Ecuador, Day 5

Day 5 we spent at a child development center where mothers learn how to care for the young children. Most of this post will be pictures. The kids were adorable and I loved hearing them giggle as they held our hands and smiled their beautiful smiles. Children are definitely a blessing! Some of the mothers at the project did two Ecuadorian dances for us and then invited us onstage with them so I was able to dance with them which was a once in a lifetime experience! :)
I hope you enjoy these pictures!!!

Ecuador Day 4 part 2

Day 4 part 2 :)

At the park there was a really really really freaky zipline that Kevin decided to try! Basically it was a swing that went down a zipline and was stopped by two tires=dangerously fun! After he tried it he pointed to me and with a bunch of screaming... I ended up going on the zipline and actually enjoying it! We took a few pictures at the playset and I showed Kevin how to use my camera.



My dad found some small coconuts on the ground and he and Kevin practiced throwing them at an empty waterbottle! So cute and Kevin loved it because he beat my dad and knocked down the bottle! :) We played a little more soccer and then the hardest part of the trip came... saying goodbye.

We started out with a GIANT group picture of all the sponsors and sponsored children, family members, tutors, translators and directors.
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Saying goodbye was so much harder than I thought it would be. I was trying really hard not to cry because I was so happy about the two wonderful days we had shared but it was really hard. Kevin ran and picked me a beautiful flower which was really special.



I didn't want to let Kevin go but I am so glad for the time I was able to spend with him!




I am so blessed to be a sponsor and be able to know Kevin. The two days I spent with him some of the best in my life and the memories we share are priceless! I just received a letter from him today and he was so grateful for the visit! I will post the final day soon!

God bless!
~Lily

Ecuador Day 4 Part 1

Day 4 was one of the most amazing days of the trip. We got to spend a second day with Kevin. Our group of about 50 sponsors arrived at a park early in Sunday morning which happened to be Father's Day. When the kids arrived, Kevin was much more talkative and open. He gave me a wooden box that he made that said "With Much Love, Kevin"



We then had a short church service where one of the Compassion directors who works in Ecuador just thanked the sponsors and teachers and parents. We sang a few songs in English and then a few in Spanish which was fun. During lunch, Kevin was talking alot and smiling and he was really happy when my dad drew a picture of him.



After lunch, we had a few hours left with Kevin so we went to see a few sheep and goats at the park. On our way to see the animals, my dad picked up a few fallen oranges and showed Kevin how to juggle. After about four or five trys, Kevin could juggle three pretty well! He is a good student! :)




I then told Kevin I had some gifts for him but first he told me he had a surprise for me. He told me to close my eyes and then he placed something in my hands. I opened my eyes to see a beautiful little elephant statue. I was so surprised! I told Kevin it is my favorite animal and he grinned and told me "I know!"



I then handed him his backpack full of gifts I had brought with me. It was such a blessing to see him hold up each gift and smile. Even the little things like socks for his dad were delighted over.





I'll post part 2 later!

~Lily

Ecuador Day 3

Day 3 was the third day in Ecuador and the first day with Kevin, my sponsored child. We drove up up up into the mountains and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking! I mean green pastures and the mountains... wow! When we arrived at the park (which was a really nice park coverin over an acre) we were assigned to a color. I was blue and we were the last group to head into the soccerfield where our kids were waiting. I saw Kevin pretty quick but it took a while for him to finally see him. It was amazing to see him run towards me and be able to hug him for the first time after over 4 years of writing and praying over this little boy, to be able to hug him was one of the best and most rewarding moments of my life.I also got to meet his mom, Doris and his tutor. Kevin was a little shy when we first met so I handed him the soccer ball I had brought and he showed off some amazing skills. Kevin then handed me a beautiful scarf that he made for me on his fingers! The kid has got some amazing talent. He also handed me a small worn teddybear. He told me that it is his favorite toy and he wanted to give it to me because it was the best gift he could give. This completely floored me and I was so blessed and thankful to recieve that simple. We then went swimming in a HEATED pool and although Kevin was a little nervous in the water, he did show me some freaky backflips he chucked off the side of the pool. During lunch, we were able to talk and I was able to learn alot about his family and Kevin's interests and hobbies. When he grows up, he wants to be either a lawyer of a policeman so he can help and protect people. He loves animals and Kevin told me that he takes care of his neighbours dogs. It made me laugh when I found out he named one of the neighbour dogs after my dog who he asks about in every letter. After lunch we played soccer and let me tell you, that kid is amazing with the soccerball! He was dribbling and kicking right around me. We had a blast and were able to bond alot through the game. We also had the opportunity to go on paddle boats and walk around and explore the park. Earlier in the day, Kevin asked me what my favorite food is and my answer like most Americans was PIZZA! To my joy, I was able to buy Kevin his first ever piece of pizza and we split it. He loved it! :) The first day with Kevin was amazing! I learned so much about him and the second day which I'll post soon was even more amazing! I have some videos which I'll try to post too! God bless! ~Lily

Ecuador Day 2

Day 2

After waking up at about 9, me and my dad proceeded down to a fabulous buffet breakfast where there were about a million different kinds of juice including orange, strawberry, mango, pineapple and blackberry. We then headed out on the bus to a children's center where we got fed a wonderful meal of ecuadorian food including chicken, potatoes, corn and veggies. We then went on a home visit, we visited a mother and her two kids, Christian and Fanny. Sadly the father is no longer around which is the case in many families there. The house was only two rooms with cement floors and walls and a plastic ceiling to prevent leaks. It was very hard to see the family living in such poverty but it was a blessing to see Christian telling us how happy he was to have us in his home.



We then headed back to the project and spent time hanging out with the kids there which was sooooo much fun! We went to the church across the road and a little girl named Karin claimed my lap. Another little girl Jessica also grabbed my hand and followed me around for the rest of the time.



Me and Karin



Me and Jessica

The second day was really cool and it was fun to communicate with these kids despite the language barrier. (I speak absolutely no spanish) The funny thing is that since I took a year of french, I actually started counting in French and the little girls started laughing at me! Nothing like little kids to keep you humble! It was a blessing to represent these kids sponsors who couldn't be there and still receive so much love from them.

More of the trip to come!

~Lily

Ecuador Trip Day 1

Wow! My trip to Ecuador was absolutely amazing! During the next few posts I'll share stories and pics from my trip and you'll get to see the wonderful country of Ecuador and some of the stuff I learned while I was there! Hope you enjoy and are blessed! This trip really filled me with a thankfulness and an awareness of what I have! It also showed me that stuff doesn't matter. So follow along as I take you an my adventure to Ecuador!!!

DAY 1

Day 1 was filled with sitting on airplanes and waiting at airports! We got to Miami at about 1 pm and then had a layover for about 6 hours. When we finally got on the plane for Ecuador we were delayed because of lightning so our arrival which should have been at about 10:30 pm ended up being at 12:30. I officially found out that airplane food is DISGUSTING and that I would rather be hungry than try to digest that again! We got into Ecuador and went through customs really late so by the time we got into our fabulous hotel it was 3:00 am! We were exhausted and our 6 hour sleep felt amazing!!!

~Lily

Compassion Trip

I am taking a trip to Ecuador through Compassion to meet the little boy
I sponsor, Kevin!!!!!!! I have been sponsoring Kevin for a little over 4
years and he is now eleven years old.My dad and I are going with a group
to Ecuador for 6 days and we will have the opportunity to meet with our
sponsored children for two days as well as visit other projects and a
child survival program. Some of the things we will be doing include playing
and serving kids at different child centers, visiting a child's home and seeing
first-hand how these children live, meeting our sponsored children and a
family member and spending a day at the park with them, going to Kevin's
church and getting to worship alongside him, going to a movie theater with
our sponsored children, go to our sponsored child's project and meet the
staff and teachers, and going to a Child Survival Program where we will meet
mother's and their babies.

I pray that this trip would really be blessed and that Kevin and I would
grow in our friendship. I hope that this trip will be a blessing towards
Kevin and show how much I love and care for him. I am extremely excited
and will put up pictures and blog about the trip when I return home!
God bless and have a great week!

~Lily