We arrived to Ecuador in the evening of the 8th and got settled in. The next day we did logistical things and got sim cards for the team phones but the day stayed pretty chill. The next day, our second full day of being in Ecuador we went to the center of the world!
We visited the equator at the highest point on the equator. This trip taught us so much about Ecuador, we went to the “smaller” center of the world which was cheaper and included a tour! The other center was the touristy one and had a large monument at it and that was about it.
Like I said, we learned so much about Ecuador. We were shown different experiments that show various things about the equator. One of the experiments was the water draining: on the equator it flowed straight down, and to the north of the equator it flowed to the left and in the south to the right. Obviously we have all heard the jokes about toilets going the other way below the equator, but I thought that was just a joke! There were other experiments but that’s not the point of this blog!
During our tour we got to know some of the people around us. We shared what we were doing in Ecuador with some of them. It’s always so cool to have people know what the World Race is when we share it, and that is exactly what happened.
After we were done with our tour I was in line talking with Anna about budgeting our expenses. I told her about how I do not have enough saved to even afford my student loan payments over the course of this year. It’s caused me to have to trust God a lot but that was not the point of the conversation. I was just complaining.
A few seconds later the couple we had met during our tour came out of the store and asked about our fundraising and asked if we were all fully funded. Whitney was in front of me and said yes but I shook my head no and said I wasn’t worried because I know it will come in because God knows where the funds are. Immediately Jerry pulled out his wallet and handed me a $20. He said it’s just a small acorn from his oak tree.
God loves to remind us of His sovereignty! He caught me in my complaining and through that acorn reminded me that He will get me through all of this!
I had, and still have, no doubt in my mind that God will have me fully funded before the deadline at the end of April. But, God wanted me to know that even with fundraising He will also provide for the little things: money for laundry, public restroom, the use of wifi, medications, transportation etc. Those things are not included in our AIM fundraising.
If you have been following my blog for a while or just know me then you know God has brought me through many times of causing me to rely on Him. I know I cannot get through these 11 months without Him.
Thank you so much to all of you who have supported me this far! Thank you Jerry for being used by God to remind me that He will take care of all of my needs!
