A few summer pictures

KIM FLORES!!!

Dear Friends,

So much has happened since my last official update in April! As you know, the most exciting thing that has happened was my marriage to Pablo on July 10^th! Friends and my family came down to Quito the week before and we had a tourist week together. We went sightseeing in the city, shopping at the market, to the jungle, and to the middle of the earth equator museum. We had a lot of fun. The day before our wedding it was pouring down rain. Our wedding was outside. Many people prayed and God opened up the sky and blessed us with not only beautiful weather, but also a rainbow and sunset in the evening. For the ceremony, Pablo and I wrote our own vows. We both could not stop crying. It was a very blessed moment that I will never forget. At the reception, we had a lot of fun dancing with our friends and celebrating together. Our wedding was a dream come true. We are amazed at how God brought us together and has had His hand upon our lives. For our honeymoon, Pablo and I went to a resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. It was also a dream come true…all-inclusive, white sand, turquoise waters…beautiful. We had a wonderful time there.

On July 22^nd we traveled to Gig Harbor and were there for 1 month. It was great to see many of you! We spent a lot of time on the water this summer. Pablo went swimming in a lake, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and tubing all for his first time this summer. We had a lot of fun building memories together. We went to a Mariners game with my family and spent time in Seattle with friends. We also celebrated our marriage with close friends and family. On August 15^th Pablo and I spoke for our first time together at Fox Island Alliance Church. I was so happy to not have to be up there by myself anymore! We shared about Mount of Olives Christian School in Santos Pamba and how Pablo will be involved in the ministry now. Check out the Santos Pamba blog for more information: www.santospamba.blogspot.com This week we are meeting with Pastor Pedro Pablo to organize last minute details for this school year and plan together.

Our time in Gig Harbor went by way too fast! We returned to Quito on Saturday night. This week we have been busy setting up our house together. We bought a bed and have been moving Pablo’s things in (we are living in my apartment for now). Pablo began classes in the University today. He is a sophomore and studying Contemporary Music. Tomorrow I am going to go to my classroom and start getting ready for the year. It will be strange to have a new name- Mrs. Flores! The students come on September 2^nd.

Please join us in prayer for the following:

Please pray that Pablo and I will adjust easily to married life, building routines together, and learning how to best love and serve each other. Pray that Christ will always be the center of our marriage.

Pray for my beginning of the school year- that God will help me be the best teacher for the students that are in my class this year and that they will learn to love Him.

For Pablo’s school year to go well.

Thank you so much for your love, prayers, and support! We are loving being married! May God bless you.

Love,

Kim and Pablo Flores

P.S. Praise God- my back does not hurt anymore! Thank you for praying. I am now in pilates class to strengthen the muscles.

April Update

Dear Friends,

Anita’s baby was born on April 6^th and is healthy. Thanks for praying for her. He is almost a month old now and growing more each day.

My mom was here for 3 weeks and we had a wonderful time together. One day we went with Pablo’s brother and his family to visit a crater lake named Quicocha and went on a boat ride. It was a beautiful day. My mom and I were able to celebrate Easter together for the first time in 5 years! Pablo and I invited some of our friends over and they were very excited to have an American Easter meal. My mom did a wonderful job and the food was delicious as always.

A couple of days we were able to visit Santos Pamba and spend time with the children. We observed how the Breakfast Program was going and saw how much the children appreciate the breakfast they get to eat each morning. Before they ate Pastor Pedro Pablo prayed with them and it was precious to hear them thank God for providing for them. I loved having my mom there and that she was able to spend time with the children that I love dearly.

As you know, while my mom was here, we got in another car accident. We were in a taxi and it went through a stop sign! Praise God we are both fine now. I am back to going to physical therapy every week, but do not have any more pain now. Thank you for praying! I have decided to walk everywhere now if it is possible! No more cars for me for a while. Please continue to pray for my recovery and that my fear of getting in cars will go away. Thank you.

My mom and I were also able to go visit her World Vision sponsored girl one day, which was a wonderful experience. This was my third time visiting her. She lives in a village, high up in the mountains, about 3 hours from Quito. We had a wonderful day with her and didn’t want to leave! (see picture above)

When we weren’t gone on outings, my mom spent time in my classroom at Alliance. My students loved having their teacher’s mom there. One day I was sick and she got to sub for me! They loved having her read aloud to them and receiving more 1-on-1 attention. I loved having her there too!

My mom, Pablo, and I got a lot of wedding planning done while she was here. It was a productive time and we feel blessed that she was able to be here with us and help us. Please continue to pray for Pablo and I as we continue in premarital counseling and preparing for the most important decision of our lives. We are getting excited!

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. May God bless you all! Stay in touch!

Anita's Baby Shower

Playing a game to see who can guess how many
centimeters around is her baby belly using toilet paper!

Their son will be named Angel Gabriel Sevilla.

March Update

Dear Friends,
Thank you for praying for back! I have been able to work full-time now for the past month. I do not have pain anymore, and only have to go to the doctor every 2 weeks! Now I am working on strengthening the muscles in my lower back by going to pilates twice a week. Thank you for praying for my recovery.

Pablo and I have been busy wedding planning. My mom will be here on Monday and I'm excited to be able to plan things with her. :)

On Monday Pablo and I are going to begin premarital counseling. Please pray that it will be a productive and helpful time for us. Please pray that we will be able to keep our focus on Him during this busy planning time. We are looking forward to it. We will be meeting with a pastor and his wife, who is a counselor.

Things at Santos Pamba are going well- check out my blog: www.santospamba.blogspot.com for more details and pictures :) Last Saturday I hosted a baby shower for Anita, the 2nd grade teacher. It was a true cultural experience. The shower was to begin at 4pm.....guest arrived at 6pm. They ate everything I had on the table and didn't leave until late! Anita's baby is due this week! See pictures above.

On Thursday night a group from Fox Island Alliance Church arrived. Tonight I will be spending time with them. It is so refreshing to have people from "home" here. On Wednesday they will be going to Santos Pamba with me and I'm very excited to show them what God's been doing!

Thank you for your continued prayers. I feel them! May God bless you. I will write more soon.

Praising God!

First of all, thank you to everyone for praying for my back. I am getting better! My new physical therapist is wonderful. In 8 sessions my pain has decreased and my muscles have relaxed. Now I am just doing daily back exercises and going to physically therapy once or twice a week. My lower back is weak and starts to ache after standing for long periods of time, so I am working on strengthening it. The past two weeks I only worked half days. This week I am going to try going back to work full-time. I hope I can make it. I miss my students! Please continue to pray for my recovery.

Speaking of my students, I have a HUGE PRAISE! On Friday morning, 2 of my students accepted Christ with me during Bible class!! It brings tears to my eyes just writing this news. They are students who come from non-Christian families. We have been learning about Jesus and how He died on the cross for us and He wants to be our best friend. My class was very excited when these 2 boys shared that they asked Jesus into their hearts and one boy said to me, “Miss Hughes, God and the angels are having a big party right now because they have 2 new friends!”…. precious. What an honor to serve the Lord here and share His love to others. This is why I am here in Ecuador and why they Lord placed specific children in my classroom. May I be an example of Christ to them daily. Please pray for Fernando and Erik as they begin their new relationship with Jesus and that God will give me wisdom as how to guide them.

During my time at home, I have been working on things for Santos Pamba. We are almost finished with a new website for the school. We also worked on a budget for the rest of the year, and much more. See my Santos Pamba blog for more exciting updates: www.santospamba.blogspot.com

Pablo and I have been busy wedding planning. We found the place where we are going to get married and are now working on scheduling meetings with photographers, florists, musicians, etc. It’s a lot of work planning a wedding and even more when you combine two cultures. Please pray for us that we won’t get stressed and will remember to celebrate during this exciting time of our lives. Thank you! Also pray for us as we do premarital counseling, that God will bless our times together.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support. I appreciate each of you! May God continue to bless you. Keep in touch!

Back in Ecuador

I had a wonderful time at home with family and friends. It was great to have Pablo at home with me again, and to celebrate our engagement with family and friends. I was able to do some wedding planning, and also fundraising for Santos Pamba Christian School. However, on December 26th we were in a car accident and taken to the ER! Pablo got whiplash and I sprained my neck and back. We stayed at home after that and recuperated. I started physical therapy, which I have continued here in Quito. I am still in pain and have not been able to work. My lower back has been too painful to go back to school and teach. I have been stuck at home and resting. I have been reading a lot and wedding planning, which is keeping me busy. I am also working on finishing up my online masters class. Pablo has been taking good care of me- even going grocery shopping for me! Friends have been visiting me everyday, which has been encouraging. It has been stressful leaving my class with a substitute for so long, but I know I need to focus on recovering.

Going to the doctor here has been quite a cultural experience for me. I was going to the hospital close to my house for physical therapy. My physical therapist was seeing 4 patients at the same time as me! It was very frustrating. I changed physical therapists this week because I felt she wasn't giving me quality care. I am very happy with my new physical therapist. She is encouraging and told me that in 10 sessions I should be feeling better! She is using different techniques and I can tell that my muscles are starting to relax more. I am hopeful! Please pray for me. I am hoping I can return to at least working half days next week. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for your prayers!