Month-end Review

Well, one month in Ecuador is almost over. It is so hard to believe that this is really true. That I only have 9 months left to go. But I wanted to get on here and say some of the things that I've been thinking over the past month.

I've been thinking a lot about family and relationships this month. I mean, it has been a rollercoaster to say the least, from saying a hard goodbye to my family and to my recent engagement, family has been a pretty big point. It is so easy to take what we have for granted. I never will forget, on the way to the Panecillo, seeing a dad get mad at his son and throw a knife at him. I wanted to just punch the man in the face and take his child away from him. I wanted to make sure that this man could have no further influence on his kids. And it's after seeing things like this that you really begin to see how blessed you really are. It's after seeing so many kids who don't know their father, or so many wives who have husbands who sleep around frequently that you realize how special, even how rare maybe, that your family is.

So I think I've spoken a lot about beliefs and stuff here, talking about the supersticious faith, or the paying of the saints for blessing, or of the Virgin being seen as the victor, or of the representation of Christ as only being dead or a small child. But this is more at the heart of it all. Don't get me wrong, all of the theology and beliefs are important. But how can those beliefs ever be seen as valid or true if there isn't love in this world being shown in some way. Through family, friends, the church. So my thought for month one is that we should never take things for granted. I know we say that all too much. But I never could have imagined how much I would look forward to those weeklyish calls home, or the weekly call to Bekah (or the occasional visit). I never knew how happy I could be to find out that I get to take Christmas off, or how much I would miss mashed potatoes or ranch dressing.

God, help us to never forget how blessed we are. Help us also to use that blessing as a starting point to show your love to everyone.