I'm sitting on my bed in the hostel, gazing at the slanted rooftops through the barred window. Grey clouds cover the sky this morning. My ears are filled with the sounds of birds chirping and impatient drivers repeatedly honking their horns. The sun tries to break through the clouds unsuccessfully. It's winter in Ecuador, but the weather reminds me of Vancouver's summer, transitioning to fall. The evenings are cold and have usually been wet. While in Quito, we sit at 9,200 ft elevation, directly on the Equator. The streets remind me of Costa Rica, the broken cobblestone sidewalks littered with garbage. The buildings add punches of color to the otherwise drab view, some vibrant purples and greens, some pastel peaches and blues. Everything looks old, dirty and worn, like a torn, crinkled and stained piece of paper, burned at the edges. Graffiti covers the walls of the city. Many kind faces fill the streets. Some, full of wrinkles, evidence of a hard-working life. Some young, seemingly my age, yet they cradle a baby in their arms. I enjoy the laid-back lifestyle here in the capital city of Ecuador. People seem content with where they are, a change from the busy lifestyle that I'm used to, people always having somewhere to go or something to do. The lush, jagged mountains surrounding Quito remind me of home. Loud spanish music is blasted from almost every restaurant and pub I walk by, the beat vibrating up through the soles of my feet.
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Yesterday morning my team and I were re-united. It made me so happy to see the exceptional women I am going to be spending the next 11 months of my life with. Each one unique in their gifting. I'm still not really sure what my gifting is yet, but I don't doubt that I have one. My teammates say that it is refreshing to be around me because of my child-like faith. It's so awesome to be around people that are constantly building me up, loving me unconditionally and seeing things in me that I don't yet see in myself. And I know that when they will have constructive criticism for me, it comes from a place of love, and it is because they want to see me grow and be the best that I can be. Every single person on my team and on my entire squad is so amazing. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such an incredible and encouraging support system. I can't wait to see what the Lord does through us. I expect to have some amazing stories to share.
I'm still battling a cold I came down with before departure, bronchitis, and neck and back pain. I had 60 hands laid over me 2 nights ago, praying for health and healing and I already feel an improvement. The anxiety, nerves and stress have left me. The atrocious state I left my old place in, is now my dear parents headache (God bless them). The things that didn't get done, oh well. I didn't get to say all the good-bye's that I had hoped to. Though I wish I would have prepared for this trip much sooner than I did, there's nothing I can do about it now. All I can do is go with the flow and trust in the Lord. An unusual peace has come over me. Normal people don't do this. But, here I am, blindly following in faith, the call that God gave me. Here I am, living out of my backpack in a foreign country. Here I am, out of my comfort zone, willing to be stretched and open to grow. Here I am, depending on the Lord for everything I need. And though it is difficult, to leave the comfort of home, to leave my friends and family and my viscious little cat, I know that I am exactly where God wants me to be.
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing….Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:2
The first few days in Ecuador have been spent together as a Squad, our elders preparing us for the journey that lies ahead and anointing us with the Holy Spirit. Today we travelled to the actual Equator line, where I stood in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the same time! Tomorrow we begin our ministry, each team going to a different part of the country. All I know is that my team and I are going to a little town just outside of El Tingo, about 45 minutes away from Quito and that we will be living in the old church, attending the new church, and building the newest church. May my team and I be a light to everyone we encounter…
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"Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God-my God-will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord." 1 Chronicles 28:20
