shedding light (part2)

Now for the past couple months of life with four college students, co-workers, housemates, friends (new and not-so-new), and many travels.

Some tidbits from life in California during January with four college students:
- the students arrived (David, Jamie, Katy and Derek) and adventures began
- night hike up to Mono Rock to spend time exploring the starry sky
- visits to the big town of Fresno for airport runs and REI trips, getting last minute gear
- silent retreat the coldest night of the year at Fresno Dome
- snow camping and cross country skiing for the students' first time in Yosemite's Badger Pass
- Sunday night dinners at Base either around the dinner table or huddled close to the wood burning stove
- movie night at my place in our warmest attire because my housemates and I choose frugality over abundance of propane-induced heat
- youth group happenings with the young folks at the Journey Vineyard
- APU student introductions and sharing chapel together on Fridays
- preparing for our time in Ecuador and 4 day a week classes with Tom

Aside from the new additions to my community, I was able to take time with friends either just chatting, hiking around the nearby hills, going for runs, sharing coffee or tea, exercising via Latin dancing or worshiping the Lord together at the Old Barn, and super good game nights or much needed community gatherings at my house throughout this month of January.

Time flew and before I knew it, all of my preparations were coming to fruition as the students and I took flight. Quite literally, we flew from Fresno to Quito and overnight were thrust into the big city awaiting our immersion into the Ecuadorian culture. Again, I found myself 'home.'
The past 5 weeks we've been in and around the city of Quito, Ecuador. Taking part in experiences that I can only pray are changing the lives of these students (and myself) for the better! Staying with Ecuadorian families, learning about and partnering with Christian ministries in place to serve Ecuadorian children (with and without families), figuring out how to safely and enjoyably explore the big city (of 3.2 million within a distance of 35 miles by 2-5 miles), climbing glaciated and rock-covered mountains (highest altitude: 17,500ft above sea level), and reflecting on the experiences by journaling and turning that into academic papers.

We're currently taking this week to relax a little bit from the jam-packed schedule and bustle of the city by visiting the town of Banos for 5 days. From coffee shops and hostel balconies papers are being written, conversations are being had, and the students have been a joy to watch as they interact with one another with love. I really enjoy watching people grow and change as they live in community. It's inevitable. God and people change us.

Speaking of changing... Don't get too excited, I'm not changing it up just yet. The ideas floating through my head about life ahead are exciting but definitely not concrete. Please pray about this if you want to talk to Lord about me. Ecuador - a 'home' of mine that I cannot ignore. The questions are: when, in what capacity, with who, for what purpose? If you're a reader of this interesting public journal we call a blog, then it's possible that earlier you've read me say that I don't think it's time for me to leave Summit, God's not done with me here yet. That's still true because I haven't been told something different. That's in part what I'm praying for. To be told something different when the time comes and to have no question when I hear it.
Ideas include: go big, purchase a building and start a bakery / guesthouse / and apartment to live in... partner with a ministry that I have already connected with (school, orphanage, church)... keep coming to Ecuador through Summit's ISAS program... I sit with my eyes open - ready to see the picture more fully, there is currently a shadow cast on most of the vision.