leaving and re-entry.

As I sat in the airport in Ecuador I couldn't help but cry.  I can't believe the semester is over already.  I sat there reflecting on the semester and wondering how it went so fast.  I wondered how it would feel to go back to Trinity and see my friends and family.  I wondered how it would feel to step on American soil and flush my toilet paper.

As I drove up to Trinity on Friday, I was greeted my my best friend and crazy roommate, Melissa, jumping up and down on the side of the road.  I JUMPED out of the car and gave her a huge hug and the two of us immediately started balling.  I couldn't believe I was actually here.  As we drove into the parking lot in front of our building, the rest of my friends and roommates came running to the car.  It felt SO GOOD to hug all my friends and see their beautiful faces.

It's been rough to transition straight into the busy life of visiting people and attending activities at Trin.  It's hard to have half conversations with so many people, but the ones I have had about my heart have been wonderful.  I've been able to share that God taught me so much this semester.  He taught me to trust Him.  He taught me that I can't do it on my own.  He taught me how important it is to talk to Him. He taught me how to support and love my friends in a better way.  He taught me to listen to His voice.  I can't wait for Him to keep teaching me and to keep learning how to take those new lessons from my semester abroad into the summer.

canoa.

My heart is so filled with anticipation.  In 24 hours I'll be sitting in the new airport in Quito waiting to board a plane.  Spending the last couple days at the beach has done wonders for my heart.  While it's still saturated with a jumble of crazy emotions and feelings about reaching the end of my semester, my heart is filled with so much more peace than it was before the beach.  

Spending two solid days soaking up the sun and being crazy with my Semester Abroad family was perfect.  Talking about how to deal with going back home in a healthy way was so needed.  I realized during out discussions that in the past I have not dealt with reverse culture shock well.  After talking about the different responses, I feel like my heart is so much more prepared to handle the transition back into life in the States.  Not only did I have a lot of time to think and reflect on the things God did in my life this semester, I also got to share a room with Kimmie [bug shenanigans and all in the middle of the night], walk the beach over and over with Alyssa and Ben, hug Bonnie Black every time she came near me, creep around with Scott and Alyssa, and enjoy the presence of this incredible family God has blessed me with this semester.  

 [beach yoga with my girls.  kimmie, me, & diana.]

 [sunset.  our last night on the beach.]

 [creepin as usual.  lys, scott, and me.]

 [going to miss this boss momma.]

 [awkward moments with sarah malatt.]

jungle take two.

Besides the insane amount of sweat and bugs, the jungle is one of my favorite parts of Ecuador.  We spent six days hanging out in that wonderful place, stopping at the hot springs of Papallacta on the way there, taking Roberto, Charmai, and their family out for pizza and ice cream in Tena, running a three day sports camp, moving a crapload of rocks for a new basketball court at Antioch school and having a blast and a half playing Les Mis "the rockpile edition"while doing it, hiking to and swimming in a waterfall, making chocolate with Hernon at the Hostal, adventuring through the jungle to visit what we like to call "the tree of life," stopping to see the Nate Saint house on the way back as well as fearing for our lives on a cable car across a beautiful canyon, exploring Baños and inhaling it's incredible empanadas.  

Time in the jungle has a way of making me re-evaluate my life and my heart, and this trip was no different.  Spending time in prayer for my friends back home, my last couple weeks in Ecuador, the transition back into American life, and what God has for my future was truly wonderful.  Serving the precious kiddos of Mishahualli and being able to support the ministry Roberto and Charmai have established there will forever be part of my heart and love for this place.  I couldn't have asked for more brokenness, more laughs, more sweat, more adventure, and more joy than I experienced with my friends these past six days.  Praise Him.

 [ra-ra, me, lys, zach, michaella, and scott at the hot springs.]

 [bonnie, alyssa, and me.  love them forever.]

[out for pizza with our missionary friends.]

 [benny boo, me, and nene.]

 [ben, me, and lys.  reporting live from the rockpile.]

 [our girls.  me, marisol, yadira, & bon.]

 [hanging out at sports camp with my girls. me, marisol, & yadira.]

 [michaella, janie, me, & lys.]

 [zach, me, alyssa, ben, & rene.]

 [love these girls.  sida, me, & marisol.]

 [pretty much sums up our week.  me & bon.]

 [christy stumbo everyone.  love her.]

 [so encouraged by the way this girl seeks God.  me and kerry.]

 [yadira.  going to miss this girl.]

 [getting blisters while making chocolate.]

 [it was so worth it.  fruit and fondue.  scott, me, sarah, & bon.]

 [visiting the nate saint house.  so cool to stand in this piece of missionary history.]

 [LOVE.]

 [not looking down.  me, jenna, sarah, & diana.]

 [sampling the taffy in baños.  michaella, bon, lys, sarah, and me.]