December 16th, 2012

How have I been?

Health-wise, feeling good. I have exercised every day the past week. I have done swimming, running, and soccer with Ziv and friends. I know that being active helps my mood and keeps stress on a minimal level. Plus, the activities I am doing, don't cost a thing. And, I consider them oportunities to also socialize with others. Today, all the teens of the area will play Basketball at 4pm. I prefer Soccer, but will sacrifice myself today. :)

Emotionally, I am also fine. I haven't cried this week, or felt like I am about to break-down. I have been busy in service, starting new studies, so my mind cannot focus much on me. It is still my daily therapy. I am confident that Jehovah really knows what is best for us. Preaching makes me feel satisfied, safe, and happy. If I show Jah I love him, I know he will continue caring for me. So sacrificing my time for him, is not really a sacrifice, because I recieve so many blessings in behalf.

Economically, we have been terrible this week. I know we aren't the only ones suffering in that sense, but it can be worrisome. My parents had no money this week, so I have been paying for everything. On Tuesday, I realized we were running out of food. For the next two days, my mom and I brainstormed, about how to make our food stretch. We had like 6 vegetables, no meat, no rice, no water. So we made spaghetti and some little corn patties. We did boil water, to use as drinking water. I also had in mind, to grocery shopping ASAP. Well, we were invited to dinner Thursday night, which was a blessing. Brothers have offered us rides to town, which has saved me money. Í have had to walk a lot more, and avoid using the bus. For the meeting last night, I wanted to avoid spending an additional dollar on transportation, so I asked my fam if we could just walk to the KH. My family agreed and it was actually enjoyable. On Friday though, I was able to buy food at the Market, that will last us about another week. I bought a lot of vegetables, more rice, water, and some chicken. 

Amidst all of this, I haven't feel anxiety at all. I only have 2 dollars left, but I am confident Jah will provide. My parents don't have a secure income, because both aren't working. Some transactions haven't come out as planned for them, so we've lost money. My mom is praying to find a job teaching English. I also have offered my tutoring skills. My dad might get a job, but that is all depending on certain factors. I also have some extra money in the bank, that can be used if necessary.

You know, I thank Jehovah so much for having trained my family to cope with these hardships. Being in Mexico helped us simplify to an incredible degree. We have learned to adjust to any discomfort. Our situation isn't really bad, if I compare it to a warzone or a concentration camp. Thinking about that helps. My brother also has had such a good attitude. He hasn't whinned, or cried, or anything of the sort, that could worsen the way my parents feel. Because we are so busy in the ministry, I know Jah is helping our hearts feel calm. In contrast to the way my mom, brother and I feel, my dad is having a harder time dealing with this. Instead of going out and preaching with us, he stays home. That is going to make him miserable. The adjustements we have had to make, will also make him suffer more, if he doesn't change his thinking. He disliked the boiled water we had to use a few days. I know, we all know, it isn't going to be the best taste in the world, but I avoid voicing that. My mom tries to encourage him to rely on Jehovah and see how he already has helped. I pray that my dad trusts more in Jah.

I am with my worldly family that lives in Libertad. They are so wealthy because they run several businesses. They invited us over for lunch today. (ANOTHER BLESSING) I am with my cousins, and we might get in the pool shortly. It is a little getaway for us.

Ok, so that is new. I am going to sell some of my clothes this week. I am so glad I am in a sewig course, because now I can make my own clothes!!

Tomorrow, we go to the villages. I have another 5 studies over there. So apart from the 7 I have here, and the 7 more I just started this week, I have 5 waiting for me every two weeks. Isn't that like a huge bonus from Jehovah??

Ok, love you all!

Hellooo!!

I wish I could write every day, and jot down the way I feel, or the new experiences I am living. I wish I could share all of the little moments and details I see around me. Every day I see or hear something and think, "I have to blog about this!" I would love to have my own laptop, but it isn´t a necessity yet; unless I were to start working online. Even then, I would need Internet at home. Disappointingly, where we live and the surrounding area has no access to it. I have wanted to email so many of you too. I want to send letters to several of you. I wish I could send each of you instant messages through my brain.

Friday night of last week, we had invited a Bethelite couple for dinner, since they were staying in Santa Elena the weekend. He gave two special talks on Saturday and several publishers made service arrangements with him and his wife. I thought this arrangement was something the Branch did with specific congregations, but several brothers and sisters had never heard of this special visit before. I knew that my parents would have to spend money for the dinner, but because they felt it a privilege and good association for the Bethelites to come, we were happy. Well, my family and I waited over an hour, almost two and they never showed. This left us feeling disappointed. The next morning they apologized and explained to us that the elders had not communicated the arrangements that had been made for them. I know it wasn´t their fault.

As the night continued, my mom called us to the kitchen to have dinner and at that precise moment the Rodriguez family called us and unexpectedly paid us a visit. I care so much for their family, because they became my first friends here. But since my family and I moved to Santa Elena, we hadn´t really gotten together. They brought some Chicken, salad, chifles and rice for both our families, so we then had dinner together. Though I have seen them sparingly within the past 3 months, I hadn´t been able to converse with them. I spent that night talking, sharing some drawings with them and playing around with my guitar. I wish we could do that again.

On Saturday morning I preached with three different sisters. The first was a Regular Pioneer and family friend. She is the mom of three girls I´ve known since I was a toddler. The second sister I worked with was  the Bethelite sister, who is Colombian. She is a newly-wed! 4 months ago she got married, and has been thoroughly enjoying her new assignment. I only had an hour to work with her, so I took her to one of my new studies. This young girl, Nicole, 7, is the daughter of one of my moms studies. Her family of 5 lives in very poor conditions, sharing one house, that actually has just one bedroom, and no bathroom. She has two younger brothers that were being very loud and often interrupted our study. Since Nicole doesn´t read I am using the brochure that teaches us to read and write. I have so much fun using the brochure, and I know she  likes it too. I am practicing one letter at a time and then reading a section of the Great Teacher book. On this particular study, two of her cousins came over and joined in. It was so cute to hear them commenting what they knew about God. They made Caterine and I laugh a lot.

During the study, Nicole´s mom took her two sons to take showers at the neighbors house. Caterine asked Nicole where her brothers were going for showers. Nicole gave us a lot of info. She said that her family didnt have water because they didn´t have money since her dad was from Loja (another province) and had just moved there and still didn´t have a good job. That is why he sells chickens and they are still living in the little shack, with no shower, so her mom goes to the neighbors. At that moment I felt tenderness towards her, and I just hope she continues learning more about Jehovah!

Saturday nights we usually have our Public Meeting and Watchtower Study, but this night we were having the two special talks too. The Kingdom Hall was filled with people, so I had to sit separate from my family. I took advantage of an available seat next to a woman that is studying and going to all the meetings. She has a 5 year old son that is a bit "travieso." I heard that when they had recently began attending meetings, he would make a lot of noise, and when the attendants would ask his mom to take him outside, or to the bathroom, he would just yell, or have a tantrum. About one month or more ago, I sat next to him, by coincidence. He copied everything I did during the whole meeting. He asked his mom for a Bible, then took notes, then raised his hand, then looked for the Bible scriptures, then drew, etc. He appeared calm to me. After the meeting, the mom thanked me so much, and explained to me about his past behavior. Since then, he´s been fine at every meeting, which actually makes me wonder if he was really that loud and crazy before.

So, this Saturday I sat next to his mom and she smiled at me. Jordan sat in front of his mom, next to his aunt, and when he realized I was behind him he asked if he could trade seats with his mom, which he did. He is such an intelligent boy. He follows along with the speaker. He even noticed that an additional talk was given, because he told me so. Then when we had to sing, he asked his mom for the songbook. During prayer he closed his eyes and reminded me it was a prayer time.

I feel very happy to witness how this little boy is learning to love Jehovah. His mom told me that about 2 weeks ago, she was very tired and didn´t want to go to the meeting. She took for granted that Jordan would want to go. Well, when he realized his mom wasn´t preparing his clothers, he got his suit ready, put it on and then began to pray in his room, begging Jehovah to help him. He was asking Jehovah to help his mom want to go to the meeting, and not let Satan attack him. She could not deny his begging, so they went. He has potential!!

On Monday my brother and I went to the three villages we usually go to every two weeks. They village had had a party over the weekend to some Virgin/Saint and were all cleaning their homes. I had to visit several people because I had not gone in over a month, yet didnt get to see all. I placed like 12 magazines, and did about 10 calls. I wish meetings were held nearby because I feel like that would help them progress. I do know that Saturdays at 3pm, another congregation has meetings about 30 minutes away, so I´ve told some about those meetings.

Wednesday I started to preach earlier with Ziv, our neighbor Joshua and another pioneer, Nelson. We walked to the Bus Terminal and I started a study with a man who doesn´t read. I already took him the Listen to God brochure and plan to pass him on. Since I recently started a sewing class, I had my class from 9 to 11 that morning and I let Ziv go with the two brothers to the Service meeting and then headed to my class.

Thursday was a very long service day for me. I did early service again, then territory, and joined a sister on a study until 12;30. I then went for lunch at a sisters restaurant and did some errands until about 2;30. I went out again at 3:15 until 6:15 during return visits and a new study. That was actually yesterday! After afternoon service, I headed home and tried to do a pedicure on myself, but that didnt really happen. I texted my co-worker about us opening the Smoothie Stand, and he said he was. I got ready and then was picked up with Ziv. The days I was usually working was Wednesdays (after sewing class), Fridays (all day), and Sundays (all day). ,Something I have noticed about my partner was his not being very organized, amongst other little things. I was starting to wonder if I should continue supporting him, and instead, just teach English. What I would make in one day, selling shakes, I could make in one hour with English. Yeah, so things were weighing on my mind that made me doubt working with him. We spoke about that last night, and I will no longer work there. I feel so relieved.

Another issue has been pressing on my mind. My dad only had 3 months to stay here unless he extended his Tourist Visa. Since last week, my parents have been working on that issue non-stop. They´ve traveled from Guayaquil to Santa Elena and back, twice this past week. I think my dad could´ve worked on this one month ago, instead of this last week, but thankfully they did extend it. Things seemed like they were going to change so drastically again, but he was allowed to stay longer. Otherwise, I would be blogging about how he´d be flying out tomorrow.

Now, apart from all I´ve shared, I had to recently deal with a sister telling me her two sons are interested in me. Or maybe not interested in me, but they like me. I have never been put in that situation, so I am having to be cautious about how I treat them. In conversation, I´ve shared my goals, which involve being single a few years more! I think they´ve gotten the hint. And just to clear this, in case it is on anyones mind, I am not interested in anyone. It would make me loose focus on my goals.

Im feeling good. I am. I have been thinking about going to Cali and visiting you all... I will plan to go next year. I would love to.

This weekend I will be in Guayaquil with family. That´s where I am now!!!! See how much I´ve been able to write? I know, Its been forever since I´ve written so much. That´s why I am taking advantage of my family´s generosity and their Internet service.


Big Hugs to you all. I would love it if you emailed me...Please!!


LOVE,


Izmir

Today is the most important day of Soccer this year. As I type, all I hear is honking, yelling, singing, trumpets, screaming, more singing, and more honking! Barcelona woon!!!