The first thing I learned upon arriving in Quito is how beautiful the city is. And that was at night. When I woke up the next morning and saw the mountains in the daylight, I learned they were even more beautiful than I thought. And guess what, the learning hasn’t stopped since then. In fact, I think I’ve learned a hundred new things every day since being here.
I’ve learned that one day in Ecuador feels like a year, but one week here feels like a minute.
I’ve learned how to brace my feet and hold on to the bus so I don’t fly into the person ahead of me when it stops.
I’ve learned that there are more bakeries here than I’ve ever seen in my entire life, and that no matter how many I eat, I’ll never grow tired of fifty cent chocolate pastries.
I’ve learned that no matter where I put my shoes outside, I’ll always forget where they are the next morning when I’m searching through the squads hundred pairs of shoes.
I’ve learned that a day of ministry might look like singing “head, shoulders, knees, and toes” and “the hockey pokey” more times than I can count at an elementary school to help the kids learn english.
I’ve learned that staying in one lane while driving isn’t really a thing, our bus drivers can be younger than me, and cars and busses can drive within centimeters of each other without ever hitting each other.
I’ve learned that it’s really hard to go more than an hour without seeing a dog, they are literally everywhere.
I’ve learned that coffee and ice cream shops bring us joy times a million.
I’ve learned that when I say my name is Jacee, many people think I mean JC, and then tell me that it means Jaun Carlos in Ecuador — and my teammates now call me Jaun.
I’ve learned how quickly speaking Spanish has come back to me after the summer and how happy it makes someone when you say hello and good afternoon in their language.
I’ve learned that I’ll never be able to walk past the pizza shop and fruit store without seeing someone from our squad already there buying some food.
I’ve learned that the most amazing conversations can come from sitting on the ground and sharpening colored pencils for two hours.
I’ve learned how obsessed world racers are with peanut butter, and that a day off can consist of going with your teammates to get their nose pierced and holding a friends hand while they get a tattoo.
I’ve learned the confidence that comes with understanding the bus route to ministry and being able to get there without staring out the window to make sure you pass two bridges, a red tractor, and a zebra rock.
I’ve learned that washing dishes can be the funniest part of the day, and that cooking a meal with a teammate might very well start a dance party in the kitchen.
I’ve learned how fun watercoloring can be, even if you’ve never done it before and just end up with a few colorful blobs of paint on a piece of paper.
I’ve learned I’ll never get tired of watching the city lights turn on in the valley every night, and spend way too much time looking up at the stars.
I’ve learned that jaywalking is a pretty common thing, and I’ve done it more than I ever thought I would — friends back home will laugh at this because I’ve been left across the street more times than I can count when we hang out because I hate breaking the rules 🙂
I’ve learned (kinda) how to get up and down from the top bunk in the dark without making a complete fool of myself, how to sleep while other people are talking, and how much fun it is to share a room with eight other girls.
I’ve learned that it’s okay to not always be downstairs playing games and laughing with everyone in the squad, and that taking quite moments in our room can actually start really good conversations and friendships with people I didn’t know that well before.
I’ve learned that squeezing into a bunkbed for a movie night with a new friend is hilarious and oh so fun.
I’ve learned that the altitude can get ya walking up a hill and that a sunny afternoon can turn dark and rainy real quick only to be sunny again fifteen minutes later.
I’ve learned how contagious a child’s joy can be and how extremely fast a group of forty kids can scramble up a play set to race down the slide, and how quick you have to be to catch them before they all jump down the fireman’s pole.
I’ve learned a lot of silly little things and have had a ton of fun, but I’ve also learned how much these little moments can mean to someone.
I’ve learned how important every little act is, whether that be at ministry or at home, and that holding a towel to dry someones hands with a kind smile and hello before serving them a warm meal can change their day.
I’ve learned how much the presence of God can show up in the little things – like waving to a stranger on the street, or smiling at someone on the bus.
I’ve learned that the generosity of God’s people is the same everywhere in the world, and our Ministry hosts are amazing examples of what living a life of God’s love looks like.
I’ve learned that worshipping with other followers of Christ, whether as a squad at home or with some teammates under the stars, or in another language at ministry, can change your attitude for the entire day.
I’ve learned that waking up in order to spend time with the Lord before breakfast brings more peace than anything else you could be doing.
I’ve learned that a time of feedback with our team can be hard, but the result of redirecting each other back toward who God means us to be is more rewarding than you could ever imagine.
I’ve learned how chaotic but oh so fun living with a group this big can be, and how much love and joy each person holds inside them.
I’ve learned that God’s love is more infinite than you can imagine and that the key to sticking together as a team is to keep on showing that love to each other.
I’ve learned how eye opening it is to start at the beginning of the bible and take the time to re-learn God, and that there are so many new things about him you discover along the way.
I’ve learned that our God sees us where we are, and that no matter what happens, his plan is never to hurt us and always to love us as his children.
I’ve learned that vulnerably and honesty are the keys to a healthy community.
I’ve learned that I don’t have to be the one to fix everything, and something as simple as organizing a box of pasta in the basement or washing some oranges in the kitchen can make serving a meal to those in need go more smoothly.
I’ve learned that even when they don’t have much food, or clothes, or even a roof over their heads, these kids and their families know how to love better than most people I know, including myself.
I’ve learned, I am learning, and I will learn again.
I’ve learned that I’m never going to stop learning.
And most of all I’ve learned that there’s no way I’d rather live this life than by learning it over and over again.
