7-14-12

Hi everybody!

We are settling into the jungle now. Today we went to Tena and Mishualli grocery shopping. We got everything we’ll need for about 3 weeks.

Then Mr. Roberto and Junior took us in the jungle to try some fruit that grow here. There was Cocoa, we cracked the shell against a tree and sucked on the sweet, gooey coating of the cocoa bean. Inside it was purple and bitter. There was also a fruit that was bigger than a grapefruit and spiky -like a puffer fish. Once you peel it, its mushy and slimy. But its really good. Tastes like bread pudding. It grows very high up on trees though.   

Then we went to the Mishualli river. It was sort of muddy and there were people in a long bright boat, too. The water was cold but Elijah, Robby and Junior got in and played and swam. It was really nice.

For supper we had pizza and salad with the Davalos’. After that we played at their house. And tonight we played Yahtzee!. Tomorrow we are going to worship and relax with the Davalos family.

Blessings,

Madeline Studebaker

7/11/12

Hey!

Today is my 12^th birthday!

And great news: I made it to Ecuador alive! Riding to the airport was scary- and I know I’m going to miss my friends. But it was really exciting too. The flight was sort of bumpy but the view was awesome. Landing in Quito was cool… freezing really. Mr. Darin and Mr. Boris ( two missionaries here in Ecuador) picked us up from the airport. We had to strap some of the luggage to the roof of their car, and the rest Abigail and I sat on top of in  the back of the car. But that was okay because there is only a seat belt law for the front seat in Ecuador. Its  really beautiful here. It doesn’t get super hot in Quito. The mountains are HUGE – like 17,000 ft. high! And yes, there really are people selling cuy (guinea  pig) on the streets. We didn’t try any.  We are staying in Quito until Friday, then we’re going to the jungle. Its about a 5 and a ½ hour drive over the mountains.  I am looking forward to finding my  bird book of Ecuador and  start birding. 🙂

So All May Know,

Madeline Studebaker

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Hola!

We were in Fort Meyers to visit the Davalos’ the other day. They are on the our mission board. We talked about about Ecuador and swam in their pool. They are very nice. Then we went to the Ecuadorian Consulate in Miami to get our visas. Everybody spoke Spanish and it was crowded. We were there from 9:30 to 3:00 and they said to come back the next day because they were closing. So we were there from before 9:00 to 5:00. It was not fun. We did get our visas, but Abigail’s says that she is a widow because their machine was broken.

We went to Fort Cooper Baptist Church Sunday night and shared about the ministry. Abigail and I sang and then took Elijah to the nursery.

Now we are back in Oxford, Fl. And we are still doing school. But we are almost finished. I only have 16 more lessons of math. We are almost done packing. Only 28 days until we leave for Ecuador. I’m excited about meeting people and making friends, but it’s still scary.

So All May Know,

Madeline Studebaker

Hey!

Tonight we are starting to decide what we are taking on the plane to Ecuador. It is very hard. And I have a headache.

This morning I drank apple juice and clay. Then apple juice and husk fiber. Why? Because my Mom and Aunt Ciji thought we ought to detox. The clay was slimy and thick and grainy. And that might have been because my Aunt Ciji forgot to add 4 ounces of water. It was awful. Then 5 minutes later, I got my husk fiber. It was even thicker and grosser than the clay. It was like spoiled cream of wheat soup. And it was horrible. It is not something I would recommend if you cant drink thick, gross, detoxing stuff. I almost threw up. Seriously.

I just finished reading A Summer Secret. It was about an 13-year-old Amish girl and her 3 brothers. It was very good. I also read Spirit Fighter. It was about a 13-year-old boy and his 11-year-old sister. They find out that their mother is a nephilum, child of a human and a fallen angel. That makes them ‘quarterling angels’. They are called into a spiritual battle by God. It was very interesting.

I am getting more and more excited about going to Ecuador. But we are going to go to school with other kids for the first time since kindergarten. And not to mention that it will be in the jungle. So it is a little scary.

Blessings,

Madeline Studebaker

Hola amigos!

We are back in Ga. and we have been very busy. We had a biscuit and gravy fundraiser at the farmer’s market. And a BBQ fundraiser at the Brackett Room. It was very hard work but our friends helped us. 🙂 Some of the kids got to stand in front of the bank and hold up signs. It was very fun.

We went roller skating at Fun world on Abigail’s birthday. It was super, super fun!

We also spoke at Hayesville Christian School. Except the slide-show wouldn’t work so we had to wing it. It was embarrassing.

I had a great time at Abigail’s 10^th birthday party at Vogel State Park. A lot of our friends were there. But the water was freezing cold! I didn’t do a lot of swimming.

We spoke at Union Baptist Church on the 20^th. We also shared at Pine Top Baptist Church on the 23^rd. They were having banana splits for the graduates.

We went to Graduation on Friday. It was like 4 hours long.  

Sunday night, May the 27^th we spoke at House of Prayer. It was great except Elijah stopped to loudly sniff each flower on our way down the aisle. 

And we are going back to Fl. On Thursday. I am excited about going to Ecuador but I’m sad I’ll have to leave my friends. I already asked my parents if I could have a pet monkey in Ecuador, and they said it was illegal.

So All May Know,

Madeline Studebaker