Today was our first full day of ministry in Ecuador, and we couldn’t have asked for a better start.
We kicked off the morning with French toast, eggs, fresh fruit, agua fresca, and coffee. The unanimous breakfast MVP? Definitely the agua fresca! Jakaii took one sip and declared it was “the best drink I’ve ever had,” which set the tone for a fun day at the ministry site.
Before heading out, we gathered for a devotional in 1 Corinthians 3. We talked about what it means to build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ. We asked ourselves, how do we know we’re laying a godly foundation while serving on mission? The answer we landed on was obedience. We won’t always see the the results of what God is doing, but we can trust Him as we faithfully follow Him where He leads.
From the hostel, we headed to La Roca, a skate ministry that served children from the Carapungo community for the day. Students from elementary through high school gathered throughout the day. We quickly realized that La Roca is a place where kids are known, loved, encouraged, and pointed to Jesus.
The afternoon flew by. Everywhere you looked, something was happening. We skated with the students while others helped create custom bandanas, make keychains, and begin painting a mural about the story of the fall designed by our hosts, Freedom and Nancy. Everywhere there was conversations, laughter, creativity, and new connections beginning to form.
After lunch, Daniel shared a message from Matthew 19:14, reminding the students that Jesus welcomed children when others tried to send them away. He talked about the heavy things we all carry through life and reminded everyone that we were never meant to carry those burdens alone. Nothing is too heavy for Jesus.
One of the most powerful moments of the day came when Gigi shared her testimony. She spoke honestly about her life before Daniel invited her to student ministry. She didn’t say yes immediately, but eventually she accepted the invitation. Through that community, she learned she wasn’t alone, and over time she came to know Christ. Her story was a beautiful reminder that a simple invitation, offered in obedience, can change the course of someone’s life.
We were also thankful for our two incredible translators. Sara, a rising third-year chemical engineering student, brought so much joy and energy to the day while helping us connect with the students. Josué has been serving alongside Freedom and Nancy for the past two years. He told us his favorite part of translating is getting to connect with groups like ours and simply have fun together.
As we were getting ready to leave, someone discovered one of the students was an incredible dancer. Before we knew it, the skate park had turned into a dance floor. Kids, leaders, translators, and our team were learning new steps and enjoying each other’s company. It was one of those moments that didn’t require a common language. You really could feel the joy in the room.
Looking back on today, what stands out most is the unmistakable presence of God. Whether we were painting, skating, sharing stories, translating conversations, or dancing together, He was faithfully building relationships and reminding us that ministry begins with simply showing up in obedience.
Thank you for praying for us. Please continue to pray for the children of Carapungo, the leaders of La Roca, for the relationships that began today, and that the seeds planted would continue to grow. We’re excited to see what God has in store for us tomorrow.
-Brittani Banks
We kicked off the morning with French toast, eggs, fresh fruit, agua fresca, and coffee. The unanimous breakfast MVP? Definitely the agua fresca! Jakaii took one sip and declared it was “the best drink I’ve ever had,” which set the tone for a fun day at the ministry site.
Before heading out, we gathered for a devotional in 1 Corinthians 3. We talked about what it means to build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ. We asked ourselves, how do we know we’re laying a godly foundation while serving on mission? The answer we landed on was obedience. We won’t always see the the results of what God is doing, but we can trust Him as we faithfully follow Him where He leads.
From the hostel, we headed to La Roca, a skate ministry that served children from the Carapungo community for the day. Students from elementary through high school gathered throughout the day. We quickly realized that La Roca is a place where kids are known, loved, encouraged, and pointed to Jesus.
The afternoon flew by. Everywhere you looked, something was happening. We skated with the students while others helped create custom bandanas, make keychains, and begin painting a mural about the story of the fall designed by our hosts, Freedom and Nancy. Everywhere there was conversations, laughter, creativity, and new connections beginning to form.
After lunch, Daniel shared a message from Matthew 19:14, reminding the students that Jesus welcomed children when others tried to send them away. He talked about the heavy things we all carry through life and reminded everyone that we were never meant to carry those burdens alone. Nothing is too heavy for Jesus.
One of the most powerful moments of the day came when Gigi shared her testimony. She spoke honestly about her life before Daniel invited her to student ministry. She didn’t say yes immediately, but eventually she accepted the invitation. Through that community, she learned she wasn’t alone, and over time she came to know Christ. Her story was a beautiful reminder that a simple invitation, offered in obedience, can change the course of someone’s life.
We were also thankful for our two incredible translators. Sara, a rising third-year chemical engineering student, brought so much joy and energy to the day while helping us connect with the students. Josué has been serving alongside Freedom and Nancy for the past two years. He told us his favorite part of translating is getting to connect with groups like ours and simply have fun together.
As we were getting ready to leave, someone discovered one of the students was an incredible dancer. Before we knew it, the skate park had turned into a dance floor. Kids, leaders, translators, and our team were learning new steps and enjoying each other’s company. It was one of those moments that didn’t require a common language. You really could feel the joy in the room.
Looking back on today, what stands out most is the unmistakable presence of God. Whether we were painting, skating, sharing stories, translating conversations, or dancing together, He was faithfully building relationships and reminding us that ministry begins with simply showing up in obedience.
Thank you for praying for us. Please continue to pray for the children of Carapungo, the leaders of La Roca, for the relationships that began today, and that the seeds planted would continue to grow. We’re excited to see what God has in store for us tomorrow.
-Brittani Banks