In the country...

O, its great to be in the country again! I didn't realize how much I missed it, until I was in it, breathing the pure sweet air! We slept in but still felt pretty tired, I think last week has us drained! But we had some breakfast then got a tour around the orphanage.

This was our view when we woke up.....

I was wishing time would stand still so I could just look at the mountains forever!

Some of the children were doing a taste test this morning...so we got to join right in! The tias was so amazing at interacting with these children! Almost all the children here have more severe special needs, but its amazing how much then can do!

After taste testing, we set them on a blanket and I was amazing by how well they could sit! They are so smart! The little girl here, doesn't talk at all but anytime you ask her something she points. She knows all the colors she would grab the color that you asked for. She loves to laugh and tease!

 This little guy did great at walking! The tia took him on a long walk today!

 Snack time!

 This little boy has autism, but he is full of energy! He loves making noises, and playing with things. It was great to watch his enthusiasm and see his contentment with just the little things. Somehow as I got to know these children I found myself wishing I could be more like them. They were so happy, their smiles were liking watching the sunrise!

We made stars....

Then we went outside, its definatly more chilly here, I didn't realize how much I had adjusted to the Quito weather! There was a breeze, which there is never in Quito! But it felt good to be in the wide open spaces again!

Here is our lama friend mowing the grass!

The orphanage is just beautiful! It is so wonderful for these children to be able to play outside and enjoy being in the country!

This country can grow roses like none other!

We then set out on a walk, so we got to see the country and we got some energy out of these rambunctious little boys!

We seen a chicken with her chicks....

plowed fields...

We are definitely not in Quito anymore!

the first tractor I have seen in Ecuador and it was a John Deere!!

the sun even joined us on our walk!

all the neighborhood guard dogs....

We seen ladies washing laundry by hand..

cows.... Yes, we are in the country again! :)

When we got back home some of the children were in class.

others were drawing. A little boy will be leaving with his new family tomorrow so they were making him a goodbye card. Please pray for his playmate, he is very happy, but very sad to be losing his best friend! He was pretty down today.

After lunch for the children, Natasha and I crashed again, and took a long nap but we woke up feeling refreshed and ready to go again! This afternoon we had wheelchair races, and all sorts of fun outside with the children! It was so much fun to see everyone engaged! Whether they were in a wheelchair, whether they needed someone to hold their hand and steady them or if they could run on their own! They are definitely accepted, loved and challenged to be all that they can be here!

I met a girl that was 17 yrs old, she can walk and do things on her own, but the only way she communicates is by laughing smiling or with her fingers. She wears a bib, she drools, she gets frustrated, yet she was so content and relaxed! I can't imagine what it would be like to live one day in her shoes. She is only 2 yrs. younger than I am. She had never done all the "normal" things. Somehow the perspective on life shifts as I watch these children, living for today, smiling (when we would wonder what they have to smile about?), but they are content, their little achievements are so appreciated, and so many just pass them by.....when they have so much to offer!

A girl today asked the tia, "where is my mom" and the tia had to tell her, you don't have a mom. She doesn't have anyone to call mom and the chances of her getting one are so small that how can the tia offer her false hope? Will she just live her life here or will someone realize the blessing that this girl is and bring her home? I can't imagine what it would be like not to have a mom, not to have a family....its breaks my heart, to think of what these children are missing, but even more the people that won't open their hearts and homes to what could be the greatest blessing in their life.

I think my name is engraved right there in that mountain.

Yep, that's a volcano and shes a smoking away! I didn't imagine I would be able to see one of those while I was here!

Psalms 139

O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.