Cuanto te amo, Senor, fuerza mia!

Ok first of all I am VERY SORRY that I haven't been updating my blog like I should but it is all about to change.  God is just awesome!  Like as if that’s new news huh?  Ok this post is going to be in 3 parts... The Past, The Present, and The Future.  So let’s get started….

The Past

This past month is been a huge learning experience for me.  Learning a ton of Spanish, the culture here in Ecuador, and the Quichuas.  I have my English classes Tuesday thru Thursday, the Kids Class is 4 to 5 and the Adult Class is 5 to 6 on Tuesday and Thursdays.  Then my ESL University Class is 4:30 to 6 on Wednesdays.  There was a huge turnout at the beginning and at one point I was teaching over 60 students!  But I noticed it was super hard to work with all of them and God showed to me that it doesn’t matter how much people I touch what matters is I really do touch their lives.  “Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds. Proverbs 27:23” So now I average about 15 to 20 in each class which is SO MUCH BETTER! 

I work with the Daycare that is on campus whenever I am not preparing my classes and the children are just so sweet and the women who work there are my good friends :)  How the kids come to the daycare is in such a poor condition.  They are dirty and sick but the woman are now making a change within the daycare into a much cleaner, up to date, and safe place where the kids can come to.

  I visit some Quichua communities (my favorite thing to do) and I went to the AMAZON!  It was beyond amazing!  If you have ever seen the move "The End of the Spear" that takes place in the Amazon in Ecuador and I visited Shell which is where the 5 missionaries live.  Also Laurie Koekpe came to teach English for the Seminary Students and was in Ecuador for 3 weeks!  It was so much fun having her here!  Then I went to go visit Semisud which I think is like the Cleveland, TN of South America! But I really loved visiting Semisud and met a lot of the students there!  I am so blessed of serving the Duques and serving the Quichua people!

The Present

Now I have been given the wonderful opportunity to start up KIDS CHURCH here at the seminary!  It will be every Sunday at 10 for the kids in the community!  My first Sunday will be February 27!  I am super excited about it and educating the kids about Jesus!  Also Shabbach is raising money for our daycare that is on campus and we will be building a new daycare!  We are so blessed that Pastor Glenn is doing that and all the people who are touched by our ministry!

The Future

Now I will be posting our projects here at the seminary.  Our goal is to train up and educate Quichua pastors and leaders both men and women in the ways of the Lord.  When they go back to their communities they will share to all the people in their community about the Love of Christ! 

Thank you so much for following me and DON'T WORRY!  I am going to be updating the blog more often to keep those in America what’s going on here in Ecuador :) 

 Love yall :)

Ecuadorian Shop!



Quichua Dolls- $2



  

Alpaca- $1





Bags $4 to $10



Braclets- 4 for $1

Headbands- $2

Hats- $3



Wall Rug- $15




Small- $4, Medium-$6, Large- $8



Ponchos $10 to $20



Quichua Hats- $15





Kids Hats- $4



Fridge Magnets- $0.50

Ecuadorian House- $3

Coasters- $5

Ok I know it’s been awhile since I have really updated this but I am now going to catch everyone up!

I had a really rough start with traveling and being homesick but it just had to pass out a couple of days, I have made a lot of friends, learning a lot of Spanish, and learning my way around the town.  Riobamba is like a Rock Hill it has all the basic needs and there is a University right down the road from the Seminary.  I have to take a bus or taxi if I want to go somewhere which is pretty cool!  It’s only .25 cents to ride the bus and its $2.00 to take the taxi.  It’s a lot cheaper than driving a truck around! 

                                                                                                           (This is a Quichua Man and Woman)

The people here are very personal and caring.  There is the Hispanics and the Quichua.   You can tell the difference between the 2 groups.  Not only how they both dress but there customs and their personalities.  The Hispanics even if you have never met them before will shake your hand and kiss you on the check; while the Quichua will just shake your hand.  Also Hispanics will most of the time approach you first or talk first while the Quichua are very shy and will hardly talk to you the first time.  Also the Quichua are discriminated it is almost like how in America during the discrimination of black people.  There is hate towards the Quichua and they aren’t mean or hateful people!  Most of the people here look the same they have black hair and dark skin, or they are black, or even Chinese!  So when I am walking down the street with my pale skin and red hair shinning I get some unwanted attention.  For example EVERY SINGLE TIME I ride the bus after I sit down almost the whole bus turns around to look!  It is the weirdest and most uncomfortable thing ever.   I was talking to Donata about it and she said that I will get use to it because that happens to her a lot too.  Hopefully I will get over that part soon.  Luckily I have my friends who I walk around with.

My closest friends are Pastor Ruben, Gloria, and Pastor Laurice.  We watch movies every night in our little “movie theater” and we work together pretty much the whole day.  I do work around the seminary or prepare things for my English Classes so far.  The more I get comfortable and learn Spanish, the more I will do. 

<--(Gloria and Laurice)                       (Ruben)-->

Yesterday was my first English classes!  It was a success for the 1^st day!  I had a small group of children and we played games like Duck, Duck, Goose and Red Light, Green Light.  Then it was the teenager/adult class which I had 16 students!  PTL!  How I teach my classes is I talk almost the whole time in English but I do a lot of signing moving so they understand a little bit what I am saying.  I was nervous that they wouldn’t like my class since over ½ of them were older than me but everyone didn’t want to leave!  That is just confirmation that I’m doing Gods call.  The people in the church are starting to be a little bit more open to me because most of them said they were nervous to talk to me!  Anyways I am doing really good and I am very happy to have the opportunity to live here and follow God’s call on my life, which is teaching and use it as an evangelism tool to draw people to the church.

Love yall!

Life as a young missionary...

So some of you may know i was very homesick at the beginning.  Nobody ever told me about the culture shock, homesickness, and all the mess at the beginning.  It was hard because my spanish wasn't good, i was still trying to figure everything out, and i missed my family and friends sooooo much!  But to whoever is reading this, it is normal at the beginning and now that i know my way around town and im learning Spanish really fast its wayyyyyy better!  I am making alot of friends and learning alot!  This week is when i start working so if you want to look at pictures of me living here so far check out my facebook page and it is the Ecuador 2011 photo album!  I'm so sorry that it is so short!  I am in a store where i have to pay for wifi! haha

Love yall and miss yall!

The Adventure BEFORE the Adventure

The morning of January 10 the whole south eastern part of America recieved 4-6 inches of snow... that is where all my problems began.  I was suppose to fly out of Charlotte to Miami at 9:40 but it was cancelled and moved to 1:55.  After saying my good byes to my family and arriving to my gate the flight was delayed to 3:55!  Which means i would miss my connection flight to Quito... so i had to spend the night in a hotel and fly out to quito tommorrow.  I was nervous but i knew that God was in control and everything would be ok. 

So finally arriving to Miami i had to get my hotel voucher and 3 food vouchers i had to go to baggage claim to get my bags only to find out that 1 bag was MISSING! Waiting in line for another hour i found out that my bag maybe still in Charlotte but i had to check back tommorrow to find out what happened.  Tired, Lost, and about to burst into tears i found my hotel shuttle, got my room, skyped the fam, and passed out!

January 11 waking up in beautiful Miami alone in my hotel room on my HUGE king size bed i got ready for the day.  Once i arrived to the airport to find out about my bag i was relieved to find out that i wasnt suppose to get the bag that i had and the oher bag was on hold til my flight to Quito!  PRAISE GOD!  Once i checked in and got to my gate we were suppose to leave at 1:55 but instead we left at 3!  Our plane and the plane beside it the luggage was switched once they relized what happened  they had to quickly switch everything back!  So finally heading off to Quito we arrived at 7, got both of my bags :D and then met up with Nestor and Rueben to head to my new home. 

Everytime something wrong happened i would pray to God not demanding to change but to help me get thru it.  And He just kept saying, "I am always with you, don't worry I have you in my hands."  Don't only did God show me how He will always be with me, but He built my faith.  That i had to COMPLETELY trust in him that he would be with me no matter what happened.  Also i learned how to be independent and not having my Daddy telling me the next thing i had to do.  I would always tell him a problem i had and he would always reply back, "Yeah, so what are YOU going to do about it?"  Also i became more mature and being an adult in the certain decisions i was faced with.  I am so happy that i am right now in the Duques home about to go to my new home.  I will try to update my blog everyday!

Love yall!

UPDATE!

So my flight was canceled but now I'm leaving at 1:55 to Miami then arriving at 10:25 to Quito.... LONGGG Day!  But God is my Shield and i know that the first cancelation is in His plan. 

I have a texting number that you can ONLY TEXT me at and the number is (786) 322-6012.  Tatjana has my phone so if you text my old number you will be talking to her

Also the post below has my address down there if you want to send me mail :D  Also i would loveeeee to skype and hear english once and awhile my skype name is Miss.Shull but it will say Stephanie Shull, Fort Mill, SC.   Also if you don't do the whole Facebook thing my email is... Missshull92@yahoo.com :)

I think thats it!  If you have any questions you can just text me, facebook me, skype me, or email me :D haha

Love yall sooooooo much

Long time no see friends!

I am so sorry that it has been MONTHS sinse my last post!  But I am now counting down the days... 4 days in exact!  But alot of people have been asking how to get ahold of me, and here is all my contact info...

Phone numbers:
SEMILA: 011-593-3-2600706
Text Now: (786) 322-6012

Mailing Address Stephanie:
Casilla 06-01-1446
Riobamba, Chimborazo
Ecuador

Note:
1. If you would like to send packages, please make it under the 4 lbs. It will cost me nothing, and is easy to get. I will need to pay for heavier packages, and it will take me about 2-3 hours to get it out of custom.
2. Calling through Skype.com is FREE
3. Letters or anything will be greatly appreciated :)