After a few long travel days including a flight from DC to Quito, Ecuador, a bus ride to a temporary place to stay the first night, a hike with my pack weighing 48lbs and my day pack (I swear there is no such thing as downhill here!) and a car ride through the mountains we have made it to our first ministry site. For the first month team favoured is in Latacunga serving at Hogar para sus Ninos (For His Children), an orphanage where about half of the children have special needs. Upon arrival, my image of an orphanage was immediately shattered. We were first taken up to the second level where we would be staying for the next 3 weeks. We have three bedrooms for the seven of us, each with a king size bed and full bath, a large kitchen, a living room area and washers and dryers in the next room. (the tent is coming in handy for sure!) We took a tour of the house and met some of the children and Tias (the women who work here). There are large rooms that the children share, a nice area for meals and a few play rooms. Outside there is a large playground including swings, soccer field, a trampoline and a llama (which the team has lovingly named Tina). Everywhere you look there are mountains and at night the stars light up the sky! This place is beautiful. After our short tour and a little information about the orphanage, our only English (and Spanish) speaking contact said “Adios!” On our first full night here, I headed downstairs to find wifi so I could “watch” the Green Bay Packer game on the NFL site (my priorities are definitely in the right place!) At half time, the Tias came into the room that we were in and started to fold laundry. With my computer next to me on the couch (so I could keep an eye on the game), we started to help fold laundry. One thing went through my mind as the tias began asking us questions in very quick Spanish; I am so glad that my mom paid me five dollars in sixth grade to take Spanish instead of French. I have been blown away at how much Spanish I remember from high school and how much I can understand what the tias asked us. I have turned into the team translator (at least for the first few days) and it has been such an awesome experience being able to use the language that in high school I never thought I would use. I am so excited to continue to learn more Spanish and get to know and love these children and tias over the next few weeks!
