Gifts of Quito

Studying to show myself approved unto God as Timothy encourages us to do.  My "work station" at home in California!  Finishing up the semester and last papers!  Phil took this and I thought I would share it to give you a glimpse of my life over the last two years studying, writing, learning, growing, and being stretched in incredible, awesome ways.  I have loved being back in a classroom.  I have so enjoyed the dual approach of this program, learn and do, simultaneously.  Now I am back in Ecuador, asking God to show me how to live out what  He has done in me, and what He has taught me faithfully, in Spanish and in English!  That's a fun challenge!

The walk I take each day, often with Phil, in the morning.  This is Parque Carolina, in the midst of the "banking district" or what used to be the northern extremes of Quito.  Now it is more like N. Central Quito.  It is a lovely park that is well-used by the people of Quito.  The path around is a little over three miles.  

 Early morning on a weekday it is quieter.  Weekends it is hard to walk on this path!  It is fun to see families from apartments out enjoying the sunshine and time together.

 This is for Natalie! (She misses the views of "her" mountains. View of Pichincha, the Volcano that sits right above where we have lived all these years.  When we first arrived in Quito, this is the volcano that exploded, and we had ceniza or ash all over.  Phil generously shared that with many of you in a prayer letter we sent through the mail.  Some of you may remember that. :) 

On the bridge to the park.  If I wear a back pack with any valuables in it I wear it on front of me.  Alertness and extra precautions are part of living here.  Be smart, be alert, keep your self aware of your surroundings.  I see people walk with ipods but some say that is making yourself a target.  So I enjoy the cacaphony of horns honking impatiently with the morning rush hour, which is not aptly named, better it be called the morning parking lot!  Traffic is busy, busy here.  It used to have hours of congestion, but now seems pretty busy/crazy all the time.  Many, many more vehicles on the road than was ever planned for.  There is a practice called pico y placa--M-F you don't drive on certain days at certain times depending on your license plate ending number.  So our day not to drive the Tassy's car is Tuesday between 7-9:30 a.m. and 4-7:30 p.m.  This has been in place since a few months before we left in 2010 and is to cut down on traffic.   No one seems convinced that it is working. :)

Boris, Phil, Desiree, and Mike.  Boris and Mike were two of Phil's original boys that he took to McDonalds and befriended from the Streets of Quito.  They are amazing stories and examples of God's transforming power and His love's ability to completely change the trajectory of one's life.
Mike and Boris are partners in business and ministry now.  They both are married.  Mike's wife is from Holland (Desiree) and they are I.T. missionaries working with Trafficking in Quito.  They hope to open a house for girls called Casa Mariposa I believe.  Mike and Boris both are fruit of the ministry to Street Kids that Youth World has called Casa Gabriel.  Phil was the one who started that ministry by just taking some boys to lunch.  Many of you who have supported us have prayed for this ministry and these boys.  Thank you.  I thought you would enjoy seeing this picture taken just a few days ago.  Mike and Desiree will have a  baby soon.  They are breaking generational patterns in huge ways.  Continue to pray for their ministry and their hearts.  

 Praying for someone leaving Youth World.  Some say you go through seasons of transition.  This is not so for us here in Quito.  The nature of life and ministry here, it's essence is intertwined with transition, and if you are waiting to "get through transition" to get settled, you won't ever settle.  Russ started the tradition of the "mush-pot-prayer" time years ago.  And each person who comes here tells their story and is prayed for during staff time in this way.  Also, as you leave (for good or just for the summer) Youth World family circles up and prays for and over people.  This is part of our DNA as an organization.  I love that at ISF (the program I have been privileged to be a part of for the last two years, this is also a part of the way they do things.  I have felt at home there during these prayer times.)

 I am a wanna be adopted auntie!  This is precious little Graham Vivanco.  Cameron and Roberto are on our staff, and I have walked with Cameron for many years, first as a single missionary, then a newly wed, and now it is my great privilege to be back in her life in this new stage--mamma!  She is wonderful with Graham, and he has stolen my heart!  I am so thankful for this grace gift--time to be here and love on them. 

My quiet time chair for the days we were at the HCJB guesthouse.  And below are the views from this chair! (I took this especially with Marla Cambell in mind!  She also has a quite time corner and chair.) It is early morning and the moon was setting!  Another favorite thing that I love and am thankful for--the moon!  A few nights ago I awakened to moonlight all over my bed!  Since I was a little girl, I have loved this.  I would always want to have a bed by the window in boarding school so that I could lay at night and watch the moon and stars.  Also have the sunshine fall on my face first thing in the morning.  I was solar powered long before there was such a thing!  

 Beauty has the power to integrate the fragmented parts of us, and so it is vital to see beauty, enjoy beauty, take time to let it impact you.  This is part of what I learned from one of my professor's Dr. Betsy Barber.  I will always be thankful for the Beauty Project part of my practicum series with her and Dr. TenElshof.  They have helped free this part of me that always felt so guilty about being me.  God created beauty, and there is nothing at all unspiritual about seeing it, enjoying it, or creating it.  It reflects part of His image in me, He is the ultimate creator of beauty.  I am so thankful for the Beauty Projects we had to do as homework for these two wise women.  They changed my life.  I do not say that lightly.  I continue to do beauty projects on my own, stopping and taking time to enjoy even for a few moments something that captures my attention, something that takes my breath away.  It is often something that God has created.  I think it is a shame to walk by and not enjoy what He has placed there for us.  Strikes me as highly ungrateful!  So as part of my learning to pay attention to what I pay attention to, and be grateful, I stop, and I take in and I enjoy beauty, wherever I find it.  It is a spiritual discipline.  :)

May God bless each of you with moments of refreshment through beauty around you today, where ever you may find it or see it, Stop and take time to be thankful for it.  Pay attention to it! :)