homestay.

Homestays.  I can't believe there's only one week left.  One week from today the homestay experience will be over.  I have such mixed feelings about that.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't absolutely excited to live in the apartment again with the girls.  I can't wait to be comfortable, be myself, not worry about stressing over the language, come home when I want, eat what I want, and live with some really great people.  BUT that being said, I have learned so much in my homestay.  I have been challenged, stretched, and stressed, but also joyful.  It has been a complete joy getting to know my family.

My parents, Dani and Nery, are missionaries from Venezuela.  They met in Ecuador in college, moved back to Venezuela, got married, and moved back to serve on the mission field in the place they fell in love.  They are active members in their church, where Dani sings, prays, and preaches.  They so clearly love Jesus and have committed their lives to serving him.  After seven or eight years of trying, they came to terms with the reality that they could not have kids, and adopted my baby sister, Anita.  She is so incredibly sweet, having seven months, two teeth, and a killer smile.

My house is nuts.  My parents are incredibly hospitable and have people over ALL THE TIME, whether it's just a group from church or relatives from out of the country, the house is always full.  Sundays are family days in our house.  We go to church together, eat a meal, and spend the rest of the day watching movies...no joke...usually 4 movies every Sunday.  It's been a crazy experience learning how to fit into a family that functions so differently from mine.

My Ecuafamily may not speak English, eat family dinners, go out for Mexican food, play games, or do happy/crappies at the dinner table like my family in the States, but I have been so blessed to be adopted into this family.

[my baby sister, Anita...that girl eats ice cream like it's her job]

 [La Ronda with the fam for a late night adventure]