Letting go of the familiar... stepping out of a comfort zone... it's one of the most basic fears so many of us have. It’s like topping that first hill on the roller coaster. You’re a little anxious, nervous and not entirely sure you made the right choice. There may even be a few regrets leading up to that highly anticipated “drop”. And then, even as you drop down and begin the circuitous, crazy trip along the tracks, you still vacillate between whether or not you made the right decision.
Just like with a roller coaster, and a new experience and journey, you never know what’s in store, or where the next turn will take you.
But once you do take that first step, in this case, to serve, every step thereafter becomes easier, surer, and you realize that what you are doing has the potential to change lives.
And often, it’s not so much other’s lives, but your own.
A few short weeks ago, a team of a 72 of us travelled to the Northern Highlands of Ecuador to help, treat, love on and minister to the beautiful villagers of several communities in and around Ibarra. Over the course of the week the small local communities and villages included Urcuqui, Cajas, Quicocha Pana, Lago and Porta Longa. These are small, out of the way locations where medical and dental treatment is a far-off prospect, water is scarce and unclean, and hope can seem to be in short supply.
But, where there is hope, there is a way.
And there’s Jesus.
Hosteria Natabuela…
Home away from home for the week was as quaint hotel named Hosteria Natabuela. Saying it was perfect would be an understatement. The grounds were beautiful and reminded you of an off the radar oasis, worthy of a Conde Nast write up. The staff was over and beyond friendly, the rooms were immaculate, and the food was scrumptious to say the least.
Day in and day out travelling to each location, setting everything up, seeing and working with 100’s and even 1000’s of individuals over 8-9 hours, you tend to work up an appetite, and are even a little sore at times. Coming home to an amazing meal prepared by an incredible chef and his staff was welcoming. Then, lounging around the premises, the patios, the pool and having coffee and tea with friends, was always the icing on the cake at the end of the day.
At the end of the week, it came to our attention that our group had been their first customers in a very long time. They were extremely grateful for our stay. I would say there is a good chance we will be back at the same location next summer.
Preparation day…
After arriving late Saturday evening, the following day was “make-ready” day. Getting thousands and thousands of medical and dental supplies, equipment, tools, thousands of eyeglasses, hundreds of water buckets and filters and so much more was a big undertaking to say the least. It was all hands-on deck.
This was also the day our translators arrived. And what a terrific group they were! We had 30 young adults that travelled from all over Ecuador, to the Highlands area, to help us during the week. You could not quantify the importance and impact each one of them had on the week ahead. In fact, it would have been impossible in many ways to have as successful of a week as we had, without them.
Ice cream break…
At the end of make-ready day, we took a break from all the hard work and hopped over to Ibarra, to a specialty ice cream shop called Momalia. Holy toledo batman, talk about knock out ice cream. If their flooring had of been gold colored, I am pretty sure that place would have been actual Heaven! Lol!
Medical…
One of the primary ministries of the week was medical and pharmacy.
Medical treatment (and dental and eyeglasses for that matter) is simply not available in Ecuador and other 3rd world countries like it is here in the US. It’s taken for granted to say the least. We see the little orphan boy and girl on TV, on the news and in media. We faintly hear about some distance people group and tribe that’s being talked about in church. But until you see it with your own eyes and experience the lack of access to health and human services these individuals don’t have, it’s difficult to fathom what many of these beautiful people endure every day.
After intake and then being seen by the doctors and receiving treatment, they would be given a prescription of sorts and sent to pharmacy. Back on preparation day several groups broke off to package and organize THOUSANDS of small brown paper bags filled with different medications. It was incredible to see and know how much medicine had been donated! It was an organized and highly efficient process.
Home visit…
At the end of the day in Lago we had been approached by a man whose mother was at home and bedridden. She had multiple ailments and simply couldn’t get out of bed and travel down the mountain they lived along. So, our primary physician/surgeon, Dr. Tinsley and several others all piled in the man’s small pickup truck, and we went on a home visit.
I may have had a joint or two pop out of place, bouncing along the dirt road, but I am pretty sure I could ride a bull now!
The small house we arrived at was beautiful. It was small, open air and had 3 small rooms. Everything had a place and was perfectly in place. Their kitchen was organized, equipped with a small fridge and all their small bowls and utensils were all the colors of rainbow. There were flowers here and there, several chickens, and one of my favorite things to find and shoot when I am on trips such as these, a clothesline with bright colored clothing and fabrics. You could just tell, these were proud, hopeful and loving people who lived here.
After visiting, and praying over the elderly mother, we spent a few minutes with the man and his wife simply talking about life, their country and what it was like living there….
…before climbing back on the motorized bull.
Baptism…
On the way home one day we had someone make the decision it was time to publicly make a statement of faith and be baptized. Of course, when this happens here at home in the US, it’s usually at a church, or some pre-determined location. It is not typically on the way home from working with and serving individuals all day long, in an Ecuador village.
But, not to worry, our drive home that evening took us across a bridge and a river running beneath. And there just so happened to be a perfect place to park our two large tour buses, along the road!
It took a few minutes for everyone to climb out and climb down the mountain side to the river’s edge. After making the small hike it was time to take the plunge! Literally!
Talk about a memorable experience. The entire scene reminded you of something straight out of scripture. Like if you closed your eyes, and opened them, John the Baptist would have been standing there baptizing Jesus.
….and I would have had about 1427 questions…for both Jesus…and John! Lol!
All in all, it was a beautiful reminder of the living, breathing sacrifice Christ made, just for us. It was an amazing way to close out our first full day serving.
Orphanage...
