Unity is where it's at

Yo. So I've tutored almost every book of the Ruhi Sequence this past week. There's been an intensive going on at the Radio/Institute with 35 youth from Coupa, the Esmeraldas, and Guyaquil. I ran the evening programs (with my broken Spanish... it was, interesting) and tutored whenever I was needed. And I was needed a lot! This is all on top of teaching at the school everyday. YES SERVICE.

Anyway, it was loads of fun and I'm exhausted and maybe just maybe a tiny bit sick.

But.... HAPPY AYYAM-I-HA WORLD!!!! Missing my family, my William Sear's 'Happy Ayyam-i-ha' CD, decorating the house, waiting for the Ayyam-i-ha Bear to come around and hide my presents leaving clues, the love and joy from my parents/siblings, making new pockets, and just the spirit of Ayyam-i-ha!

However, this year is different in such a great, wonderful way. I get to celebrate Ayyam-i-ha with my family here. Tomorrow at school we're having a little program. They asked me to sing... so I'm singing with my student Julian who will pay the guitar and the piano to accompany me. The theme? Love and Unity. Here's the line up.

1. Blackbird - The Beatles. It's about the emancipation of African Americans. About how they would escape through black tunnels into the north to be free from the south. To me, it's an example of the world's yearn to be united. For all people's of the earth to live in harmony with out the superiorities and inferiorities of race, wealth, or knowledge.

2. Fidelity - Regina Spektor. It's a love song. It's about a girl who's taken so long to love, to fall in love. And she finally breaks her heart... not in the way that it's boo hoo probresita me broken, but broken of its protection, of her doubts, of her fears. She's finally opened her heart and has finally loved.

3. Amame - Leonor Dely. This is the Spanish version of the Hidden Word 'O Son of Man! Love Me that I may love thee, if thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee, know this o servant" by Baha'u'llah. For my friends out there who have no clue what a Hidden Word is or who Baha'u'llah is...  I'm a Baha'i. It's my religion, my faith. And Baha'u'llah taught this religion to the world, to us. The Hidden Words is a book of Baha'u'llah's writings, his advise, his Words. But the main purpose of the Baha'i Faith is to unify the world, to unify all peoples, all countries, all mankind. But this process of unity starts with love, love for every individual, for all peoples. But also, love for God. And that's what this Hidden Word is about. Love for God.

BAM. Let's hope my voice decides to stay despite the fact that I'm maybe just maybe a little sick. Don't freak Mom.

Coming to Ecuador was the best decision I've ever made

It's kinda depressing when the only emails you get in a day are mass-emails from your university's major advisor. Especially when you're not even technically in university. But that's ok. Because today was the English Spelling Bee and my student won! Represent woo

On a more thoughtful note...
Remember these posts?
Estaba enfermo
Alaska vs Arizona
Yeah, that was me wanting to go home.

And this is me wanting to stay here forever.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

I decided I wanted to go to South America during December of 2007. I remember feeling that deep longing in the root of my heart to go, to go, to go. To do it, to do it, to do it! It was so strong that sometimes I couldn't sleep. I'd fantasize about being here. Learning the language, being with new people, serving and doing something active with my beliefs. I don't think I've ever felt anything as strong as the pull, the longing, the wish to come here.

And guess what?
I did it.

More star wars

I LOVE IT. Dad, you will too. Click fo' mo'!

Volition

"All that which ye potentially possess can, however, be manifested only as result of your own volition." - Baha'u'llah

"It does not take much effort to swim in a river in the direction of the current, but to swim upstream is hard work. In the same way, it is easy to let things just happen, but to lead a noble life requires enormous effort and energy and, therefore, volition."

John Mayer - War of My Life

Mmm. Yes.

H2O & Heart Surgery

http://www.abc.net.au/science/lcs/heart.htm
I LOVE the heart. Seriously, FAVORITE LINK EVER.
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COOL. Found here

Like my name's Darth Vader

Thoughts

1. I'm excited for the Fast
2. I'm almost afraid to leave Ecuador
3. "Regard not thyself. Look to the Abhá Kingdom so that the confirmations may reach thee. Education requires absolute concentration and wholehearted commitment as to attract the divine confirmations. Do not consider the attraction of the divine bounty to be proportionate to your capabilities and talents. Rely upon the heaven of mercy and generosity and be confident. Be confident." - 'Abdú'l-Bahá. (thank you Shamzicle)
4. We've been toilet paper-less for two days now.
5. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALEB COX