Final Project

It seems wierd that those two words are even crossing my mind right now. We're just about 18 full days away from the flight home. CRAZY!! Like, that doesn't even seem plausible to me...

Well it's true, and I do, in fact have to do my final project...except that I already did. That's right. I'm so on top of things, that I finished my final project like three weeks early. SCORE! If you're wondering what my project is, let me tell you.

For my pre-semester class we have to do a reflective final project about our time here in Ecucador. But, seeing as it is reflective, we have to complete it after we have spent our semester here and we will present them to our director and fellow BCAers during finals week. For my project, I decided to focus on the presence of God in Ecuador, or what I've felt or seen of Him while I was here. I made a video (below) filled with pictures that I or my friends have taken of the beautiful country of Ecuador. I also used my friend Haley's Mac to record myself singing and playing the guitar to the song ''Indescribable'' by Chris Tomlin. I also wrote a paper sort of explaining myself. =] So, I hope you all enjoy and tell me what you think!

Indescribable

When I first chose to come to Ecuador, I didn't think I was going to miss home as much as I do. I remember finalizing my trip and thinking that it would be a long time before I even left for Ecuador. I would tell people where I was going and that I would be there for five months. They would gasp and tell me just ''how long'' that really was. I shook it off and laughed and said I would be fine. What is five months anyway? A semester of school. A decent relationship. A pretty long time to be away from family and friends.

For about the first 3 and half months I was fine with being away from home. I skyped with my parents every few weeks and I missed them, but it wasn't unbearable. I went to school and hung out with friends and just enjoyed experiencing and being in another country. I think once the end of the semester started getting closer and closer, I realized how much I really did miss home.

I broke down a few times, but only one thing got me through it all, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If at home, I would have reached for my guitar and sat in my room for a few hours and just played. But, I wasn't. So, I would just put on a play-list full of worship music and listen. I would let the words sink in and I would blog. I'd blog about how I felt, how I've changed, and how much of a blessing it is to have a God who loves me so, incredibly much.

I wanted my final project to be meaningful and not just something that I had to do because it was assigned to me. I started thinking about things that I could do. I could write something, like, a poem, or a story, but that didn't seem good enough. I'd already made one video/slide-show of my experiences here, I could make another one. I thought about making a video reflecting on the things I did while I was here, and I decided on that, but it still didn't seem like the right thing. Then, when I went to talk to Daniel about my final project, I laid out my ideas, still feeling a little unsure about the whole thing. Then he said it, ''how you see God [in Ecuador].'' and that was it. That was my final project. I could not have made it here without Him and I could not have made it all the way through without Him. He was there every step of the way and He was the one who helped me the most when I was at my worst.

I've always loved photography because it enables me to capture a fraction of the beauty that is creation. I love pictures of nature because it enables me to capture a fraction of the beauty that is God. This is why I decided to make my final project video solely with pictures of the beautiful sights of Ecuador. I have so many other pictures that equally depict how great of a time I have had while I've been here, but that's not really what I want to show. I want to show how wonderful my God is, and how faithful He is even when you're halfway across the world.

“From the highest of heights, to the depths of the seas. Indescribable, uncontainable, you placed the stars in the sky and you know them by name. You are amazing, God. All powerful, untamable, awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim, you are amazing, God. You are amazing, God.''

World Traveler

Firsts

**Currently Listening to: old Atwood CDs. =]**



When I went to type the title of this post, I wrote ''Fists'' about 4 times, and I wanted to assure everyone that this post was, in fact, about ''Firsts'', not ''Fists''.



Now that we're clear on that...

I just got back from the lovely Galápagos islands. They were WONDERFUl and I didn't want to leave. Obviously. Before I left, lots of people were telling me that I was not going to want to leave. I disreguarded this because I was like, ''I've been to the beach loads of times. I'm sure I'll love it, but I'm sure I'll be able to leave.'' False. As soon as we got to our hostal on Isla Isabella, I was hooked. Nikki, Meghan and I were walking on the beach and I was already in love. I wasn't expecting it, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was just so nice. The town is not real touristy at all and I think that's what I loved about it. There were little shops, restaurants, and panaderias lining the main road and lots of beautiful views.



BUT

I don't think i'm going to write about all that we did right now because it would probably take me the entire day to write.



My purpose of this post is to make a list of ''Firsts'' that I've had since I arrived in Ecuador and to reflect on how thankful I am that I've experienced these things. It seems appropriate it being November and all.... =]

So, here it goes:



-first time being in South America

-first time being in Ecuador

-first time having to take a bus to and from school every day (25 cents each way)

-first time feeding a llama

-first time seeing pyramids (even if they were covered in grass)

-first time bartering in an artisan market

-first time swimming in a waterfall

-first time taking classes in a foreign country

-first time taking ALL my classes in Spanish

-first time learning a 3rd language in my 2nd language

-first time living with a family that is not my own

-first time taking a 12 hour bus ride to the beach for just about $12

-first time being a vegetarian for a week

-first time riding a horse

-first time seeing monkeys in the wild

-first time being in the Amazon

-first time using an tampon without an applicator

-first time jumping off a bridge for fun

-first time witnessing a ''milk soccer'' game

-first time getting a 95% on a paper written entirely in Spanish

-first time experiencing a "Pirate" themed week at a University complete with treasure hunt, a pirate ship and a zip line across the lagoon

-first time being in the Galápagos

-first time in the southern hemisphere

-first time walking through lava-made tunnels

-first time witnessing a crab eat an iguana

-first time snorkling

-first time seeing adult sea turtles and sea lions in the wild

-first time swimming with sea turtles and sea lions

-first time climbing a volcano

-first time seeing blue footed boobies (yes, you read that right) and ''magnificent'' friggets

-first time seeing ''Solitario Jorge''. George, the last turtle of his kind.

-first time trying shrimp...and it wasn't half bad. =]

-first time getting (slightly) burnt on the equator



and I still have a whole month and a half to experience more things!

.....that's crazy. I only have a month and a half left in Ecuador. I've already been here for almost 4 months. The time has gone soo fast.


I will have to add on more to this list as my time here comes to an end. I already know of some things that I will be doing for the first time, so be prepared! =]



**See pictures on Facebook for more of my experiences in the Galápagos. It would take up WAY too much room on here to try and describe all that we did. Here's a little taste of the beauty that is Galápagos....