Sunday, June 25, 2017
The Ecuador Journals #6
On some mornings, very rarely, the skies up here in the mountains are an almost crystal clear shade of blue. On days like this, if you’re in the right spot, you can see the peaks of mountains and snow-capped volcanoes. But every day isn’t like this; on most days the peaks are covered by clouds, but the beauty of the landscape is not lost.
While on vacation in Baños, I noticed a wisdom tooth peeking out from the back of my mouth. “Crap, not again”, I thought. I had had one removed before, and while the procedure as a whole was not unpleasant, I dreaded having needles around me and in mouth all over again.
I prayed so hard that it would just grow comfortably but I knew from my previous visit to the dentist that my mouth was at full capacity. It wasn’t taking any more visitors. So when it started to hurt unbearably, I figured it was time to let a dentist in on the fun.
The clouds in my skies started to get dark. I would have to get not one but 3 of my teeth removed here in Ecuador.
Before the procedure started, my mind was already full of the million and one ways this entire thing could be an inconvenience. If you’ve had a wisdom tooth pulled before, you’ll know recovery is worse than the actual procedure. On the first night, I cried myself to sleep from the pain. 
But instead of dwelling on the discomfort, [this was hard], I thought of the near future, the next 7-8 days when I’d be mostly healed; it’s by keeping my mind here that I’ve been able to get through the past few days in good spirits.
The genuine care everyone has shown me in this time, and the simple presence of food to eat and water to drink reminded me that even with clouds, the landscape of life remains beautiful.
So this is a gentle reminder, -not just to myself but to you reading this right now- that everything has its season, and quite honestly, nothing lasts forever.
Highlights of the week.
This weekend, we are on a cultural excursion to Mindo (The Cloud Forest). If I didn’t already mention, the amount of traveling we have been fortunate to do so far has been overwhelming for me [in a good way]. I never thought I’d see this much of Ecuador in my time here. For this, I’m both ecstatic + grateful!.
As always,
thank you for reading
All photos shot and edited on iPhone 6S+
Same footprints, different sands
Same Footprints 