Well howdy everyone! This will be my first blog from a foreign country, and man have these last 3 days been a journey! I’m writing this blog from a coffee shop that my team and I found as we were exploring Quito on our off day, and I can’t see myself spending the day with anyone else. I just am so amazed at how close we have all become over the last three day, and I am so positive that God put this team together. These last couple of days have been very cool, and I am quite excited to write about it!
So as we began to fly out of Houston on the 5th, my squad and I found out that our plane’s comfortability was equal to a plane from the 80’s, so that was good. It was not a restful flight, but we did get to see a lightning storm to our left and it was one of the most breathtaking things that I have ever seen. As we landed in the airport I was reminded of the cardinal rule of what to say whenever you enter a foreign country: you are not on a mission trip, you are just simply backpacking throughout Ecuador for the next three months. This statement is more for the missions that we work with rather than ourselves. The thing is that in some of the places that we will visit if our ministry is exposed for what it really is, it is all over for them. That being said, the only question that was asked of me at customs was if I came in on the flight from Houston, so I was pleasantly surprised by that. As we got picked up at the airport at around 11 or 12 at night, we speedily headed over to were we are staying, which is a ministry called IncaLink. As soon as we got there me and the other guys quickly put up our tents, and as soon as mine was put up I went to sleep.
In the morning I was given a tour of the house, and oh my is it nice. Not only do we have nice bathrooms and heated showers, we have the most amazing hosts, Mabe and Fabi, and they are some of the best cooks that I have ever had. My only issue is that whatever food lands on your plate, you have to finish it all. That has been difficult at times over the past three days, and I will say that I have already bartered to have others finish my food for me. Anyways, on that first day we were supposed to have our ministry contact, La Luz, pick us up, but the sad thing is that they did not show. So for our first day in Ecuador we just hung out at the house, while Megan and I played around with some instruments in the house while we waited around. The first day was just full of rest for my team and I, but it was not an active day.
The second day was a little more active, but we did not go to our ministry because the pastor’s mother had fallen ill. So my team and I still do not know what our ministry is like, but we were fortunate enough to get the chance to visit another team’s ministry for the day. We went and hung out at this program kids have before and after school, and just had an all around good time. The ministry was located in this park that is as beautiful as it is large. There was a whole track and soccer field in the middle, and the whole thing was surrounded by a running track. We spent the day playing soccer and frisbee with the kids, and later when it started to rain, as it often does in Quito, we headed inside and helped with homework and played games. The ministry ended around 3:30, so headed back to the house and just hung out with our squad the rest of the night.
So we come to today, and today is out off day. So my team and I have spent the day exploring the streets of Ecuador, and just generally having a good time. The highlight of the day has been finding this store that sells a huge amount of cotton candy for $2, and man is it huge. The only way to give it justice is to show you a picture of it so here you go!
All in all I have to say that Quito has been a pretty cool place so far, and I cannot wait to start ministry and see what else the Lord has in store for team Charismata! Just as a reminder I won’t have internet at my house, but I will try to post a new blog at least once a week! Also, I am not yet fully funded, so if you feel called to donate please do! Please keep my team and I in your prayers over the coming months, and I love you all!
Blessings,
Tucker Stevens
