Hi everyone!! i am here!!
Sorry for my long lost absence- but i have many answers that i hope are helpful!
where are you?
i am in the capital of ecuador- quito!
where are you staying?
I’m at a host family’s home with the organization Incalink. the couple Mabe and Fabi have a big home to house all 42 of us, and are some of the most loving and caring people.
is it like camping?
this first stop God allowed an easy transition with how nice where we are staying. The casa blanca house has laundry rooms, bunk beds, SHOWERS and was so easy to become home. so yes this was a big luxury compared to what i was expecting first stop!!!
what are you actually doing?
these next two months me and my team are assigned to a day care/center/school for the disabled called Camp Hope. it is for children and adults ranging from 3-30 years old. there are about 80 participants total and specifically i have been in a room with about 10 teenagers with cerebral palsy. i get to help with feeding, physical therapy excercices, play time, and helping the staff at Camp Hope in anyway that is needed that day.
how often do you do^ ministry?
my team of 8 girls and I walk every morning to Camp Hope from 9:15-3:30, monday- friday!
how do you like ministry?
working with the people that i do, i feel myself forming bonds and making the place home. it definitely has its challenges emotionally and physically playing with and being with these kids, but man. They bring so much joy and hope to my day and remind me that what we all need in life to be happy is very little. it is all about our heart.
Talking with the “tia’s” (name of the women workers at camp hope- spanish for aunt) that work there has been so inspiring to know their stories as to why they work there. Even though it is difficult, the love they have for the kids conquers all soreness and smelliness at the end of the day- whether from being spit on or having to help the students walk around and workout up and downstairs. They have so much patience, gentleness, and love that has been only the best example to follow.
how do you get around?
we are placed so delightfully close to a bus terminal, so if a store is not walking distance we are super able to take the bus anywhere around quito for a QUARTER per bus ride. (so no, i do not miss paying for gas..)
can you drink water??????
YES. mom and dad i am safe. haha. the water in quito is the cleanest in ecuador. i have been able to drink the tap water with no problems at all 🙂
whats the weather like?
quito is so weird, too. the best way to describe it is that in one day, all of the seasons are experienced.
in the morning is a warm spring time,
the afternoon a blazing summer,
the evening a nice autumn with a cool breeze,
and the evening is winter in Antartica with beanies and frost bite.
(warning: exaggeration)
spanish?!?!
thanks to my grandparents, 10 years of spanish classes, and two best friends form mexico, i have been able to communicate with the locals! this has been such a gift that i didn’t realize how valuable it would be. though not fluent, i am good enough to ask what words mean if i don’t understand from time to time!
i also love getting to know locals on the bus and is most helpful when asking directions during ministry. so for those back at home in spanish class right now— take advantage! a lot of my squamates wish they had tried harder since now it’s been put to perfect use 🙂
what do meals look like?
as i said that mabe and fabi are just amazing— they make our meals monday through friday. everything is super fresh and usually looks like a hot beverage, a cold juice, and the same with the food.
on the weekends with our team money (fundraised money) we are able to buy meals from places nearby.
We have a panaderia, fruteria, and pizzeria all next to eachtother a 5 minute walk away, and it’s been perfect.
can you use your phone/wifi???
so for month #1 the leaders do us the privilege of taking away our phones during the day to help us practice being really present at ministry and also to not have to call home every 2 minutes when we miss our dog. that has been really sweet. but in my case, even when i do get my phone in the evenings we don’t have wifi at the house so that is why i am not as present online! On the weekends we are able to use our phones and that is why right now i am sending this blog from a cafe with wifi close to our house!
its been really nice to not be on it and get to know my squad more, but i do miss being able to update my family more often!
what do weekends look like?
on the weekends we are able to go to places around town (on our own money—not fundraised) and so far it’s been soo beautiful to see Quito. yesterday we went on a gondola up a mountain and AH. it was a the most amazing view. the weekend before i was able to go to a market and found a gem of a hacky sack 😀
what do you do at night after ministry?
each night we have a routine! on mondays we have worship that looks different depending on the day(singing, painting, + other fun things).we have something called journey markers on tuesdays where we answer and think about questions about how we are doing so far spiritually. wednesdays are specific for blogging! we have feedback on thursdays where we get with our team and point eachother higher, and just based on the first one that was two nights ago- i know i am going to grow so much. love + correction in one= growth. then we have friday as team time! yay rest!
thank you so much for reading, i hope you feel just as part of the story!!
lots of love,
Cami !
if there are any other questions you can either comment it or don’t be afraid to email me at [email protected] !!
