I’m so so SO sorry that a month has passed with no updates from Ecuador! It’s been an adjustment to not have wifi on my computer and to have to use my team leader’s computer while others are waiting on it. No that we’re about to leave the country…here’s a blog post that I wrote two weeks ago:
Well, Ecuador is perfect.
It absolutely blows my mind that my team and I have only been here for a little over a week. It feels more like a few months. We have already fallen so comfortably (seriously…..very comfortably…our hosts have completely spoiled us) into our day-to-day schedule. We’re becoming more and more confident of the public bus transportation system, and learning a few more Spanish words each day. We’re still struggling to not stand out from the Ecuadorians on the bus, but I don’t think that’s something we can help, given our pasty white complexions (maybe I should just speak for myself) and loud voices. I’ve taken to completely throwing my team under the bus (not literally) by standing a few feet apart from them and giving them the evil eye along with the locals across from me. I’m not sure if I actually believe they might mistake me for a local with my huge backpack, blonde hair, and fleece jacket tied around my waist cause that’s a style, or if pretending just makes me feel better.
Our ministry this month is an after (and before) school program called COVI. It is run by an amazing Ecuadorian woman named Tamarita, who loves these kids more than I could possibly have imagined. Watching Tamarita interact with the children is like watching Jesus. She is always joyful. She is always kind. She is always fair. She is always firm. She can hold the kids’ attention for any amount of time, and it is obvious to everyone that she loves them as her own. You will see her sitting in the courtyard with 10 kids around her, while she prays with and talks to each of them. Each day, children ride buses up to two hours each way to come to COVI before or after school. The ministry is located right in the middle of an awesome park, with the mountains on one side and the city of Quito on the other. (It. Is. BEAUTIFUL.) The kids play on COVI’s property throwing water balloons at each other, play soccer in the park, do homework inside, or make crafts. We usually spend our days playing soccer (well……I watch…), helping with crafts and homework, talking to the kids, or helping in the kitchen.
(Picture of Zach, my teammate, comparing soccer tricks with Eric, a boy who comes to COVi every day.)
This ministry is amazing to be a part of, because the heart behind it is to prevent kids from ending up on the streets, and to teach them the love of Christ at an early age.
Prayers for this month would be that the love of the Lord would shine through us in a way that transcends the language barrier. While we cannot probably have a lasting impact on these kids directly, we CAN have an impact by encouraging these women who care for them, and by working in the garden to provide them with food. I can’t wait to see what the Lord has planned for this month.
Love from Ecuador,
Laura
