Hello all from Duran, Ecuador!
Happy late fourth of July to all you U.S. citizens and happy saturday for everybody. let me tell you that the fourth was celebrated here with hot dogs and watching the Ecuador vs. Brazil soccer game at our neighbor´s house...hot dogs do not leave a good feeling in your stomach.
It´s been about a month and a half since i last updated everyone so i hope the summer months are enjoyable but are going slowly as well, i always like when that happens.
its really hard to believe that there´s a little more than 3 weeks until us volunteers all head back to the states and welcome the new volunteers here, people are already talking about us leaving which really puts some urgency to us taking everything in.
its been a unique last month and a half with about 3 weeks in there devoted to being a leader for two retreat groups that came down...one college group from John Carroll in cleveland, ohio and an all dudes high school group from cincinatti, ohio.
both very unique with the people, questions, ways of goin about the experience but i liked the college group more with more questions of what to do with this experience and understanding that this is how most people live in the world, this is life here! was great to go back in time for me cause we visit all the different associations with rostro de cristo and visit more neighbors in teh community with them...great groups of people, although at times i did find myself being annoyed a few times in general with the northamerican way, which will be interesting to see how i react going back.
was also very good to take some time away from my normal work sites to be with the group, and at the same time very energy draining.
i really am able to see the purpose for all that we do after leading a retreat group, a new side of why we are down here comes out in order to educate and understand the reality of poverty and how everyday people live through and persevere everyday with the hope of giving their kids a chance to break through poverty. i´m even more amazed about people´s faith in a better tomorrow and the trust in God people have that things happen for a reason and tomorrow will be a better day.
a big revolution that came to me durin our final retreat was how this year, with my faith, has been a year of seeing and understanding the humanness of Jesus durin his time on earth. he lived fairly similarily, closer than the life in the states atleast, as the people down here. to just get a glimpse of that durin my time here has made me really contemplate my actions as a Christian and further trying to understand the compassion Jesus had for people.
on a lighter note, the consul general for the american consulate here in ecuador came to our house to share a dinner with us which was cool that he is trying to take interest in institutions such as rostro de cristo in ecuador and just to hear some cool stories from a member of the state department.
the weather is much cooler now than ever, i dare even say chilly in the morning times which is better for having time to spend in teh community. the girls at santiago are still crazy and then the next minute fun and loving and then the next minute talking back to me if i tell them to sit down. pretty standard for that to happen. my name is still ´Hello´. our after school program is good, kids listen most of the time and are eager to be involved.
we are starting to plan for when the next volunteers come on july 31...we´l have a 3 day orientation for them before we all go...its simply strange to even think about it right now, but for the most part we´re staying grounded in what we´re doin here.
we´ve had many former volunteers come and visit here in the last few weeks which is different especially when we don´t know they´re coming and we see another random white person in the streets who we don´t know, its quite surprising.
our boss here in ecuador, kevin, just took off for the states for a little time off and then to be with the new volunteers at their orientation in washington d.c., the same one i went to last july, and he will be getting married to an ecuadorian at the end of this month! don´t worry mom, it´s not me i´m talking about.
all the best from Ecuador to my friends and family in all parts of the world. i will be sending out a final update at the end of this month before i head back to the states on aug 2.
Prayer Requests
1. For one of our neighbors who lost a son recently in Quito and that they will be able to fight through poverty and maintain hope for their kids, also for community of Arbolito as they continue to fight the fight.
2. Kevin in the states that the time will be fruitful for him and the new rostro de cristo volunteers and rostro as an organization.
3. Us Volunteers as we try and stay grounded here in Ecuador that God will challenge us in different ways and also for volunteers Johanna and Katie back home that they will find a renewed purpose with their adventures.
4. Safe trip in Florida for my sisters katie and steph, broinlaw brad, niece emma and newphew zach. my bro jake and his new consulting company.
thanks for your prayers and i hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!
sam conway
thanks for your prayers
