The Mountains Declare…
Oh, how the heavens declare His glory (Psalm 19:1)! Never have I seen a vista quite like this. Our hostal is situated in a neighborhood a few hundred feet above Quito, Ecuador at about 8,600 feet. Some clouds are above us, some are at eye level, and some are below us. I still cannot decide if Quito is more beautiful by day or by night… By day, there is a 100% panorama of the Andes mountains. By night, we look out upon the entire city, lit up in corridors of flickering yellow light.
In addition to a visual treat here, we get a physical one, too (enter sarcasm). We hike up and down “hills” (a euphemism – we are in the mountains) a few times daily. But forget about tired legs – catching our breath is the real challenge at this altitude! Tomorrow is our day off, and some teammates and I plan to climb Pichincha, an active volcano encasing the city (weather permitting, of course). Hopefully the hill outside our hostal gets a little easier after that. 
Here in Ecuador the colors are vibrant, the smells are concentrated (another euphemism), and the coffee is much less frequent than I’d hoped. The food, however, is great! Today our pastor’s wife rolled out the royal treatment for our team after church. Monica is widely known for her cooking, and her Ecuadorian ceviche did not disappoint! In fact, I may have left a little piece of my heart at their house.
(^street food)
That said, I still ended up sick my first week here (one never knows from what food or water…). My teammate and I spent the last day of our first week in the hospital, but we are fine now (praise God for a full recovery!). Not all of our squadmates can say the same, though. I cannot share details online, but our squad really needs prayer in this area. The Enemy has been really attacking through physical illness.
Ecuador is a place of great juxtaposition. It is one of the Lord’s most richly painted canvases spotted by man’s acute poverty in every direction. No home or business is without an 8’ concrete wall topped with barbed wire or an electric fence. Stray dogs, tons of trash, fires, gaping manholes, and electricity cables tied in knots/hanging down to the street (it’s a wonder electricity arrives to homes here) are all things you would see if you joined us on one of our daily hikes. Fun Fact: The government triples the cost of electricity from 6pm – 6am, when people need it most. Therefore, we must live much of life around these restrictions!
Ecuador has been on the USD ever since a major economic crisis in 2000, so it is a bit more expensive than I was anticipating. Nevertheless, we live on a food budget of $4/day. Most days it is easy because our ministry site provides all 3 meals, but on off days I must admit I’ve dipped into my spending money a few times already to enjoy a whole meal to myself!
My very favorite thing about Ecuador (OK – maybe a tie for the beauty and inspiration I find here), though, is the people! They are so friendly and open here!! Everyone is willing to help, talk, smile, or all of the above. Striking up a conversation with the person next to you on the bus will most certainly result in an invitation to something. I have never been to a country or place with more heartfelt, genuinely open and kind people. I confess they make me want to stay a little longer. Or maybe I just need to bring some of that light and hospitality back home with me!
Quito itself lies about 15 miles south of the Equator, but the altitude gives the air a briskness that is oh-so-refreshing! Standing outside for longer than 5 minutes, however, will definitely result in some lasting color. Even with the beautiful weather, it wasn’t until the fourth day that the sky cleared up enough to see the tallest, snowcapped mountains of the Andes. Previously, we couldn’t even tell that anything was covered up by clouds. Suddenly seeing something so awesome whilst struggling with being so distant from relationships made me meditate on His sovereignty, remembering this verse: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts,” (Isaiah 55:9). Just like He chose when to reveal the full beauty of the mountains to us, He also chooses when to reveal the fullness of His glory in all things. And with His ways being so much higher than my own, what would I do besides continue to trust in Him? After all, He has led me here…
As for ministry, we have two assignments this month: In the mornings we work with Camp Hope, a ministry for children with disabilities, and in the afternoons we teach an English class for a local evangelical church. With travel, we are gone typically from 8:30am – 8 pm. It is a long day, but so great!! I will describe both of our ministries in detail in another post. They are just too incredible to be crunched in here.
I can’t believe it’s ALREADY and ONLY been two weeks since I’ve left the States! I will be sad to leave Ecuador. These pictures do not do it justice, but I hope you can get just a taste of the joy that this city has already brought me!
Hasta pronto!
B
