My squad left Ecuador about a month ago, I have been processing my time spent in Ecuador and what has come out of it. This has been a season of my life I couldn’t have ever prepared for or known what was to come. I’ve been preparing this blog for a long time, and honestly, there aren’t words I can put together to fully explain my time in Ecuador. So instead, here are some sentences to describe moments that made it was it was.
I arrived in Ecuador with hopes and dreams; wanting to seek God and show people who He is at the same time.
I met people whose stories made me reevaluate how I see my own.
I saw God’s joy and love from underage girls who were sold into sex trafficking and raped dozens of times a night, yet still have such a strong faith in God.
I played soccer in the middle of a cloud in the cold with people of very different skill levels, yet still everyone had a smile on their face.
I lived in a two-level house and compared it to the houses in the United States, but then saw the neighbor family of 8 people living in a 20 ft shipping container.
I dug holes in the ground for a week to make space to lay concrete, and even with my bleeding hands with blisters I found joy and laughter the whole time.
I hiked up a mountain at 9 pm in the rain with three of my squamates, tented on top of the mountain at a steep angle, then went down the mountain in the morning to make one of my favorite days on the race.
I celebrated my birthday with a scavenger hunt leading to a party with treats and dancing at night.
I watched a 13 and 15 year old take care of their babies, trying to put my 7th-grade self in their place.
I worked on building a shed with workers who only spoke Spanish and would teach us how to use tools and build things. The same workers who at the end of the day would stay back with me in the woodshed and help me make things out of wood that would be gifts for my teammates.
I experienced expectations being crushed over and over again, but in the end, learned there can be fruit from anything.
I longed for a hug from my mom so bad it hurt my heart.
I spent most mornings reading my Bible (Genesis and Exodus), learning about God’s heart and his want for reconciliation with his people
I danced and laughed with my squad, filled with joy from the Father.
I ziplined through the rainforest, surrounded by the mountains and the beauty of Ecuador.
I went back to our house after ministry covered in dirt and mud day after day, yet still every day had to make the choice to continue on every morning.
I kayaked on one of the top 5 most dangerous lakes to swim in the world, yet blown away by the amazing views and the remembrance of home.
I hiked down a volcano to find one of the most beautiful hostels I’ve ever seen.
I helped lift cut-out walls from a shipping container onto a roof, then had to walk on unstable wood planks on the roof to put them in place.
I felt a longing to go and be able to talk to the people of Ecuador, but because of covid wasn’t able to leave our ministry at all.
I swam in a man-made pond that’s probably questionable to swim in.
I complained as I ate soup twice a day every day, then met people who rarely have enough food for one meal a day.
I found joy in learning how to use so many different tools, not caring about all the marks I would get on my hands from using them.
I went hiking, swimming in waterfalls, climbing on buildings, and playing sports; the whole time missing my brother knowing how much he’d love doing that.
I showed so many people a picture of my cat that they memorized her name and what was in the picture.
I slept on the floor in a room with 12 people for weeks, honestly loving the feeling of never being alone.
I struggled with hearing about conflict in the United States, knowing that’s my home and I’m so far away feeling so powerless.
I watched as my community of people constantly surrounded someone when they needed help with prayer and listening ears.
I cried as 3 of the people I love the most left Ecuador and the race to return to the United States, not knowing how I would go on without them.
I looked forward to Guatemala, having new hopes and dreams that would redeem a lot of Ecuador for me.
I left, appreciating my time in Ecuador and hoping the day comes where I can return for a longer period of time.
I am excited for one more month on the race here in Guatemala and what God is going to do through me and my squad. Living on the mission field is something I have fallen in love with, and I can’t wait to make the most of this next month. With the intent of being present and feeling the inability to put my thoughts into words, I’ve struggled to write blogs these past four months. However, I know what I’m seeing and experiencing shouldn’t be kept to myself, and because of that, I am committed to writing or sharing more blogs this final month.
Thank you all for your continual support and prayers, and I hope to see you all soon this summer.
Love, Abby
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