...aaaaaaand, We're Back!!

Well, I hope that everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and beginning of the new year. I was able to go home for a couple of weeks to good ol' Huntsvegas to spend time with my family and friends there. It was a wonderful break and so good to see everyone. I especially enjoyed the beautiful snow on Christmas day! I know that it doesn't even compare to the snow that everyone has had this past week, but it was exciting nonetheless.

It was a white Christmas! I think it snowed a little more after this; it looked less pathetic at the time.

My brother Chase showing off his Christmas gifts in the snow... 

With my new cousin/nephew Murphy! How precious is he?!? 

My Ecuadorian gingerbread man and woman :)

I arrived back here in Ecuador late on Monday the 3rd, and hit the ground running with my work here at 5:30 am the next day. My schedule at school has been changed for this trimester, and in addition to teaching 9th-11th grade English, I am also teaching English to the 4th and 5th graders and music (guitar) classes with the 9th-11th graders. I know just a little bit of guitar, so this will challenge me to learn more! 

The living situation for myself and Laura has changed. Last trimester, we were living with the girls in the house at the Hacienda. Currently, Jerry and the workers are in the process of transforming part of the girls' house into an apartment for us, which we are very excited about. In the meantime, Justin and Amanda have been kind enough to open their house to us, which has allowed us to spend more time with them and their family. They hope to have construction completed and have us in the apartment in the next couple of weeks. 

Teaching is never easy, but always a blessing. My work here is constantly challenging me to be a better teacher, mentor, and person. It drives me closer to God and give my issues over to Him. I am learning well right now how I am nothing without Him, and can do nothing of my own power. I am just praying to be the instrument that I need to be for Him to reach these children here. 

We have had a few sad things happen recently, mainly, the death of the Sevillano family's grandfather. Ten of our sixteen children in the Hacienda are from the Sevillano family, and their grandfather passed away last weekend. We did not find out in time to send them to the funeral on the coast of Ecuador, but all ten children were able to go this weekend to see their extended family with Jerry, Hugo, and Carlos. All of the children had a hard time with this news, especially Christian and Leonela, our oldest children. This is the same grandfather that was baptized by Christian two years ago, when they last saw him. Please keep the kids and their family in your prayers. 

Other than that, it has just been work, work, work! We've taken a little time with this weekend off to relax and sleep. Laura and I are continuing our Beth Moore study of Revelation, and I am currently reading the book of Romans, which is speaking a lot to me at this point in my life. 

Thank you to everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers. God is working here, and I hope that you will continue to pray for this project! God bless!