Tuesday, January 22, 2013

New Year, Fresh Start

    Hello dear friends and family. A lot has happened since our last couple of posts, and we'd love to share about it with you all! Around Christmastime we were able to share in a very special service at our church in Carcelen. The church had just finished some interior renovations, which gave the congregation an altar for the very first time! It was a wonderful celebration with worship music and dance, Christmas carols, and a mini children's Christmas pageant. We were overjoyed to share in this special Advent season with our Ecuadorian brothers and sisters in Christ.
Praise and Worship in Carcelen Church

Three wise men visit baby Jesus in the children's Christmas pageant.
    Then in late December, Ian and I were able to come back to the U.S. for two weeks to spend Christmas and New Years with my (Hillary's) immediate and extended family in Florida. It was such a huge blessing to have this time with family!

Relaxing together outside: Dad, Ian, Me, Israel (our little cousin), and Lauren

Mom and Twins



      As soon as Ian and I returned to Ecuador, we got right to work preparing for our new NILI students who were coming in two weeks. We learned quickly that our roles in NILI were expanding greatly this semester! Starting next week, Ian will be teaching two classes: Christian Faith and Introduction to the New Testament, twice a week. And last weekend I (Hillary) began serving as NILI's Student Life Director, helping our students with day to day needs such as making sure they have hot water (we have a gas system) and ensuring the quality of their meals on campus, coordinating student events, and just being there to help with transitioning into another culture.
 
Waiting with the seminary students for our NILIs to arrive at the Quito airport.
       Last weekend, Ian and I helped conduct the NILI orientation, discussing life on the seminary campus, safety, and cultural differences and giving tips to help guide students throughout the semester here in Ecuador. We also helped give a tour of the little "barrio" (town) near the seminary called Carcelen, and on Saturday afternoon we visited the Equator!

Visiting the Equator with our four new NILIs: Emily, Chad, Cristina, and Raven.
    Sunday evening we had a blast welcoming the new seminary students and new NILIs by hosting an evening of ice breaker activities, games, and fun. We are blessed with an amazing group of students to serve this semester!

"Foto Loca" (Crazy Picture) from our Welcoming Party for new seminary and new NILI students.
    We are both so thankful for the roles we have been given within NILI this semester.  It is a joy to be able to use our gifts and abilities to serve the Lord in student ministries here on the Nazarene seminary campus. This truly has been an answer to our prayers, and we look forward to what God has in store for us this semester!

Friday, January 11, 2013

NILI 15: First Semester in Video Review

As we gear up for our second semester with the NILI Program here in Quito, Ecuador (students arrive next week), here is a look at some of the highlights from our first semester with NILI.  We made this video especially for our traditional students--the four girls you'll see throughout the video--as a parting gift for them to take back and show their family & friends, but we thought we'd share it with y'all as well!