Ecuador 2013

Joey and I just got back from a 5 day trip to Ecuador. These are the questions that were our debriefing at the end of the trip and I wanted to share my answers on the blog. Number one so that I would not forget and number two so that you would know and could pray for the Ecuadorian people.   

Reflection Questions from your Mission Trip to Ecuador

1. What is the funniest thing that has happened on this trip? The middle missionary girl asked if I was a boy or a girl! It was because of the short hair.
2. What will you miss the most? The Darnell’s
3. Who is someone you won’t forget? Norma, one of the Ecuadorian ladies that help with the ministry there. She was so kind and with the little English she knew she really tried to get to know all about me and my family.
4. What surprised you the most about coming to Ecuador? The immense poverty. It was truly astonishing that in 6 hours on a plane I could be in a country that people live in cane houses with no running water.
5. What are some scriptures that have stood out while being here? What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee. Ps 56:3. I get extreme travel anxiety. Upset stomach and all that goes along with it. Even when I have to go to the grocery store by myself I have anxiety. I have it EVERY Sunday morning. So, when I made the decision in February to go with Joey to Ecuador, I started telling people to pray. About a month and a half out I was really struggling with anxiety. I increased the prayer chain. I can now say that our God is even interested in the small things. I not once had any stomach problems the entire trip! It is truly a miracle! I am so glad I stepped out in faith and said yes. It was life changing.
6. What has God taught you during your time here? To pray for the small things. (see #5)
7. What is one story that reflects God’s glory from this trip? After the morning session that Joey taught the people on worship though music, one of the Ecuadorian ladies came up. She spoke a little English and through that broken English she told us thank you. She was amazed that someone from America would come and teach them about worship through music, and was so thankful because she really needed to learn what Joey was sharing. It made it worth the entire trip to hear that. 
8. Who are three people you can tell this story to, to direct them to Christ? I am going to tell my girls. They need to know that their Mama was scared. That I knew I was going to miss them terribly but that it was worth my fear to step out and go. To share the love of Christ with those Ecuadorians and to love on the missionaries there. I also want to share with our GA’s and church. I teach them how important it is to go and now I can teach with experience behind it.
9. What will you tell people if you only have (1, 3, or 60 minutes) to tell them about your trip? Go. No matter what the fear may be God can take care of it all. Pray. If you don’t feel called to go at this time, then pray for those that are going. It truly makes a difference. Give. If you can’t go for some reason then give so someone else can. My trip was paid for because others sacrificially gave so that I could go.
10. What will you do in the next six months to spur others on to value Christ more and to spread the gospel? Talk about my trip to anyone that will listen!
11. What are some changes that need to be made in your life and how will you work towards that? I need to pray for the small things. I need to pray for all things and I need to make sure that I don’t forget what it was like to be there. Looking at those faces of people that need Christ needs to be burned in my mind.
12. What will you do to remember to pray for the ministry here? I bought the girls and I each a purse. Every time I see those purses I am going to pray for the people in Ecuador. 
13. How can we raise awareness about supporting missions through praying, giving, and going? Talk about it to anyone that will listen. 

I remember feeling this this way when I got back from Mexico in the summer of 1994. But now that I am older, have a family and actually invested in the lives of the missionary family that serves there BEFORE they were missionaries my outlook is so much different. They have a hard job. I was able to sit down with my friend Saturday night and have a "girls" night complete with an ABC Family cheesy movie. I was able to ask questions and try to understand what she has given up and how she feels. I only have a small glimpse into what she is feeling. I will never completely understand how she feels unless I give up everything and serve overseas. But it was good to try to encourage her and her sweet family while we were there. I have sweet memories that I will never forget and I hope that one day soon I will be able to go back and see them again in Ecuador.