My first couple days in Quito, Ecuador have been filled with joy and excitement. I have gotten the opportunity to explore places in this city that is home to three million people! On the 12th of June I arrived in Quito after 16 hours of traveling! I met my team for the first time in the airport. My team this summer consists of six other individuals from around the United States. Raquel was born in Shell, Ecuador but is from Tennessee, Anna is from Idaho, Kathryn is from Nebraska, David goes to school in Illinois but is from Quito, Ecuador, Mark is from Maryland, Kevin is from New York and I am from Wisconsin! Raquel will be working in the hospital in Shell specializing in nursing, Anna and I will be working in the hospital in Shell spending time shadowing doctors there. Kathryn will be working in administration in the hospital office. David, Mark and Kevin will be working on engineering and clean water projects in Shell.
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| Tammy Kooistra, full-time missionary; DeNise Love, intern coordinator; Kevin Ng, David Edgren, Mark Wagner, Anna Moate, Raquel Velasco, Kathryn White, Riva Macbeth (me), Jennifer Kendrick, intern supervisor; pictured at the HCJB Global campus in Quito. |
On the 13th of June, my first day in Quito, I went with my team to the HCJB Global campus. We had our first day of orientation where we were able to learn more about the culture of Ecuador and how best to embrace it. We also had an opportunity to hear from some of the permanent missionaries here. We then went to a cafe called “Bom K-fe” for lunch. I had told my Spanish professor from Northwestern before hand that I was going to be going there for lunch, and she was able to come and say hi since she has been spending some time in Quito! After lunch I spent some time with my team, playing games, before going out to dinner.
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View of Quito from a restaurant as night quickly approaches. This city is even more beautiful at night.
After dinner we explored Quito and got to see the Presidential Palace, La Basílica, El Panecillo and La Ronda. La Basílica is one of the oldest Catholic Cathedrals in Quito. It even had gargoyles on it! El Panecillo is a statue in Quito of the Virgin Mary. La Ronda is the oldest street in Quito that was constructed in 1400.
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| In front of the Presidential Palace with Raquel, Jennifer, Kathryn and I. |
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| Walking on La Ronda at night in Quito. |
The next day, on the 14th, we spent another day in orientation. We also got a tour of HCJB Global and learned more about the history of this wonderful ministry. After the tour we helped prepare a meal for the missionary families that live here in Quito. We were able to pray for some missionaries that will be leaving the field and going back to the United States as well as for others who just came to Quito!
Yesterday, the 15th of June, I went with my team to a retreat center called “El Refugio”. It was absolutely breathtaking. It consisted of 100 acres in the heart of the mountains that focused on facilitating and encouraging team building. We were able to play some getting to know you games, and we went on a low-ropes course and high-ropes course. In all, it was a wonderful opportunity to get to know my team through celebrating each other’s strengths and encouraging one another through each other’s weaknesses. I am looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us this summer!
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My group at El Refugio for a day of team building, high ropes and laughter.
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| Flowers at El Refugio |
I went to church yesterday with my team to a church close to HCJB Global in Quito called English Fellowship Church, EFC. Many other missionary families were there, so it was a wonderful opportunity to meet everyone who is serving in Quito. After church we packed up and made our way to Shell which is going to be my home for the next six weeks.
The drive to Shell was stunning. We drove through the mountains there and got to see waterfalls, rainbows, steep cliffs, El Río Pastaza and places where you could bungee-jump and zip-line. It was amazing to see the landscape change from mountains to jungle within a couple of miles. While we drove we were entertained by a little girl called Nicolé who was the bus driver’s daughter. He dropped us off at our home which is behind Hospital Vozandes del Oriente. I will be staying there with the girls. The guys will be staying in a house next to us.
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| Nicolé, our entertainment for the five hour bus ride from Quito to Shell. |
We were able to go on a couple tours today. We went to the Nate Saint house, the Nate Saint school, Hospital Vozandes del Oriente and around Shell. I was able to buy a bracelet that the Waorani tribe hand crafted. It is a joy to say that the Waorani church is now larger than ever before. If you want to know more about the history of Nate Saint and the Waorani tribe you can go to the Hospital Vozandes tab or click
here.
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| A picture of Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming and Roger Youdarian at the Nate Saint School in Shell. |
My first day of work starts tomorrow at 7:30am and goes until 5:30pm. I will keep you updated with everything in the days to come! I am excited to spend the next six weeks serving in the community here along side the other doctors and missionaries.
