Day 1 (2022) - St. John’s Youth Missions are Back!

St. John's Youth Missions are back! Due to the pandemic, we have been unable to send youth teams to Ecuador since our last summer mission in 2019. This morning, bright and early, our enthusiastic team gathered at the Tallahassee Airport for a flight via Miami to Quito, Ecuador. We are thrilled to be putting our faith into action once again, and we're so appreciative of all of the St. John's parishioners who helped with fundraising to send us on our way. 

Below are a few photos of our travel day. But stay tuned! Members of our team will be sharing daily blog entries in this space about their adventures. Plans include helping lead a VBS for local children, running summer camp activities in the nearby city of Otavalo, and working in the community at the homes of elderly parishioners. We also encourage you to follow our St. John's Facebook page, where we'll be sharing lots of photos throughout the week!

One of the biggest perks about going to Ecuador this year, is the chance to catch up with John and Caroline Allen. The Allens left St. John's in late summer 2021, following a call to serve as missionaries in Quito, Ecuador. After a year of preparations with Youth World, a ministry of One Collective, John and Caroline are welcoming nearly a dozen short-term mission teams to Ecuador this summer. We are so appreciative of the hard work they have put in to make our St. John's Youth Mission Trip a success!

The amazing view of Quito or these photos of our church family reuniting with the Allens ... both are fabulous and were sights for sore eyes!

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Hello from Quito! A quick update from Caroline!

The kids were troopers as we navigated lost luggage (supply bags) and made it to the bus where the Allens and our Education Equals Hope (E=H) hosts Willy and Avery greeted us! Fun fact: Avery and I grew up together at our home church in Sarasota! 

We made it our beautiful hostel called Verbo, which is a retreat center in Quito where Happening is held. Avery, the Allens, and Willy ran through general info about our trip and we had dinner at a food truck park! Emily and I enjoyed our sushi while the kiddos went for burgers and fries. We ended the evening with a debrief and everyone was in bed by 10:30. 

Stay tuned, as Kate Rayboun will update you tomorrow night!