What does the first two weeks as a World Racer look like?
Well, for me, it took the form of a long layover, crashing into my bed at 1am after rambling through the Ecuadorian customs department late at night, and getting settled in our ministry.
The morning after our plane touched down on the country that would be our home for the next three months, I had an opportunity to see the beautiful house that we have been blessed to live in the first month we are in Ecuador. The girls have beds and rooms to stay in (the boys are tenting outside, thanks MOGs!), two incredible hosts named Mabe and Fabi to cook for us, running water, and a place to do laundry! My entire squad and I are living and working with an organization called Inka-link. They have provided each team (of which there are eight) with an incredible ministry in the Quito area.
My team and I are working with a church called La Luz in the Carapungo district of Quito. We spent the first week handing out flyers to those in the nearby streets that advertise the English classes we began teaching on the 17th. As we wandered the streets uttering the words “La clases de ingles”, we tried to make conversation with our broken Spanish. However, this did not come easily. Although we were simply advertising for English classes, this was also our ministry. We knew that we had to make room for the holy spirit so that we could teach people more than how to speak conversional English. As important as the knowledge of a new language is, which could be life-changing for some, it is no secret that the understanding of Christ’s love for us is far greater and much more lasting. This charge placed on my team to go make disciples through teaching english has been and will be a huge challenge for us given the clear language barrier. Thankfully, we have a savior that speaks into every language and every heart. And he has gone before my team and I so that our ministry can be fruitful, even if we do not get to reap the harvest.
As we began to teach these classes, we were met with people from all walks of life. There were children who were eager to learn a new language, and English teachers wanting to improve there conversational skills. We split up the people into three groups: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Because I don’t speak much Spanish, yet have a Spanish dictionary by my side, I was placed with the intermediate group with my friend, Robbie, and our Spanish speaking squad leader, Eryn. In the first day, we realized that the curriculum that was planned for us wasn’t clicking well with most of the students. This led to improvisation and coming up with new curriculum on the spot. We ended up teaching our class the body parts and clothing. Seeing as most of the intermediate group was made up of children ages 8-14, singing Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes was the perfect way to teach these excited kids. As the week went on, I learned how to prepare curriculum that would keep them engaged. This included playing games where I would call out a word in Spanish and they would have to run and whoever got to me first and said the word would get a point, playing freeze dance, or teaching them the oh-so-classic Church Clap dance.
For our first month on the field, my entire squad will be living together in one house. That means 54 young people attempting to eat, sleep, shower, etc. in one space. Needless to say, it is insane. It is nearly impossible to have any time to be in silence or be alone. However, as challenging as this is at times, I have come to see beauty in the madness. I have already learned to appreciate times of peace and quiet like never before. I have learned how to manage my time so that I can participate in and enjoy the spontaneous dance parties and singing that takes place in the living room frequently. I have learned to identify spiritual warfare taking place in myself and others and how to minister through that. What began as noisy and crowded living room, has been transformed into a place of worship where a group of people has been turned into a Church. Now, in the mornings, the living room is filled with silence in which people can peacefully dig into the Word. In the evenings, the room that was calm earlier in the day, is filled with laughter, singing, and dancing.
The bold transition from relaxed to sporadic outbursts of joy perfectly illustrates the gospel. God is lovely, just, and good. But he is also courageous, and loud, with an abundance of joy and mercy that he desires to pour out on his people. He is as bold as he is humble. He is as much the lion as he is the lamb. To think, we have the ability to worship the one who is called The Almighty just the same as we do the one who is called Immanuel, God With Us, is more than an honor.
I am so thankful that I get to serve our Heavenly Father by doing simple things like handing out flyers and teaching english classes. May his glory be seen and his humble heart be shared with the nations.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- My team and I know our ministry for the next two months!
In early November, we will be headed to a coastal town called Porteviejo in western Ecuador. Here, we will be continuing our work with Inka-link by ministering to garbage dump workers, children in the area, and whatever else the Lord has for us in Porteviejo through a local church. - I really like Ecuadorian soups
- Quito is at an elevation of 9000+ feet (courtesy of the Andes mountains). Because of this, breathing is much harder than normal! The walk to our bus stop which includes an average sized hill has a tendency to induce heavy breathing. My team and I often find ourselves laughing about how we are senselessly out of breath at things that would normally take no toll.
Prayer Requests
- There are a good number of my squamates who are not fully funded yet. Please be in prayer that the Lord leads peoples hearts to donate!
- The elevation change as well as the close living quarters has caused myself and others to have raging allergies. Sneezes and coughs are spread throughout the house pretty frequently.
- Please pray for the hearts of those we are going to meet in Portaviejo and that they are ready to receive the message we are bringing.
