Week one In Ecuador. I don’t understand how I got here. I don’t understand how I am suppose to put this journey into words for you. So God, I thank you that I don’t have to rely on my own understanding. I thank you that your thoughts and ways are so much greater than mine. I can find comfort in the unknown. Thank you for using me and this post to share your love with people back home.
Okay.. where to begin. So far in Quito Ecuador I have started to work at a High School. Who would have though that I would become a teacher.. Sarah Wright and Abby Back would be so proud. The norm in this High School is to drink and party all the time… Sound familiar 😉 (just kidding… kinda) I asked this boy Daniel, Why does everyone drink? His response “to fit in and be accepted” I then shared how I used to get drunk too.. but then I fell in love with this man Jesus and He gave me a higher purpose. They were very curious about this intimate relationship that I had with God. Im very excited about this Ministry and the relationships I’m going to make here. Now I want to share something thats been on my heart.
Everyday our ministry is going to be from 6:45am-4:30pm. So getting home on Monday all I wanted to do for some reason was open a couple letters from my family.. I opened one from my dad and my sister.. I could not stop crying. I then thanked God that I have a family that makes it so hard to leave. I was in aw at how I deserve to have people in my life where my heart physically hurts to have to be away from them for 9 months. Or how I deserve to be able to be in this beautiful country (Ecuador) instead of sitting in Government or Economic class. Or how I deserve to have clothes on my back, a mom and a dad that love me, my sight and a voice.
Im asking myself all this while i’m sitting on a public bus to go to a local market. This little girl was sitting on her moms lap.. had a backpack and a little toy and was happy as can be. While this other girl, around the same age, was walking up and down the isle trying to sell these snacks to make a living… she then just stops and stares at the joyful girl as tears start to well up in her eyes. I watched this interaction and I then understood why I am here.
Every single city street I walk on, every classroom I teach in, Every bus ride I take, Gods lost children are among me. I then realized that I didn’t leave my family and friends to come teach some kids english.. any american can come here and do that. I came here to live every moment with intention on sharing Gods indescribable Love. I do not deserve anything that I have today but thats why our God is so amazing.. He pursued me when I was so caught up in the world. Heck Jesus Christ, hung on that cross while men were mocking him, whipping him with glass shards, piercing nails through his wrist and ankles.. and you know what Jesus did? He looked up to Heaven and said “Father forgive them for they do not understand what they are doing” Like WHAT?! That kind of love I cannot comprehend. But I know its a love that I will surrender my whole life to.
Yes I still have questions about why I got to grow up with a beautiful home and family while that little girl has to spend her days begging. But what I do know is that we could be homeless, with nothing but the clothes on our back and the food in our stomach.. but if we have a relationship with the creator, we are the richest people in the world.
