Crocodile Surprise!

 We are often asked what a typical day looks like for us here in Shell, Ecuador. The answer, just like our days, is never the same. Plans in Latin America tend to zig and zag based on weather, bus schedules and more. 

We could write story after story to describe this reality but we will just share our most recent adventure of everyday life in Ecuador.

Chris was called by a friend and asked to drive to "pick up lunch". Naturally, Chris assumed that lunch consisted of large bags of rice that would be difficult to schlep on the local bus and thus, he was asked to help. This was not the case.






Chris was the transport for a crocodile lunch -- lagarto as they call in here. Our friends led him to a crocodile farm and picked up a crocodile! The bagged crocodile was thrown into the back of our car. Upon arrival to our friend's house the croc was thumped against a cement wall and processed to cook over the fire. 

The intestines and other organs were cleaned and wrapped in banana leaves to make maito -- a local favorite. 






After much laughter and excitement discussing the catch of the day we enjoyed a meal together. Our friends proudly shared with us the tail of the crocodile and we must say it's something we will eat gladly in the years to come. 

It's often we lay in bed at the end of our day shake our heads and laugh saying, "Yep, that just happened!" 

Ministry Goals/Prayer Needs - 2016

Tina wrote a little article!!

Tina has been thoroughly enjoying the benefits of a weekly Skype group put on by Velvet Ashes. The group of women meet virtually each week to discuss the realities of living and serving abroad. Although the group members live in China, Africa, Mexico, Ecuador and North America the reality of life abroad is something they have in common.

Tina took advantage of the opportunity to share what God is doing in her heart regarding the concept of "Home" and was able to share this with the Velvet Ashes online community. If you'd like to read her article click here!

If you know any women living abroad please encourage them to check out Velvet Ashes for encouraging articles, book suggestions, online community and connection groups!

Foundation of TRUTH -

God's been using scripture to hold us up. His truth never changes and this foundation is invaluable. Here's how these truths have impacted us. Hopefully they will be an encouragement to you as they apply to your everyday reality.

2015 Family Verse

Joshua 1:9 - Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 

* We weave in and out of daily life declaring this truth as we have learned to live with the necessary realities of bars on our windows and doors. Living with this constant reminder of compromised safety and "interesting" law enforcement regulations can seed fear, especially in Georgia and Reese. We meditate on the TRUTH that we are not to be afraid but to LOVE HARD and TRUST. 

When The Struggle Is Real

Zechariah 4:6 - Not by power, not by might, but by my Spirit says the Lord. 

* We only want to do what He would have us do. "Fake it until you make it" or "Muscling It" just isn't an option. Without God's wisdom, we will mess things up and fast! We rest in the TRUTH that we are being led by the Holy Spirit as we seek Him and surrender to His leading and obey. When the language barrier seems too big or the cultural differences too confusing we remember we are being led by the One who KNOWS and IS and HAS BEEN and WILL BE forevermore. 

Deep exhale.

2016 Family Verse

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you.

* After one and a half years of living abroad we've noticed a dullness in our spirits. An "Eeyore effect" if you will... We know the answer to a downtrodden spirit is worship and thanksgiving. So, we've resolved as a family to create a culture of thanksgiving and rejoicing in our home. We plan to pick apart everyday life and highlight all that we have to be thankful for, rejoicing as we reach for high heights -- all while laying every need and desire down before Him who can. We want to shine the joy and hope that comes from personally knowing Jesus -- it starts in our hearts, then overflows into our home and then into the world. May it be so in 2016.

Burning the Old Year!!!

Our dear friends, Birgit, Amelie and Ricci, taught us the local New Years tradition of "Burning the Old Year!" The idea is that you pick something from the old year to leave behind.  Birgit and her kiddos build upon this idea and burn something from the old year and write a note to God asking Him to help them strive into the New Year.

We were able to make our dolls representing what we would like to burn and leave in the old year and then write our notes to God asking him to help us strive into the New Year.

Georgia and Reese embraced the experience and have declared it a new Ferry tradition!

We loved hearing each person's reasoning behind their doll. It was a wonderful way to close out the year as a family.

Christmas Carols In Spanish!!

This Christmas we were able to sing Christmas carols at an elderly day-home as well as a few other local ministry sites. This was great language practice and a beautiful opportunity to love and connect with the community. Georgia and Reese were both happily engaged and energized by the opportunity to connect in this way. We still have these new Christmas songs running through our heads and sung in our home -- well into February!

Whole chickens, bone soup, and muffins...oh my

My friend Sofia taught me how to cook chicken over an open fire.  But first, I had to learn to process a whole chicken. There were points of the process that I wished for a machete. Too much bone sawing just makes a stomach churn.  It's on my Christmas list!  Even the our local butcher is pleased as punch that this white lady buys whole chickens -- neck, feet, guts and all.  Keeping it real? I still have to pep-talk myself to process these deliciously fresh cluckers. But, I'm learning....

To the right you see a typical soup with bone and all.  The flavor is amazing but using fingers is a must!

On the left is Reese and her friend Amelie making something like blueberry muffins.  They don't grow blueberries here in Ecuador but we've found a small black-ish berry that works great!! Baking is a big part of each week because we have to make everything from scratch.  We love this because it's healthier and we are learning to organize our days to make time for this necessity.  In fact, the girls are becoming quite the little sous chefs!