate some dinner and then spent the rest of the evening hanging out with the interns here. It was very nice to have a relaxing, fun evening with the interns, especially since these nights with them are coming to an end.

Once again, another great day here in Ecuador. Even though I was struggling with some homesickness, God really worked through my weakness and helped me to serve and have a fun day. I could definitely use prayer throughout this week that I wouldn't let my excitement to go home hinder my last week of service here. I really want to give it my all this last week and just follow in whatever plans God may have!

Dios Bendiga,
Nico

Day 45 in Ecuador

This day started off brilliantly with a much needed full night of sleep. I felt much better in the morning and my appetite was starting to return. I made myself some breakfast and then made my way to La Luz church, where the new 5v5 soccer field is. Dale was unable to come this morning because he wasn't feeling that well this morning (he has gotten better though). At the church, I met up with Edgar and his friend, Patrick, to hand out fliers for the new soccer field. This was actually really encouraging because a lot of people seemed very interested in the field. In case I haven't explained this yet, the field will be available for people to rent and those proceeds will help Cumbre Alta as a club.

After handing out fliers, we then made our way to a Ceviche restaurant to grab something to eat. I ended up not getting anything because of my recent sickness. Anyways, it was a lot of fun getting to talk to Edgar and get to know him some more.

Once we finished eating, I grabbed a bus and made my way back to la Casablanca. I wasn't really sure what I was planning on doing the rest of the afternoon, but I knew I wanted to do something. I had just been reading about Elijah in 1 Kings and was just overwhelmed at the amount of faith he had in God, despite all the crazy things God was calling him to do. Throughout the day I was reminded of this story and wanted to really be seeking after what God may be calling for me. After lunch, I felt like I should go practice guitar outside where there is an awesome view. So I went there and there ended up being a 9 year old boy, Sebastian, there playing some soccer. I eventually asked him if he wanted to play and he said yes. So we played 1v1 for a bit (he was very impressive) and then his sister ended up coming out and two other much younger kids. We were able to all hang out together and I was showing them my mediocre guitar skills, which they were very impressed with. Dale eventually came out and started hanging out with us as well. I really had a blast hanging out with the kids. Apparently they are now living in Casa Elizabeth, the pregnancy home right above la Casablanca, because they are no longer in school. Hopefully we have more chances to see these kids and connect with them more!

The kids eventually had to leave and Dale and I, along with Merrick and Megan, made our way to Supermaxi. Dale and I invited 4 players from Cumbre Alta to come to church with us and also to come to la Casablanca afterwards where we would cook them brunch. As of now we think that 3 of them will be able to come. So we needed to go to Supermaxi to buy the food needed to make our brunch.

Once we made it back to la Casablanca, I made myself some dinner and then played a game of Euchre. I then was able to Skype Jeni again which was very nice and crazy that it's the last time we will Skype before I come home. After we Skyped, I then went downstairs and joined a really deep conversation Dale and Mabe were having about Christianity. It was an awesome conversation, a difficult one, but definitely helpful.

I cannot say this enough, but God is so good. So often I struggle with determining what His will is for me throughout the day as I attempt to seek Him. Something as simple as a sensing that I should play the guitar outside lead to me getting to meet 5 awesome kids and hopefully have a good impact on them. God works in wondrous ways. Days like today help me to realize that if we truly are seeking after God's will, He will reveal it to us and show us the wonders of following His will.

Praise God for all the He is and for His amazing work! Also be praying for our with the Cumbre Alta players tomorrow, that God would guide our conversations and that He would be stirring in their hearts as they join us for church.

Dios Bendiga,
Nico

Day 44 in Ecuador

If you saw my dad's comment on my post yesterday, you will know that I had gotten sick overnight. It was definitely a rough, long night but God was with me through it all. I got out of bed around 7:30 and still wasn't feeling great, but Dale and I still decided to do some work in the morning in our room. We worked for about 2.5 hours and then Dale left to go to a pro soccer game with Gustavo. I, unfortunately, still wasn't feeling great and needed to rest so I stayed back.

I had a great 2 hour nap and started to feel better once I woke up. I then spent the rest of the afternoon resting in my room, watching some netflix, and drinking lots and lots of water. I took another nap in the evening, showered and then went downstairs to relax with some interns. I started to feel worse as the evening went on and Mabe then forced me to drink some chamomile tea which actually helped a lot. Dale and I then got to watch US beat Haiti in the Gold Cup and we headed to bed.

So obviously today wasn't the greatest day in Ecuador. Being sick isn't fun at all and I struggled to choose joy through it. Praise God for His grace and for helping me get through this crappy day! I am blessed by all the people that helped take care of me while I wasn't feeling well. God's timing is perfect. His plan is perfect. Something I need to constantly remind myself especially when days like today happen. Thanks for your prayers!

Dios Bendiga,
Nico

Day 43 in Ecuador

Eating at KFC

Thank you for your prayers for Dale! When I got up this morning he as feeling much better which was awesome to see. After eating breakfast, Dale and I got started working on a financial report for the ministries. We are able to get some more clarification from Joseph which helped us better understand what he wanted from this report. We had also sent Joseph two other reports in the morning which he was very pleased with and that he thought the missionaries would appreciate a lot. It's always so nice to hear this affirmation from our work and to know our work is making a difference.

We took a break for lunch, went to go get some smoothies, and then got to work on cleaning the house in preparation for a team returning from the coast. Dale and I helped to clean the bathrooms, which were absolutely disgusting to multiple people getting sick either from food poisoning or from viruses. Nevertheless, we got it done and did a few other things to help out.

Once we were done with that, we were able to Skype Nate to talk through how stuff with Cumbre Alta has been going and also discuss the finances of Cumbre Alta and how this new field can help them. It was a productive talk and nice to be able to chat with Nate again. Dale and I then ate a quick snack before heading to U12 practice at La Luz.

When we got there, Edgar told us he had to go somewhere and that we would be leading practice. It turned out to be a fun practice leading the kids! I liked being able to have two practices this week so we can get to know the kids some more and hopefully teach them some more soccer and show them Christ's love! We found out that next week the kids have 3 practices which I'm really looking forward too.

Playing "Butts up"

After practice was over, Dale and I went for a good, hard run around La Luz. We then were hoping to eat at a place called Que Pincho, but it was closed, so we went to KFC instead, which we scarfed down. We then made our way back to the field and had practice with Cumbre Alta. We found out tonight that Cumbre is appealing their suspension with the help of a lawyer and that they will find out Monday if the penalties have changed at all. Pray for this situation and just for the players and their reactions to the outcome! The rest of practice was fun, just getting to play 5v5 the whole night. We made our way home on a crowded bus and went to sleep after getting to see Cheng and Megan again.

It was another long day today and Dale and I are both pretty tired. God definitely provided much needed energy during both practices tonight and for our workout, praise Him for that! God also has been providing many opportunities and areas for Dale and I to help out with which I am very grateful for! Keep praying that I would seek God's plan daily and that I would lay down my selfish desires and give all I have the rest of these two weeks.

Dios Bendiga,
Nico

Day 42 in Ecuador

As I look back on today, it turned out to be a very different day than usual. I got up in the morning, had some quiet time, made myself some breakfast and proceeded to check in on Dale because he wasn't up yet. Apparently Dale had a rough night and still wasn't feeling well so I started doing some work in the morning by myself. I started and finished a report which shows how much money Inca Link receives from Christian and Missionary Alliance churches (Inca Link's affiliation) compared to all other churches. This is to help Inca Link know how dependent they are on C&MA churches.

I took a break around 11:00 once I had finished the report. Dale said that our phone needed minutes put on it so I went to the local tienda to do that, but unfortunately the guy said that I had to come back in an hour. So I returned to la Casablanca expecting to make lunch when Fabi told me he needed help with something. I ended up going to the local bus station with Fabi to act as his "bodyguard". Fabi was selling a TV to a random person and he wanted me to come along to help out. The guy ended up being about 30 minutes late but this provided Fabi and I some time to talk, which was very nice. After they exchanged money and the TV, I went and bought some minutes from my phone at a store in the tienda and we finally returned to la Casablanca.

One of Mejia's bunnies (they are huge)

After this hour excursion, I finally was able to make myself lunch. Dale and I then got back to work in the afternoon. We ended up working for about 2 hours, finally completing the financial report for missionaries after Joseph offered two other suggestions for us. During this time, Dale realized that it probably would be a good idea for him to stay home for the evening so that he could rest up and hopefully start to feel better.

With this decision, I planned on taking a bus to U12 Cumbre practice alone, but as I was leaving Gustavo and Fabi said they could take me to la Luz because they had an errand they had to run. Little did I know that this errand would end up making me half an hour late to practice, but in the end everything turned out alright. I got to practice and felt a lot more energetic than I did last week. Edgar ended up leading most of the drills but it was fun to hang out with the kids and get to play with them at the end.

Once practice was over, Edgar had to leave for a meeting, but I stayed and hung out some more with two kids who were staying a little longer. It was fun to get to hang out with these kids and get to know them some more. Once they left, I went for about a 20 minute run. I then got some empanadas at a local panaderia and then waited about an hour at the field for the Cumbre Alta players to show up (apparently practice got pushed back to 8:00 which I was unaware of). I was starting to think that no one would show up when finally about 4 people showed up at 8:00.

Practice with Cumbre went well tonight again. I got to talk some more with some of the players and met a new guy who speaks perfect English, which was nice to have since Dale wasn't there. Practice ended and I was able to ride home with one of the players.

A lot of different stuff happened today that made it a very unique day. It was really nice though for me because I love having new, random opportunities to help out like when Fabi asked me to be his bodyguard today. It was hard not having Dale tonight, definitely made for a more lonely night (especially when I was waiting an hour for players to show) and it makes me realize how helpful it has been having Dale here with me all summer.

God is good and God is faithful. He has provided so much encouragement this summer through the work that Dale and I are doing, through random helpful things I can do, and through our relationships with the Cumbre Alta players. Praise Him for much needed encouragement that makes me realize that these last two weeks are going to be very important for His Kingdom.

Keep praying for Cumbre Alta! Also be praying for Dale that God would heal him from this sickness so he can get back to serving Him.

Dios Bendiga,
Nico

Day 41 in Ecuador

As of this morning, Dale and I had planned on going to the coast this evening. However, plans always seem to change down here. After breakfast, Dale and I walked to the local bus station to buy a ticket for the night bus that leaves for the coast. When we were talking to the lady we realized that we had forgotten our Passports, so we went back to la Casablanca to get them. On our way back we realized that this trip didn't seem worth it. We would waste about 2 days of traveling and we felt that we would be more useful and be able to help out more in Quito, so we decided to stay. Once we made that decision both of us commentated how it felt like a weight was lifted off our shoulders and that we felt at peace with that decision.

Laguna de Cuicocha

Also on our way back, I needed to stop at the local tienda to buy some milk and eggs. I decided to go to the tienda I don't usually go to and I got to talk to the two ladies there about what we are doing here. I got to share about Inca Link and also about Cumbre Alta and how our goal is to spread the love of Christ throughout the team. I always love these short opportunities to share more about Christ and hopefully impact these ladies some way.

Mejia's horse, Bambino

Once back at la Casablanca, Dale and I got back to work. We first started by finished an Investing Policy that Joseph had wanted us to write. Once that was done, we were going to finish the financial report for missionaries as well but could not access Quickbooks because I needed to register for it. We decided to take a break and wait for Joseph to respond. Around 12:00, I went for a run while Dale rested because he wasn't feeling that well. I then had some lunch and showered and Dale and I got back to work eventually around 2:00.

Joseph had emailed back and helped me to register with Quickbooks so we were now able to finish the financial report. It took us the rest of the afternoon to get this done and sent to Joseph. Once finished, we were able to relax some more and also get some much needed laundry done. At 6:00, I went with most of the interns to this nice restaurant that sells delicious personal pizzas. It was a very nice dinner and a fun time to get to hang out with the interns more. We made our way back and finished the night watching Netflix together.

All in all, today was a good day. It didn't finished was we were expecting but Dale and I both feel that God wants us here in Quito to be able to serve Him more in ministries we are helping with. Praise God for His perfect plan for us! 

Also as I look back on the day, I realize that I have problems with resting. I can do it for maybe an hour but then I just start to feel restless or I feel like I should be doing something. Be praying that when time for rest comes, I am able to enjoy it and use it in the way God wants. 

Thanks for all your prayers while I have been down here! God continues to show Himself in so many ways and it is just amazing to see. Keep the prayers coming!

Dios Bendiga,

Nico

Day 39 and 40 in Ecuador

The view at the Pyramids.

Wow. What an amazing two days God provided. Let's start at the beginning! Mejia picked Dale and I up around 7:30 am on Sunday morning (an hour later than we were expecting, but we have gotten used to that). We first headed to some Pyramids in Ecuador called Cochasqui. It was fun to learn about these pyramids, some which contained 600 heads, and also good practice to try and understand our tour guide who only spoke Spanish. The view was also incredible as you can tell from the pictures.

The market in Otavalo

After our tour, we headed to an indigenous town named Otavalo. Here we looked around at a big market they had and also ate a delicious ham sandwich for lunch. Close to this town was a really cool waterfall that Mejia wanted to take us too. This waterfall was definitely the best one I have ever been too, mom I know you would have loved it. When we were there, Mejia convinced us to actually go into the waterfall, which seemed crazy because it was cold and we didn't have our swimsuits. Nevertheless, we had to go in. It was definitely very cold but we were so glad we went in. We convinced Mejia and his brother Alejo (I forgot to mention he was with us the whole day as well) to come in as well. Dale took some awesome GoPro videos of us in the waterfall. We had a blast here, definitely one of our favorite parts of this mini trip. On top of that, on the way out I found a place that was selling 7 cheese empanadas for $1 (the other option was 1 for 50 cents so obviously I bought 7).

We then made our way to a lake, Laguna de Cuicocha, that was in the crater of a volcano. This was another awesome experience, the views were incredible. We ended up taking a boat out on the lake, which was above an active volcano. You can tell from pictures how amazing this lake was.

Laguna de Cuicocha

Finally after our day of travels, we made our way to Mejia's country home. Here we ate some delicious Ceviche made by his mom. After dinner, we walked around the house a bit and played a quick game of basketball before heading to bed.

Although we had so many great adventures and travels in one day, I was somewhat disappointed in the day. I was really looking forward to this weekend as an opportunity to get to talk about our faith more with Mejia, but Sunday that didn't happen at all. As I was going to bed, I realized that I needed to trust in God's timing and that He will provide opportunities for Dale and I.

The view from Mejia's country home.

The next morning, prayers already were being answered. We got up and Dale had brought out his bible to do some reading. Mejia then asked Dale if he reads his bible every morning to which Dale replied that he tries to. This sparked some good conversation about the bible and his favorite Psalm (Psalm 23) and his favorite passage. Once we were done talking, Dale and I went to pray for the day and both talked about how we had been feeling disappointed the night before. We prayed again that we would trust in God's timing and that we would be obedient to anymore opportunities to share about Christ.

We then went outside to pick Mora so that Mejia's mom could make some Jugo de Mora (which was very delicious). Mejia then gave us a tour of his home. It was really awesome to get to experience this sweet home. It has a beautiful view of the mountains, delicious fruit, and some awesome animals (we even were able to see two chickens fight). We then ate breakfast and then went outside to pick some more fruit to eat and take back to Mabe and Fabi. Here we got to talk to Mejia about church and here his thoughts on church while also being able to share how we value church. Mejia doesn't normally go to church because he doesn't view it as necessary to have a relationship with God. I told him why I value church and eventually we invited him to go to the church we go to, so hopefully that will be able to happen in the next two weeks.

Once we were done picking, we thanked his parents for their very good hospitality, and left to go see Mejia's horse, Bambino. This horse was in the middle of a field that was owned by Mejia's dad. This field had another beautiful view of the mountains and had more delicious fruit, such as pears and oranges. After seeing his horse and feeding it some panela, we left to go see his uncle's horse, which also has a baby horse.

Mejia's dad in the middle

After our excursions with the horses, we made our way to the hot springs. These were different than the ones we had gone to last year, but they were still awesome. We had a blast hanging out with Mejia and Alejo here, even playing chicken in one of the pools. We then left to go eat some food at a mall close by. After we were done eating, we sat around for a little bit more and had some more good conversations. One great point Mejia had made was that God's timing is perfect.

Finally, we made the 2 hour trek back into Quito. During a lot of our travels, we had been listening to music and not talking much, but on our way back we ended up having one of our best conversations. Dale had asked Alejo what he believed and Alejo responded by saying that he wasn't very religious. After this, Dale and I were able to share about what we believe and even share briefly the Gospel message. Mejia knows and believes in what we were saying and even was saying how he prays every night that his brother would come to accept Christ, but that he also knows that God's timing is perfect. It was really cool to be able to have these conversations and to find out what Mejia believes in.

This whole trip was so good. God worked in so many ways, despite my weaknesses and failures. It was awesome to see and hear that Mejia believes in God and the Gospel. Mejia is very wise and Dale and I were talking about how we even learned more about God from Mejia during this trip. God's timing is perfect, so true yet something I forget often. It was also awesome that we had the opportunity to share the Gospel in front of Alejo and that hopefully this will be one of the stepping stones that leads to him accepting Christ.

Praise God for these past two days. I can't put into words how awesome this trip was and how much praise God deserves. Thank you all so much for your prayers, they are so powerful!

Dios Bendiga,
Nico

Day 38 in Ecuador

Happy 4th of July United States! Not much is happening down here obviously, everyone is looking forward to the Pope coming. Anyways although we weren't able to BBQ or set off some fireworks, today turned out to be a pretty good day. I got up around the same time this morning to do some quiet time and make myself some breakfast before the team ate. 

Everybody else was planning on going to old town Quito today, but since Dale and I had already been there multiple times, we decided to stay back and help Mabe out with some things that needed to be done before teams came next week. Dale and I helped to clean some blankets and make about 12 beds. 

We took a break around 11:45 to do a quick workout before lunch. We ended up sprinting 10 hills (which aren't very hard to find in Quito) and it turned out to be a good workout. I keep telling Dale I can't wait for my first run back in the States and to be able to feel the difference. After our workout, we made ourselves some lunch and finished the rest of the bids.

Around 2:30, we left to go to Edgar's house to watch the Copa America final. We ended up getting some pizza and had a good time watching with Edgar. We came back to la Casablanca and spent the rest of the evening hanging out and relaxing. 

Tomorrow, Mejia is planning on picking us up at 6:30 in the morning. He is going to take us to some beautiful lakes and eventually his country home. Be praying for this time with Mejia. Be praying that we would continue to grow in our relationships with him and God would guide us with our discussions with him. 

Having another not so busy day was very nice. It was awesome to be able to help out but also have some time to relax too. Praise God for the much needed rest he provides! Especially since this will be a very busy week for Dale and I. We get back from Mejia's Monday and Tuesday night we are taking a night bus down to the coast for two days. We then leave on a night bus on Thursday night. So I am very thankful for the rest I am able to have now in preparation for a busy week!

Thanks for reading again! I may or may not have internet access tomorrow night, so if there isn't a blog posted, you know why. 

Dios Bendiga,

Nico

Day 37 in Ecuador

Cayambe

The final day of the week began a little different than usual. A new team had come in yesterday morning and had stayed the night last night. With them here, la Casablanca attempted to house about 50 people. So the morning was a bit hectic, but I was still able to feel rested for the day, which was nice. After breakfast, Dale and I had the opportunity to share about the ministry of Cumbre Alta to the team that had been staying in Quit

o the entire week. They seemed really interested in the ministry and one of the ladies actually came up to me after we talked and asked for more information about Cumbre Alta. I love that she wanted to know more and to be able to share about a ministry I am passionated about was really cool.

Dale and I then began our work day, continuing to improve the missionary report we have been working on for awhile. At lunch, we were expecting to eat with Edwards again but he was unable to show. Instead we took some time after lunch to clean out the pantry and then did about an hour more of work.

After we finished our work, Dale and I headed to Carolina Park to hang out a bit. We had wanted to hang out with some Cumbre players or some other interns, but everyone was busy so it turned into a date. We went paddleboating in the park and had a beautiful view of the mountains. We took a moment to be quiet and just enjoy hearing the sounds around us. Both of us felt a sense of tranquility and just realized how God is in complete control of everything. It was a really cool experience!

We then went to Quicentro mall and ate some churrascos in the food court. We finally made our way home on a very crowded bus that took almost an hour. The rest of the evening was very relaxing, just hanging out and Skyping Jeni.

It was very nice having a more relaxing day today after yesterday was superbusy. Thanks for all your prayers throughout this week! It has been awesome to reflect back on this week and see all that God has been doing. Even though my time seems like it is coming to an end, God still has a lot planned for me, so be praying that I would make the most of these last couple of weeks!

Dios Bendiga,
Nico

Day 36 in Ecuador

Today was another very good day, but also very exhausting. This morning we decided to get a little fancy with breakfast and had some banana and chocolate chip pancakes with eggs and bacon. It was fun to be able to spend some time with some other interns before their team arrived. After breakfast, Dale and I helped with some cleaning that needed to be done before teams arrived.

U12 practice

We had a Skype meeting with Joseph at 9:00 that went really well. One of my frustrations with work recently was that we were kind of making up work to do and not having set direction. One if the reasons this happened was because we were supposed to have a Skype meeting with Joseph on Tuesday but he got appendicitis and had to get his appendix taken out. A little side note, he apparently isn't able to lift more than 5 pounds over the next six weeks AND his wife is 33 weeks pregnant and could pop at any second. So their family could definitely use some prayer. Anyways, the meeting went really well this morning because Dale and I were given much more direction with our work and now have plenty of things to do.

After our meeting, we helped clean up some more and then worked for about an hour in the morning, improving the financial report for missionaries that we had sent Joseph the past week. At noon, we met up with Edwards again and ended up making him some lunch at la Casablanca. We ate and gave him a good English lesson. Dale then had the idea to give him a quizlet of 30 English words to memorize while Dale and I worked more on some projects. This worked really well and both Dale and I were very impressed at how good of a student Edwards was. He was able to memorize almost all of the words in about 30 minutes. We are doing the same thing tomorrow so keep praying for this relationship to grow and that we would continue to help him learn more!

Once Edwards left, Dale and I worked for another hour before leaving for U12 Cumbre Alta Academy practice at 4. Only about 5 kids showed up for practice today, but it still was a good practice. I was lacking energy for this practice but Dale helped balance me and did an awesome job leading some excercises with the kids at the end. It is definitely very helpful to have Dale down here, especially for days when I am just struggling to serve. We have two of these practices next week, Wednesday and Thursday, and Edgar said that Dale and I can lead both of those. Be praying that God would give me the energy I need to have fun with the kids and to help them grow!

Dale and I then went for about a 20 minute run in an area that was actually really flat, which helped us get a good run in. We then did some pushups and abs before heading to dinner with Mejia and Edgar. We had a nice conversation around that table and actually ended up talking about the bible and Mejia made some references to some good passages.

Next was practice with Cumbre Alta. Only 8 people showed up tonight but it was a really fun practice. We played a fun game at the beginning and then ended up playing 4v4 for about an hour. Needless to say, Dale and I are very exhausted from our workout and from playing a lot of soccer.

Dale, Edgar, Mejia, Me

Although today was tiring, it was a very good day. I got to have many good conversations with some Cumbre Alta players and Dale and I were able to get a good amount of work done. God keeps revealing to me that although it may seem like I don't have much time left, He still is working through me in many ways. I also have a greater understanding of how much of what we are doing is helping a lot of people, which motivates me even more. Praise God for His neverending encouragement and for all the work He is doing down here.

Dios Bendiga,
Nico