Hello Friends.
I did street early a few days ago with some sisters from my new congregation. It was the first time that I was able to speak to and actually place literature with an interested person. It was awesome. It's very difficult find interested ones here since they are working all the time. I still have no job but am doing ok. Well take care and I will write more later.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
"Group"
During my visit with mom, we went to 'group'. It's a program that mom signed up for that appears to be for older ones that are having a tough time dealing with life changes. It's like a support group. Well, mom is always telling me about the people in 'group' and she always tells them about her kids...the latest and greatest events in their lives. Anyways, she asked me to accompany her on Monday as like a 'show and tell'. The place was like a community centered for the retired. They have outtings and other events for them to do throughout the month.
In one of the conference rooms, a group of people sat around a table and written on the white board where some things that were going to be discussed. There was a speaker directing the group, Lori. I sat next to mom and just listened as people took turns talking about the items writen on the white board. I am so grateful to Jehovah for the opportunity to accompany mom. I believe that mom is really benefiting from this program. I am most grateful to Jehovah because for the first time, I realized that mom is getting old and that association is very important. Mom has always been very social. Many that know her often say that she never met a stranger. Now that she is getting older, she is limited to doing a lot of things. She can't walk for a long period of time because she has problems with her knees as well as other health problems. Somehow, I was stuck. In my mind, mom never grows old or has any serious medical issues. She always remains vibrant, full of energy and life. Although I am close to my mom, I was more occupied with my own life. But the reality is, she is getting older and perhaps in a physical sense far more than her years. With all the medication, to me, mom looks older than her 59 years. Life is taking its toll on her physically. And mom admits, some bad decisions have contributed to the life she now has. But what can I do? I can love her and instead of just being words, I can show her that I care and that she is very important to me. I can visit and call her more often, send her cards and take out for lunch. I can spend time with her. No matter how badly I want to serve somewhere else...in a greater need area... Jehovah has already shown me where the need is... right here... with mom.
In one of the conference rooms, a group of people sat around a table and written on the white board where some things that were going to be discussed. There was a speaker directing the group, Lori. I sat next to mom and just listened as people took turns talking about the items writen on the white board. I am so grateful to Jehovah for the opportunity to accompany mom. I believe that mom is really benefiting from this program. I am most grateful to Jehovah because for the first time, I realized that mom is getting old and that association is very important. Mom has always been very social. Many that know her often say that she never met a stranger. Now that she is getting older, she is limited to doing a lot of things. She can't walk for a long period of time because she has problems with her knees as well as other health problems. Somehow, I was stuck. In my mind, mom never grows old or has any serious medical issues. She always remains vibrant, full of energy and life. Although I am close to my mom, I was more occupied with my own life. But the reality is, she is getting older and perhaps in a physical sense far more than her years. With all the medication, to me, mom looks older than her 59 years. Life is taking its toll on her physically. And mom admits, some bad decisions have contributed to the life she now has. But what can I do? I can love her and instead of just being words, I can show her that I care and that she is very important to me. I can visit and call her more often, send her cards and take out for lunch. I can spend time with her. No matter how badly I want to serve somewhere else...in a greater need area... Jehovah has already shown me where the need is... right here... with mom.
A visit with mom
This weekend, I visited my mom. It was really nice to see her. I had a wonderful time with my mom, even though we had a record 103 degree heat and no indoor air conditioning. Mom had friend chicken waiting for me when I got to her place, so everthing was just peachy.
Mom's place was really organized and everything was in it's place. She even had a beautiful garden outside. Wow! What happened? Because over a year ago, her place did not look like that at all. In fact, my sister Sophia and I were always complaining to mom to stop buy stuff and to chill out on making more crafts. She had no space for them. It got really bad so much so that it was hard to move around in her home. We worried for her safety. When Sophia and I tried to organize mom's place that meant throwing stuff out when mom wasn't looking and mom somehow finding out and going to retrieve it from the trash. Nothing seemed to get through to mom that she needed to let go of her clutter. Just before I left for Ecuador, I had a wonderful conversation with mom. I really needed to listen to mom in order to understand why this stuff (which was junk to me but something of value to her) was so important. For the first time, I understood that she was lonely and that was her only way of controlling and holding on to something. All her kids were grown, had their own life and many had moved away. I was so happy that mom opened up to me like she did and then I explained to her how I personally felt. Many may not know this, but my mom was a super clean freak when we were kids. She was always cleaning ...rather directing us to clean. If we were not cleaning then she was having us move the furniture because she was always redecorating the house. I hated those days. The cleaning I could handle because afterwards we could go out and play. But, the decorating lasted all day... a missed play day. I explained to mom that it was highly disturbing for me to see my mom go from a clean freak to someone who was obessed with 'junk' ...
This past weekend was the first time that I visited mom after we had that conversation. She told me that she had made changes and have managed to keep her place in order for about a year. You have no idea how different her place looks... from being so cluttered that you literally had to step over stuff and move stuff just to sit down to having space and being able to see the floor. Mom really feels proud of herself and credits Maria, her cleaning lady, for most of the help.
Mom's place was really organized and everything was in it's place. She even had a beautiful garden outside. Wow! What happened? Because over a year ago, her place did not look like that at all. In fact, my sister Sophia and I were always complaining to mom to stop buy stuff and to chill out on making more crafts. She had no space for them. It got really bad so much so that it was hard to move around in her home. We worried for her safety. When Sophia and I tried to organize mom's place that meant throwing stuff out when mom wasn't looking and mom somehow finding out and going to retrieve it from the trash. Nothing seemed to get through to mom that she needed to let go of her clutter. Just before I left for Ecuador, I had a wonderful conversation with mom. I really needed to listen to mom in order to understand why this stuff (which was junk to me but something of value to her) was so important. For the first time, I understood that she was lonely and that was her only way of controlling and holding on to something. All her kids were grown, had their own life and many had moved away. I was so happy that mom opened up to me like she did and then I explained to her how I personally felt. Many may not know this, but my mom was a super clean freak when we were kids. She was always cleaning ...rather directing us to clean. If we were not cleaning then she was having us move the furniture because she was always redecorating the house. I hated those days. The cleaning I could handle because afterwards we could go out and play. But, the decorating lasted all day... a missed play day. I explained to mom that it was highly disturbing for me to see my mom go from a clean freak to someone who was obessed with 'junk' ...
This past weekend was the first time that I visited mom after we had that conversation. She told me that she had made changes and have managed to keep her place in order for about a year. You have no idea how different her place looks... from being so cluttered that you literally had to step over stuff and move stuff just to sit down to having space and being able to see the floor. Mom really feels proud of herself and credits Maria, her cleaning lady, for most of the help.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
I'm Home
Wow! So much has happened and it has seemed like forever since I last updated my blog. Well, I turned over my studies to a few sisters in the Banos congregation. That was tough. The morning of my departure, I walked into the kitchen for a cup of water and tears started to flow down my face. The reality finally hit home for me, ... I'm going home. I already miss everybody, my studies, the friends, the crazy dogs in the neighborhood...everything about Cuenca, I miss. After being in the states one week, I already want to come back. But, there is so much going on right now that it will make it difficult for me to do so. In time, I hope to at least come back for a visit. It would be great if I am able to do so next year.
My first few days back into the states were nice. I can flush the toilet paper down the toilet now. That was a huge thrill for me. When I turned on the light in the room or bathroom, I could actually see.
A few days ago Monique, my sister, was watching a movie. "Hey, Moni. I can see the harness attached to the actor in this movie." Monique looks back at me and smiles and says, "This is from the editting room. It was illegally copied. Welcome back to Ecuador!"
My first few days back into the states were nice. I can flush the toilet paper down the toilet now. That was a huge thrill for me. When I turned on the light in the room or bathroom, I could actually see.
A few days ago Monique, my sister, was watching a movie. "Hey, Moni. I can see the harness attached to the actor in this movie." Monique looks back at me and smiles and says, "This is from the editting room. It was illegally copied. Welcome back to Ecuador!"
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Internet Cafe
When I started working, I would use the internet cafe on my way home. There is a lady (Rocio) that works Mon-Fri and she often would have her little boy, Jr. with her. I gave him a few Eng. classes, of which was very difficult because 5yrs old normally don´t have a long attention span. So I would help him with his homework for about 15 mins or a little more and I would stay a little longer and talk to his mom. I learned early on that she did not accept our literature. (She`s Catholic) So, I did not pressure her. However, from time to time, she would ask me questions. One in fact was about a little sister in our congregation that had died from a type of cancer. Sister Morocho was only 11 years old. ¨How could her parents just let her die by not giving her a blood transfussion?¨ she asked. I took this opportunity to explain to her what really happened and what we believed. She appeared to be satified with my response.
Some time passed, and she would ask other questions. Here and there, she would ask, but not accept any literature from the friends. Yesterday, I made plans to go on a study with Alicia, but Fany did not have a partner. So, I asked Alicia if Fany could accompany her and I could continue to take care of some of the things I needed to do before Saturday. On my way home, I stopped by the internet cafe and checked my email for my ticket home. It did not arrive yet. So, I took a moment to talk to Rocio and she had a lot of questions. She asked, ¨What do you do if they don´t read the magazines.¨ I said, ¨If someone tells me they will read it, I believe them... and if they don´t read it then they won´t benefit from the information that`s in the magazine.¨ This opened up a conversation that lasted 2 hours. Why is there so much suffering?, Why do missionaries come from the the US come to Ecuador and buy big houses and cars and have a lot materially? She had many other questions. I was able to cite much of the information from the Què Enseña and bible text, and at some point I read directly from the book, chap. 11. I was able to give my personal experience about being here under a missionary visa, of which she knows a lot about the problems I have been having with regarding to changing my visa. Then she asked, about hell fire, to which I told here I would be back.
I was so happy. I did not leave the book with her because I want to show her how the Qué Enseña can answer many of the questions she has in my next visit when I return to answer her question on hell fire.
Some time passed, and she would ask other questions. Here and there, she would ask, but not accept any literature from the friends. Yesterday, I made plans to go on a study with Alicia, but Fany did not have a partner. So, I asked Alicia if Fany could accompany her and I could continue to take care of some of the things I needed to do before Saturday. On my way home, I stopped by the internet cafe and checked my email for my ticket home. It did not arrive yet. So, I took a moment to talk to Rocio and she had a lot of questions. She asked, ¨What do you do if they don´t read the magazines.¨ I said, ¨If someone tells me they will read it, I believe them... and if they don´t read it then they won´t benefit from the information that`s in the magazine.¨ This opened up a conversation that lasted 2 hours. Why is there so much suffering?, Why do missionaries come from the the US come to Ecuador and buy big houses and cars and have a lot materially? She had many other questions. I was able to cite much of the information from the Què Enseña and bible text, and at some point I read directly from the book, chap. 11. I was able to give my personal experience about being here under a missionary visa, of which she knows a lot about the problems I have been having with regarding to changing my visa. Then she asked, about hell fire, to which I told here I would be back.
I was so happy. I did not leave the book with her because I want to show her how the Qué Enseña can answer many of the questions she has in my next visit when I return to answer her question on hell fire.
Doña Luz
I am still having my Saturday morning study with Doña Luz. We did not have the study last week, due to the assembly. I have invited her to the meetings, but she is really affraid to attend. She lives by herself, but she has family that lives across the street from her and appear to be very abusive. They have already taken her Què Enseña, of which I have already replaced, and have threatened to cause her physical harm. Despite their threats, she continues to have her study... but only after they have gone to the market, of which is on Saturday mornings.... 8am.
another update
Sorry friends for the delay in updating my blog. A lot has happened so let me give you some brief updates.
I no longer work at Porvenir. The laws here in Ecuador have changed and made it very difficult to obtain a work visa. Besides that, the owner of the school was not too cooperative with regards to providing certain documents. So, I had to give my notice and Friday before last was my last work day. (The economy has even effected fingding available teaching Eng. jobs. Besides, if I found a company that offered me work, I would not be able to obtain the necessary documents before April 12th, the expiration date.) I went to the school the following Tuesday to correct the semester exams and to log the information in the computer, but other than that... no more work. I was really sad. I am going to miss the students in each of the levels I taught... 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 3rd level (the equivalent of 11th, 12th and 13th grade). However, another part of me is very relieved. It has been a difficult battle trying to get my visa. The various governmental departments are not as cooperative as I would like. Just think, it would be like going into a DMV for everything that one would need to do.... at least that`s what it felt like to me.
Since I am not able to work,I have no work visa and my current visa expires on May 12th. I have a return flight home on May 5th. My family is very excited since they have constantly asked me to return home. A part of me is sad, since my initial goal was to stay for 2 years. But, even though I must go home, I don´t regrete coming to server by myself. It was difficult, different, and I had many trying moments, but I have grown and become much closer to Jehovah.
I no longer work at Porvenir. The laws here in Ecuador have changed and made it very difficult to obtain a work visa. Besides that, the owner of the school was not too cooperative with regards to providing certain documents. So, I had to give my notice and Friday before last was my last work day. (The economy has even effected fingding available teaching Eng. jobs. Besides, if I found a company that offered me work, I would not be able to obtain the necessary documents before April 12th, the expiration date.) I went to the school the following Tuesday to correct the semester exams and to log the information in the computer, but other than that... no more work. I was really sad. I am going to miss the students in each of the levels I taught... 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 3rd level (the equivalent of 11th, 12th and 13th grade). However, another part of me is very relieved. It has been a difficult battle trying to get my visa. The various governmental departments are not as cooperative as I would like. Just think, it would be like going into a DMV for everything that one would need to do.... at least that`s what it felt like to me.
Since I am not able to work,I have no work visa and my current visa expires on May 12th. I have a return flight home on May 5th. My family is very excited since they have constantly asked me to return home. A part of me is sad, since my initial goal was to stay for 2 years. But, even though I must go home, I don´t regrete coming to server by myself. It was difficult, different, and I had many trying moments, but I have grown and become much closer to Jehovah.
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