While on the World Race, you don’t get to know what you are doing the next month until about 3 days before you get there. So, imagine our surprise and excitement when we found out at the end of August that the month of September would be spent in Quito, Ecuador – doing soccer ministry on the equator! What?! Sweet deal, right?
Our excitement was perhaps a bit premature as we really didn’t know what all that entailed and found out a few days later that it really didn’t involve any soccer playing on our part at all. Instead, we would be partnering with an amateur soccer team. This means getting to know the players, attending their practices two nights a week, cheering at soccer games on Saturday mornings (as long as they keep winning – they are in the semi-finals this upcoming Saturday!), possibly teaching them English (some are hoping to play college soccer in the US) and attending team functions. All the while, we are praying for them and building relationships with them. We found that perhaps the best way to let them know we care is to bring them baked goods (fudge, cookies, etc.). Momma didn’t lie when she said the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Baking for Jesus!
Go Buhos! GOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
In addition to soccer ministry, we are also commuting about an hour and a half to a school on the outskirts of Quito to help out however we can. We’ve painted, made a flower bed, fixed a roof, moved furniture, installed light fixtures, put dirt in bags, moved bricks, etc. We attempt to do most of things during the school day, when kids are around. Initially we tried to work around the kids during their recess hours, but have decided to give in to their distractions and play with them. They are intrigued by the tall gringos who show up at their school each day. Several try to converse with us and even tattle on each other to us. Our conversations with them are limited to smiles, hugs and the occasional “no mas.” Kids really are the same in every culture – just wanting to be loved.
We really do love it here in Quito. It’s a big city with lots to do, see, and eat. We are partnered with a ministry called IncaLink. They are the ones who have connected us with the soccer team and the school.
We look forward to what the rest of the month will hold!
