Ecuador: Greeting the Mission Field with a Kiss

This summer, I am on an international mission trip with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ). I am living in Quito, Ecuador May 17–June 25, 2018 to partner with local campus ministries, pastors, and students. If you missed my first post about this you can find it on the blog at “Ecuador, here I come!“

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Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

1 Peter 5:14

In Ecuador, it is normal to greet and say goodbye with a kiss on the right cheek. In my 23 days here so far, I have greeted people in this way more times than I could count.

Every person, every hello, every goodbye.

It’s culture and we embrace it.

In addition to these countless greetings, I have taken countless trolleys, buses, taxis, and Cabifys. More than in my entire life combined, since in small town, Midwestern U.S. I generally take my own car wherever I need to go.

The city of Quito is so, so large. Expansive would be the most accurate word for it. It is home to 2.6 million people and even from some of the best vantage points, like el Panecillo or la Basillica, it appears to go on forever.

The Adventure So Far — A Week in the Life

The following paragraphs are a loose explanation of what my team and I do each day while on Summer Mission in Quito, Ecuador. Although every morning begins with breakfast at our hostel, where we go from there varies by what day of the week it is.

Mondays

On Mondays, I start the day with two hours of advanced Spanish class at la Universidad Central del Quito (UCE) with Wesley, Gracie, Lydia, and Lindsey. If we leave by 8:30, we take the bus to the stop closest to UCE and then walk the rest of the way. This is slower than the trolley — which we take on days we run late — but is much less crowded and therefore poses less of a risk that we will be pick-pocketed.

Our class is taught by a lovely profesora who only speaks to us in Spanish. While the grammar we go over in class is review for me, the practice helps make it easier to talk to students during ministry and reminds my brain of things it has forgotten. I am also using the class to grow my vocabulary.

In the afternoon, we have a choice to stay at UCE or go to one of our other three universities for ministry. Generally, for ministry on campus I am paired with Emily and Lindsey. Ministry involves two parts: evangelism and follow-up appointments.

For evangelism, we initiate spiritual conversations with students using an imagencuesta, or image-survey, called Solarium. Based on the images a student chooses in response to our survey questions (for example, “choose an image that represents God to you”), we can find out what he or she believes and — if they are interested — lead into a Gospel presentation. We have various tools and passages of scripture to help us do this clearly. We have also had success with sharing our personal testimonies. If a student seems open to talking more about spiritual things in the future, we ask them for their contact information and schedule a follow-up appointment.

For follow-ups, we meet with the students that want to get to know us, practice English, learn more about Jesus, or grow in their faith. How we go about the meeting varies depending on the students, but our goal is always to center our conversation on the Gospel and help them grow. We also have used these appointments to connect our student contacts with Ecuadorian Christians who can disciple them.

Usually our location on Monday afternoon is determined by where we have appointments with students.

Once evangelism is done for the day, we transport home to rest and find dinner. Then, around 7 p.m., Monica, one of our team leaders, goes over the schedule for the week with us and gives us some sort of training that will help us grow our ministry skills.

Tuesdays

Since the basic Spanish class meets on Tuesdays, I have a couple hours in the morning to rest at the hostel. Normally I sleep in a little, spend extra time with God, and journal.

The rest of Tuesday is spent doing ministry at la Universidad de Las Americas (UDLA), with the help of our Ecuadorian friend Marvin. I can’t pinpoint why, but UDLA is my favorite of the campuses to do ministry. Perhaps it is because of the students we have met here so far or because I like the smallness of the Granados campus.

In the evenings, our small groups meet, usually over dinner. My small group includes my roommates: Lydia, Lindsey, and Kristen. We are going through 1 Peter together and I learn a lot from the text and from the other girls.

Wednesdays

On Wednesdays, we spend all our time at UCE.

The first two hours we have English Club, where we use games and conversation to help students and faculty improve their English skills. We use this as an opportunity to share a video from the Jesus Film Project and steer our conversation to a spiritual one. English Club is always a highlight of my week because I love our students; we even have a woman from South Korea who attends! Since the nature of our conversation is deep, we have the opportunity to hear about their struggles, regrets, and hopes.

After English Club, our entire team has an hour of Spanish class, which is generally to practice conversation. Then we go to lunch, either at our favorite empanada place or at an almuerzo place nearby. The almuerzo, which usually costs about $2.50, is a two or three-course Ecuadorian meal of soup, a chicken and rice dish, and sometimes an dessert, paired with a natural juice. It is a lot of food for me, but so good.

The rest of the afternoon is dedicated to ministry at UCE, either for evangelism or follow-ups. In the evening our team comes together for family night, which is different every week. Our first week, we played JackBox Games. Week two was a Nerts Tournament and week three a trip to the Quicentro mall for dinner and time at the arcade.

Thursdays

Thursdays are full, but exciting.

We spend the first part of the day in Cumbayá at La Universidad de San Francisco Quito (USFQ). The ride to Cumbayá, Cumbayá itself, and the USFQ campus can only be described as beautiful. The campus is so nice, much nicer than my own back home, and surrounded by stunning mountains.

The conversation is very good at USFQ. Many students from the U.S. do study abroad here and even the Ecuadorian students speak excellent English. I do much less translation here than I do during our conversations on other campuses. Sometimes, instead of Solarium, we use Perspective Cards to talk to students about spiritual things. Perspective Cards help us to have a more left-brained conversation about ideology. The cards help us understand the thoughts of the student on God, the purpose of life, human nature, who Jesus is, and their source of truth. After laying out their beliefs like this and trying to explain them, students often see the gaps in their pattern of thinking. We then have an opportunity to share our perspective and encourage them to search for the truth.

After our morning at USFQ, our Ecuadorian friend Josue helps us travel to la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (Cato) to meet our Ecuadorian friend Joel for more ministry there. Although this is a Catholic University, the students have views and belief systems that vary. Unfortunately, many students who grew up attending a Catholic church here in Ecuador — which is a cultural norm — have been burned, disillusioned, or offended by the church. This makes sharing the Gospel challenging.

In the evenings, we have “Wesley’s BS”, a Bible study with one of our team leaders. Wesley’s insights about scripture are both mind-blowing and encouraging.

Fridays

Fridays can be a wildcard.

Our first Friday here, which was also our first day here, was a day reserved for in-country briefing with the STINT (short term international missions) team, who worked here in Quito from August 2017 until June 7, 2018.

Our second Friday here was a holiday without school, so we joined the Ecuadorian Cru students at La Carolina park for evangelism and then spent the afternoon at our friend Joel’s home for games, lunch, worship, and fellowship.

Our third and fourth Fridays were Días de Fe, Days of Faith, where we partnered with the Ecuadorian Cru students on specific campuses to share the Gospel. On June 1 we spent the day at Cato and on June 8 we spent the day at UDLA. I am so, so grateful for the Ecuadorian Cru students. They are kind, selfless, and bold. Ministry is even better when they are with us.

On our most recent Day of Faith, we met two girls who study law at UDLA. Our team was tired and at first the conversation seemed to be going nowhere. We almost thanked them for their time and left. But something kept us there, continuing to get to know them. Between Lindsey’s questions, my translation, Emily’s testimony, and Marvin’s answers to their theological questions, they ended up hearing the Gospel and were very moved by it. They even told us they would be willing to consider getting involved with Cru.

Later that day, I had another really good conversation with a student all in Spanish. I did Solarium with him and used the Four Spiritual Laws to clarify the Gospel. While he had already accepted Christ, I was able to encourage him with the truth that Jesus is the only provision for our sin and that it isn’t about being “good enough” or not making mistakes.

The last conversation of the day, which I did with sweet Cru staff member Blanca, was very challenging. The student we spoke with was hostile toward the Gospel and at times unkind toward us. While listening to him speak about his views, I was overwhelmed by God’s love for him, plans for his life, and desire to present him with true freedom. While he was not ready to hear us out, he did take a copy of our Four Spiritual Laws booklet. I pray he will search for truth and find it.

This is a standard day of faith. And these types of conversations are normal for our day-to-day on campus as well. This is why we are here: to meet people where they are at and offer them what God has given us; to share the Gospel.

Saturdays

On Saturdays, we get to know Quito better!

While this involves doing some touristy things, it is an important chance for us to rest and bond as a team. So far, we have visited el Panecillo, la Mitad del Mundo, TelefériQo, el Mercado Artesenal La Mariscal, and la Basillica.

Of these places, my favorite was TelefériQo. We took a cable car up the east side of la Pinchinca Volcano, from 10,226 ft to 12,943 ft. Emily, Kristen and I hiked even higher. The view was breath-taking — not that I had any after such a hike — even more so as the sun began to set.

Sundays

Sundays are a day of rest and reflection.

We attend the English Fellowship Church. People from all over the world come each Sunday, which makes for wonderful conversation before and after the sermon. A few weeks ago I met a man from Malaysia and was able to hear about what life is like there.

In the afternoon, we have two hours of mandatory reflection time. This involves going to a coffee shop for two hours to process the week and spend time with God. While two hours sounds like a long time to sit still, it is essential.

In the evenings, the entire team comes together to share our findings from reflection and check in with one another before the next week begins.

Greeting the Mission Field with a Kiss

I have cherished my opportunity to serve in Quito so far. In a way, I greeted Quito with a kiss of its own: enthusiasm, excitement to serve, and a heart for its people.

The more time I spend here, the more I realize the importance of that. We work hard; between our long days, the language barrier, cultural differences, and all those trolley rides, life is not as easy as it is at home. I must choose to greet Quito with a kiss every time I open my eyes in the morning and see it, just as if the city were a friend. Some mornings, when I wake up and exhaustion still lingers from the day before, it is tempting to wish I were home, just for the day. Instead, I remind myself that God has me here for this season and it is His will I want to follow, not my own. Jesus asked His disciples to follow Him, both to actual places and in obedience (John 12:25–26).

Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.  Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

John 12:25–26

I am also reminded that wherever God locates us, we are on mission. The thrill of adventure and being in a new place is not enough to sustain a missionary for more than a few days. That fades after hopping on the same crowded trolley for the twentieth time. But the thrill of partnering with God to do His work? That is sustaining anywhere, home or abroad.

As I think about my life and my future, I realize that this is a valuable lesson. If God continues to lead me to do missions abroad, I will, not because it is the adventurous thing to do, but because it is a challenge I am up for. In the seasons where God leads me to live life on mission at home, I will, because it is equally important.

Like the Bible says in James 4:13–17, our lives are short and we have little control over what happens. With this in mind, I am learning that it is best to be open to what God wants to do with our short time on earth.

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.  If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

James 4:13–17

He knows best. And because of that we can greet each day He gives us, each place He locates us, and each person He places in front of us with a — metaphorical unless culturally appropriate — kiss. 

Going Forward

From here, my team has two more weeks of ministry in Quito, followed by three days of debrief in Puyo, Ecuador. Check out the “Next Steps” section below to read about how you can pray for us.

Serving Christ with you,

Alysha

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Next Steps

Want to get involved? My team and I invite you to be part of taking the Gospel to a world that is ready to hear the Truth of Jesus in two ways:

1. By praying for us regularly. 1 Corinthians 3:7 says “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” Pray that as we go into the Harvest to labor, God would move in the hearts of the people we meet. Pray also that he would raise up students in Ecuador to be laborers even after our trip is over. More specifically this week:
   • Pray that the students we have met so far will continue following up with us and that God would use us in their lives.
   • Pray for our health. Last week was pretty rough with stomach bugs, headaches, and various health issues/injuries. I personally spent a day and a half in bed, which was frustrating to do when there is so much to be done on campus.
   • Pray for the Ecuadorian Cru students, as well as the STINT team that just went home for the summer after being here for a year. They are all awesome and pour out/have poured out so much into this movement.
2. By being on mission where you are. Our mission in Quito is the same mission ALL Christians are on all around the world: to share the Gospel (Matthew 28:19–20)! The more I do ministry abroad, the more I realize how many easy opportunities to share Jesus with those around me I waste at home. Do me a favor and clearly and boldly share the Gospel with someone you love this week. If you don’t know where to start, feel free to use the “Contact” tab to ask for help or prayer.

Thank you for being part of God’s provision for us as we take steps of faith to help people find and follow Jesus.