Summer 2013, I went to Ecuador. This trip was completely different from the trips to Guatemala.
This trip showed me whats its like to serve others. The life changing moment from this trip was washing the feet of girls in the Hope house and in the village. Just writing this makes me tear up.
In Ecuador, our team built a church, dedicated the church, and had a VBS everyday for the local kids. While the men were building the church the women on the trip went to the Hope house. The hope house is a home for girls whose family couldn’t support them and they get schooling and its just a better place for them to be. While we were there we cleaned the house and gave pedicures and manicures. Again, we are so blessed to have such simple things like the luxury of getting a pedicure or manicure. These girls have never gotten a real pedicure or manicure like we can get. Me and a few other girls got buckets of water and washed their feet, massaged them and painted their nails. LIFE CHANGING!
One of the days instead of going to the Hope house I had the opportunity to go to the village where the church was being built. The village atmosphere is completely different then the hope house. In this village they were lucky to have shoes and everything was covered in dirt so you can imagine. While the men were building, my job was to play with the kids in the village. I only know a little Spanish so communication wasn’t easy. After a while the local women came out of the houses to see what was going on.
We started talking and I asked them if they wanted their nails painted. While they sat on a log and rested their feet on another log I found a puddle of water and wet the rag. I washed their feet. I was there to serve them. I was there to show them the love of Jesus. It doesn’t matter how dirty their feet are or how disgusting it may sound, I am no better than they are. We are all children of God! Just because I live in America and I am blessed, it will not stop me from being a servant.
It was after this moment that I KNEW it was time for me to go on the race. I want to continue to do things like this and serve others. The trips to Guatemala showed me that I love mission work and prepared me but this trip to Ecuador showed me that its time for more. 11 months is along time and it won’t be easy but the outcome will be incredible! HE is with me and HE is for me.
Thanks for reading 🙂
