This month in Ecuador has been amazing! My team and I have been working with a school for special needs individuals which I touched on last blog, and we also had the pleasure of teaching an English class at the church we were serving at. Ecuador is so awesome. The people are so loving and they treat you like family here. This has been the hardest place to leave. There will always be a place in my heart for Quito Ecuador and the people here.
The school called Camp Hope was so hard to leave. I went back a few times after we had finished working there because the boys I worked with touched my heart so much, I had to go back. Orlando is one of the boys and I’ve said this before but just hanging out with him and talking to him has been a blessing. From the time we would hide from the nurse to him telling me he made all the Christmas cards himself ,when really it was Raul, it has been such a blessing to be around these boys. The problem came when it was time to say goodbye. I had already said goodbye to these guys before and quite honestly, it sucked. I didn’t want to leave them or the staff. They made us cards and bracelets. One of the kids even got up and spoke English to us and it was something I didn’t want to have to do again. These boys and everyone else there touched my heart so much and I miss just being there with them. God showed up in the form of children at this home and showed me how to love unconditionally.
Our English class we taught turned out really well. I was teaching the intermediate class and the bonds and friendships that were formed in just 2weeks were incredible. Rachel Ash and I had the same class. Everyday we would read the story and we would talk about it and give random questions to find out about our friends. At first it started off rough. No one was talking took much and it was awkward. After a few days we just really started talking to the students and learning about their lives. It was so cool to see how fast relationships formed in that short time. So on our last day of teaching, we were having a party and it was so hard to leave these guys as well. They made us cards, gave us gifts to remember them by and cried because they would miss us so much. It blew me away seeing a 14 year old kid who spent his own money to get me something. That’s so crazy! People were inviting us for food and they would lay out the food and have us sit at the finest places in their houses while they ate at the couch. God is here in Ecuador and the people here show His prescience every day.
Through all the goodbyes and the hugs, this is the hardest place I have had to leave outside of leaving my family to go on the world race. Thinking about the people right now is making me tear up because of the love they displayed for 7 strangers who taught them English. It has been a rough couple of days because my heart breaks because I can’t take these people with me. I love the people and I love this city. To all my English class if you are reading this, thanks for everything. You guys are amazing and I will truly miss you. You have been a blessing in my life and I will never forget you guys. I will be back to Quito and I hope to see you guys soon.
