A Picture is worth a thousand words. Although, I may not be able to tell you all one thousand of them, I want to share with you the stories behind a few of my favorite photos that have taken by myself or those around me thus far on the World Race: Gap Year.
Here we go!
The entire month of October, I walked down this bumpy road in Quito, Ecuador every single day. I walked here to get to ministry, church, stores, and many more places. This road was my connection to the community in which I tried to be a part of. This road brought me to places where I could get to know the people of Quito that the Lord brought into my path. Some days I prayed on this road. Others, I simply enjoyed the company of my team by singing and dancing while walking up or down the hill that took my breath away (sometimes, literally). This road brought me closer to places with wifi that allowed me to connect with my loved ones back home so that I could let them know what God is doing in my life. Overall, this dirt path that I walked up and down everyday for a month became a familiar place to seek God and hear his voice.
This photo was taken on one of my favorite nights while I was in Quito. I had the opportunity to go to “Fiesta de la Luz” or “Party of the Lights” one Sunday evening. This festival takes place every few years in a different city each time. This year, it just so happened to be in Quito! It took place in Old Town, which is the historic district of the city. This evening was full of crowded buses, music, and of course, lights! There were lights pulsing with color along with the beat of the music. There were people of all ages and backgrounds there to celebrate culture and enjoy the light heartedness that comes with Fiesta de la Luz. At one point in the evening, I was able to dance and sing to Bohemian Rhapsody amidst all the lights and sounds of the city with my dear friends who tagged along for the ride. As we shouted the lyrics and twirled to the music, I made the decision to fall in love with the World Race. I know, it sounds like something that should happen naturally. But a lot of times, its not. That night I decided that no matter life threw at me while on the race, I would learn to love it and to choose joy through it. Making that conscious thought to really go all in and experience everything I can while on this journey has carried me farther than I could ask or imagine and has allowed the Lord to breath life into me that I did not know I needed. This incredibly fun festival turned out to be more than just a thing I did while in Quito. Rather, it was a check point that I needed to reach in order for me to make the World Race be what the Lord wants it to be for myself and the people I reach.
My squad and I had the privilege of going to the City of Baños for a week of debrief and reflection over the first month of life on the race at the beginning of November. While in Baños, I was able to go to “The Swing Off the Edge of the Earth”. This fantastic tourist destination turned out to be a swing that goes over a grassy knoll. However, if the camera is angled, the result can be an incredible shot of a person swinging off of what looks like a cliff with a volcano in the background. Unfortunately, the day I was able to go was a cloudy and rainy one. Which is why this photo does not include a piping volcano or the gorgeous mountain view that this place usually offers those in attendance. But despite the bad weather, I had such a good time going to this spot with some members of my squad. We were able to laugh, take funny photos, get to know our taxi driver, and enjoy one another’s company. I encourage you to look up other photos of this location because many of them are super cool and really show just how magnificent God’s creation is.
Yes. This is what it looks like. We are sitting in a truck full of balloons. I’ll explain.
My team and I came to the coastal city of Portoviejo on the 7th of November. We began ministry the very next day and by Saturday were prepared for whatever they had to throw at us next. In this case, what was next was a “Jesus March”. This event was essentially a parade of the believers in Portoviejo walking through the city sharking Jesus with people! So my group and I decorated a truck with posters, balloons, and other crafty items. However, on the way to the event, my friends and I were faced with the challenge of holding the balloons (which were tied together with strings) inside the moving truck. This meant reaching for the loose balloons, pulling them back in the truck, and laughing when we failed to catch them. For the record, we only lost 5.
These photos took place at one of our ministry settings. Every Friday night we get to go play soccer with the people in our church’s college group. This fun atmosphere is one I get to watch and cheer for as the guys on my team play alongside the Ecuadorians who have been playing football their entire lives. I grow in community with the college group as we cheer for the pastor. I get to make new friends and learn how to do that despite language barriers. This place has been one of excitement, fun, and love as my teammates and I build relationships here.
This exciting move to Portaviejo has taken us to awesome ministry opportunities such as working in a garbage dump (WHAT?!!!). Thats right. In Portoviejo, there is a garbage dump. Here, people not only work, but they also live. They have built houses inside the garbage dump because they can’t afford to pay for transportation to and from work. Therefore, we minister to the children and families living there by playing with them, singing with them, and loving on them. The children in the small neighborhood are some of the sweetest most joyful kids. The girl in this photo is named Erica. She is so loving and caring for her and her family. She loves having her hair braided, being picked up and spun around as many times as possible until I get too dizzy, and climbing trees to get the fruit hanging from them. It has been such a privilege to work with her and the other awesome kids at the garbage dump thus far. Along with the garbage dump ministry, we work in the local hospital by organizing papers, moving boxes, and taking inventory on supplies. Because of the earthquake that took place this past April, they have received a lot of relief supplies. There are boxes upon boxes of donations from everywhere around the United States. My team and I have been organizing boxes and counting supplies.
**If you like this style of blogging please let me know and I can do more like this**
ANNOUNCEMENTS
I have some sad news 🙁 While at debrief in Baños, our squad received some heartbreaking news that has effected my team greatly. My friend, teammate, and Sister in Christ, Megan, had to go home before we left to go to Portaviejo. We miss her so much and are having to adjust to life on the field without her, but we wish her all the best as she explores what the Lord has in store for her at home.
