Ecuador Update- Part 1
Our trip began on February 26. After a long, long day of travel, we arrived in Quito very late on and were greeted with smiles and fresh empanadas by our hosts!
On Friday, Jorjito, Jose, and Dianny led us in orientation where we got thinking about our purpose and intentions as missionaries and learned more about Ecuador. Afterwards, we ventured around Quito Old Town where we took turns carrying a massive jug of water, learned about history, and got a glimpse of everyday life in the city. From the subway to the streets, we traveled as locals do and reflected on the cultural differences we noticed. Throughout the day, we were stunned by ornate churches, including the Basilica del Voto Nacional and the Quito Metropolitan Cathedral, and delicious food, like Bolon and fresh juice at lunch! Later, we returned to our hostel where we had an empanada cooking class from a staff member’s mother!
We spent Saturday morning on the bus and saw Cotopaxi in the distance! Our first stop was Otavalo, a small town with an artisan indigenous market. We split up and shopped for a while, buying colorful clothing, art, jewelry, and embroidered linens. Next, we headed further into the countryside to Carmen Bajo Church’s camp in the mountains. After a delicious lunch, where we heard a staff member’s testimony, we were introduced to the teenagers at the camp. We played games together and eventually all took a hike to a gorgeous clearing next to an alpine stream. There, we spent time splashing in the freezing water, playing soccer, taking turns on a giant swing, and hearing people recite their memory verses of the weekend. After returning to the camp, we worshiped together and heard more stories from both the leaders and from Holden! The camp’s theme was “Tu Identidad in Cristo” (Your Identity in Christ), and many of us needed to hear the message that we are loved, accepted, capable, valued, and forgiven just as much as the campers. As the day wound down and the sun set over the valley and shining lake, we enjoyed dinner together. The finale of our wonderful day was a quintessential camp activity… a bonfire… with s’mores of course!
We woke up Sunday morning at Rose Cottage, a hostel in the mountains that was more beautiful than words can describe. Some early-birds watched the sun rise and enjoyed their coffee in the fresh mountain air. We returned to the camp where an obstacle course was waiting for us, and we joined teams of students and spent the morning crawling through tires and jumping through hoops! Then, we piled onto the bus with the students and all rode together to the lake. We were encouraged to sit next to Ecuadorians, and despite the language barrier, some people were able to have meaningful conversations and build connections with the kids. At the lake, we took a boat ride, swung on another big swing over the water, and got into a few splashing fights! Back at the camp, Ethan led everyone in worship to “Cuan Grande es Dios” (How Great is our God) and after lunch and packing up, all the campers and our group took the bus back to Quito for church at Carmen Bajo. We walked in during worship and were greeted warmly by the congregation. Ethan had the privilege of preaching while Josué translated, and the students got to share with the church about their experiences at camp.
Overall, our first weekend consisted of lots of driving, but the views out the window were so magnificent that it didn’t seem long at all. We were challenged to be flexible, not knowing where we were going or when we would leave, and the freedom of surrendering to someone else’s schedule was a blessing for many of us. We had to face social anxiety when spending time with so many new people, especially with the language barrier, and it was very humbling. Most importantly, we learned that the gospel has been present in Ecuador for a long time. A key theme of the weekend was the openness of the Ecuadorians in both their hospitality and their willingness to share their stories, giving us a glimpse of how much God is working in their lives and communities.
-Ellen
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