Standing on the equator in Ecuador.
Ecuador is Spanish for equator. Today I had the opportunity to stand in both the northern and southern hemispheres at the same time. How cool is that!?!
Before we head out for our ministry sites on Sunday morning, we had a squad adventure day. We took a city bus as an entire squad (55 people) for 2 hours to experience the globe’s perfect balance. We had heard rumors that you could balance an egg on end but were a bit skeptical. I can know tell you that I’ve seen it with my own eyes- an egg will balance on its end at the equator!
I entitled this blog “extremities” because in one day I went from the boiling lava hot sun of the equator at noon to the frigid snow covered mountaintops surrounding Quito. After our trip to the middle of the earth, a few of us opted to take a gondola to the top of a mountain to enjoy the view.
It was chilly on top of the mountain in Quito, Ecuador.
Pretty amazing, right? The view was literally breath taking as it was 14,200 feet above sea level. We were huffing and puffing at the smallest movement but it was worth it! We ended our day with a squad dinner and said goodbye once more as we prepared for departure tomorrow morning (see Facebook for more photos http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.729645204851.2204485.185002477).
So, tomorrow (Sunday) morning, Team Fireproof heads to Huaticocha, Ecuador in the northeast corner of the country. We will be partnering with Inca Link, an organization in the Christian Ministry Alliance. Inca Link began about 4 years ago and focuses on evangelism, leadership development and compassion ministries. They have partnerships all over Ecuador and Peru that includes leadership development training, teenage pregnancy centers, ministry to female prisoners and providing homes for children living in the dumps.
What we know so far is that we will be coming alongside an established church to assist in vacation Bible school (VBS) for their children’s ministry as well as some hard labor constructing a women’s dormitory for one of their programs. Again, this is what we’ve been told and we are flexible if the details change.
The Amazon is going to be one of the most beautiful places I will live this year…but it won’t be all pretty. I hear we’ll be sporting stylish rubber boots due to the 4 hours of rain each day that turns roads into big mudslides. Snakes abound and bot flys…well, let’s just hope I don’t have to deal with them!
The other down side is little to no Internet. This means I won’t be able to post a blog, pictures or return emails for almost a month. Not to worry, I’ll be typing my thoughts in a word document and will be able to post asap. Thank you for your prayers and remember- NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!
Junior, my friend I met on the bus to the equator.
