Fatten Up Your Bookshelf and Enrich Your Mind

As part of our pre-trip studies, Chip suggested the following books:

Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help and How to Reverse It

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor ... and Yourself

Wake Up, Little Blog. It's Time to Go Again

Sharon Putman here, happy to report that I am heading back to Quito in about a month! Chip Smith with Education Equals Hope is leading a vision trip for adults who want to see and learn more about the E=H ministry sites. The dates are January 13-18, 2015.

Here are the names of the people who are going. Please keep us in your prayers!

• Anne Smith
• Sharon Putman
• Michelle Hirsch
• Ansley Hilton
• Juan Sandoval
• Ken McCall
• Allison Harr
• Brian Davis
• Joyce Sanders
• Elizabeth Lee
• Emily Simpson
• Chip Smith
• Celeste Bundy
• Kacie Gibson
• Amelia Craig

To learn more about vision trips in general, click here. To learn more about the Quito Vision Trip, click here.

Day Four: Kim Rhodes

Today was our third day at the church, and projects began wrapping up. The mural of Noah's ark in the Sunday school classroom was completed, and handprints filled the room with all the colors of the rainbow. Doors were freshly painted, and railings were finally dry enough to touch. 

Yesterday, Father Mike and I painted glue onto boards so the foam Lillian had cut could be attached. Today, there were two groups in charge of attaching fabric to the foam boards with heavy-duty staples. The purpose of all this was to make cushions for the church pews. No one expected this to be the easiest of tasks, but no one expected the problem we encountered. Anyone who's been on a mission trip knows that you can use almost anything, but the staple gun today had a special vendetta against anyone who wanted to use it and had a way of showing its displeasure: shooting staples at whomever and whatever was in front of it. After a while, everyone got tired of trying to hold the stapler exactly right , so we purchased a new one. The pew cushions were much easier to finish with a staple gun that actually worked. 

I mentioned a mural in the Sunday school classroom, and almost everyone at the church had a hand in making it -- literally. The rainbow above the ark was made of the handprints of our mission team and members of Cristo Liberador -- from the little kids to the little old ladies. 

There are plenty of fun stories that came from covering kids' hands in paint, but my favorite is that we invited kids playing outside to come and put their hands on the wall. Not all the kids were a part of the congregation, and it's a hopeful thought that maybe their handprints on a classroom wall might be enough to bring them back to the church for worship, and maybe by extension their families. 

God works in ways that no one can foretell, and this experience continues to be filled with surprises. I think that it would be awesome if the small things that we've been helping the members of Cristo Liberador accomplish like cushions and murals could be enough to help someon find a way closer to God's grace. 

Kim Rhodes

July 28, 2014

Day Five: Carly Campbell

As we near the end of our journey, it's hard to express in words how truly grateful I am for this experience! It's hard to believe that our last day of construction was today! We finished all our projects: painting classrooms, improving church pews, caulking windows, etc...and I can't help but wonder where has the time gone. In two days we return home and although it'll be nice not to have to worry about what I eat and what water is ok to drink, I can't imagine leaving Qutio and all the godliness and wonder it possesses! In just under a week, I can confidently say that I have seen God working not only through me but in my fellow teammates and the amazing congregation of Cristo Libertador! Everyone has been such a joy to work with that not even the language barrier could stop the laughter! Our week has been filled with determination, willingness, patience, positivitey...the list could go on forever! More importantly, our week has been filled with service! The 20 of us were called by God to come and be servants of Christ but the people of Cristo Libertador served us right back! It reminds me of Matthew 25:35 which says this, 

       "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." 

 

The 20 of us were strangers to these people and even though we were their to serve them, they fed us some DELICIOUS food, made sure we had water to drink, and opened up their church to us! They made us feel welcome and more importantly they made us feel loved! As a result, we have really made some great relationships with the people at Cristo Libertador and within our team! It shows me that God is present everywhere and that being a servant in Christ and having love in your heart is universal language! 

                        Our wonderful, breathtaking view at dinner this evening!

Day Four: The Journey Continues

We started off our day today with an hour-long visit to Casa Gabriel, a home that takes in boys off the street and gives them not only shelter and safety but love, guidance and spiritual mentoring. While there, we also heard about Casa Adalia (www.casaadalia.org), a similar program that rescues girls from prostituion and sex trafficking. Casa Adalia has a vocational art program called EsperanzArt, which teaches the girls skills they can use to make a living. We were presented with a beautiful display of jewelry to shop from to support the program (www.casaadalia.org/esperanzart.html).

Next, we headed back to Cristo Liberador to continue our painting and construction projects. We began with morning prayer and singing "Abre Mis Ojos," "Demos Gracias al Señor," and "Trading My Sorrows." Another highlight was reciting psalms and the Lord's Prayer with our Ecuadorean brothers and sisters, each of us in our own language. The blending of languages and voices was very moving.

Amanda and Frances finished the mural. It looks amazing!

We played basketball and soccer together, enjoyed a delicious lunch of chicken and rice, and closed out the day by gathering together for prayer and music.

We made a lot of progress but still have more to do tomorrow. 

Day Three: Building Relationships

On Sunday, we were about 20 minutes late to Cristo Liberador because many roads between our hostel and the church were blocked for a road race. Father Mike was to deliver the sermon, and we literally ran from the bus to the church and arrived just minutes before the sermon. With our translator Marisol by his side, Mike preached just like he does at Holy Cross: straight from the heart. We heard about various images of God, from king of kings and lord of lords to God the farmer, who takes time to tend to us, to nurture us and grow us over time and through good times and bad to bear good fruit. 

After church and prayers for those who were having birthdays and anniversaries, we had hot tea and the most delicious coffee with the parishioners. Then it was back to work ... and a relationship-building paint war.

Painting Madre Lourdes office 

Playing soccer

Cameron's son, Graham, and Cameron with us for lunch 

We also had dinner at the mall. The view was amazing!

Wi-Fi Problems

Just a quick post to say all is well. We were without wifi last night, so we couldn't post. All is well. Stay tuned!

Day Two: a Reciprocal Partnership

Saturday was our first day at our ministry site, Cristo Liberador, an inner-city mission church in Comite del Pueblo, which is about 20 minutes away from our hostel. When we arrived at 8:00 am, we gathered in the church for a welcome greeting and introductions. We sang and worshipped together, and then the ladies of the church served us breakfast (bread, cheese, fruit and colada morada, a traditional Ecuadorean beverage).

After breakfast, we split up into several different work groups, working alongside the Ecuadorean parishioners. We had a kitchen crew helping to prepare lunch, a group playing with preschoolers, several people attending a youth event that included a Happening meeting, a group painting a classroom and preparing to paint a mural, and a painting crew working on the metalwork on the front of the church (window grates, handrails and gates).

Midday, we were served a delicious lunch of chicken rice. Most crews went back to their work areas after lunch, and a few helped clean up the kitchen and peel potatoes for dinner.

We were back at our hostel around 4 pm, had a wonderful dinner prepared by Cameron's mother-in-law, and had a debriefing meeting to discuss our highs and lows of the day and to share a moment or two of where we saw God at work around us. 

Day One: Maddi Lee

They say pictures are worth a thousand words, but I've found that even with a picture, it's hard to find the words to describe this country. No words, not even a couple of pictures, does this beautiful place justice. The following two pictures are my attempts to capture my favorite views of today, panorama style. 

Near the top of the Basilica, a Catholic cathedral that nearly took my breath away (and I'm not just talking about the stairs), overlooking just a section of the city of Ecuador

Sitting on the first pew of the church of San Francisco, a marveling view of the intricate wall designs and altar. How I would love to attend a service here. 

Before I came on this trip, my cousin gave me some advice. She told me ask God each morning to empty me so that he could fill me with with himself and use me as an instrument of service. That is my goal for the week, and I am so eager to see what God has in store for me and this entire group during our Viaje del Corazon. 

In many ways, I wish I could capture the sights, sounds and smells in little viles and bring them home to give all the people I know just a glimpse of the wonders. But I would never seek to ruin the experience they could have in full one day. I do pray, however, that they are able to make the journey of the heart on their own time and see Ecuador as I do: pure beauty. 

Maddi Lee

Day One: Are We Really Here?

After a morning of orientation, we had a chance to eat lunch in town and do a little sightseeing. This photo is from the middle level of the Basilica del Voto National. The city of Ecuador is surrounded by mountains and beautiful in an old-world sort of way.

Tonight, we continue our orientation and prepare for our first day of construction at Cristo Liberador Episcopal Church.

Being present with "Cameron our missionary" moves me to tears. We are finally getting to participate in this ministry first-hand after praying for her for the past 12 years. God is with us, and I am so grateful to be here with our youth and youth leaders.

Mike+

Day One: Getting Our Feet on the Ground

Here are some photos from our first day. 

This is El Jireh, our hostel. We are staying on the top floor, which has six rooms and a kitchen area. Here is the view out the back:

This is the Youth World office, where we met this morning to learn about all of the amazing ministry programs this organization has created:

Next, we toured Basilica del Voto Nacional (Basilica of the National Vow). The cathedral was constructed at the turn of the 20th century and was completed in 1909. Most of our group tested their lung capacity here at about two miles above sea level by climbing to the top of the tower.  The reward was an amazing view!

Next, we toured downtown Quito, had lunch, and visited the Basilica de San Francisco.

Oh, and Father Mike heard Maddi's confession. ;-)

We've Arrived!

Our host Amy, Jared, Cameron and Graham, and Mother Susan at our team meeting

Connor with baby Liam! 

We landed in Quito last night around midnight local time (1 am EST).  Everyone is doing well, and all of our luggage arrived safely. After a very long immigration line and a 45-minute bus ride, we made it to El Jireh hostel at 2:15 am.  

We got a few hours of sleep, made breakfast in the hostel, and had a team meeting to learn about the history and culture of Quito.  Then we headed out to see it for ourselves!

Stay tuned! 

"Here I Am! Send Me."

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!' Isaiah 6:8

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The mission team all ready to fly out of Atlanta

And a group selfie with Delta Airline's Dee Dee Tyler!

Team meeting

Savannah and Jared are very excited!