Being back in Ecuador... I am so happy to be back. Especially on days like today. The sun is setting, casting sunsetting colors over Cotopoxi and Antisana, two of the mountains visible from my window... the view is beyond words and apparently beyond my camera, because the pictures I took fell short of the reality I'm seeing. God shows His glory so vividly.
Today after church I went with 3 other women up the Teleferiqo for a view of the city. Each woman is uniquely involved in prison ministry in Latin America. I spent the entire afternoon fascinated by their stories, by God's work through them, by the wisdom that oozed from them... after the city vista, we had the opportunity to go into the woman's prison in Quito. My mind is still taking it all in. One of the woman who was with us is an ex-prisoner. I asked her if it was difficult to go back into the prison for her. She said, "No, because if I hadn't been sent to prison, I never would've become a Christian. I probably would still be doing durgs or maybe be dead." She is a testimony of God. I'm still comprehending all that I saw and heard today, but I know God was speaking to my heart in ways that challenge me beyond myself.

Writing this, I’m on the last leg of a journey back to Quito. I made a quick trip to Minnesota to be a part of a close friend’s wedding. Now I’m waiting in the Miami airport for a few hours until my flight leaves for Quito.. My eyes are burning from rubbing them, with a few remaining crumbs from the Flaming Hot Cheetos on my fingers. The same fingers are stained a fiery orangey red color from the aforementioned cheetos. Although a short visit, I was able to spend time with many of my close friends in Minnesota. It was just a dabble of what I have to look forward this summer. Yet for today, I feel so happy to be going back to Ecuador.
With little else to occupy my time, I am a people watcher right now. Every gait different. Every person with a different sense of appropriate travel wear. Some people running to catch their flight, others meandering, because they have all the time in the world to wait for their departure. Some people arriving, others leaving. Some traveling in pairs, with family or friends, others alone. Me? Seated, taking 3 seats between my backpack, myself, and a pile of trash I’ve cleaned out… wearing a sun dress and heels… plans to explore the area shortly… traveling alone. With the exception of the vendors and the ticket counter workers, we all have the same purpose of cramming into a tight space to hurl ourselves through the sky at frightening speeds. Here is an observation I made today on my flight out of Minneapolis… while flying high up in the sky, the passenger is allowed to roam the cabin at ease, conversing with fellow passengers, walking the aisles for exercise, using the bathroom as needed. But once the plane has landed and is taxing at 20 mph up to the tunnel entrance of the airport, there are repeated reminders to keep passengers buckled in their seats, strictly reinforced until the plane has come to a complete stop and the captain has turned off the fasten your seatbelt light. Why is that? Although there are a few other recommendations I could make to the airport industry to boost my personal approval of it, regarding the lack of meal service coupled with outrageous food prices in the airport and the lack of free wireless in the airport, when it is provided on nearly every other corner in the city… overall I’ve found my flight experience to be very pleasant this trip and I look forward to flying back to Minnesota mid June.

This is Fernando. He's even cuter and funnier in real life.

Wednesday turned out to be my favorite day of teacher appreciation week... chocolates and candy.

Wednesday night two friends and I boarded an airplane and flew to Guayaquil for Easter break. Our final destination was Montañita, a beautiful beach about 3 hours northwest of Guayaquil. We took the bus early Thursday morning to beat the Semana Santa rush and arrived on the beach at 9am. Then followed four perfect days of sun, sand, waves, and relaxation. I don´t realize how much I loathe living in the city until I´m out of it. Which is probably a huge blessing. I was dreading coming back to the city Monday night, but now here I feel content. But being outside in fresh, open air, with the only sound being the crashing of waves, I was able to find the self-reflection I typically don't have in the city.

Although I wasn't looking forward to returning to the city, I was ready to come back to school. I was surprised how much I found myself missing my students over the 6 days of break.

Enter April. Enter Teacher Appreciation Week. Monday brings cards and notes, Tuesday brings flowers, and Wednesday... yet to be discovered. We also have received cake and a mariachi performance. But my favorite is a card from my aforementioned new second grader... Created out of green construction paper with a brown heart drawn on the front and the words "From Fernando". The inside reads "Dear Miss Peaterson: Thenk you four loving me so much. I never had a teacher like you."

Already into March. February was such a short month, yet it was a relief to find it over and be able to take down the red hearts and put up a green calendar in my classroom. I love how colors can mark the passing of time. This month...green.
I went to the orphanage this afternoon... we've started hosting dinners at Peg's house again for the children in the toddler house, having groups of 6 kids come down with their tia.
Every group of kids that comes down has a different dynamic, but all are active and fun. In the group of today was precious Lesly, the same girl I sat by for so long at our Christmas party, feeding because she isn't able to grip well from the table to her mouth. Today after the meal we went to the living room to play. She is fascinated with Peg's dog, so we spent a lot of time on the couch by the window, gazing out hoping for a glimpse of the dog. Then she noticed the pillows, and had them laid out so we could recline on the couch side by side and "sleep". Lesly doesn't have much ability in her legs and is unable to walk, so any movement made was directed by her, but only possible by my hands. In that sense, our relationship reminds me of my own with God... He, the director, and I, simply the human hands, with the option to obey or disobey. But the greatest similarity comes in the listening part, because Lesly speaks quietly and since Spanish isn't my first language, I have to work at understanding what she wants me to do. The same with God, whose words I do not always listen closely to hear nor seek to understand what He means by them... We "slept", cuddled up together, and then "awoke" to admire the night sky, then "slept", then tried to find the dog out the window... The whole evening I was in awe of what a privilege it is to be apart of this little girl's life. I am so blessed.
I have a new student, in the second grade. Since he came in the the middle of the year and doesn't have anybody else at his same level, he is a class all in himself. He is hysterical and brilliant and I love every minute I get to spend with him. The first day I met him I told him, "I want to challenge you. I can tell you're a smart boy." To which he replied, "For that you make me strong." Second grade, ESL, Special Ed student.... and conversationally brilliant.

Yesterday, in class with Karen, my second grader, we were learning about "My Day", starting with how the day begins... waking up, getting ready, etc. We sang a song that talks about washing our faces, combing our hair, and brushing our teeth. I asked her if she does each of those things every morning. She said she always combs her hair and brushes her teeth and sometimes washes her face. Then she asked me if I do all of those things. I said I always brush my teeth and wash my face and I usually, but not always, comb my hair. "Like today?" she asked me. I self consciously touched my hair, "Does it look bad?" I asked her. "Yes," she replied. She proceeded to "style" my hair for me, as is evidenced in the picture. I'm not sure that her efforts were any better than mine.