Ecuador Update #3

Life here has been ok, bright and sunny this last week.That´s a plus!Here is a summary of what has been happening here since I wrote last:

I went to Baños, Ecuador with 2 girls from Keene State College in New Hampshire a couple weekends ago.It was fun to be in a place where they have natural hot springs due to the volcano Tungurahua.There they have an abundance of sugar cane and taffy, so these are the 2 main things that people purchase when they come to Baños.It was nice to get away from the city life in Quito for the weekend.

Fast forward about 2-3 weeks and you have me going crazy and being ready to finally finish my 4th level of spanish class.(All the spanish classes are 6 weeks long since they are advanced.)This Monday I turned in 3 photos for a photo competition for the exchange students here at PUCE.(Pontifica Universidad Católica del Ecuador)So today, I took the final for the language part and finished discussing the last article for the culture section.Tomorrow (Wednesday) I will have the last class for this cycle of spanish and look forward to having a few days off before I start the only 4-week section of spanish class.(This means 4 hr classes instead of 3.)Thursday of this week is Thanksgiving and the university is having a special dinner for all us exchange students.This is pretty exciting, since I am not at home to celebrate the holiday with family.

Two days ago, I started a new reading plan in the Bible for my daily quiet time.It´s been great so far!

Day 1: (Morning, afternoon or lunch break) Gen. 1-2, Ps. 1
(Evening) Mat. 1-2, Pro. 1

Day 2:(Morning, afternoon or lunch break) Gen. 3-4, Ps. 2
(Evening) Mat. 3-4, Pro. 2

You get the idea . . . just as long as you´re in the New Testament, Old Testament and Psalms and Proverbs every day.God will bless your socks off if you dedicate your life to Him!

I´ve been leaning on God more and more lately and praying that He would keep me in the world as a light and not just as a person trying to live the "Christian life" on their own.It´s pretty amazing what God does when you actually unoccupy your time and set yourself away from society for a bit to refocus on God.

We are always so busy in this life with things that aren´t going to mean a thing at the end of the little span of time we have here on earth.So as always I leave you with a challenge to "unoccupy" your time in your life.Step back from the things you "have to get done", listen to what God has to say, read God´s Word, meditate on God and what He did for you on the cross, and place God first in everything you do . . . decisions, thoughts, finances, family, friends, computer time etc.

As always, I remain here living the life God has gifted me.

+-unitl then-+