Just One

I just have one week left in Ecuador. I cannot believe it. 


What a journey. 


I have been outside my comfort zone, and The Lord has blessed me. 
I would do it all again in a heartbeat if He asked me to, because He has changed my heart, for the much better.


He has shown me what it is like to walk solely with Him, without having anyone or anything else of comfort to hang onto. Risky, but fully worth it.





I read this in My Utmost for His Highest a few days ago and thought it so true and timely for me:

 "If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send out out to sea."

"If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself -- begin to have spiritual discernment."

"Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been.  'If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know...'(John 7:17)."

This past year, I have been outside my harbor, and The Lord has shown me greater depths of His faithfulness, provision, and love. 

As I think about returning home to Mississippi, preparing to get married to a wonderful, godly man in just over a month, the excitement is almost overbearing! As we move to a new city, find a new church, have new jobs and school, meet new friends and neighbors, I pray that The Lord will use the lessons He has taught us both in this year overseas to bring glory to Himself. 

I want to "beware...of going to back to what I once was..." because God has willed more for my life. 

It is no accident that He placed both Miles and I in Honduras/Ecuador for a time to deepen and grow in our relationship with Him so that we could come back home as married couple ready to serve Him in ways we would not have been capable of before this time. 

In my last newsletter, I wrote the following:

On this journey in Ecuador, The Lord has shown me that most of the things I have thought so important my entire life really aren’t that important after all. He has shown me through the lives of people in Macas that there is so much more fullness to a life of simplistic devotion to Him, not clouded by the roar of busyness and the desire for more things. Taking time for personal relationships, discipling, conversations about The Lord with co-workers, students, roommates, and friends is where growth and reaching out takes place. This is a big change that I want to be aware of in my walk with Him as I come home.

            It will be difficult to leave the beautiful country of Ecuador, waking up to the mountains outside my window, watching the sun rise in the morning from my room, long walks to school in worship time, being called “Teeeacher Laura!” all over town, sweet hugs from my little students and nods and smiles from my high schoolers. I will miss walking to the fruit market and talking with the sweet lady about why I’m in Macas, and all the funny stares from people as I’m running around town.

What a precious time of growth I have had with The Lord this year. What an opportunity He has given me! Although it has been difficult to be so far from family, friends, and fiancé, it was worth it. When The Lord takes us away from our places of comfort, which we hold on to for security, we have no choice but to cling to Him. And that is where a true, deep relationship with Him is found. That is the reason we are on this earth: to grow full and deep in Christ so that we can’t help but pour out His Glory on everyone around us. 

Thank you for your prayers as I finish strong this last week in Macas! I will be traveling to Quito on Friday afternoon and flying out to Mississippi on Saturday night midnight, arriving to Memphis 8am Sunday morning! 

To God be all the glory for what He has done in my life and the lives of the people in Macas this year. He is SO WORTHY to be praised with our every breath, and I pray that you will be encouraged and challenged to step outside your comfort zone to serve Him in any way He is asking. 

Know that the gifts you will receive from your obedience are well worth any sacrifice you make. But not out of a desire for a reward do we serve Him but because He deserves and commands our obedience. 

He is Mighty God and I am humbled in His Loving Presence. 

All for His Kingdom,

Laurita

Reading Celebrations!

This past Friday was our last day of "real class" before exam review week. I decided it would be fun to have a celebration of "READING" in English to celebrate all the things we have learned this year! We had such a fun time!





Each student read a page from a book they've been reading aloud to the class and then received an "I can read!" necklace (thank you Andrew and Julia!) and a shiny new pencil! (Pencils are the thing here in Macas.)





Then we ate cookies and pastries from the bakery! and sang some songs! :)







This was the Reading King and Reading Queen of the day for my First Graders!




Also, two weeks ago, my high school class wanted to have an end-of-the-year party to celebrate our year, so we went to Konny's house to learn how to make chocolate chip cookies and eat Chinese Fried Rice!







We had such a wonderful time together, sharing about the past year...what we had learned and remembered funny things about the year. I was able to share my heart with them and challenge them to commit their ways to The Lord as they go off to college and where ever else He takes them. What a blessing this class has been to me this year!





I never would have imagined teaching high schoolers...I was die-hard elementary! BUT, just like always, The Lord knows what He is doing and has been preparing me for the next step in my life.

He has opened the door for me to teach High School Spanish classes at Germantown High School in Madison, MS, such a wonderful blessing!! God is so good! He has shown me through this year that I really love this age student because I am able to relate to them and share more about Christ in a relational way. I never would have considered such a position before this year in Macas. (not to mention all the Spanish I've learned!!)



God is so good. I am overwhelmed by His provision, His comfort, the way He gently carries me when I'm stumbling, and lifts up my chin when I don't feel like continuing.

He brings deep, rich joy to my life. Nothing else will ever compare.

He is good.

May you rest in His arms today, knowing that He has everything in His hands, working for His Glory.



I can't really even believe it, but I will be leaving Macas in 10 days from today...I fly to Quito next Friday and will be home, in Tupelo, Sunday morning! Mixed feelings about being home, but more on that later!

Much love from Macas,

Laurita :)

Last Month in Macas

In case you haven't noticed, parades are a really big deal in Ecuador! We just finished a two week celebration for the city of Macas and had several parades, fairs, dances, fireworks, and late night singing and shows! It was lots of fun! except for the shows that kept us up in our apartment until 3am!

Emanuel School participated in several parades and did a wonderful job! Students danced in beautiful costumes, singing praise to Jesus on the streets of Macas and also had a great band presentation the next day!




This is Andrew and Julia from Canada, a sweet couple helping out at the school for a few months! They have brought so much joy and encouragement to us!! Miryam and I went for dinner last night and Julia made a delicious typical Malaysian dish (where she is originally from). So thankful for you both!























Robin, Fernando, and Pastor Domingo driving the "music truck"



Teacher Louis- one of our fellow English teachers!









Sweet Ivonne returned to work this week at the school after having baby Nathan! We love having her back and especially when she brings Nathan! So thankful for her friendship and encouragement!







Emanuel Christian School-



Thank you for your prayers as we are almost finished with this year! It is so hard to believe that I will be leaving Macas in 21/2 weeks! Although I am really missing home, friends, and family, it will be so difficult to leave my "family" here in Macas.

Our High school students take exams this week and then 2 weeks later the elementary students!!

May Christ be highly glorified!

Que Dios le bendiga mucho!
-Laurita

Mom

Just today, as I think over the multiple conversations my mom and I have had today on this Saturday, I am so humbled and thankful for her servant heart. She is in Mississippi, working as an accountant, wife, mom to brother Benton, and friend while at the same time being my biggest encourager all the way in Ecuador.





While doing all this, she is planning a wedding. and doing A LOT. But she does it all with a huge smile on her face, loving that she can serve me in that way. What  a blessing to have such a wonderful mom to take care of me like that!





In her free time, she ties ribbons on cards, sews flower girl dresses, picks up gifts, goes house shopping with Miles, organizes guests lists, meets with the cake lady, shops for me, runs countless errands, and skypes with me every minute she can so that I can feel a part of everything that's going on. What a super mom!







I cannot say thank you enough to her for all that she has done for me and is presently doing. She has always given 100% of her time and energy to meeting the needs of her family, and so much of the time, I've taken her for granted. But not today! She deserves a big bear hug and kiss, which I so long to give to her from across these country lines! But she is going to have to wait just over a month until I get home to thank her in person. :)



This was when mom came to Ecuador -- such a special time :)



What a special time we had when she came to visit me in Macas last August. She was a breath of familiarity and fresh air as I was just getting settled into a new country and I was so thankful she was there! (Especially for her cloroxing all the mold off our walls!) ha There aren't too many moms that would fly across continents to clean mold for their daughters in another country!





On top of all the wedding errands she is doing, she is such an emotional support for me, encouraging me when I call home with teary eyes, reminding me of the wonderful opportunity The Lord has given me in Macas. This is the most important thing she does. She helps me put my eyes back on Jesus.



Thank you Mama for the special mom you are to me and the way you show your selfless love for me and our family! You are a very special lady and I am so blessed to have you as my mom. I cannot wait to get home and spend mornings with you sitting on your bed with a bowl of cereal while you get ready for work. Being so far away has helped me to realize how much I treasure our special friendship.

I love you dearly!
Happy Mother's Day! Felíz Día de las Madres!

- Your Laurita


and of course...how could I forget her most faithful companion, Jarvis! :)