After a very long plane ride to Ecuador from the States, we arrive around 11 pm. As my squad loads up on the buses we head to Casa Blanca, our new home for the next month. We are shown around our two story, white stucco home nestled away 9000 feet above sea level (yes, breathing is extremely hard) in the Andes Mountains. When we first walk in we are greeted by our hosts Mabe and Fabi (a super adorable married couple). They show us to our team rooms. My team is staying in a 7×14 square foot room with four bunk beds lined up against both sides of the walls. It’s a tight squeeze, but I cannot imagine being anywhere else. I am absolutely grateful to stay inside such a beautiful house. My squad is so blessed. After my team unloads their bags, we have a quick meeting downstairs to go over the three house rules:
1. No toilet paper in the toilet
2. Eat ALL your food
3. Quiet hours are at 10 pm (which sucks).
Simple right? Of course, somehow I managed to break two of the rules the following day. :(((((((((( For breakfast, we are given cereal, juice and bread. Me being the champ I am, I ate everything I was given. Feeling proud as I walk to the kitchen, our host Fabi grabs my bowl and asks me “WHAT IS THIS”. I look inside the bowl to see a spoonful of milk at the bottom of it. I look up at him, and before I could do anything, he was spoon feeding me he last bit of milk. I was a red tomato, completely filled with embarrassment. For real though. But that day, I learned what eating ALLLLL your food really means.
The second rule I managed to break (an hour following) was during potty time. Yeah, I dropped the toilet paper in the toilet….so yes, I fished it out with my bare hands. But don’t worry! I quickly learned to NEVER do that again. My stay at Casa Blanca has been amazing and I couldn’t ask for a better home away from home while I’m serving the Lord and his beautifully crafted people.
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good. deeds. and praise your father in heaven” Matthew 5:14-16
