Day 2 (2016)

As far as day two goes, Ecuador does not disappoint.

We began our day with a breakfast consisting of fresh fruit and banana bread. It was a delicious breakfast that I very nearly slept through. After that we packed ourselves in a van and drove to Buen Pastor. As we got off the bus we were greeted joyously by the congregation, and despite mine and some others initial reluctance to engage in a traditional Ecuadorian greeting(a kiss on the cheek) it soon became, after about a dozen greetings, almost natural. We then got to participate in the church service which consisted of much singing, clapping, and fellowship. The most notable and admirable moment was that during the peace the priest went around, and greeted every person present personally. After that we went to the courtyard, and we, along with the rest of the congregation, packed into a small room with three tables to eat a lunch of fried chicken, rice, veggies, and a mushroom sauce prepared by only a few women in a kitchen no more that eight by twelve feet.

After lunch we where invited into the pastor's beautiful home built right next to the church, and changed into our futbol(soccer) clothes for the upcoming game. We then got back in the van, with a few more people than before, and road to the park where we would play an assortment of games. The best of which was the futbol game where most of people we went to church with divided into three teams. It was a chaotic mess of people consisting of ages from 3 to 30, and yet somehow that made it all the more exciting. Although running around at 10,000 feet of elevation was quite the challenge.

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and eventually the futbol playing came to an end. However after that we drove to quite possibly the biggest mall I'll ever go in, and were given roses with nice messages to distribute to the people in the mall. It was slightly awkward, and very personally challenging, but we were well rewarded with a meal of cheeseburgers and soda with the congregation of Buen Pastor.

For me it was a very rewarding day. At times taxing, but overall just another terrific experience. It was so much different from previous mission trips and vacations I've taken. Going through a day with these people as they do things they do regularly was incredible. The level of interaction as I worshiped, played futbol with, and ate, and laughed, and talked with these people was an experience unlike any other. Here's to hoping the rest of the week is just as good.

Neil Out.
(post by Neil Strayer)