so little time...so much to say

SO MUCH has been happening, and i´m literally so busy i can´t even go into details, so here i go again with the bullets---because i feel like i want to tell you as much as i can in the little time that i have!

1. i became a godmother for the first time in my life on saturday. of course, it was ecuador, so it was a little strange, the ceremony i mean, but as a whole, a really beautiful experience. i was asked about a month ago by my friend lucy for her son andrés, and at first i was shocked and wasn´t really sure if it was something i should commit to (seeing that i´m leaving in 2 months) but she said she understood that completely, and just respected and loved me like a daughter, and always wanted me to be a part of their lives. she also said that she just likes my "forma de ser", who i am, and how i live my life. i just respect lucy so much, and really love that family. it was definitely something i prayed a ton about, and ultimately i just felt like this was something i needed to do. this family i have spent so much time with, so having her ask me to take on that responsibility was something i honestly felt honored to do. the word madrina in spanish actually means "spiritual mother", what better role to fill in someones life? and having ecuador be a part of my life forever is something i know i am ready to commit to.

2. i won at bingo this week! ha, no literally, so exciting. this past sunday, my friend saira´s high school class had a bingo to help raise money for a retreat next year. a bunch of us went to support her, and here in ecuador bingos are HUGE, so we went all out. i had 5 tablas (bingo cards), bought snacks, made banana bread to sell---it was so much fun! and the bingo was a huge success. we spent the whole day with her and it was just hilarious. we were laughing and joking with all the students, eating great food, it felt so normal. we were so ecua! oh and my prize was a bottle of hand lotion---you would´ve thought i won a flat screen or something ha!

3. this week a medical team is here from the US performing free pediatric orthopedic surgeries (mainly spines--scoliosis, club feet, malformed legs, etc) there are about 40 people with the group, and their spanish is ehh not so good....so i have been working with them translating between the patients, parents, and doctors. wow. what an amazing experience. these kids are having these amazing surgeries that otherwise wouldn´t be available to them, or they couldn´t afford them, and their lives are changing because of it. so beautiful. they are so grateful, and so humble. i am loving my role in this whole process. i have had such amazingly profound experiences this week being with these patients. little four year olds who are so brave, and 13 year olds who for the first time will stand up straight. it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. and i am so confident with my spanish. for the first time since i´ve been here, i finally feel like my spanish is a gift. like i can provide so much to a patient just by being able to speak the same language as them. being with this team this week has also made me realize that i chose the right vocation. as much as i questioned myself through college, it´s true, nursing is definitely for me. and i am so excited to get started. i literally can´t wait.

alright, i really do have more to tell you all, but i guess it´s going to have to wait. semillas will not wait for me, there will be children at the gate by the time i get there. but i miss and love you all so much!! mom i cannot wait to get to the beach with you! we are going to have so much fun! and xaverian boys---how does it feel to be graduated??? are you ready?

gotta run people, so much love i´m sending you,
ciao,
jamie