...How do you try to explain an overseas adventure to someone? I've been trying to answer this questions for several weeks now. People ask me how my trip was, how the food was, what the bathrooms were like (by the way, never ask someone that..it's wierd) and lots of other types of questions and I'm still at a loss as to answer them. They say "tell me" and I have no idea where to begin. I cannot ever hope to be able to fully put those ten days in Ecuador into words but I can try to explain bits & pieces of the things that really impacted me.
CHURCH-We were blessed to have the opportunity to come alongside many ministries in Ecuador. We attended a church in Pifo on Sunday and then did work projects and ran a Vacation Bible School during the week. On Sunday I was fascinated by the church service. The church building was very simple-just a big room with a stage-and so different than my own church. Yet I've never seen people worship like the Ecuadorians. Their songs to Jesus were so pure and honest. They were truly in love with their Savior. This only became more evident to us throughout the week as we continued working with these same people. They were so dedicated to the church and the people in it. The church was not only a staple in the community, but it was a family to the people in it. They came together to help each other and you could see the close bond between everyone. It reminded me so much of the church in Acts...everyone sharing what they had and being a community. We also got the chance to do our VBS program in two other more rural locations. One was in a community center in a farming village in the mountains. The other was held in a side of a house in a very very poor area. This one shocked me the most. There was a tin roof, dirt floors and half the wall was constructed of plastic bags, just to keep the rain out. We somehow fit about 50 kids in and ran our VBS program! We held games in a horse pasture and crafts were in the yard, right next to the pigs. I absolutely fell in love with it. Later that night, the missionary we were working with made a comment that that "church" was more like the church of the world than my church was. I forgot that most Christians don't get the opportunity to worship in a nice building with a cafe and bookstore like me. Many times it's in a setting like we had experienced there. Their church is truly about PEOPLE, not the silly things we tend to dwell on like sound systems and carmel lattes. Those things aren't bad as long as we don't loose sight of what is important. They are all about doing life together and pushing each other towards Christ. Theirs is the kind of church that God wants...one that loves people and loves Him. It was so inspiring to see people like that!
CULTURE-I'm in love. I've always known that cultures have interested me and I knew I would enjoy it but I didn't realize how much. I adored being able to get a taste of what it's like to live there. To speak Spanish everyday. To see women with bushels of wheat on their backs. To see street performers in Quito. To eat their food (guinea pig isn't as bad as it sounds).To hear their beautiful music. Every new discovery was exciting! On our last day we went to the Mitad del Mundo (Equator) and there was a shopping plaza there where we got to go souvineer shopping. At one point I stepped outside of the shop I was in with my friends and just watched. There was a group playing Ecuadorian music in the center of the plaza and people were walking around. They wore different clothes, spoke Spanish, many probably living in brick houses. It was so different than my life. I loved it and drank it in for as long as I could. Something in me draws me to different cultures. Each one is so unique and beautiful. The Ecuadorian culture was no exception and I loved it!
PEOPLE-I can honestly say I've never been so touched as I was by the hearts of the Ecuadorian people. They were the most loving, accepting, and greatful people I've ever met. When we first came into their church they were constantly coming up to us and shaking our hands, kissing our cheeks, or trying to use broken English to welcome us and show their gratitude for us being there. They put up with our Spanish the entire week and would help us without teasing (that we saw, at least!) The first VBS we did was at the house of a lady named Sonia. She had began a program every week for people in the community. After the VBS, she invited us back to her home for dinner....not an easy thing to do for 22 people. But she and her husband were sooo hospitable to us! The children were so loving. Many times, I had little girls run up to me and just climb in my lap or grab my hand.We would talk like old friends until they had to go home, but not before they would kiss my cheeks and give me a big hug. One time a little girl had climbed up into my arms and we were having a nice little chat and I asked what her favorite part of VBS was. She said (in Spanish) that her favorite part was being there with me. I thought I was going to melt. One day while we were painting outside, two little boys came and talked with me as I worked. We talked about my life in the U.S. and our families and what they wanted to be when they grew up. They just sat and chatted with me for a while then they wanted to help me! We had so much fun working together and talking. Although it was so simple, that was one of my favorite memories from the whole trip. The hardest part of the week was saying goodbye to those sweet people. After our last day of work in the church in Pifo we went to their sanctuary and the pastor began to speak. He told us how we were now a part of their family and their doors would always be open to us. They gave each of us a beautiful leather clock with the name of our church and their church-a gift that we knew they couldn't afford. They presented us with a plaque with a Spanish bible verse to bring back to our church. In reality, we hadn't done anything amazing. Sure, we took down a few walls and painted a kitchen and some other things but it wasn't anything lifechanging. Yet, they were sooo greatful towards us. We were all moved to tears by their kind hearts. They thanked all of us so many times! Although we thought we had said goodbye, that night a group of ten people from the church suprised us by coming to our apartment (an hour away) to play us some traditional Ecuadorian music as a thank you. We had soooo much fun listening to the beautiful music. We sang Amazing Grace in two different languages. It was so perfect. Again, we were so moved that they spent the time to come and play for us. We felt like we had a new family in them and it was hard to say goodbye. Their loving hearts towards us and God had such a huge impact on me that week!
CHALLENGES-I was totally out of my comfort zone in Ecuador. None of my close friends were going on that trip and it was my first missions trip without my best friend. Not only that, but they were just coming back from their trip when I was leaving so I barely got to talk to them the week before I left. So I was way out of my element. I had also been put in charge of doing music before we left and I was so nervous. It continually pushed me out of my comfort zone because I hate being in front of people!! The first day we were there I was told we were going to sing in front of 300-400 people in church the next day. Scaredoutofmymind. Although I was constantly being challenged with that, I can see now how it was a good thing. God revealed Himself to me so much. I no longer had a friend to text or even to talk to when I was upset or had something to say... now I had to pray about it and tell my Best Friend. I felt very lonely sometimes but I began to realize how I wasn't alone at all..He wanted me to tell Him EVERYTHING. I also had the opportunity to praise God using some....talents? I would never be the one to volunteer myself to do music but somehow it worked out I was the only one who could play acoustic guitar. It was cool to see how God used my very small musical abilites to get what He needed done. One moment sticks out in my mind...as we were singing in church that first Sunday I had a surreal moment. It hit me what I was doing. Playing guitar in front of a large crowd in another country, leading my group in singing a worship song to God. The words hit me differently that time I sang it "
So take me as you find me, all my fears and failures. Fill my life again. I give my life to follow everything I believe in, now I surrender. Savior, He can move the mountains, My God is mighty to save, He is mighty save. Forever, author of salvation, He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave." I realized that if I gave God everything I had, my strengths & my weaknesses, He would use it to glorify Him. That's a pretty cool promise if you ask me.
So what did I learn? I learned alot.
I learned that God can do extraordinary things throught ordinary people. I met so many people throughout the week that were doing amazing things for God. Pastor Jose in the dump ministry was making a huge impact on the lives of people that live in some of the worst situations possible. He is not only helping their physical needs, but showing them how to fulfill their spiritual needs through Jesus. Pastor Jose is not highly educated or come from a wonderful, easy lifestyle, yet he is changing these people's lives. We also heard the story of how Extreme Response (the missions agency we went with) was started. The missionaries had started a small ministry in the dumps and decided to throw a Christmas party for the people that lived there. They had planned for 300 people and 600 people ended up coming. As they served food they realized they would soon run out...but they never did and they even had ten gallons left over. If that's not a miracle I don't know what is. I found out later that both of those missionaries had graduated from a high school in my school district. They lived in the same city I do. They were probably alot like me and God used them to be a part of something like that and now they are impacting literally thousands of people worldwide through Extreme Response.
I learned that God loves it when I have to fully depend on Him. Although it was really hard being away from my friends and family, I found out what it means to depend on God. To tell Him what's on my mind and turn to Him when I'm lonely. I also saw it in the Ecuadorian people and how they relied on Him so greatly. They needed Him to provide for their church and for their own needs. Through that, they fall deeper in love with Him. Even though that can be a very scary place to be, when we depend on God for everything we can see who He really is.
I learned that God loves culture even more than I do. He made the Ecuadorian culture the way it is. He made the hearts of the people there. He crafted all of it just perfectly and it glorifies Him. We sang Open the Eyes of my Heart in Spanish and English...it was such a beautiful moment. Both of our languages praising the same Lord. I'm pretty sure I could feel God smiling during that song :)
My experience in Ecuador was so much different than I ever expected. It was not the easiest trip I've ever been on but my eyes were opened so much. I know the people there impacted me so much more than I ever impacted them. I believe that God worked things out just the way He wanted them to be. Like I said before, I can't put this trip into words.
My heart was changed by the people of Ecuador and through seeing God work. When you get a chance to see what God is doing around the world, it will totally change your life. I'm so thankful I got the opporunity to go to Ecuador!
