Hello! It’s March 19th and our squad has officially completed two months of the race. Our time in Colombia and Ecuador has come to an end! For the past two months I have been with Team Zeal, helping them get started by traveling with them and Team Leading for the team. Each day has looked different, but in short, we incorporate three parts into our daily routine: team prayer (seeking guidance for the day), team ministry, and team time (a time for us to do something to spend some quality time with each other). A lot has happened since leaving the States. Here is a mini update of some things that have taken place in our time on the field, along with pictures:
While in Medellin, the other Squad Leaders and I took a day trip to a small town called Guatape on our free day. Pictured below is the charming, colorful town. The architecture in Central and South America has so much character…I love it.
Our first week in Cali, Colombia we met some locals in the neighborhood where we stayed. We bumped into them on the way to the market to buy our groceries for the day. My teammate, Joshua, was invited to play the local version of the game “Sorry!” with them, and we chatted/ate ice cream together. This is where we met a new friend, Harry, who we continued to spend time with over the course of the week.
When we first met Harry and some other locals on the street, Harry (pictured with us below) offered to show us around Cali. Of course we took him up on his offer! He drove us up to an amazing viewpoint overlooking the city where we hungout for a bit, and then brought us to one of his favorite pizza joints for dinner. After dinner, Harry invited the team to go watch some recreational soccer on the rooftop of a building in the city. Joshua, Jesse, and I tagged along, and then the boys got to join the game last minute. I watched as they played. Throughout the course of the day we got to talk with Harry. Joshua and Jesse speak great Spanish, and I got to practice using mine (I’m learning SO much more being in Spanish speaking countries). This was one of my favorite days thus far. We continued to build a friendship with Harry while in Cali. A few days after going out for pizza, we invited him to lunch. We enjoyed a local meal together (rice/beans, carne asada, salad, soup, and fresh juice) and then asked if he’d like to join us for ministry that afternoon. After lunch, we bought bread and water, and prayed that God would highlight people for us to give it to around the city. We then asked if we could pray with them. Our group of 6 split into two groups of three (Joshua, Alex, and myself, and then Jesse, Akelea, and Harry). The Lord led us to people, and we encouraged them with John 6:35 (“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'”) We reminded them that the Lord sees them. He cares for them. It was a moving experience for me. On our last night in Cali, we stopped by Harry’s house to say goodbye. We had the opportunity to meet his mother and talk with them before heading to the bus station. As we sat together, Harry shared how much our time together had impacted him. He shared how he was inspired by our faith…how now, he desires to have a deeper relationship with the Lord. It was beautiful to hear how God had been working in his heart and through our friendship. While Harry had been impacted by our team, we too were impacted by him. His peaceful demeanor…his availability and willingness to take us around Cali when he didn’t even know us…his kind and hospitable nature. What a divine encounter.
Kylee and I met this gentleman below, Darwin. We talked with him in Pasto, and he made us handmade silver bookmarks as a gift for stopping and chatting! Below is some of his art.
While waiting to cross the border from Colombia to Ecuador, Kylee and I bought some empanadas. We had extra, so we offered them to these Venezuelan men. We found out they were on their way to Peru to get away from the current situation in Venezuela. We talked briefly and then got to pray for them before separating. These small encounters are my favorite.
In Cali we stayed at a hostel called “La Pinta Boogaloo.” I love talking with backpackers. Hostels are awesome because people from all over the world are joined together and living together in one location. We spoke with some of the guests here throughout the week and made homemade pizzas for dinner on their last night. Joshua had an opportunity to share the Gospel with one of the young men as well as what he’s been learning about the word, “Forgiven.”
In Cali I got to build a relationship with one of the ladies that worked at our hostel. I’m going to miss her smiling face! Though conversation was limited (due to the language barrier), it was a reminder that a sweet friendship can still develop, even without words.
Below is one of the tiendas in Baños, Ecuador. We met the owners of the store and continued to visit them during the three weeks we stayed in Baños, building a friendship with them.
Not the best quality, but below is a pic with the girls that ran the store we would visit. On our team’s last night in Baños, we invited them to eat dinner with us at the house we were staying at. We all played “UNO” and then enjoyed a delicious meal together (prepared by the wonderful family that hosted us in our time there – shout out to the Purdys!).
And this is the Purdy family. The Purdys are incredible. Daniel, our Squad Mentor, met the Purdys three years ago in Vietnam. When the family heard that our squad was in Ecuador, they invited all of us (20 people) over for dinner and worship. The Purdys are going to open a hostel in Baños to minister to backpackers as they pass through Ecuador. After hearing that my team was going to be staying in Baños for a couple more weeks, they invited us to stay at their apartment for FREE…and they spoiled us with delicious southern cooked meals and homemade desserts. Words cannot express our gratitude for their hospitality and the ways they served us. It was so good to fellowship together and encourage one another. While in Baños, we helped run the youth night at a local church called Alianza Church, played basketball and soccer with the young adults, prayer walked in the community, chatted with locals, etc. Much of what we do on Fusion is building relationship with the people we encounter, and sharing Christ through words and action. It is very different from my experience on the race last year…it’s unconventional ministry. God is showing me that Jesus’ ministry was in his day to day encounters with people “as he went” on his journey with the disciples.
On Valentine’s day, the girls bought roses and handed them out to women around the city, reminding them that they are beautiful, cherished, and loved by the Lord. This is another one of my favorite things we did during out time in Baños.
Below is a picture of one of the parks we frequented in Baños.
When we arrived in Quito, we were able to stay with a local church called “Ministerio el Cordero de Dios.” We attended their service, helped out with the children’s program, and then a couple of us shared testimonies in front of the church. The Pastor of the church treated us to lunch after service and then he took us grocery shopping for our food for the next two days (him and his wife bought our groceries for us). Just another example of the generosity/kindness we’ve experienced from the body of Christ around the world. Pictured below is the church’s security guard, Jorge, and his wife.
So this is just a little bit of what we have done thus far. Learning to live a lifestyle of listening for the Lord’s voice and following His guidance has been a new and stretching experience, but it has been so worthwhile. I am still so honored that God has chosen me for this opportunity. To my supporters, thanks again for the constant encouragement and prayer. The Lord is at work in our squad, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of our time continues to unfold.
(P.s. We just arrived in Peru a few days ago…)
Until next time! Much love,
Em
