I'm an Aunty

Well, it's been a week and two days since we've been in Manta at the orphanage. We actually live outside of the city where internet access is slow. I won't have internet access as often as I thought, but I will still post as often as I can.

A little bit about the orphanage. It is located about 25 minutes away from Manta (the nearest city) in an area called Pacoche. The name of the orphanage is Montanita Verde. There are three buildings in the property. Two houses which house the children and the volunteer housing. There is an American couple who live there. Paul and Susan. Their job is to make sure things are running at the orphanage.

Our 8 children:

Maria: she is almost 18 years old. She is mentally handicapped. She acts more like a 12 year old. She doesn't look 18 either which helps, I guess. She is a special case in more than one ways. She demands alot of attention, but she responds well if you talk to her and explain things. I really think she likes to be treated as an older girl, but that can be hard sometimes, especially when she gets into silly arguments with the 8 year olds. She's struggles in school; she is only in 6th grade. A huge prayer request for her is that she will turn 18 in August, I think. The law requires children to be out of the orphanage at that age, but she is not ready to be on her own. It would be like throwing an 12 year old to make a living. The system can be quite cruel. We are all praying that the foundation can find somewhere for her to be or a family that will take her in. She has had a rough life, and needs lots of love. Please, pray for that situation and for us to be able to show her all the love that has been kept from her.

Yamileth: I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but this girl has stolen my heart. She is 11 years old. Her 3 siblings are with her at the orphanage. Their mom died after giving birth to their younger sister, Genesis. Their dad is still alive, but is a recovering alcoholic. He is at a rehab clinic right now. These four children would walk around the streets of Manta while their dad worked polishing shoes before they came to the orphanage. They spent the night in different houses every night. Finally, someone turned them into the authorities and they were turned over to the Por Amor Foundation (our orphanage). They can actually return to live with their father if he recovers and is able to find a good job to sustain them and keep them off their streets. It's a rough situation. They like it at the orphanage, but they miss their dad. I love Yamileth because she takes such good care of her siblings. She loves them and has taken the role of a mother. She is very patient and understanding and self-sacrificial. It's beautiful. I believe being here has helped her feel less responsible for her sublings, but she still feels responsable for them. She is 11 and this is pretty much her first time going to school. She was at a school for only a month before coming. She is very smart and is learning quickly. Pray for her and her family situation.

Brenda: She is one of the four. She is 8 years old and is in 2nd grade. She is sweet and sour. She can be sweet most times, but at times she gets stuck on something and it's hard to get her out of that. She is precious, though.

Alex: Also one of the four. I love this little one. He is 6 years old, and he's got a temper. Oh boy! He is still learning discipline so sometimes it is hard to tell him things he is doing wrong; he will get mad at you for it. I managed to get him mad at me one the first night. At the same time, he can be the sweetest guy alive. He will run to me in the morning or when he gets back from school and give me a HUGE kiss and a hug. He can be very caring as well. It is precious, but when you least expect it, there comes that attitude. Last week, Maria was having a bad day, and he stayed with her conforting her. It was sweet!

Genesis: Oh my goodness! Let's talk about the whinny queen! Cute as a botton, but I have never heard so many whines come out of the same human being at the same time. She can get her way; she has a way of wrapping anyone around her little finger. She is 4. She is going to kindergarden along with Alex. She is lazy to do homework and chores (or fake chores). She wants Ashley or I to hold her all the time or sit on our lap. Her smile will dominate you; I have to be careful and set my foot down.

Leiton: He is 8 years old. He is the trickster. We have played cards with him, and he will cheat like crazy. He hates losing, but we have fun playing. He has a huge smile and is very understanding of people who can't speak Spanish. Ashley and he have gotten along very well.

Justin: He is 18 months old. He has a beautiful/mischievious smile. Everytime we get to the table, he will strech out his hands to people on his sides to hold them to pray. The first week he called Ashley and I mama. I think he thinks that anyone who takes care of him is his mommy. We got really excited the other day because he called Ashely "tia" instead of mami. He got it, we thought, but then today he called us niania (I don't have the spanish n~ in my keyboard). He is so cute. He is Leiton's younger brother.

Nehemias: He is the son of the house parents Pepe and Karen. He is only 9 months old. He is a pretty hyper baby, but stays pretty close to mommy all the time. We help take care of him some, but mainly to help mama Karen out.

Well, this post is turning a little long so I will stop for now, but now you know our kids. Get familiar with them! More stories are coming.

I have prayed for a selfless spirit. What a better place to have one but at an orphanage. We are loving the unlovable, the rejected children of this area of Ecuador. Hearing their story breaks my heart. I am here to love them. Pray that in my weakness, God is strong through me!

Continue to pray for my journey. It is not always easy, but God is leading and working

Grace and peace,
Raquel

It's the end of the rainy season in Quito

I am sitting in the living room of the apartment we are staying during our orientation in Quito. There is a huge window with a great view of the city. This city is awesome! Our day has consisted of a few meetings and a visit to the Dumps Ministry here in Quito. Okay, enough background:

As I am sitting looking at the rain fall on the city, I can't help but wonder why do I, so many time, think I know better than God. I have spent (or should I say wasted) time planning my life, or at least portions of it. In my mind, I have been following what I think God is telling me when in reality I have only been following my selfish desires. I mean, these things weren't half bad. I wanted to go to Africa, and then I wanted to go to China to serve God there. Doesn't sound bad, does it? Well, when does "God-pleasing" desires become idols then they are not God-pleasing anymore. I came to Ecuador for a month last fall, and I loved it. But I would have never wanted to come live here. I wanted to explore the unknown. I wanted to learn another language, etc. I have now realized that my mind and heart weren't where they needed to be. God said no to those places, but he said yes to Ecuador.

I have only been in Ecuador for half a day, and I am already beginning to understand why he has me here. I am thankful. HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING! How dare this finite mind ever think that I know or can even partially understand God's ways. Honestly, I didn't have that much information about this trip. I didn't even have that much information about this organization. I just had peace so I came. And today, at one of our orientation meetings, I realized that this is the type of organization I always dreamed of working for. I like their platform/philosophy or whatever you want to call it. Of course, they are not perfect, but I know this is what God has for me now. I am excited and expecting to see God's grace and mercy and his glory here. Wait, I already am seeing it.

This afternoon at 6pm (central time) we fly over to Manta. I am ready to meet the children we will be with for the rest of our time here. Pray for us and for them. Pray for us to connect with them. Pray that we may LOVE them like Jesus LOVES us!

Again, pray for selflessness. I guess I have been convicted lately of how selfish I am, and I don't what that. Pray for the children at the orphanage. Pray that Ashley and I make good orphanage mommys.

This soft rain just turned into a thunderstorm...It looks beautiful from here!

After a little over a year

Today is May 11th, 2009. I graduated North Greenville University a year and ten days ago. Most of my friends have heard me talk about leaving the country and serving in missions outside of the United States. I have had this talk since before my graduation. Never did I know that it would take me a year to actually leave, yet I am so glad it did.

This past year, my first post-graduation year, has been one of the best in my life. During that year I found a community that I love and will miss. I have grown spiritually; I have matured in more ways than one. I have struggled greatly. I have gone through three different tentative destinations until finally God said Ecuador.

Today, the journey begins. The journey I have been waiting to take. I do not just mean the Ecuador trip for this is just the beginning of a journey that will end in heaven for me. I pray that God leads me wherever He wants me to go. I want to travel the world and serve Him all over the globe. Ecuador is the first stop with a five month layover. This will be my first long-term-ish trip away from my family ever. I am looking forward who I will become during the five months I will be away. Most of all, I am looking forward to witnessing what my AMAZING God will be doing. It is such a priviledge to be His servant.

Pray for safely and for a selfless spirit.

Next time I write, I will be in Ecuador. Until then.