2010 Blessings, friends, and banana bread.

In this new year of 2010 God has shown my family and me so many great things. The opportunities of sharing God's love with the people around us have come one after another. My parents have been involved in many new Bible studies with couples, ladies, neighbors, and friends. I have also been able to be in one of the Bible studies with our land lord and his wife.

We have also been able to enjoy time with a family that lives a few houses down from us. My mom had become good friends with the mom of that family, my little brother, Lukas, has made friends with her son, and my older sister Bethany and I have become friends with her daughter who is my age. her daughter is into ballet and we were able to attend her school's Christmas presentation of The Nutcracker. She introduced us to her friend when we went to another ballet together, and I have also become good friends with her. We have also had the opportunity to have their family over to bake banana bread. Our friendship with them just keeps growing as we shore the love of God with them.

Christmas wreath ministry

This Christmas, our first Christmas in Ecuador, we decided to do something for our neighbors, and other people we have met. We made Christmas wreaths out of cereal, marshmallows, food coloring, sprinkles, and some other sweet ingredients. We placed each wreath on a red plastic plate, and placed a small candle in the center. We ended up making more than 40 of the delicious treats, which we gave to Ecuadorian friends near us. A card was made by my dad, with a candle on the front and the inside said that JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! We have already met more people from giving them out. Our church family also enjoyed them when we gave them out at a church banquet that my Dad spoke at. I praise God for the new contacts, and friends we have made from this small Christmas gift!

Missionary Kid in Ecuador

My name is Amanda, and I'm a missionary to Ecuador at the age of 14. Even though it isn't the place I grew up, or the place where most of my friends live I wouldn't trade living here for anything. I love the culture, the language, the food, the people, and most of all, the fact that God sent me here for a bigger reason than just living in Ecuador.