Oh my goodness! There has been so much that has happened in the last week that I don’t even know where to start because chronologically isn’t always best for reading!
Just think inverted pyramid, Cassie….
Although I have a million stories about our days in Washington, DC and traveling to Ecuador, I think this story will be about how I, along with Team Veracity, found God in the midst of frustration and chaos.
After arriving in Quito, Ecuador and getting a few hours of sleep, it was time for the teams of N Squad to go their separate ways to their ministries for the month. The seven women of Team Veracity packed up their things in our contact, Gustavo’s, van and were dropped at the bus station with very vague directions about how to get to Mano y Mano’s compound but were assured it was “very simple.”
As soon as we lugged all of our stuff down to the platforms, we realized we were in a little deeper than we had initially thought. We were in a bus station in a country we just arrived in less than 12 hours ago. We didn’t know enough Spanish to be able to communicate effectively. We didn’t know if we had to buy tickets for the bus at the window like some were doing. Our bus route and name we were told to take weren’t listed on the signs anywhere. The two people we asked pointed to the streets and shook their heads. And our phone we had been given would not connect any calls to people who could help direct us further.
Insert prayer numero uno.
“God, I can’t do this. I am already overwhelmed! Show us the right direction to go.”
The next security guard we asked still didn’t speak English but, through hand motions and gestures, we figured out that the bus we needed to take didn’t even run in this station we were at; it ran its route outside the gates. So, we slung our 50 pound bags on our backs and our 20 pound backpacks on our fronts and trudged on towards the street the security guard was taking us to. He whistled and stopped the bus that was about to leave and helped us get on.
Victory!
As we arrived at our stop at El Coca and hurried to jump off the bus before it took off again, we found this connection easier; there was a clear sign labeled for La Marin, our next stop. We queued up and jumped on that next bus to find an empty spot to put down our bags while watching them. After getting off at La Marin, we were confused again.
There was no green bus that we were told to look for. I, once again, began to get overwhelmed. I’m tired from lugging this bag and I thought I’d hurt my knee again in the morning which, I think, set my mood for the day. I was tired. I was hungry. I wanted to check in and let everyone know I was in Ecuador safe and —well, stressed! My emotions were starting to get the best of me. My strength was gone and I had no desire to lean on God at the time. I just wanted to get to Mano y Mano and throw my stuff down and relax for ten minutes.
Insert prayer numero dos.
“I’m not even going to list my complaints. You know where I’m at right now. Just let us make it to the stupid station.”
While on the verge of tears that I was blindsided by came the voice of our team leader, Emily,
“Guys, I know you’re frustrated, but smile!”
She wanted to take a picture while we had a moment to do so. That’s all she was referring to. I, on the other hand, saw it as an answered prayer.
My mind flashed to something I had heard earlier that morning.
“Choose joy.”
Ouch.
I was in Ecuador and, just hours ago, was astonished by the beauty of God’s creation all around me. I was overjoyed at the time I was spending with my team. I was thrilled to be here. And now one little hiccup comes and I’m ready to break down and throw my white flag into the air.
Then came my other slap-in-the-face lesson from a quote I had just read in a book on the plane:
“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”
I was not being successful in my journey. What was I doing? I knew the outcome, no matter what, would be that we would arrive at Mano y Mano, but what was I doing in the meantime? I was being selfish. I was being humanly. I wanted to take the reins and command everything and have all the details before we left for the bus station with detailed maps and directions.
I was pissed.
The questions in my head—and slipping out my mouth on occasion—were: why couldn’t someone from the house we stayed at come with us? Why didn’t we have solid directions? Why would they just throw us into this?
The real question should have been: do I trust God to get us to where we need to be to do His will?
My answer should have been “yes” but my words and actions were definitely saying “no”.
We straightened up. We prayed as a team and were almost embarrassed that it took us that long to do so and asked one more guard for help.
After leaving and having to reenter the bus terminal and take the previous bus one more stop, we found our green bus! We found the route! We had a conductor who helped load our stuff under the bus so we didn’t have to hold it! We were finally able to sit down! We watched as we passed beautiful landscapes and waterscapes, smiled at people walking by and just relished in the route from Quito to El Tingo. One of us even had the chance to sleep the whole time! 😉
We were dropped off on the side of the road and told it was El Tingo as the conductor helped us unload our bags.
A beautiful woman came around the corner and said,
“Emily?! I’m Anna from Mano y Mano.”
I think I literally felt my heart rejoicing.
We made it and it only took three hours (even though it’s only 20 minutes away from where we left from), four buses, no English exchanged, a lot of frustrations, a few prayers and a huge slap in the face for me!
And it was without a doubt all because of El Gran Yo Soy!
That night, around our Chinese takeout dinner, we read the Jesus Calling for the day, as we had been doing since D.C.
I’ll show you just two parts of that day’s passage—one in a quote and one in a picture quote.
“Try to see each day as an adventure, planned out by Me, your guide.”
WOW!
We literally could not have had a more appropriate message for that day!
I wanted to include the story about the religious freedom and presence of God we encountered at our first church service, but this post is already WAY long! Stay tuned for that one, though! It promises to be a good one and will include videos!
Sidenote:
Tomorrow we start the neighborhood kids’ program after school and I cannot wait! Prepare yourself for that blog and a million pictures!
With love from El Tingo, Quito, Ecuador!
"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."
Psalm 9:10
