Mini-Blog

So we finally made it as south as we planned. Arica Chile was not what I expected. Actually, I don't expect anything out of a new country anymore since I'm always wrong lol. Chile is the Costa Rica of South America. It was super nice, full of stores, and some pretty women (not as many as Costa Rica though lol).

We spent two days going around poor areas and visiting churches. We weren't approached by one opportunity. The poor area wasn't all that poor and the churches were all locked up or unreachable. We even visited a volunteer organization called a roof for my country and they too were closed. I wouldn't say Chile is TOO nice for our help, but I do feel God was leaving the doors closed there. If it were up to me I would definitely go back for a vacation or a birthday (Lucky Cory).

We are now on our way back to Peru where we feel our help could be used the most. Besides were going to be closer to Lima and that is the spot where we are flying home from. I love you all! See you November 14!

Oh ya we had a super long taxi ride so Cory, Elias, and I used our artistic skills to create a beautiful picture. Hopefully I can post it with this blog. I also endured my first earthquake today! It was a small one, but the first one nonetheless!

Jordan out!

 

The End is Near!

Only ten more days of our epic journey. Sorry but blogs have become a nuisance (or as Cory describes them "an unfortunate reality"??? he really said that lol). I am a little behind on events so I'll just touch up on stuff.

As needy as Pisco was, I absolutely loved our time there. We help build some rooms and a bathroom for a family who had been victim of the 2007 earthquake. I was really proud of the bathroom because it was the first major carpentry project of Cory and I. We did it with very little help and a lot of advice from Dan. Dan and Elias worked on the bunk beds doorways and roofing. I also single handedly built a closet. It was pretty sweet. OH!! I also drove a took took (a three wheeler taxi with a roof) and almost crashed it twice :). Our next stop was Ollantaytambo.

Here we were able to get a good deed out the way by buying groceriesand ice cream for a needy family with five kids. Of course we added a soccer ball to the deal because that's how we roll lol. Next stop.... MACHU PICHU.

Machu Pichu was the most incredible sight I have experienced on this trip. The surrounding mountains make you feel like your on a different planet and the Incan architecture blew my mind. The place was so huge we walked around for hours continually coming across new fascinating sights. There were also llamas which I immediately approached because let's face it, if I see a llama I am playing with it. Machu Pichu was a super exhausting but a once in a lifetime experience.

We are now heading to Chile where we will celebrate Cory's birthday (Nov 4) and finish up what God has planned for us.

 

Random highlights of the trip.

 

We met an awesome volunteer group named Pisco Sin Fronteras, or Pisco without borders,who do amazing projects for the Pisco community.

 

Dan and I got sick for a little.

 

I drank purple corn drink. It wasn't good.

 

I made three little friends. Angie, Sarit, and Rosa. I tought them the fist bump and the high five.

 

I missed halloween... I love dressing up :(

 

I went potty behind a rock a Machu Pichu (how many people can say they have claimed Machu Pichu the way I have lol)

 

I took a picture with a cooked guinea pig on the side of the road.

 

This trip has really changed my perspective towards these countries. I used to think of them as all the same and full of crime but that is so far from the truth. Every country is unique and full of hardworking people, Except Northern Peru lol. Northern Peru is the El Salvador of South America. SKETCHY.

 

I miss you all and I am getting homesick a little. I'll be home soon enough!

 

-Jordan Aboodi

Aloha, Loja

Cuenca Ecuador was pretty cool yet unproductive. As fun as it was we felt there were no doors opening after some failed attempts. No biggy! On to the next one. Loja here we come.

 

Loja appealed to us more than Cuenca and we weren't sure why. I'm assuming it was the busy city not the much prettier women ;). We got settled and met with our contact. She invited us to go out with her that night.

 

So next thing we know we are walking in a club packed with people RAGING. The smell of beer smoke and spanish music filled the air. We stayed for a solid 45 mins or so and got outta there.

 

The next morning we were off to visit an orphanage but ended up at a senior nursing home. Here is where we met the famous Sarah Riczker. She was a singer/actress/teacher/musician. Since Cory had to change his smelly smokey shirt from the night prior, Sarah noticed his shirt he had changed into right as we were leaving. This caught our attention so we came in her room. It's funny how that worked out.

 

So we entered the room and the first thing she asked was "do any of you you play guitar?" Uhh yah Sarah as we all point directly at Cory. She got her caretaker to grab her old guitar which was surprisingly in good condition. She requested the old rugged cross which we didn't remeber (but luckily Dan did) so he lead the way. We also sang Jesus paid it all for her which she recognized and joined in with us. This left her with tears of joy remembering her past.

 

We went out and bought groceries,flowers, and a large print bible for her as a good deed. We returned and she accepted Christ and became a Christian.  We stayed with her until they kicked us out. We wanted to give her company since she doesn't have any visitors ever. We also ordered her some glasses to go with her new bible :).

 

Her caretaker told us of a family in need and we went with her to meet them. It was three people living in one room. Mother, Daughter, and grandson. The mother has muscular distrophy and a bad eye. We got her medicine and groceries to last a good while.

 

It's like the childrens book "if you give a mouse a cookie." This book explains how one thing leads to another,then another, etc. etc. 

If we didn't go to the club cory wouldn't have changed his smokey shirt (he even told us before the events). If he didn't change his shirt we would've never met Sarah. If we never met Sarah we wouldn't have met her caretaker. If we never met her caretaker we wouldn't have met that needy family. If we hadn't met that family we would've missed out on two great deeds. Praise God!

 

Now I'm on a bus to Peru looking at beautiful scenery like always and listening to the new music Dan put on my phone( August Burns Red, Wicked soundtrack, Glee soundtrack, and..wait for it...RENT! Ha). I sure do hope Peruvian women are like the ones in Loja.. BLOG FIVE! (SLAP) yall better have blog fived

 

P.S. EJ bro bro keep doin you! I'll be back soon cousin. We got to chilllll.

 

-Jordan Aboodi

 

Quito Ecuadventure

I thought climbing a mountain and playing on the equator would have been as adventurous as we got in Ecuador. I was WRONG.

After a freak run in with a sales lady and some brief conversation, we were on our way to meet a pastor. This pastor offered to take us to see the indiginous villages in the amazon which was awesome. We handed out candy to the kids, played soccer with the local children, and we got to see the churches they have begun building. But all I saw was a mission opporunity so LISTEN UP!

 

Ecuador Paquisha Village mission

1.Construction is always a helpful labor during a mission trip. The people there are building two new churches. This would include small facilities including bathrooms, community prayer area (on a sweet hill lol), and childrens rooms.

2.Electricity! Basic electric work is not extremeley difficult. Me, Cory, and Elias have already become amateurs under Dan's guidance on this trip. This area is in desperate need of electric work. Since there are no rules with electric work in the Amazon, the opportunities are endless. They have electricity but don't know how to distribute it.

3. Photography Missions! If you don't find yourself a handy man or woman, this location is ideal for the photo missions we've talked about. From family portraits to fun polaroids for the kids, this is the perfect place.

4. The icing on the cake! Our host in Quito, Diego, is an eye doctor and he is wants  to join us if we go. He is willing to give free eye exams. (Uhhh yes please!) Since we know a website to get prescription glasses for 8 dollars a pop, we could make this actually happen.

5. The locals there are such great people. I believe a big part of this mission will be communicating with them and their children. A new friend can mean the world to somone. Also we can donate a variety of things to these people. They don't have much.

 

Now that you heard that, here are some fun things from Ecuador.

 

I got some fresh Che clothing ;)

 

I made a bunch of new children friends in the amazon with my free candy giving skills (not creepy at all lol)

 

Cory bought a guitar so small it should only be played in munchkinland.

 

Diego's dog's name is COOKIE. (Just like my kitty)

 

We climbed a second mountain. This mountain was wayy taller and had snow on top. I made a snow angel and threw some snow balls. That mountain made our trip"Epic Adventure" certified. It really was incredible.

 

We finally finished How I Met Your Mother season 5!! New episodes, here we come!

 

I miss you all! Keep reading and stay in touch Via Facebook (my phone doesn't work Spanish land LOL)

 

-Jordan Aboodi

I Think I'm In Love

I think I'm in love with South America. Once we began the journey in Colombia I instantly felt drawn towards the beautiful landscapes and wondrous culture. I was so stuck on never leaving Colombia because of it's greatness but I was so oblivious as to what South America had in store.

Our bus ride, although 30 hours, was such an amazing journey. Although it seems impossible, the nature around us seems to continue becoming bigger and better. We have come across mountain ranges so incredible that they seem to dwarf whatever mountains we saw in central america. Enough about this, on to the next on....ECUADOR

The border was freezing and no one knows why lol the temperature seemed cool or warm in Quito which felt amazing.  I'll tell you what's not amazing...waiting outside to get your passport stamped in that Antarctica of a border. I swear we could control our shivers.

Our host in Quito, Diego, is great! He has a great family provides us with amazing hospitality, and assists us on any travels in the area.  He even joined us on our most epic adventures of the trip. To start the day off he took us to mount Cruz Loma where we were lifted up near the top. The view was so amazing! I'm very seldom speechless but standing up there took the words right out of my mouth.  Me, Cory, and Elias ran ahead while Dan had some time to catch up talking with Diego. High altitude isn't so fun lol my walk up the mountain felt like the last stretch running a marathon. But reaching the almost basically top LOL totally worth it!

So after the mountain we still had some energy so we visited the center of the Earth!! What an amazing once in a lifetime experience. We were so eager to start taking silly pictures but we had to wait for some Ashley Sickle chicks to finish doing yoga and bridges on the equator LOL But once those popsickles left we went at it taking fun pictures. There's something liberating about being on to hemispheres at the same time ;)

The next day we woke up at 430 and left for Bano where we explored, shopped, and did a good deed for a group of single moms. We then took a bus to Puyo where we are now.

 

People I Miss: Mom, Dad, Alex Strachan(A-Strack), EJ (bro bro), Janna, An, Hector, Bobby, Moshua lol, Mason, MALLORY, Beka, Stephanie, Lauren, Jamie (fo sho!), JUAN PABLO!!, Ashlee, Zach Boon, VICTORIANGSTY!, Marissa(M-Clark), Joseph, Lynn (and the babies y'all come with), and AMELIA!

 

if you question why your on my list, It is because I've thought about you this trip and love you dearly.

 

I hope to write again soon. ALTO CINCO! Lol

BLOGota Colombia!!!!!

Where was I? It's been a while since I last blogged. I'll just begin with our entrance into Panama.

 

After our stupid long 14 hour bus ride we arrive in Panama at 3 in the morning. We decided to kill some time by watching How I Met Yuor Mother out front of the bus station next to an ATM. Needless to say we attracted a couple curious Pandamanians interested in our show lol.

 

We finally arrived to Perry and Nancy's home where we stayed for the time being in Panama. Perry is a missionary who has traveled to many countries doing God's work. Nancy is his wife who treated us above and beyond gresat during our stay. Thank you so much Nancy!!

We met and built relationships with a couple churches and missionaries. We even set up a computer lab for one of the churches which turned out pretty awesome :). Then after a little shopping at El Costo (the cheapest most awesome clothing/department store ever) we were prepared to move on out of there.

This is the moment I've been waiting for! And so has Elias lol. We hopped on a plane to Colombia.

Colombia is such an eye opener. The city is full of life and full of people. You arr constantly next to giant beautiful mountains that you are convinced are fake, but there not :). The souveniers are much nicer than other countries and the weather is cool thank God! I have been thouroughly impressed by this country so far. Tomorrow were going to try and meet with people and keep our eyes open for good deeds. Wish us luck!!

 

Throughout this entire journey there are details I missed, so here they are in brief.

 

The Diablo bus is the local city bus that turn into transportaion/nightclub at night lol oh ya blacklight and flickering lights all over ha.

 

We helped push a guys dead car and Dan was rewarded by getting bit on the ankle by a stray dog lol don't worry he's fine.

 

The water went out in all of Panama city. Then the very next day the power went out. I guess were bad luck? Lol

 

Me and Cory bought hand paddles and a sticky ball for a dollar. We put the paddles on hands, feet, face LOL dollar well spent.

 

SAFETY!

 

I got random baggage checked at the airport! Figures but they didn't have to take my new fishing scale... :( I was looking forward to weighing some fish!

 

Who woulda thought our hour flight was better than our Five hour spirit flight. We were fed a meal by some purdyyy flight attendents. And the airplane had radios. Awesome.

 

Colombian women are almost as pretty as Costa Rican women lol

 

I ate cow hoof meat today and it was disgusting lol

 

There are donkeys all around Bogota. They're actually kinda cute.

 

Colombian coffee is no joke... Amateur coffee drinkers, you've been warned.

 

That's about it.  I'll try to write more often Lauren!  Hey Mallory! This is a special shoutout for you! Special much ;) and Bobby your name has been mentioned the most one this trip. Thanx for your support. I miss and love you all!

-Jordan Aboodi

Nicar-Rica mi blog-sita

I am not a big fan of Nicaragua. It's.as hot as the volcanoes that surround it, it's quite dirty, and the people stare at you constantly. I did have a few observations though.

 First off, it is a country in need. Poverty is not an uncommon sight amongst these people. Almost everywhere we went, we were asked to spare cordobas (nica-currency) constantly.

 Secondly, on a good note, there are many great organizations we met with who have done some amazing things. One by one hosts an enormous youth group which consists of troubled teens who have gradually changed into good people because of the fun services one by one hosts. Life Link is an organization I am very fond of. They constructed a beautiful school campus in one of the more poor parts of town.  They already began school for pre k and kindergarten. The future plan for this group is to have kids into highschool attend. The lack of education is such a problem here. So it is amazing to see some people trying to make a difference in that aspect. Finally we packed up and boarding the Tica Bus for Costa Rica.

NINE HOURS LATER! We arrive in what appears to be spanish New York without any skyscrapers. We have now been here for two whole days and it has not stopped raining (not an exaggeration). We haven't gotten much done since it's raining all day, I've been super sick, and Dan has had an allergic reaction lol.  So Elias and I received our shots!!! And we did some souvenier shopping.

I don't know if yall know this but the women here are BEAUTIFUL. Everywhere we go we are just constantly surrounded by drop dead gorgeous women. I may never go home lol. I prolly missed a few key thing that have happened on our journey so I'll list them now.

We met a goofy korean dude who stayed with us cause he was scared to stay alone.

 

I saw iguanas and monkeys in Nicaragua!

 

I bought a fresh new pair of fake adidas which I used to step in a large mound of cow poo lol

 

We did a good deed at an orphanage with the most precious children.

 

We stayed at Pablos house. Good guy leaving us with a good story. Ask if you wanna hear it.

 

I gave cory a fresh haircut! Kinda gangsta lol but he wouldn't let me go full on gangsta wit it.

 

We met a nice doctor lady from denmark who we bought dinner.

 

The Costa Rican nurse who gave me my shots was, needless to say, very pretty ;)...

 

My new pick up line..."hola bonita, quieres recidencia americana? ;)"

I was trying to figure out a way to get a picture with this hot girl in the market, when Dan basically jumped out and took a pic of us. Nice.

 

I MISS AND LOVE YOU ALL!!!

-Jordan Aboodi

NicarBLOGua Arrival .)

First off I just want to let Janna The Boodi know this is a blog not an essay so I do what I want :). We made it back to Tegucigalpa after my last blog after that horrible bus ride lol. We were then approached by a taxi pimp just handing out drivers to people with money ha. This would have been simple enough but our taxi driver got lost on the way to Casa Bonita so we were approaching all these Hondurans (Hondurites? Lol) asking for directions. We finally made it there and it was a nice home occupied by 3 french gals and a pretty radical artist grafitti guy.  During our first meal with them he reassured our safety showing us how good he was at sharpening butcher knives by clanging them together in our faces lol.  The french ladies were difficult to communicate with due to language barriers.  This led Dan to break the silence with a french are sissies joke every time we stopped talking lol. He literally said about 10. Cory and I could not stop laughing causing the frenchies to hate americans like they were born to do lol. One of them even walked in on Dan calling the french wine drinking, cheese eating, berret wearing surrender monkeys hahaha thank God she didn't know great english lol. But truth be told they were great people who provided us with incredible hospitality and the best showers we've had on this trip. During our day off Elias dared me to take a picture with a cute honduras girl we saw in the mall which I did ;) and we witnessed a hurricane like storm that happened there. It was so extreme that the rain hurt if it touched you, the trees were about to get pulled out the ground, and sadly it took somones life down the road from us when a wall of the city's giant stadium  fell on him :(.

We finally crossed the Nicaraguan border! But I'm upset I didn't get a visa stamp for this country on my passport. We have many days of hard work in this country, so keep us in your prayers. A special thanx to Jamie (It's hard being on a trip with out you!), Hector (I miss you man!), Beka (you will always have a special place in my heart), EJ (your my bro bro and I still have your note in my bible that you wrote me before I left lol), Stephanie (You're the best accountability partner ever!), and Janna ( I love you sister! Thank you for all you've done!). Thanx guys for being faithful readers and commenters if I missed someone I'm sorry you know I love you.

I'll be calling you mom and dad, you better count on it!

-Jordan Aboodi

POGeye in the Amazing Autobus Adventura

Sooo it's been a few days so I have some ground to cover. Let's begin with the dreadful but necessary bus rides.

We woke up at 4 in Guatemala to catch a 530 bus, which was way too early but at least I got to listen to "superfreak" on the taxi ride there which led to some fun "bother Cory with my dance skills at 430 am" lol. Our bus didn't leave till like 1030am because the AC wasnt fixed which was dumb because I feel they didn't fix it because i was sweating for the entire never ending bus ride to Honduras lol. As much as I hate these bus rides they provide me the opportunity to read some more of "The Shack." (awesome book so far) Since our delay in the morning our bus ended up in the projects of Honduras at 1230 am!! We had to walk to a hotel and were called gringos from the o so pleasant drunk locals lol. Now hear me out about this hotel... Our A/C was a fan, it was super tiny, our bed sheets looked grody, and there was a family of cockroaches who attacked me for entering "their" bathroom lol needless to say I murked the boldest one who climbed up my leg lol. That was the worst hotel...EVER!

The next day we woke just in time to catch a 4.5 hour bus ride which meant more reading but 4.5 hours of harrasement from underage goody saleschildren, crazy ladies screaming about God and getting no where with it lol, and adults selling medicine or the same items as the kids ha. We arrived in Esperanza where we found a not so ghetto hotel where we dropped our stuff and went exploring. We seemed to accomplish nothin due to long bus rides or failed meetings. Once hope was being lost we came across a pastor who ran a church in a rundown part of town. He invited us to his church Sunday and allowed us to help prepare and serve the children because the children make up most of the congregation. I have to say God was definetly present there.  As poor of an area they are in they still have a full band, a full choir, choreographed dancers, and a church full of children and adults worshiping God.  We were so pleased with the church's attitude and how genuine they were we made them our first good deed by providing their children with a months worth of food.  We built a relatioship and exchanged info then they drove us back to the hotel. Today was successfull and rewarding :).  We then got some lunch and were interrupted by a drunk who suprisingly was the only dude we came across in Honduras who knew English lol we were just about to buy him lunch when he overstayed his welcome and started to annoy us. Some random big guy came in the the hole in the wall restraunt grabbed the drunk pulled him outside and gave him a falcon punch and sent him on his way lol.  We finally checked out the hotel and caught the bus for another 4.5 hour ride back to town.  Which led to more reading and writing this blog with a bunch of bootys in my face from the people standing on the bus lol I hope they don't fart! Haha I will try to write more blogs so they are not so lengthy lo siento.  I miss MUD.  I miss my family. I miss my kitties. LOVE LOVE LOVE

-Jordan Aboodi

Jordan's first GuateBLOGa :)

We made it! This trip has definitely turned real. The plane ride went smoothly
con no problemas. We chatted with a couple backpacking hotties going to the same
area we were.They intend to be much more adventurous than us but whatever.lol.
We are now at a hostel where they are accommodating all our needs. Our first day
was spent walking around Guatemala City getting used to their way of life. BTW
if you wish to rob a store here prepare to be greeted by a security guard
holding either an AK-47 or a shotgun lol. Sooo since I feel completely safe with
the military driving everywhere with their guns we continued on. Today we
celebrated the Guatemalan Independence day which was super lively. The festival
had live music, Guatemalan handcrafts sold, and the creepiest clowns I have ever
seen (no LOL there). Afterward we traveled on a rickety school bus called a
"Chicken Bus" (they call it that because people board it with chickens haha) in
order to go to Antigua. Antigua is a very touristy spot where you can purchase
crafts, food, headphones, and universal remote controls. I guess there is a
remote control drought in these parts lol. There were some bootlegged items I
would've bought but I have no room :( . Shopping is the worst thing to do if you
are a backpacker.
We made it to the hostel safely and we are about to check out the nightlife.
Don't worry if I get robbed I have a spare wallet full of Disney tickets and a
note saying "you are a stupid robber who gets nothing for your actions." I hope
you continue reading. I promise we will keep writing. I miss MUD. I miss my
family. I miss my kitties :( . Thanks for reading!!!!!
-Jordan Aboodi