So hard to believe that I have begun my last of three weeks in Ecuador...time goes so so fast! I have been in Quito this weekend with Dra. Yeny, and it has been a time of rest for me, which was much needed. I am excited, however, to return to Quinindé, since the time I have left there is so little. Thank you all for your many prayers during the past week with my interviews...
I was able to conduct interviews in every community, except for Chipocentro--this community only has about 3-5 peopl in attendance for the meetings, as they are going through a rough time, so I made the decision not to perform individual interviews, as Rosaura would be left without a group for the Bible study. I am planning on conducting a focus group discussion with them the next meeting. I really admire the women in this group, however, because though they are few, the ones that come are understanding the Word of God and seem to be excited about what they learn about God. You know, these women are the ones that live in that community, and even though there are only a few of them, if these women are transformed by the gospel, they will be the ones to transform their community years down the road.
I have not had too many out of the ordinary adventures this past week, except for almost being assaulted in Quito with Dra. Yeny....almost, but not quite, because God´s hands were surrounding us with his faithful protection. This morning I read from Psalm 121... "Alzaré mis ojos a los montes; ¿De donde vendra mi zocorro? Mi zocorro viene de Jehova que hizo los cielos y la tierra. No dará to pie al resbaladero, ni se dormirá el que te guarda. He aqui no se adormecerá ni dormirá el que guarda Israel." The translation is found in your Bibles :)
Continue to pray that I would be able to finish all of my assignments throughout this week, because next week I meet with all the women´s groups again, and the week after that we are hosting a medical team from the U.S. and this means full translation for me :)
I look forward to seeing all of you soon! -Elise
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sunday, July 5, 2009
My last month in Quinindé
Hi Friends!
Please forgive me for not having written in a while...I have been using a computer that belongs to some friends, but the internet is sooooooo slow, that I was barely managing to send my assignments and read my emails in an hour.
Things continue to go well...I can hardly believe that I only have 4 weeks left here in Quinindé. God has truly blest my time here thus far, and though I am excited about getting back to see my family, I will miss the new friends and ¨family¨I have here in Ecuador.
For those of you praying for my research and my interviews, I want to let you know that my first few have gone really well. I had planned to do interviews in another group, but when we got there on Tuesday afternoon, none of the women had come for the meeting. I really enjoyed all I was able to learn about people´s lives and the community in which they live through the interviews, and starting tomorrow, I will Lord willing be conducting interviews every day of this week. You can be praying that all the groups would meet and that I would be able to successfully carry out all the interviews this week. Also, be praying that my analysis of the information I receive would be accurate, and that I might be able to encourage the Luke Society staff through my research.
The other day I got to see my first chicken killed and stripped of its feathers, before eating it later in some yummy tamales! I did not know this, but when you open up the chicken you find all the eggs it is set to lay on its back...sometimes they are big, ready to be laid, but in this chicken they were small. I also got to see dried corn turned into a maize flour and used to make the tamales...It was a great learning experience. I still don´t think I could ever be the one to kill the chicken, but it was interesting nonetheless.
This past week Quinindé was celebrating its anniversary since becoming a ¨canton¨--which is like a district of sorts. There was a parade on Friday, and I went with one of my friends from church Maria to watch the parade. All the high schools in the area have been practicing dances and the musical band in order to march in the parade. I was able to see several friends of mine that are students and teachers in the various schools in the area. I enjoyed the experience!
Please pray that I would finish my time here strong! I have been very exhausted this past week, for no reason in particular, as well as suffering from my allergies every day. Because the dry season is now pretty much in full, there is so much more dust in the air, and that means allergies galore for me! :)
Also, please pray that I would be able to finish all my school assignments well, as I am feeling the weight of them...
Thanks for again for your friendship, your love, and your prayers!
Elise
Please forgive me for not having written in a while...I have been using a computer that belongs to some friends, but the internet is sooooooo slow, that I was barely managing to send my assignments and read my emails in an hour.
Things continue to go well...I can hardly believe that I only have 4 weeks left here in Quinindé. God has truly blest my time here thus far, and though I am excited about getting back to see my family, I will miss the new friends and ¨family¨I have here in Ecuador.
For those of you praying for my research and my interviews, I want to let you know that my first few have gone really well. I had planned to do interviews in another group, but when we got there on Tuesday afternoon, none of the women had come for the meeting. I really enjoyed all I was able to learn about people´s lives and the community in which they live through the interviews, and starting tomorrow, I will Lord willing be conducting interviews every day of this week. You can be praying that all the groups would meet and that I would be able to successfully carry out all the interviews this week. Also, be praying that my analysis of the information I receive would be accurate, and that I might be able to encourage the Luke Society staff through my research.
The other day I got to see my first chicken killed and stripped of its feathers, before eating it later in some yummy tamales! I did not know this, but when you open up the chicken you find all the eggs it is set to lay on its back...sometimes they are big, ready to be laid, but in this chicken they were small. I also got to see dried corn turned into a maize flour and used to make the tamales...It was a great learning experience. I still don´t think I could ever be the one to kill the chicken, but it was interesting nonetheless.
This past week Quinindé was celebrating its anniversary since becoming a ¨canton¨--which is like a district of sorts. There was a parade on Friday, and I went with one of my friends from church Maria to watch the parade. All the high schools in the area have been practicing dances and the musical band in order to march in the parade. I was able to see several friends of mine that are students and teachers in the various schools in the area. I enjoyed the experience!
Please pray that I would finish my time here strong! I have been very exhausted this past week, for no reason in particular, as well as suffering from my allergies every day. Because the dry season is now pretty much in full, there is so much more dust in the air, and that means allergies galore for me! :)
Also, please pray that I would be able to finish all my school assignments well, as I am feeling the weight of them...
Thanks for again for your friendship, your love, and your prayers!
Elise
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Halfway Point
It is hard to believe that six weeks have already come and gone and that I am halfway through...I will be sad to leave those I have been able to form friendships with as well as the Latin culture that I enjoy, but I am excited to be able to return and spend some time with my family.
This past week I spent time in the schools with the tutoring ministry, as the women´s groups only meet every other week. In one of the schools I was with the third grade, and they were going to work on reading. We called them up to read one by one, and the second girl we called stood silently staring at the book. That is when her classmates told me that she did not know how to read. I decided to sit down and work with her one on one, and soon realized that she did not even know the alphabet. She has the alphabet memorized and can recite it, but when I pointed to a letter and asked her which one it was, she was silent. I felt so much frustration at an educational system that teaches by memorization only and copying down items from the board. I also realized, however, how blessed I was to be able to learn to read. My classroom had the alphabet posted on the walls, and we daily recited the letter with the sound it makes and the key word that went with each letter. We also had materials with the different sounds we would recite: ¨fl in fly, fr in frog, gl in glue, etc.¨And finally, I was blessed with teachers who wanted to make reading fun and taught in an exciting way.
This week I hope to start interviews in the women´s groups, and I ask that you please pray for me. Pray that God would build openness and trust between the women and myself, and that I would be bold and confident as I start this part of my research. I thankyou for your prayers and ask for your continued prayers for me and my time here. I look forward to sharing with you upon my return.
And a somewhat funny learning experience...My hosts believe that I eat anything, and in general I am not at all a picky eater...Also, I grew up in Peru, so eating rice everyday and the different typical foods is great. They have learned this past week however, as have I, that I do not like tripe or cow stomach....I cannot seem to get used to that :(
Hope you all are well!
This past week I spent time in the schools with the tutoring ministry, as the women´s groups only meet every other week. In one of the schools I was with the third grade, and they were going to work on reading. We called them up to read one by one, and the second girl we called stood silently staring at the book. That is when her classmates told me that she did not know how to read. I decided to sit down and work with her one on one, and soon realized that she did not even know the alphabet. She has the alphabet memorized and can recite it, but when I pointed to a letter and asked her which one it was, she was silent. I felt so much frustration at an educational system that teaches by memorization only and copying down items from the board. I also realized, however, how blessed I was to be able to learn to read. My classroom had the alphabet posted on the walls, and we daily recited the letter with the sound it makes and the key word that went with each letter. We also had materials with the different sounds we would recite: ¨fl in fly, fr in frog, gl in glue, etc.¨And finally, I was blessed with teachers who wanted to make reading fun and taught in an exciting way.
This week I hope to start interviews in the women´s groups, and I ask that you please pray for me. Pray that God would build openness and trust between the women and myself, and that I would be bold and confident as I start this part of my research. I thankyou for your prayers and ask for your continued prayers for me and my time here. I look forward to sharing with you upon my return.
And a somewhat funny learning experience...My hosts believe that I eat anything, and in general I am not at all a picky eater...Also, I grew up in Peru, so eating rice everyday and the different typical foods is great. They have learned this past week however, as have I, that I do not like tripe or cow stomach....I cannot seem to get used to that :(
Hope you all are well!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Life in Quinindé
I apologize for not having written until now, but I did not have access to the internet...
Last week was a slightly more relaxing week as far as work in the office, because the doctor was in Quito for the week. She generally spends one week in Quito and one week here, so every other week is very full. I was in Quito for the weekend with my host as well, and was able to visit the ¨Mitad del Mundo¨being the equator...
I have really enjoyed my time in Quinindé, however, and was excited to return...Quinindé is much warmer than Quito, and I love the sun and the heat.
Last week, I had another experience, which was a new adventure for me, but part of life here. The grandmother in the house I live, raises chickens, and she had this one chicken that would escape out in the orchard and was laying her eggs out there instead of in the coop area. The grandmother had tied the chicken up so it wouldn´t go out, and Flerida was to let it loose then follow it to find out where it was laying its eggs. I decided to go with her, so once we let the chicken go, it went running away through the orchard. This felt like a secret mission as we followed it through the trees. Sometimes she would look over her shoulder and see us and stop to eat the weeds and peck at the ground. In the end we found her up against the neighbors house, with a nest containing about 6 eggs. The grandmother still says, however, that she plans to eat that one soon, because it is too much trouble!
I have not seen anymore animals lately! Time is flying by here, as I cannot believe I am already in my fifth week! I have really enjoyed my time here, and am excited about being able to do my research! Please continue to pray for the research and the communities of women that God would use every experience for his glory!
Much love to you all, Elise
Last week was a slightly more relaxing week as far as work in the office, because the doctor was in Quito for the week. She generally spends one week in Quito and one week here, so every other week is very full. I was in Quito for the weekend with my host as well, and was able to visit the ¨Mitad del Mundo¨being the equator...
I have really enjoyed my time in Quinindé, however, and was excited to return...Quinindé is much warmer than Quito, and I love the sun and the heat.
Last week, I had another experience, which was a new adventure for me, but part of life here. The grandmother in the house I live, raises chickens, and she had this one chicken that would escape out in the orchard and was laying her eggs out there instead of in the coop area. The grandmother had tied the chicken up so it wouldn´t go out, and Flerida was to let it loose then follow it to find out where it was laying its eggs. I decided to go with her, so once we let the chicken go, it went running away through the orchard. This felt like a secret mission as we followed it through the trees. Sometimes she would look over her shoulder and see us and stop to eat the weeds and peck at the ground. In the end we found her up against the neighbors house, with a nest containing about 6 eggs. The grandmother still says, however, that she plans to eat that one soon, because it is too much trouble!
I have not seen anymore animals lately! Time is flying by here, as I cannot believe I am already in my fifth week! I have really enjoyed my time here, and am excited about being able to do my research! Please continue to pray for the research and the communities of women that God would use every experience for his glory!
Much love to you all, Elise
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Wildlife
I realized after my last post that I forgot to tell you about some encounters with wildlife, though not upclose (thankfully)...As some of you know, I am deathly terrified of snakes....well, one night on the way home from church Rosaura, my host begins to tell me that someone had run over a snake on the highway and that her brother, who lives next door, just killed one of those same snakes on his patio that night! I asked if they were poisonous, and she assured me that they were deadly poisonous :) As we pulled in to the driveway, I had to get down out of the car in order for the son to climb out and open up the garage door...Right before I was going to climb down she told me to watch where I stepped...Well, of course it was really dark out since it was 10:00 at night, so I jokingly asked her how many minutes is was to the nearest hospital! Thankfully, there were no encounters for me that night...
In working with the women´s groups out in different communities we are often taking Rosaura´s jeep onto dirt roads for about thirty minutes through different palm plantations and vegetation in order to get to the communities. On these drives, I have now had the privilege to see two iguanas along the way. They will be in the middle of the dirt road, a bright green, and as we approach they begin to saunter off in that lizardly way....It is so fun to see these animals in the wild and not at a pet store somewhere! They are so full of life, not like the one we caught in Lima one time that slowly died because it wouldn´t eat the lettuce we gave it...
On the way back from a community called San Antonio, we passed this man who had a dead snake hanging from a tree. Rosaura stopped, and I saw that he had cut off the head of the snake and had it hanging from the tree. He was skinning it and told us that he was removing the fat to help with his lower back which was sore and his daughter who had a cold...then, the meat they would use to eat! I was just glad it was already dead...they call those snakes ¨horse killers¨ because they suffocate the horses and then eat them I suppose....
The last encounter occurred last night when I was at church. The place where we meet has a roof, but the sides are open to the outdoors....We were in the middle of a sermon, when this grasshopper the length of my entire hand comes flying in down the middle aisle, and then unexpectedly turns into this one aisle to land where two girls and their mother were sitting. It was so funny to watch these girls do everything in their power no to scream in the middle of the sermon. They were able to get the grasshopper to the end of the row, but the girls were to afraid to continue sitting in that row next to the grasshopper, so they discreetly got up and changed seats....
Those are my only encounters thus far, and thankfully they hav been at enough of a distance, for me to be able to enjoy them!
In working with the women´s groups out in different communities we are often taking Rosaura´s jeep onto dirt roads for about thirty minutes through different palm plantations and vegetation in order to get to the communities. On these drives, I have now had the privilege to see two iguanas along the way. They will be in the middle of the dirt road, a bright green, and as we approach they begin to saunter off in that lizardly way....It is so fun to see these animals in the wild and not at a pet store somewhere! They are so full of life, not like the one we caught in Lima one time that slowly died because it wouldn´t eat the lettuce we gave it...
On the way back from a community called San Antonio, we passed this man who had a dead snake hanging from a tree. Rosaura stopped, and I saw that he had cut off the head of the snake and had it hanging from the tree. He was skinning it and told us that he was removing the fat to help with his lower back which was sore and his daughter who had a cold...then, the meat they would use to eat! I was just glad it was already dead...they call those snakes ¨horse killers¨ because they suffocate the horses and then eat them I suppose....
The last encounter occurred last night when I was at church. The place where we meet has a roof, but the sides are open to the outdoors....We were in the middle of a sermon, when this grasshopper the length of my entire hand comes flying in down the middle aisle, and then unexpectedly turns into this one aisle to land where two girls and their mother were sitting. It was so funny to watch these girls do everything in their power no to scream in the middle of the sermon. They were able to get the grasshopper to the end of the row, but the girls were to afraid to continue sitting in that row next to the grasshopper, so they discreetly got up and changed seats....
Those are my only encounters thus far, and thankfully they hav been at enough of a distance, for me to be able to enjoy them!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Second Week in Quinindé
I realize this post is a little late in coming, and I do apologize. It is difficult for me to access the internet whenever I want, as my days remain very full :)
I have been going in every morning to the Luke Society office to help with whatever needs to be done and talking with some of the staff. In the afternoons I have been going to the schools or to the communities to join the women´s groups. I arrive home around 5:00 or 6:00 pm every night and after dinner am crawling into bed around 8:00 :) I am also getting up around 6:45 every morning in order to be ready to go to the office by 8:00 or 8:30. I also have been eating breakfast, which is a new habit for me, as I am usually fine without food until 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning. Early to bed, early to rise!
I have experienced my first thunderstorm as well as the first blackout of my time here. It was so pretty to listen to the rain falling outside my window! The lightening fell, but it was a lot farther away than it is in Lookout Mountain GA. The sound of the rain reminded me of the white noise makers they make in the U.S. with the option of rain.
On Saturday I also joined a group of youth from my church that are learning to play different instruments and sing together in order to be able to lead worship in church. It was very refreshing to be with them and in the background be able to sing along to the songs I love so much but don´t usually get a chance to sing.
My host and I have chosen my research assignment, and I will be joining the groups of women to do a study on the import of the Luke Society´s work upon the lives of these women. I will be attending their different group meetings and conducting interviews and group discussions. Please continue to pray for wisdom for me, that I might know how to proceed in all the research process and that God would establish relationships for me with these women. That is what I will be devoting my time to along with continued help in the office for the next two months, and then at the end of July, the Luke Society has a medical group coming to have medical campaigns in the different communities. You can also be praying for the preparations and planning for the arrival of this team.
I will try to be taking more pictures and hopefully posting some up here soon! I am not very consistent in my picture taking, but I will do my best!
Thanks for all your prayers!
I have been going in every morning to the Luke Society office to help with whatever needs to be done and talking with some of the staff. In the afternoons I have been going to the schools or to the communities to join the women´s groups. I arrive home around 5:00 or 6:00 pm every night and after dinner am crawling into bed around 8:00 :) I am also getting up around 6:45 every morning in order to be ready to go to the office by 8:00 or 8:30. I also have been eating breakfast, which is a new habit for me, as I am usually fine without food until 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning. Early to bed, early to rise!
I have experienced my first thunderstorm as well as the first blackout of my time here. It was so pretty to listen to the rain falling outside my window! The lightening fell, but it was a lot farther away than it is in Lookout Mountain GA. The sound of the rain reminded me of the white noise makers they make in the U.S. with the option of rain.
On Saturday I also joined a group of youth from my church that are learning to play different instruments and sing together in order to be able to lead worship in church. It was very refreshing to be with them and in the background be able to sing along to the songs I love so much but don´t usually get a chance to sing.
My host and I have chosen my research assignment, and I will be joining the groups of women to do a study on the import of the Luke Society´s work upon the lives of these women. I will be attending their different group meetings and conducting interviews and group discussions. Please continue to pray for wisdom for me, that I might know how to proceed in all the research process and that God would establish relationships for me with these women. That is what I will be devoting my time to along with continued help in the office for the next two months, and then at the end of July, the Luke Society has a medical group coming to have medical campaigns in the different communities. You can also be praying for the preparations and planning for the arrival of this team.
I will try to be taking more pictures and hopefully posting some up here soon! I am not very consistent in my picture taking, but I will do my best!
Thanks for all your prayers!
Monday, May 18, 2009
My First Week in Quinindé
My first week here has been a good whirlwind! I have already learned so many things and participated in so many events...
I arrived late Monday night to Quito, and by 10:00 am, we were on our way to Quinindé, which is about 4 hrs. away from Quito...Upon arrival we went straight out to one of the outlying agricultural communities to a women´s group that was meeting to celebrate Mother´s Day together! The next day I went to one of the elementary shools, where the Luke Society has a ministry of tutoring and teaching the children outside of their normal school hours in order to keep them in school in the future.
When all of us were in the classroom ready to go, the teacher asked me to introduce myself and lead us in prayer...so far so good....then she spoke some with the kids and they sang some songs, and then she began to tell them how blessed they were to have someone from the United States here with them and that God had provided them with an English teacher ;) So, I proceeded to give my first English class of my trip here to a group of fifth grade students....we did pronouns and animals and some introductory phrases...but next time, I will be better prepared!
The scenery is beautiful here in the area...there are lush green hills and lots of palm trees, banana trees, coca plants, and other vegetation. It seems that everyone grows some vegetables and everyone owns some animals...My first few days I woke up at 3:30 every morning to the sound of the neighborhood roosters!! They act somewhat like dogs, if one of them crows, the others have to start crowing!
I have also had good food since I have been here! They eat lots of bananas....I didn´t even know there were that many ways to cook them, and they are always so good! There is also all kinds of fruit...yesterday we went to the finca that my host owns...it is similar to a plantation or large farm in the states, I guess....she has an orchard area, and we went in to pick ochotillos (I have no clue what these are in English...I had never seen them before, but they are really good!!) and oranges...then we returned to this large wooden house and all sat in the open eating fruit, the juice running down our arms! It was very delightful...then we went down to the river for a swim...it´s dry season right now, though, so it feels more like a creek than a river...
Needless to say, it was a very relaxing and beautiful place! In the kitchen of this house at the finca, they have a bon-fire type pit in the middle for cooking over an open fire...they told me this was typical of the coastal peoples...Also, my host Rosaura showed me a large pot that belonged to the mother of the woman who lived in the house. She said is was around 40 years old, and that they boil water and put it in the pot and it makes it naturally cool...
God has been good so far, and it has been a great first week! I have several mosquito bites all on my legs, but that should pass in the next few weeks. As I learned last night, almost every house, including ours has house lizards that eat the bugs in the house! I had not seen one until last night, but that sounds like a great animal to have around!!
I will only have internet access once a week probably, so that should be the pattern of the blog!
Hope you all are well!
Elise
I arrived late Monday night to Quito, and by 10:00 am, we were on our way to Quinindé, which is about 4 hrs. away from Quito...Upon arrival we went straight out to one of the outlying agricultural communities to a women´s group that was meeting to celebrate Mother´s Day together! The next day I went to one of the elementary shools, where the Luke Society has a ministry of tutoring and teaching the children outside of their normal school hours in order to keep them in school in the future.
When all of us were in the classroom ready to go, the teacher asked me to introduce myself and lead us in prayer...so far so good....then she spoke some with the kids and they sang some songs, and then she began to tell them how blessed they were to have someone from the United States here with them and that God had provided them with an English teacher ;) So, I proceeded to give my first English class of my trip here to a group of fifth grade students....we did pronouns and animals and some introductory phrases...but next time, I will be better prepared!
The scenery is beautiful here in the area...there are lush green hills and lots of palm trees, banana trees, coca plants, and other vegetation. It seems that everyone grows some vegetables and everyone owns some animals...My first few days I woke up at 3:30 every morning to the sound of the neighborhood roosters!! They act somewhat like dogs, if one of them crows, the others have to start crowing!
I have also had good food since I have been here! They eat lots of bananas....I didn´t even know there were that many ways to cook them, and they are always so good! There is also all kinds of fruit...yesterday we went to the finca that my host owns...it is similar to a plantation or large farm in the states, I guess....she has an orchard area, and we went in to pick ochotillos (I have no clue what these are in English...I had never seen them before, but they are really good!!) and oranges...then we returned to this large wooden house and all sat in the open eating fruit, the juice running down our arms! It was very delightful...then we went down to the river for a swim...it´s dry season right now, though, so it feels more like a creek than a river...
Needless to say, it was a very relaxing and beautiful place! In the kitchen of this house at the finca, they have a bon-fire type pit in the middle for cooking over an open fire...they told me this was typical of the coastal peoples...Also, my host Rosaura showed me a large pot that belonged to the mother of the woman who lived in the house. She said is was around 40 years old, and that they boil water and put it in the pot and it makes it naturally cool...
God has been good so far, and it has been a great first week! I have several mosquito bites all on my legs, but that should pass in the next few weeks. As I learned last night, almost every house, including ours has house lizards that eat the bugs in the house! I had not seen one until last night, but that sounds like a great animal to have around!!
I will only have internet access once a week probably, so that should be the pattern of the blog!
Hope you all are well!
Elise
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