Ecuador

In slightly less than 24 hours, we’ll be back in Nashville again.  We’ll end this journey exactly the way we started.  Parents and families, be prepared.  I have a slight word of warning for all of you before we get home tomorrow night.

The students you dropped off in the wee hours of morning just 10 days ago are not the students you’ll be picking up tomorrow night.  Chances are good that they will all look very different.  They’re all slightly more tan, with a few bug bites and some bruises.  Their hands are a little dry and calloused from all the hard work.  They might have some blisters from all the hours on their feet.  They’ll be really tired and ready to sleep in their own beds.  But those are not the only changes you’ll see.  There will be those that you start to notice tomorrow and the day after.  Their hearts are different.  And since our attitudes are a reflection of our hearts, you can plan on those being changed too.

The experiences we had as a church family on mission for Jesus Christ in Ecuador have made us different.  Many have expressed a heartfelt desire to know God better and pursue him more.  We were challenged with the Pslamist words this week, “as the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs for you” and asked whether or not we really longed for God that much.  After some unbelievable vulnerability, many came to the conclusion that the answer in their own life, at least in practice is, “no, I don’t want God that much…but I want to!”  WOW!  Words to a youth pastor’s heart!  We were also challenged this week to live life on mission, not just the occasional week each summer.  Many heard God’s call to be on mission with their lives, to live a life of giving and going.  Stacie Ballard, one of our leaders, asked in a late night church devotion if anyone has was hearing a word from God to be on mission again.  You should have seen the hands.  Get ready parents.  Your students are going to ask to go again…and when they do, they expect a yes!  They have heard the voice of God. The trips are going to be longer, more expensive, and require more, but they’ve heard the call and I’m not sure anything can stop them!

These kids won’t be the same ones you said goodbye to a week ago.  Their different.  I can’t wait for you to notice.  My prayer now is that the life-change will last and that we’ll continue to see fruit in the lives of this Ecuador team.  My hunch is that we will!

See you tomorrow night.  In case you don’t recognize us, we’ll be the ones bearing the light of Christ in our eyes.  Tired as they may be, you’ll still catch the glimpse!

Ecuador…A WHOLE NEW WORLD (a variety show skit)! When we arrived at Camp Chacauco i met twins named Molly and Mamie from Mississippi. Mamie ended up being in my track group, so throughout the week we became really close and she became my camp best friend. One morning in worship she got a text saying that her “grandmother” had passed away from leukemia so my track group and our church prayed for them. Our sight was the school Emilio Teran, which was closest to the town that worshiped satan. While we were there i helped teach a bible study and we painted a wall and made a mural. I also met two little girls (diana,9 and veronica,11) and by the end of the week i led them to Christ. This week was so amazing and it definintly changed my life. I cant wait to go on another mission trip!

Well last day of being in Ecuador so time for a blog. The site I got the privilage of working at was called La Paz and was about 35 min outside of the camp. Alex Derry and I were incharge of leading music for the kids. We taught the songs to the kids in English and Spanish. It was really incredible to spend time with them. As soon as we got off the bus, they would come running out of their classrooms and literally drag us to the ground. All they wanted most of the time was to be picked up and swung around in circles. You could really see the hope and love that the kids had when you looked into their eyes. At camp Chacauco, the Holy Spirit could be felt moving through the heart of me and my fellow campers. Yesterday, we traveled to the hot springs that were 11,000 feet up on top of a volcano! It was a once in a lifetime experience that was sooooooo relaxing. After that we went to this four story mall that was more expensive then any place I have been. Its unreal to go from the poverty that can be seen everywhere in the city to a high end mall with astronomical prices. Today we went to this Flea market type place in Otavalo and shopped around for a few hours, ate lunch, then took a boat ride on a lake. The lake just so happened to be on top of another volcano and in certain places, you could see the bubbles coming up from below. Anyway, were all back at the hotel about to eat dinner and getting packed up for heading home. God moved through all of us on this trip and has left us all with renewed hearts and spirits. I missed everyone back home and cant wait to see everyone! Love to all!

This week has really taught me to be thankful for what I have. At my site, Hausimpamba, one of the people in my group said how gross it was that all the kids were sharing cups. The translator said that in Ecuador they aren’t spoiled like us in America. That really made me think how spoiled we are and how much we take for granted. While in Hausimpamba, I taught “musica” to the kids. Needless to say, I now know many Spanish songs. I was really put out of my comfort zone, but it turned out to be a good thing. We had with us translators on site. A guy named Robert and a girl named Lucia are truely amazing people. I saw their love for Christ in everything they did. They are such cool people. Yesterday was our last day at site. It was very sad to leave all the kids. Also, last night was closing celebration at camp Chaucauco. Some churches left last night, some are leaving in about 20 minutes, like us. I still don’t have all my stuff with me yet becauase Nic made me blog. (Which I did want to.) I’m sad this camp week is over, but excited as we travel to the hot springs today and see more of God’s wonderful creation. We don’t have moutains like this at home. I will miss it so much.  I’m really grateful to have gotten the oppurtunity to come to Ecuador.

First I would like to thank God and everyone who helped to make this opportunity possible . I have to say this week has been amazing.  So many things were accomplished and done for the glory of God . I am so blessed to be on this trip with such an amazing group of people . Through the week I was able to get to know so many people better and hear about their life and how God is working through them . I was so blessed to have a great mission site group ,so many awesome things occurred all week . To get to our site we would ride on truck beds. This was crazy because we would ride down mountainous dirt roads making every slight turn seem like a fatal move. Once we arrived we would sing, play , and just hang out with our new little friends, and the schedule continued with painting and remodeling this run-down school.  Well, on this blog I will share what God has done today at our last day of camp . Today we were able just to love on the kids for awhile it was such a great feeling just talking and sharing with these kids . The sweetest thing happened during this time , a girl that I was able to befriended earlier on in the week invited me over to her house to share her fruit that they just harvested . The people in this area are mainly farmers and the way they make their profit to live is by selling the fruit in the local market , this means they were giving me not only what they had but also a piece of their financial means . Once I arrived I was pleased to meet her mother.  She is a small woman with calloused hands from working the land for so many years. I gave her many thanks for the honor of receiving two full baskets of fruits ! I was astonished with the generosity she had to supply us with such a great gift . After talking for awhile we later found out that her son just passed away two weeks ago. This affected me even more.  Even in a time of despair like this she made time to bring all that she had to us . The only thing we could do at this time to help this sweet woman  was to pray over her, and just give her pain up to God . It was definately a heart touching moment , praise God for all these great opportunities and times here !

Adrianno

From Jump Roping, playing Frisbee, and even playing “futbol”; or as we know it, Soccer : ). This is the view in our eyes of Ecuador! I, Alexis,  visited a day care where a little boy decided the bathroom was off the balcony, and we saw a Golden Shower. Our usual location is at a local school called Sucre with about three-hundred kids. We have been working on painting the walls around the buildings and teaching bible study lessons to kids from the ages of five to sixteen. One of the sixteen year olds decided to accept Christ today. These kids love to take pictures and see them on the screen of the cameras and point themselves out. Chloe and I have made best friends, and they’re sisters named Ruth and Allison. Many of the sites have a perfect view of the many Volcanoes, which one of them had a Mini Eruption and blew ash to Brooke, and many camp sites. Tomorrow will be a one-and-only day, not only will we have to say Goodbye to the adorable kids, but I will be tasting Guinea Pig for the first time, and last time! Hey, how many times do you come to Ecuador??

Love you Ma, Dad, Chel, and Tier!!

NOW, here’s Brooke.

Well hello there! Brooke here with the daily blog. So my experience so far has been ups and downs. the first few days were just relaxation and fun times. As you have probably already read, we spent our first days in Quito, Ecuador. It was AMAZING in my opinion . At my site, we have up to 75 children, by which I am thankful for because of bonding and communication. So I have been given the wonderful privilege of cleaning some of the bathroom. If you want some entertainment, I stepped on human feces…poop. HUMAN POOP!!!! EWW MUCH!?  But Any Who. We have been painting and playing with children every day, the school that I am at is called San Raphael Bajo. The children are the most beautiful children i have every seen in my life. They are so loving and kind you just want to take them all home with you. My morning started out bad then got better and better as the day went on. the children waiting for us when we get off the bus made my smile. well  people are getting mad at me because i am taking so long to finnish blogging. so i guess i am done now. IM SO HAPPY TO BE IN ECUADOR. But also quite home sick. I love you mommy and kelsey and Mikey. Miss you all…. btw Ma tell me mann i said heyy and i miss him hahhahaha love you!!!

Hi Rolling Hills.  We have a very special prayer request today.  Matt and Lindy Glass are two of our closest friends.  In fact, they are the godparents to Lillie Cate and Nora Blake.  They accompanied Susan and I on our first trip to Ecuacor in 2005 and even served on the M-Fuge staff here for several summers.  They are special people to us.  They are expecting their first child, Macie Ryan Glass…due July 17th.  Lindy has been hospitalized for preeclempsia and low platelets.  Macie is fine and the doctors would like for Lindy to wait at least two more weeks before delivery.  She is in the hospital on a special diet and complete bed rest until then.  Please pray a special prayer for them, for patience and peace, as they trust God.

We had a great night last night in the town of Banos.  Students got to shop in a street market, visit an old Catholic Basilica, and we had a worship service in the town square before heading back to camp late last night.  We have several students signed up to blog later today.  Can’t wait to share more about this phenomenal God-experience here in Ecuador.

Love,

Nic and Susan

This morning as we woke up today we were able to see the towering volcano at sunrise. It was our first day of bible studies and the first day at our site, Quichebana. The bible study was about Moses and the burning bush and how God wanted him to lead the Isrealites out of Egypt. Our site is just outside of the town of Patate. The school was just a four room school house and a bathroom. When we first arrived the students had a welcome ceremony for us. It began with the students dancing and singing. Then the  Principal, parents, and students told us how excited they are for us to be here. Then we had VBS for the students. We did craft, bible study, and rec. Afterwards we started to paints walls and soon we will paint murals. After I got done painting what I needed to some kids brought me down to their soccer field. I was basically an empt lot filled with gravel, trash, and broken glass with palets stood up to serve as goal posts. After running for a few seconds it felt like I had just sprinted a mile because of the high altitude. I am amazed about how we can connect, love, and minister to the children even though our culture, race, and languages are totally different. I am glad God gave me this opportunity.

WIll Carlson

Hey guys!!  It’s Kim!  Well, we are having a WONDERFUL time in Ecuador.  Not only is the landscape beautiful, the people are beautiful.  And it’s beautiful to see all our students working together for the common goal of sharing the love and gift of Christ Jesus.  Today was our first day one site.  I was at Quichibana with Will and Kelli.  For those of you that would find this funny….Kelli and Will are in charge of leading music.  Why is this funny you may ask?  1.  These two individuals would not claim singing as one of their gifts nor would anyone who hears them sing.  2.  Neither of them speak spanish.  Luckily, we have interpereters and kids don’t care about pitch.  I had the opportunity of teaching the bible story today.  Today we did the parable of the lost sheep.  All of the kids got to act it out and make sheep noises.  FYI….sheep here say “mmmeeeehhh” instead of “baaaa.”  The children were wonderful and gave us all hugs and kisses.  We also got to repair the local school.  All together, a very successful day.

I continue to be humbled by the people of Ecuador.  As we arrived, the teacher, students and parents showed more love to us than we thought possible.  It’s funny that we all come here to make a difference while the people here truly make the most difference in us.  I am humbled at the way the students and parents showed up to help us paint their school this afternoon.  I am humbled by the fact that there is no hindrance at the language barrier by the Ecuadorian people.  They want to love.  And we want to show them the love of Jesus.  We want to wear Christ well this week.

So just in case you’re wondering about the mountain scaling exercise, let me set the record straight.  I did indeed make the multiple-mile trek up the mountain.  En route, the thought occurred to me how many calories I just might be burning.  So, without thinking, I uttered the phrase, “I better be getting skinnier after all this!”  I’ve actually had that thought multiple times throughout the course of this adventure.  Whether climbing to the top of a cathedral’s bell tower, toting way too much luggage from place to place, running mega-relay like a 14 year old, scaling a mountain, or giving my all on site, I’ve secretly hoped for God to multiply my caloric burn!  It’s no secret that I could stand to lose more than a few lbs.  My doctor gave me a little more than the 3rd degree during my last physical.  So, maybe after all the work this week (and the more disciplined diet), I might just return home with slightly less of me than I came here with. That’s true on more than just one level.

One of things we have been moved toward here at camp is shedding unnecessary stuff in life.  Being effective missionaries for Christ means more than just going.  It means being prepared to go and even before that prepared to hear the call to go in the first place.  The biggest barrier we face to going is “US” and all the stuff in our lives.  Today I’m asking myself what I need to do in order to be better follower, a better pastor, a better husband, a better day, and a better representative of Jesus Christ this side of heaven.  I’m really hoping I get skinnier on this trip…in more ways than one!

Actually, Kelli, we weren’t THAT far behind on the mountain scaling exercise.  We just stopped to take a few photos and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation!

Love you Kelli.  Glad you are here!

Stacie and Alex