I’m stealing away a few minutes before I go to bed, because these days seem precious and I really want to share. Most of us were ready to call it a day by 7pm, but instead of going to sleep at the bedtime of a 6-year-old, we stayed up, ate warm peach cobbler with our hosts, and shared amongst each other how we got to the world race & what God’s been doing in our lives through it.
My squad recently had one of those whirlwind travel days + debriefs where we change countries, languages, continents, time zones, and teams all at the same time. Month 7 was clinging to me and I was having a hard time shaking some weariness. Debrief was beautiful, fun, and a good time to connect with my leaders and squadmates. I’d hoped it would also be a good time to connect with God.
In some ways, it was. I told him where I was at and had several conversations with him. Yet still, my spirit felt weary. Somebody prayed that our squad would have the same passion, energy, and vision this month as we did month 1.
God heard that prayer.
Arriving to Shell, Ecuador, we were greeted by the Zuniga family on the side of the road, as is common on the race. Missionaries from Oklahoma, they’ve been here a year and a half and are currently finalizing their adoption of their fourth child, little Naomi. Naomi was orphaned by her parents after an intestinal surgery + spilled acid of a colonostomy bag destroyed her abdomen. Chris and Mandy both felt a call to this particular orphanage, and soon to Naomi. I’ve gotten to have some Naomi cuddles as well as give her a bath. Consider me blessed!
In many respects, I feel like I’ve been transported back to the U.S with the Zunigas….and it is really nice. Warm showers, English language, American food. Other things, though, are distinctly Ecuadorian…and I feel excited again.
Our first two days here have been primarily spent digging holes during pouring rain to sink some fence poles at an orphanage. The orphanage (Casa de Fe) desires to become self-sufficient and was on its way there when all the tilapia were stolen out of their ponds. (Really? Who steals tilapia from an orphanage?!) We are helping to build a fence to secure their next investment of trucha (trout). I’ve also gotten to help tutor a few children at Casa de Fe and work with an Ecuadorian woman in an English class.
I had a conversation this afternoon with a family friend who told me his history of familial abuse, and also about God’s outrageous love for him. He spoke to me in English to practice, and I spoke to him in Spanish to practice. We agreed that God’s love is unconditional for us. Wow.
We’re planning 2 trips into the interior of the jungle this month. One trip will be a first time for the Zunigas to visit this village. From a previous evangelist, the village has two believers. Our plan is to take the bus several hours, hike 4 hours into the jungle, find the two believers in the village, encourage them, and bring them to share the gospel with the neighboring tribe. Trip no.2 will be primarily for passing out Bibles through several villages in the jungle. We’ve been told the trip to reach them will include a 7-hour boat ride on the Santiago river (which just a few miles down becomes the Amazon) as well as drinking the traditional drink, “chicha”, which is villagers’ fermented spit.
Tomorrow we cement poles, dig holes, work in the orphanage, and continue to plan for our upcoming trips. I’ll hopefully get to spend more time with the Zunigas, my teammates, and the Ecuadorian friends who come around the house often.
This certainly isn’t my best writing, but I just desperately wanted to share with you all about my first few days in Ecuador. I am in awe of where I’m at, and am so thankful to be here.
From Shell, Ecuador with love,
Natalie
