Happy Belated Thanksgiving everyone! I hope it was a wonderful week for all of you! For me, of course they don't celebrate Thanksgiving so it felt like a California summer day- (you should see my shoe and watch tan!) mixed with periods of rain.
It was a full and busy week- when we aren't teaching, we are looking for people to teach. I also spend a lot of time helping teach English to anyone who wants to attend the free classes, so I've met many people that way. I'm starting to become pretty familiar with my arena, which I am proud of because navigating the chaos of the public buses here, is a feat in and of itself. Spanish is still giving me some grief, but I can understand and speak more than last week- so that's a blessing.
I have a bunch of stray street dog friends, they each sort of have their turf, so when I go from street to street, a dog I know usually walks with us to the next dog's street. It's cute how they recognize you- and some I've named (like a white Husky- I named him Gringo) I bought little bag of dog treats hahaa. and so now I've got all kinds of dog friends.- which I love, especially when we are walking at night in the dark. But really, I've felt very safe here, so don't worry.
Yesterday something funny happened as we were walking the streets (and when I say streets, I mean cobblestone) My companion doesn't speak Enhglis so I've been teaching her that while she helps me with Spanish. One day we were joking that we're going to get her an American boyfriend after her mission and so she needed to know the words, "I love you." SO yesterday we walked past a middle aged man on the street selling toothbrushes and he yelled in English as we walked by, (people always talk and yell at me in whatever English they know- I haven't seen another Gringa here in Ibarra) So this guy yells out, "Hello! Good Morning. I love you!" We avoided eye contact, and hurried past him. Later we both busted up laughing it was so funny and my companion says, "I know what he said: I love you!"
Anyway the work here is a work in progress. Most of our appointments fall through. Punctuality isn't a huge priority for your average Ecuadorian. But I love them, and love getting to know then, and living and serving among them.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'll wrap up this email with just a few of the many blessings my Heavenly Father has given me: I'm so grateful for the love and support of my friends and family- it is such a strength to me! I'm grateful for the beautiful rain and green-ness here. Most of all I'm grateful for my Father in Heaven and my elder brother, Jesus CHrist, who love me and love us enough to call a prophet in our day and move their great work forward,even with means as simple as a gringa de Idaho.
Much Love,
Hermana Miller
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