wild

Well this adventure is coming to a close as this is my last day in the great country of Ecuador. Ive spent a little time reflecting these last couple days as we returned from puerto Lopez to Quito. Even in these last couple days seen some amazing things like a pod of humpback whales and a beachfront fish market. God has truly blessed me throughout this whole trip and has taught me so many valueable lessons along the way. From the mountains to the coast to the jungle ive seen God's presence and work being done here. The missionary family, the Delps, have been incredibly accommodating and helpful through all the struggles and blessings this summer. A big shoutout to them for taking me in. I think one of the biggest lessons learned was the thought of superior culture. After taking a trip to the DR a few years ago, I was frustrated with the rich American culture of comfort and excess. I idolized my perception of a poor people simply surviving day to day but joyful and generous in their situation. This was my short mission trip skewed perspective on developing and third world culture. For my first few weeks, I held dearly to this view and wanted it to be true. But as I reflect now, I find a different culture hidden beneath this mask I had created. I find myself arguing more and more as I realize every Ecuadorian is trying to rip me off and charge me significantly more. We call it "gringo tax". Its to be expected but at the heart, they are trying to take advantage of an uninformed tourist who cant speak Spanish well and are assumed to be swimming in money. Taking advantage of the weak. Ive also been dropped on a bus by a lady looking for money. She knocked my knees out while I wasn't holding a handle. Ive had hands in my pocket looking for a wallet or smartphone. People, here, often don't feel a need to help you with directions or sell you something in their store. I think ive changed my view of comfort because I think many ecuadorians are comfortable just like the US but we see it differently. We see a small house or a dirty floor or a decaying bathroom and feel bad for their living conditions. The longer I live here, I see people seeking comfort in different ways with flat screen TVs, smart phones, and expensive soccer clears instead of a more functional bathroom or a new addition to the house. The most shocking thing to me happened on the jungle trip with the Korean team. The Ecuadorians never went to devotional time with the Koreans, reflection and journaling time at night, and wouldn't even intermingle at meals with the Koreans from America. I asked them why when they refused my invitation to translate for them. Its because they didn't want to be uncomfortable. They didn't want to be in a place where they couldn't understand the language or be pushed to think deeper about the work we were doing. They never had a reflection or debrief afterwards. When I came to the room after reflection time, my roommate would just watch TV. They didn't want to be uncomfortable just like America or really anybody. This certainly doesn't apply for all ecuadorians and ive met many friends in the church who work actively in an uncomfortable environment with joy in their hearts and humble living conditions. I guess the moral I learned was to understand culture and people groups should not be thought of as superior but each one contains its own struggles, corruption, unique traditions, blessings, and loving aspects. Ecuador has been incredibly hospitable and have seen immense generoucity among people involved in the church. Strangers say hi and ask how you are doing. Everybody says "buen provecho " basically the equivalent of bon apetit when you are eating in public. Ive loved my time here and have come away with amazing memories, great friends, and a closer reliance and relationship with Christ. You know its been a powerful experience and full of everything from infections to mountain top summits when at the end, the first response is "its been wild ". That's the way I like it and how living for God really should be. Looking at the Bible, I would say "its been wild " and Jesus is a wild guy seeking the lost and going all out to do it. Thank you all for listening to me and helping me to express my feelings throughout this journey. The adventure still has one more page as tonight I will be back up in cayambe with pastor Jose helping to translate and welcome a non -Christian medical team from the rich suburbs of Chicago. Came in looking to serve and working up until the very end just how I like it. Toodles my good friends and ill be back soon to talk in person rather than through this blog. Thanks again and Chao from Ecuador