Choosing Joy: and dealing with LIFE

Hi All,

Let me go ahead and tell all you glass half full people (like myself) that this blog has real potential to be sad/depressing...bear with me!

I want to inform all you followers and brothers and sisters in Christ about some serious struggles I have been facing here in Ecuador.

Yes, Im a positive (glass half full) kind of person but Im happy to say that this post is reality of real life.

Real life is being held up at gunpoint on a Friday evening walk home---Let me explain. Some of you may know but my guess is MOST of you do NOT so I will give a little detail to explain that, to some of you, scary sentence.

It was Valentines Day and I was on my usual walk home from school with my roommate, Kat. Normal friday evening for us to walk home after school-- around 5:30. We got to the top of the hill where we turn to the final stretch home when two guys came at us--hoping to corner us and trap us against the wall--fortunately their plan did NOT work...

Play by Play: One guy--smaller---with gun came at Kat first--I became quickly in shock but she shouted NO and screamed in a note very few soprano music teachers could hit. I look away for one second and see the other guy coming at me---no gun just his hands ready to grab me or my stuff--still haven't determined that one.  I became very thankful for my sweet students in that moment as my instincts told me to swing and I hit him in the face with a bouquet of roses---catching him off guard, I was able to run---yall know me--im a runner--I ran into the street hoping to draw attention and it worked because the two guys cowardly ran off, hopped in their car and were on their way.

It was OVER...Yay! I will go ahead and say Praise the Lord we were NOT hurt...Praise the Lord that NOTHING was stolen but I will also say that the after math of an incident like this is mentally draining.

So no, mentally, this is NOT over. I was always thankful for my photographic memory in college---it got me through those 4 years with a pretty good GPA but in that moment it is one characteristic I could have lived without.
I can replay it over and over like a broken record and I have--not only for myself but for all who ask--including the police.

So, now that you know what happened---here's the after math for you:
What did I learn on February 14th...
1. It is a valentines day I will never forget---SORRY Boys/Future husband.

2. Im tough, Im smart, Im RESOURCEFUL, Im now experienced.

3. I feel sorry for ignorant people. Let me be clear---I DO NOT hate Ecuador because of this experience--I HATE Ignorance.

4. I also HATE, yes, HATE, that they looked at us and even more specific me and thought weak, helpless- I'm anything but these things. I am an only child (I'm sure some of you are wondering--where is she going with this) because yes that can go 1 of 2 ways but for myself it means---im very determined, independent and strong-willed. I get things done and usually by myself. Another one of my pet peeves (maybe a struggle to some of you--because my pride plays a huge role in this) but it is being seen as weak/wimp/inadequate/NOT capable--

5. I also have had my moments when I'm just down right ANGRY!

6. BUT, I also learned---I can be wherever--my hometown of small town, USA, a big city in the states or a foreign country and I can NOT escape the fate of this world. Evil exist here just as much as it exists in your neighborhood---in your life.

**I know I know, most people wouldn't tell this story. AND I don't tell you so you will feel sorry for me. I don't tell you so that YOU will hate Ecuador.
--I tell you for your prayers--for myself, for this place, and for this world.
--and to let you know/remind you--just in case you forgot that we live in a dark place--I don't mean Ecuador ONLY--I mean this world and by the looks of it---its ONLY getting darker.

BE a light.


Until next time,
Choose Joy,
Saved by grace,
Kb.