{a bursting smile}: my beautiful ecuador

here is a detailed report of the best 12 days of my life

spent with my performing group in ecuador.

my life is forever changed.

_________________________________________________________________________________

July 12, 2012
Reason #1: Julia

airport at 4 am....
so what's the point in sleeping?
and how could i sleep
when one:
i had just come from the taylor swift concert!
{okay we watched the concert DVD in my backyard
but it was almost as good!}
and 2:
i'm going to ecuador!

well.
you'd think in an airport they would know what they are doing,
and work with the utmost efficiency, right?
not the case this morning!
we waited in line forever just to find out that they can't really help a group this big.
so they switch us to kiosks.
it starts to run a little smoother for some,
not so much for others.
namely, me.
i check in through the kiosk and wait for them to call my name.
nothing...
finally i just walk up to the desk and give the lady my papers.
after about 5 minutes of doing whatever she was doing
on her computer
she hands me my stuff and says
"i can't help you here."
....
umm...
okay?
at this point, Kim, my director
is livid.
and keep in mind our flight LEAVES at 6 am
and it's at least 5:15 now.
over half our group still not checked in.
finally i get to another lady who kindly tells me my bags had not been checked
{even though i clearly witnessed them checked at the kiosk...}
and i finally got the tags on my luggage and equipment
and dashed to security
where of course
there was the longest line.
As we are stressing in the line
another lady comes up to us and says
"our flight leaves in 20 minutes-"
and we cut her off and say
"so does ours!"
it was actually kind of funny.
it really was all a mess,
but we all managed to get on the plane
{and pray that our bags did too}.
it's now 6 am and i haven't slept
so i hoped to sleep on the plane.
too bad though.
couldn't sleep for a number a reasons, but that's not important.

arrive in Dallas TX
and go straight to our next flight to miami.
a much better flight.
i slept some and i'm feeling better.

{a real quick FYI:
i enjoy sitting by strangers on planes
for the most part}

20 minutes before we landed,
i woke up
and the lady next to me asked me where i was going.
when i told her i was going to ecuador
her eyes lit up and she said
"i am also going to ecuador! it's where i am from!"
i asked her her name and she said Julia.
so we started chatting and she asked me where in ecuador we were going.
so i showed her our itinerary.
every place i mentioned she just kept saying
"it's so beautiful there! you will love it!"
it only made me more excited.
she kept talking to me and started going deeper
telling me how i will see the poverty there and how i can do so much to help.
she told me how she is a nurse and how she has learned to love.
to love everyone no matter what.
she spoke of experiences she had first hand of
discrimination and hate because of her heritage.
all she could say about it was she just continued to love.
she explained that she was grateful that God made her
as a beacon of love.
she constantly talked about how she prayed to God to just let there be love.
she showed so much faith and trust in God.
she knows exactly who she is and why she is here.
she told me repeatedly that i am so young
and i can do so much.
i believe her.
i knew i was supposed to meet Julia on the plane and talk with her.
it was no coincidence.
and she knew it too.
she even told me how she was supposed to have gotten on an earlier flight
but she was delayed.
she told me she said to God "okay take me where i am supposed to be,
and now i am here talking with you!"
as we continued talking
she shed a few tears
as she told me of some of her patients.
my eyes watered in return.
and they were about to spill over
when she mentioned that she didn't think she would be around much longer.
{she was an older lady}.
i became very sad at the thought of Julia being gone.
This woman i had only sat on the plane with for a few hours
and only talked to for about 20 minutes
became someone i had to much love for.
and i could tell she loved me too.
and though we talked for so little, she has significantly influenced my life.
she has started the change in me that i knew would be coming with this experience.
i think of the song from the musical Wicked, 'For Good'
when it says,
'i've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason
bringing something we must learn, and we are led to those
who help us most to grow...'
i feel this way about Julia
and it only made it more special that she knew it too.
she kept saying
"you do good, God will bless you"
before we said our goobyes she said
"don't forget what i've told you. you tell your group
what i have said and you remember me."
i will always remember Julia.
i hope that i might be able to see her some time in ecuador.
and now that i think about it
i really wish i had gotten some way to contact her.
because i already miss her.
i loved being around her.
her love rubbed off on me.

and Julia is reason #1.
reason #1 that i know i am supposed to be here.
i am determined to find a specific reason in each day
of why i am supposed to be here.
because i know that i am.

just a little girl
and her toy story backpack
ready for the adventures ecuador has to offer.

{P.S.}
we have had so much luck.
first with checking in at SLC airport.
the josh left his costume on our last plane
and had to scramble to get it back,
ran all over the airport
and BARELY made our next flight.
yeah we all pretty much had a heart attack!

we had dinner at about 9 pm
and our guide says
"ok we have chicken...or meat!"
hahaha.

my poor ankles are so swollen.

both of our guide's names are joseluiz.

_________________________________________________________________________________

July 13, 2012
Reason #2: the beauty

wake up.
shower.
{cold shower, but not as cold as i was expecting!}
get ready.
breakfast- scrambled eggs, hot chocolate, juice.
yes, you could find all of that in america
but it's just better because it's from a different country...
plus the place had the most beautiful looking cakes and pastries!

short bus ride to the LDS temple in Guayaquil.
we were so lucky to be close enough to visit it!
of course it was beautiful and there was a wonderful spirit there.
we were able to meet the temple presidents and their councilors.
The president was from America.
we sang some of our acapella songs for them.
when we sang our ecuador song
they began to dance and sing along!
i loved seeing them connect with us!
when we finished the councilors wife offered to sing a song for us.
it was in spanish, so i didn't understand it
but i loved how she {and the ecuadorian people}
live with such passion.
it is stunning.
after the temple we went to a park that was filled with iguanas!
seriously, they were everywhere!
some average size,
some HUGE.
in the middle of the park there was a band of what looked like
military men.
as they played their music, we gathered around and started dancing.
when the band finished
we applauded
and then we sang for them
and others in the park.
they loved it and asked us where we were from.
when we told them we were from America,
they told us they had a song for us,
and started playing "new york new york!"
you know
'start spreadin the news...i'm leavin today...."
hahaha it really warmed my heart!
in return we sang A Mi Lindo Ecuador
and they went nuts!
it was the coolest thing.
i love it!
i love it i love it i love it!
they asked for pictures and we all felt like rockstars!
i really really love these people already.
i honestly do!
and i can't even speak with them.
we all started dancing with each other
and people surrounded us.
i just thought to myself
"i'm in ecuador!! and i love life!"

we went into a cathedral next to the park.
i've always been a fan of cathedrals.
i love how you can go from the loud city
into a cathedral
where it's calm,
and peaceful.
so beautiful.
a man came up to a group of us and we luckily had a translator.
he told us he had heard us sing outside
and how much it is appreciated when foreigners sing in their language.
i love it!

we headed to the pier next where we learned some history along the way.
we traveled up to a light house
where the journey took us up 444 stairs
through the most beautiful
colorful little village!
so full of life!
if i could speak spanish, i would live there.
buildings of every color!
blue
pink
yellow
red
orange
green!
beautiful detail.
beautiful people.
beautiful flowers!
ahhh i love it.
and when we reached the top
a beautiful view!!
SO BEAUTIFUL HERE!
and i get to enjoy the village all over again on the way back down.
and this is reason #2.
i'm supposed to be here to experience the beauty of another country.
to really understand that there really are beautiful people
and places outside of the united states!
the beauty of another country, it's people, and their culture.
"we are all one people"

lunch.
chicken and rice.
again.
but still tasty!
back to the hotel to "freshen up"
as victor would say.

our first performance.
at an lds church building.
not too bad.
although they were flashing lights the whole show
and we all thought we might break into seizures!
after the performed and sang,
{they went nuts for the ecuador song again!}
we were swarmed for pictures and autographs!
it was a cool thing!
i loved to see the joy in their faces as we performed
and signed our names and took pictures.
i could get used to this!

i love this village!!!
isn't it beautiful?!

{P.S.}
my finger got smashed under a door right before the performance.
instant purple.
it was throbbing.
back at our hotel
josh heated up his needle
and poked my nail.
instant relief.
lucky to have josh here!!

_________________________________________________________________________________

July 14, 2012
Reason #3: Give

early morning.
6 hour drive to Cuenca.
ecuador is so different everywhere you go.
driving out of guayaquil,
which was more city-like, crowded and dirty,
we reached a lot of green!
which was what i imagined ecuador being like.
we drove up and through the mountains.
on the way
we stopped at a fruit stand on the side of the road.
can you say LEGIT?
it was so good!
sugar cane, papaya, plantains, bananas, coconuts, melons, pineapples galore!
and so super fresh, tasty, and exotic!
right in the middle of the mountains.
it was beautiful!
{annie tried to buy one plantain but they thought she was
asking for all she could get for a dollar. that would be 15. hahaha}

we drove even higher up the mountains
above all the clouds!
what an amazing view that was!
seriously,
God's creations are brilliant!

driving through the mountains
we would see a few houses here and there
and i just kept thinking to myself,
"where are we going! there's like nothing here..."
then out of no where-
welcome to cuenca!
and let me tell you,
it is GORGEOUS here!
it's like right out of a movie or a story.
the cobblestone roads,
people selling flowers everywhere you turn,
and the most darling flea market you ever did see.
seriously. i'm in love with cuenca.

we have been treated really well with the food here!
there hasn't been anything i don't like!
sure, it's meat {mostly chicken} and rice every meal
but it's always really good!

after lunch we went back to our hotel,
which by the way is super nice!!
and we put our things away
and got some flyers for our show to pass out to the people!
they taught us a phrase to say to the people in spanish,
but i'm not even going to write it
because i will just make a fool of myself trying to spell it... hahaha
we sang on the streets
and passed out our flyers!
a lot of people seemed really interested too!

we had some free time
so a bunch of us headed to the flea market.
and let's be honest.
a flea market anywhere is fun,
but when you are outside of the country
it's just somethin' else!
people everywhere trying to sell you stuff!
and bartering...
it's just fun!
thanks to jose i got a backpack for 12$
instead of 22$!

back to the hotel to get ready for the performance.
it was in a theatre in town.
after we had set up we were informed that we had an opening act!
she was a 17 year old local singer named Michelle with a small group of
back up dancers.
she was seriously gorgeous.
brown hair, dark skin, and light blue eyes!
and she had the cutest bubbliest personality.
oh she was darling.
in our dressing room
our groups mingled and talked and laughed.
i loved that we interacted with her group.
we were one group.
they taught us some moves.
we taught them the boot scootin boogie.
hahah that was a funny sight.

as for our performance...
we struggled!
but we were thrown off by some miscommunications,
technical difficulties,
some tension,
and a slippery stage!!
somewhere in the show i tweaked my elbow
and that also distracted me...
the audience still loved it and
gave us a standing ovation
and swarmed us again for pictures and autographs
but i was sad that it wasn't as good as it could have been..

throughout today,
deep down inside,
i was feeling a little lonely.
i was by myself a lot
and just had a weird vibe goin.
and this is reason #3.
i am supposed to be here
to really show me that it's not about me.
it's about them.
it's about everyone but me.
and once i understand that
and apply it,
i and everyone else will be a lot happier.
:)

i told you.
above the clouds!
awesome!!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

July 15, 2012
Reason #4: to be here. it's no coincidence.

a sunday in ecuador.
and this is what i love about this gospel:
it's the same and it's true
everywhere,
in every language.

we had the opportunity to sing
two musical numbers in the sacrament meeting we attended.
we sang
"i wonder when he comes again"
and
"prayer of the children".
the music really brought in the spirit,
and though a lot of the congregation didn't understand the words
they felt the spirit that was brought by them.
and again it reminded me of the reasons i am here.
to bring hope and peace and love to these people.
and even though i could not understand the speakers
i still felt of their love and testimonies.

after sacrament meeting
there was a funeral in the room behind us
for a young girl who had passed away just days before.
i don't know her.
i don't know her name.
i don't know what she looks like.
i don't know what kind of life she lived.
i don't know how she died.
but i truly mourned with the family.
i was very sad.
i tried to very hard to keep my tears in,
but i could not help but let a few out.
we were asked to sing the same songs at her funeral.
when we walked in the room
the girls mom was having some sort of attack.
we were lucky to have josh there
since he is an EMT.
he was able to calm everyone down and help out.
we sang
and we parted.
it was extremely hard on me,
though i know not the exact reason.
steph dowse told us later that one of the really good friends
of the girl who passed away
told her that even though she didn't understand
the words to our songs
or what they were about,
our music really gave peace to her heart..
did we just happen to be in this city,
on this day,
at this time,
in that church?
definitely not.
that was not coincidence.
not chance.
it was supposed to happen
we were supposed to be there.
how cool is that?!
i love what i do.
i love our purpose.
i love that we are blessed with experiences like this...

our next stop was a performance at an orphanage.
there are a lot of feelings i have about this performance
that i just don't know how to put into words.
as we performed
it come from a different place within us all.
it wasn't about getting all the moves right
or trying to impress anyone
{though there is a time to focus on those things}.
it was all about bringing the children
and all those who lived there,
with no parents,
no families,
joy and peace and love.
watching their faces as we performed...
i wouldn't trade it for anything.
the light in their eyes could fill the darkest room.
when we finished
one of the nuns spoke to us
and ricky translated.
she said that they have been through a lot of hardships
and struggles
and pain
and we have helped them to get through them.
that we had given them the energy to live for 100 more years!
it was so special
and we all felt our hearts swell with humility and gratitude.
it was wonderful to know we had accomplished what we had set out to do.

we were able to stay and visit with the children and the seniors
that lived there.
they,
who have so little,
are so happy.
it's the perfect example to me.
i knelt down by a lady in a wheel chair
and she took my hand
and began talking.
she went on and on and on and i only had some of it translated for me.
she said a lot of similar things that the nun said
about how we brought so much joy to her
and then she never dreamed of anything like this.
i could have sat with her all day
even though i didn't understanding the words she was saying.
but i did understand the feeling.
there was still a connection,
but it was not through words.
next i sat by a girl who was probably
9 years old.
her name was julisa.
when i sat next to her she gave me a hug
and would not let go.
when she did let go of the embrace
she still clung to my arm.
after i spoke the little spanish i knew
we both just sat there together.
arm in arm.
her head rested on my shoulder.
i wish i was able to communicate more with her
but what we had was enough.

we weren't able to stay for too long.
it wasn't long enough.
i could have stayed there all day.
i wanted to stay and play and laugh and love
just as they do.

next we headed up the mountain
to an amazing view of the city.
it's our last day in cuenca and i'm really going to miss it!
it is truly beautiful here.
i could spend a much longer span of time here.

dinner: meat kabobs!
so much meat here!
but i haven't gotten sick of it.
but the best part
was playing game before our food came out.
why was it the best?
because
there was lots and lots and lots of laughing.
and you KNOW how much i love laughing!
after dinner i assumed it was like 10 or 11pm
since that's when we have usually eaten dinner
and it was already dark outside.
but it was only 7:30!
which means we had some free time!
there was a few options for us to choose from
and one of them was to go play soccer.
i was all over that.
not to play of course... hahaha
i just watched.
but it's soccer in South America!
you can't pass that up.

our short bus ride to the soccer field was a straight up dance party.
blasting music.
dancing up and down the aisle of the bus.
and even flashing lights!
oh i was having a blast.
again i stopped myself
and thought
"I'M IN ECUADOR!!!"
when we got to the soccer field
there were still other people on it finishing their game.
these guys were legit.
real ecuadorians
playing real soccer.
and i thought that after watching them
our group would like like pansies.
but i was very impressed.
they played a very intense game.
we did have a few injuries....
but i don't think they are too serious.
but they were playing pretty harsh
so i wasn't exactly surprised...

today was a great day.
a really really great day.
i never want it to end.
at the end of the day i've decided that
reason #4 is just
im supposed to be here.
for the sacrament meeting.
for the funeral.
for the orphanage.
and to enjoy myself.
to be immersed in the
peace and love.
i am truly humbled.

julisa is on the left:)

{PS}
i bought a pan flute.
and i love it.
and when we played soccer
we met some very attractive ecuadorians...
have i mentioned how much i love that they kiss
on the cheek here to greet?...
hehe...

_________________________________________________________________________________

July 16, 2012
Reason #5: Comfort.

Long. Drive.
Long. Day.
what we were told would be a 4 hour drive
turned into a 6 hour drive
that turned into an 8 hour drive.
we might as well have just driven to California, right?
haha no, i'm kidding.
Unfortunately many people woke up sick today
{annie being one of them}.
the bus ride was long to me,
but not nearly as long as it was for those who felt sick.
i, fortunately, felt really good actually!
and this is reason #4 for me.
i'm supposed to be here to help out the sick,
specifically annie.
she is my best friend after all.
i don't know what i would do if i was stuck in the US
while she was extremely sick in ecuador!
i was able to get her what she needed
and fan her on the bus.
i hated seeing her in so much pain,
but i was so glad i was there for her!

during the drive we stopped once because of a landslide.
so, naturally we all get out of the bus and start playing around.
then we had to stop another time because of an unstable bridge.
our amazing guide, jose, left the bus to talk to the people in charge
and see what he could do..
we needed to get somewhere and we had sick people aboard.
jose came back with good news.
he said the workers said we could cross,
but everyone would have to get off the bus and walk across
and then the bus could go over.
we agreed.
some of us, including me,
were excited.
we looked at it with an adventurous perspective! :)
we get out.
it's pretty much misting us
and we walk across in the mud.
i loved it!

finally we arrive in Limon,
which is where our guide victor was born
and grew up.
it's very small and much poorer than Cuenca.
but it is still beautiful here.
we quickly stopped for a late lunch.
i stayed back with annie and helped her
try to feel better.
i didn't get to eat much of my lunch,
but i didn't mind.

we checked into our hotel.
2 words.
bunk beds. hahaha.
but this is what i have been expecting.
it is preffered?
no.
but i am grateful.
one-because we are only here a few nights.. ha
two-because i just remember that the people here live like this every day.
they have to worry about bed bugs.
so i can deal with it for a few days!

hurry to get ready for our performance.
it was in a big gym.
really dirty.
bugs everywhere.
but again, these kids and people live with this everyday.
i am humbled.
before we began i met this little girl named Daniella.
such a sweetheart.
there was a connection,
though again, not through words.
i loved looking into her eyes when i was performing.
she always returned it with a warm smile.
she gave me energy and kept me going.
me and annie brought up the mayor of the community
for our bridge solo.
the audience loved it
but i couldn't tell if he did... he didn't smile much haha.
i may have been SUPER flat on my lion king solo
and i may have butchered the sign language in a voice to the world,
but it's not getting me down.
i performed from my heart and that's what matters!

we didn't leave our performance until 11:00 pm
{because we started probably 45 min late.
but that's how south america rolls... haha}
hopefully i will sleep better tonight than last night.
i forgot to mention
i had a stuff nose
and there was some marching band playing all night!
REALLY LOUD.
but i'm just grateful i'm not sick!
and i'm hoping it will stay that way.
i'm optimistic!

this is daniella :)

_________________________________________________________________________________

July 17, 2012
Reason #6: my boys.

good morning.
it's pouring rain.
and i love it actually.
we ate breakfast under this little hut.
it was too precious! haha.
and since it never stopped pouring
of course we all decide we need rain boots!
8$ for some real sturdy rain boots?
AND they are yellow?
i'm sold.
good thing we purchased the!
because when you go visit a tribe
in the middle of the rain forest,
you're going to want some nice boots!
oh, and a garbage bag poncho.

off to the shuar tribe,
complete with war paint.
they welcomed us with a song and dance
to which we sang in return.
the tribe members didn't even wear shoes.
they literally live off the land.
it amazes me!
and to be honest, i'm kinda jealous!
they made a welcome drink for us.
we tried some of the fruit
that looked like we were eating aliens.
sugar can juice.
i braided a little girls hair...
it was awesome.

i love meetin children here.
they are so beautiful {inside and out}
and affectionate.
always hugging, and holding my hand,
or clinging to my arm...

and i love all the dogs here!
i just want to pet them and take them home!
but usually we aren't supposed to touch the dogs
because they aren't well taken care of
so they have fleas and such..
it breaks my heart..
but the tribe had a dog that i was able to
give some love to!
and it loved me in return!

after the tribe we went to lunch
way out in the middle of no where
{where we were supposed to eat guinea pig!
but they didn't have any... :( }
we had..
you guessed it!
chicken. rice. beans.

after lunch we went on a hike to see some
ancient petroglyphs on rocks.
{and now i'm even more glad i bought those rainboots!}
the ancient people seemed to be quite fond of fertility.. haha
but hey,
hiking through the jungle is something not everyone
can say they've done!

confession.
i didn't shower today because
i knew we were hiking
and we were supposed to go swimming
and i thought i'd have enough time to shower before our show.
nope.
so i was pretty nasty!

or performance was at another community
in Limon.
a big gym.
i was really emotional on the way there because
annie is still really sick and she wasn't coming to perform,
which means i would sing the bridge solo alone,
and i wouldn't see her while i was dancing.
it was hard...
but it tured out to be a really good performance for me.
before the show started i spotted a little boy and we
made eye contact.
he kept looking back at me with a huge smile
and i would return it.
i told him across the room that i would look at him
while i performed.
which i did,
and he was looking at me
and it gave me the energy i needed to carry out
the rest of the performance,
in the heavy humidity.

after the show
when we met the people
and did pictures and signings
i met the little boy and his friends.
they would laugh and smile at me,
and i couldn't speak to them.
i tried to get them to dance for me,
but they were too embarrassed.
when we took down the equipment i
rolled the duct tape in a huge ball,
and kicked it to one of them.
we began to run in and out of people,
all over to the room playing soccer.
they were so happy.
i was so happy.
my boys were reason #6.
i love them so much!
i didn't want it to stop.

a super late dinner after the show.
we were all just casually eating our soup,
until julee spooned out something from hers.
oh don't worry.
it was a full on chicken head.
and collectively we found
2 heads
a foot
and a lung
in our soups.
we didn't eat it...
and austin told me the dogs wouldn't even eat it... haha
but we had fun joking about it!

it was a lovely day!

my boys!

_________________________________________________________________________________

July 18, 2012
Reason #7: Odali

okay.
confession.
i didn't shower today... again..
hahaha
but it's because we went and did service
in the pouring rain
so there was no point in showering right?!
and again i am glad i bought those rain boots.
it was so very muddy!
but i loved it!
i loved gettin down and dirty!
i can't even believe how much it rains here.
haha i mean we are in the rain forest...
but it was a warm rain, not a cold rain so that was good.
we were at a little school community and
basically did yard work for them.
moving rocks and wood,
weeding and such.
as we were working the kids started to come out.
i loved playing with them!
they loved to jump rope.
i haven't jump roped since probably 6th grade.
it was so much fun!
i could play with these kids everyday.
even though i can't really speak to them
it doesn't matter.
because they will like you if you just play with them!
and playing is what i do best!
i met girl probably 10 or 11 years old
name Odali {at least that's what it sounded like. i think it's beautiful}
she is reason #7
and she is my new best friend.
i noticed her just kind of off to the side
while all the other kids were playing.
i grabbed her hand and told her to join us.
she was shy but she came with me.
i tried to get her to jump rope with me
but she wouldn't.
but when i would finish jump roping
she would grab my hand again,
and she would give me big hugs.
i finally got her to jump rope
and tried to teach her some jump rope tricks.
i taught her hand clapping games,
and i let her take tons of pictures with my camera.
and she actually took really good photos!
we played, smiled, and laughed together.
i felt so special with her.
we also played with some of the boys
and they were fun too!
i even got one little boy to do my warrior face
with me in a picture.
i can't even explain how much i loved this day.
they did a dance for us and then taught us the dance!
they laughed at us,
because we really looked ridiculous.
i really wish we didn't have to leave.
i wish i could go back and see my new friends all the time...
but i am just grateful i got to meet them at all!
their happiness and love really touched my heart.

we had a performance later in another community
and a lot of people showed up.
they are very timid,
and before the show started they were all on the edges,
not quite watching the show.
but as it went on, they came closer and more people showed up!
later one of our group members
shared that a lady in the audience
said she had received our message ,
maybe not all of it, but a little of it.
she said they never get anything like that
and it filled them with peace.
it's amazing to hear that people are understanding our purpose.
to know we are getting our message across,
to even one person
makes it worth it.