Que onda, lectores?!
I'm updating you from the home of Chris, Jenny, and Breck Hoskins in Quito, Ecuador. It is such a strange feeling to be back in this place where I spent my high school years, but I am loving it so far and can't wait to see what the next month holds!
My past two weeks were spent at the children's home Pilar de Esperanza in Reynosa. The two times I have transitioned to living there have been a bit rough at first, as the living conditions are a bit more rustic than other places we have been staying. The first day at Pilar this time, we as Merge staff subsisted mainly on powdered soy milk (which I wouldn't recommend) and granola bars....it was a good bonding experience for our team. After being there for a day or two, however, my love for the kids far surpassed any discomfort I might be feeling from the heat, the bugs, or the living situation. Despite my excitement about traveling to Ecuador, I was actually quite sad to leave the kids early Thursday morning.
The two teams we were working with in Pilar were from Lexington and Attleboro, Massachusetts. The Lexington team has been coming down for years to this orphanage, and has really developed a great relationship with that place and the children. They made some awesome crafts with the kids, including carving wooden spoons and creating Jacob's ladders, did a lot of work on the new cafeteria, and taught an English class, which I helped out with.
Partway through that week, some of my Merge buddies left to meet other teams in other lands. It was hard to say goodbye to Rachel, Nathan, and Stephanie, when I had been with them for almost a month and a half straight. I have so many fond memories of our time together and I am so grateful that I was able to make these fantastic new friends. We have already begun plans for a reunion in the near future. It was neat to be able to spend the next week at Pilar with trip facilitators, Oscar and Ellen, and their adorable daughter Anna, as well as with Gama, who coordinated work projects.
This trip for Attleboro was the first mission trip that many of the team members had ever been on. It was so neat to see how willing they were to serve and how excited and energized they were to be there. By the time we left halfway through the week, they were already making plans to come back next year. I LOVE that, because I think these kids need some stable presences in their lives more than they need people to come down for a week and do a work project.
By the time I had to leave I, too, decided that I definitely need to return to Pilar in the near future. I didn't realize that I would become so connected to the kids at this place. They are just such sweet kids and it is impossible not to love them. Many asked me when I was coming back and asked with concern who was going to translate the skits and English class. It was hard to hear them tell me how much they would miss me and tell me not to leave. But I am determined to make that goodbye more of a "see you later."
After one crazy long day of traveling to Quito with my Merge buddy Liz and a day of resting at the Hoskins' house/walking around my high school (so much has changed!), I am packing up to meet the team from Colorado who will be working at a Covenant church in the south of Quito. I think it is going to be really weird to be in Quito in this role, as it is so different from what I was doing when I lived here before, but I am excited to meet new people, see how ministry goes and discover new things along with the team. I hope and pray that the relationship with the Santiago church and the Colorado group is able to grow and thrive this week!
The next month is going to be a whirlwind tour of the country, with 4 teams in 4 different places. I hope to be able to update at some point in that time, but until then, I bid you adieu!
Thanks for all your prayers, and I hope you have a peaceful rest of July! :)
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