After a full day of travel on Friday, we arrived in Guayaquil and got settled into our hotel at about 2:00 AM on Saturday morning. We met our host missionary, Doug Kallestad and his wife Shelly, and after breakfast on Saturday, we headed out to a more rural area for the day, where we worked with Compassion kids. We were off and running!
It was emotional and amazing. We worked all afternoon with about 70 children ages 4 - 12. They greeted us with hugs and "holas". We also met and spent time with the amazing church pastor, Gustavo, and his staff, who have such a heart for their rural community. It was a great reminder that no matter what little corner of the globe we are in, God is working there.
From there, we went to Samborondón, a larger town outside of Guayaquil, where we will be spend the next 3 days and nights. We are "air-b-n-b'ing" in Pastor Jose's home. He and his wife, Guadalupe, pastor a church in this town. We are being extended so much hospitality through this church family.
Sunday was a little more laid back. We worshipped in the local Iberoamericana Church in the morning, though the start was delayed by an hour due to an electrical blackout and no water that morning. Worship was a blessing, and then Jose and Guadalupe, invited some of the congregation over to their house for lunch. It was fun getting to know them and to laugh together through the translations of the language through Google Translator. It was a sweet time of fellowship over lunch. Then we toured the town to visit the printing business of one of the church members and to see some of the sights.
We used some time in the evening to prepare as a team for our time at the school we went to Monday morning. Then for dinner, we were invited to a cookout where we spent time with more of the congregation. It was a time of sharing, eating a great meal together, laughing and even singing and dancing, led by the two sons of one of the women on the church worship team. Everyone have so much fun!
Relationships are the center of any South American culture, and they are inviting us into their homes, their church, their community and their families. As they have reminded us many times, we are a part of their family because we are all a part of the family of Jesus Christ!
It was emotional and amazing. We worked all afternoon with about 70 children ages 4 - 12. They greeted us with hugs and "holas". We also met and spent time with the amazing church pastor, Gustavo, and his staff, who have such a heart for their rural community. It was a great reminder that no matter what little corner of the globe we are in, God is working there.
From there, we went to Samborondón, a larger town outside of Guayaquil, where we will be spend the next 3 days and nights. We are "air-b-n-b'ing" in Pastor Jose's home. He and his wife, Guadalupe, pastor a church in this town. We are being extended so much hospitality through this church family.
Sunday was a little more laid back. We worshipped in the local Iberoamericana Church in the morning, though the start was delayed by an hour due to an electrical blackout and no water that morning. Worship was a blessing, and then Jose and Guadalupe, invited some of the congregation over to their house for lunch. It was fun getting to know them and to laugh together through the translations of the language through Google Translator. It was a sweet time of fellowship over lunch. Then we toured the town to visit the printing business of one of the church members and to see some of the sights.
We used some time in the evening to prepare as a team for our time at the school we went to Monday morning. Then for dinner, we were invited to a cookout where we spent time with more of the congregation. It was a time of sharing, eating a great meal together, laughing and even singing and dancing, led by the two sons of one of the women on the church worship team. Everyone have so much fun!
Relationships are the center of any South American culture, and they are inviting us into their homes, their church, their community and their families. As they have reminded us many times, we are a part of their family because we are all a part of the family of Jesus Christ!