planes&cars; doors&windows

You know those planes that drag those banners behind them? You see them in cartoons, anyways. Sometimes I wish that God would send one: "Sharon! I want you to... because...this is how you're going to do it...this is when you should do it..."

This past month and a half has been a time of what seemed to be messed up plans and waiting for direction. I was hoping to be in Ecuador already, but there had some been some misinformation given to me about the visa. I had been told I could go to Ecuador, get a work contract, then cross over into Columbia/Peru to get the work visa. Then the consulate here told me--ABSOLUTELY NOT! The visa has to be arranged in Canada. I know that people have done it the way I was originally planning, but it's taking a chance and I just don't have the money to make two trips between Canada and Ecuador. So, I started trying to secure work in the city of Guayaquil (where I had been before) but there were no openings, or no one would get back to me. It was actually a really hard and frusterating process--just the not knowing of it all.

I had peace about going to Ecuador. But then I realized: maybe I was trying to limit God and not be open to going whereever in Ecuador he wanted me to go. I had always wanted to go and live with my friends again, but maybe God had other plans. Seeing as not a single door opened in Guayaquil, I started to pursue other cities and really felt peace about a teaching position in the city of Cuenca (four hours away from Guayaquil, up in the Andes mountains). I ended up getting the position (after a few other faith-stretching events that I won't get into). So, yay!

I'm planning to head down to Ecuador in December and the position starts in January. I've committed to 6 months for now. (Although, until I get the papers needed for my visa, I'm not booking any flights--so it still doesn't seem quite real yet).

It's neat to see how God's been changing me. This summer, when I was travelling in England, France and Italy, I realized: Wow--there really ARE countries out there other than Ecuador! There really ARE other people that I could get to know and love.

At the same time, I don't feel done with Ecuador--now if my going back in January is to say good-bye or to show me how I still have a place there, I guess I'll find out. But it's so freeing to finally be able to say to God "Ok, I'll go whereever you want." (....well and actually quite terrifying, too!) And, yes, maybe I'll end up permanently back in Canada after all! Through the past two years of working in an inner-city school, I've seen a little of the needs of the refugee/immigrant community here in my city. And I can see how I might be able to play a part in helping. Who knows? Eastern Europe has also been popping up a lot. Really, I have no idea.

A wise woman who used to go to my church told me the other day: "The headlights of a car only show you as far as you need to see to drive the next little bit--they don't light up the whole way." So, I guess I'll just have to keep driving.