I will first intro myself and my team. Starting from left. Maureen, Karl, Rita, Andreas and Me(Zaida)

Now let’s begin..

Finally, I have gained strength to tell you everything that God has exposed to me. I will never be the same. The highlight of every dot in this story and the people I encountered, I will tell you.

It all began with my arrival in Ecuador. I had lost my luggage at the airport. And I took the wrong luggage that looked exactly like mine. Paul was the name of the owner of this luggage. Could I really trust my God with my minutes, hours, days during my stay?

As my team held me in prayer and headed to serve without me the next day. I went back to quito from cotacachi, a two hour travel. God had his hands in every detail. I was accompanied by a brother in Christ, who was a taxi driver. He shared his amazing testimony, prayed and taught me some spanish. Spanish class 101, woot woot! Soon, I had a burning desire to pray for this man Paul and for more souls that needed Christ in Ecuador. My fear was overcome by God’s love. As we arrived to the customer’s office in the airport, there I found my luggage, Halelluiah! God answers prayer. As we headed back; we saw the most beautiful scenery and I was able to join my team on time. Yes!

Next day, we were put right to work. We had to help paint an apartment for two students moving in. Check us out, good work team!

What a view from the window!

Fastfowarding;

The first week was a week of pouring into the kids in Cotacachi.

The joy of talking hahaha. yes, I love talking lol. I believe that’s my gift. Such a blessing to minister to those kids in cotacachi, and bounding with them. Nothing can replace that.

We played games with them, sang songs with them, shared snacks with them and dropped them in their home.

I got the opportunity to meet some youth who love the lord and look forward to serving in the church.

This are some things that we as team, we got to do. Loved it every minute. As team, we got to understand and respect each’s gift, personality. True blessing.

Have you ever did anything out of your comfort zone?! Well, I was faced with the challange of trying Ginea pig. Yes, I can’t believe I tried it. I wanted to be a good sport haha, also I knew that in some cultures, it is seen as rude and disrespectful when you decline food. So, I closed my eyes and took a bite. Surprisingly, it was ok….it tastes like chicken but a bit more saltier.

In our morning reflection and group devotion to God.

My leader once explained to us that to be a missionary you need to be F.A.T

Not literally but you need to be Flexible, Available and Teachable. I guess, I was flexible enough to try new things, haha.

A day of a unexpected turn..

What is was to come, was unexpected. Sickness and earthquake all in one day.

Sickness hit Ramona, she played a huge part of our stay there. You see, it was because of her and the ministry there, that I went to Ecuador in the first place. We stayed at her place, and she delicate to us on how we could help and serve the people. That day, I was to share my testimony with youth gathering and she was to translate in Spanish. I found myself nervous because it meant either I wouldn’t be able to share or that I would have to try my best to share my testimony in spanish.

But, the all knowing God knew the beginning from end and he sent provision. I met one of the students from Impact ministry. Who later God used to translate my testimony. Awesome!!! Anyways, there we headed by faith after church to the mountains of cotacachi with the youth on a bumping road, where the pastor’s wife was nervous to drive up. We had no choice but to trust God.

What a view! What a moment of worship! Well, until who did we see?! The president of Ecuador hiking in the mountains with his family. Truly, God’s timing is perfect. For some youth, he is their role model. But the best part was to see pastor Walter praying for this man. God is good. By the way, always pray for your leaders, always!

Later, that night we found ourselves heading back to our apartment. After our reflection as a team. I was prompting myself to have dinner, when I felt the table shake. The first one was slight shake but when the second one hit I paralyzed in that moment. It was like a trigger to a memory from the past, when I expirenced war as a child where the houses and people would tremble of terror. The fear that grippes you when you are in danger. Thank the Lord for my team in love, they prayed with and for me and tried to make me laugh. Thanks guys!

Issues I thought, I would never face or overcome but I did. I was face to face with the. fear of height, fear of danger…I tell you!

Not to mention, I would constantly get nervous when sharing my testimony. I would forget what I wanted to say, or forget exact details. But even in that God came through for me. Through peace that surpasses all understanding. I am sure, it gets better the more God gives me the opportunity to share.

There was actually one time, this time in a different town La Calera, where I shared my testimony and it moved a lady’s heart to tell me how she can relate to my testimony as she expirenced abuse, neglect and troubles in her life and marriage. She then asked me “ how do I go back to God?” Good question, especially when you drifted away from church. You got with the wrong crowd or fell into deep sin. Also, believed your whole life that God is this judgmental being with no heart, always angry, ready to punish you. It makes sense but no, our God is merciful, slow to anger, kind ready to embrace you in his love. So, I found my telling her to come to God. with a honest heart. He is waiting and ready to forgive. Trully, God works eh!In chamanal, I was faced with a different challenge the word “ Negrita” which means in English “ blacky”. Apparently, in Ecuador is a form of indearment. Since, I was a child this term was associated with racism and discrimination.

Still, I believe it is to be taken with sensitivity. Not to be taken lightly.

Mind you in Ecuador one of this current issues are class and racial division. The rich lived really well and the poor really poor, no balance. Traveling from Cotacachi, La Calera, Ibarra, Chamanal and lastly Loma. Where minority groups such as the indigenous and the black people struggle with shame, drugs, suicide, lower or no education and are marginalized by their country.

This are places where the gospel and the love of God is needed.

But how can you spread the gospel to hungry bellies?! We must take what Jesus said seriously. Our actions must reflect so.

For I hungered, and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took Me in;

naked, and ye clothed Me; I was sick, and ye visited Me; I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.’

Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when saw we Thee hungering and fed Thee, or thirsty and gave Thee drink?

When saw we Thee a stranger and took Thee in, or naked and clothed Thee?

Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee?’

And the King shall answer and say unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.’ Matthew 25:35 – 40

I loved working with the crew in Ibarra. We headed to Chamanal.

The theme was the Olympics. From a drama skit, games and sharing of testimonies and teaching them a English song called “ Jesus loves me!”

In the end we got to give out sandwiches, cookies after the VBS program to the kids. So, much fun and a loving environment that the kids came back again and the room was packed even adults came. Perhaps, they were just curious to hear what is all that fuss, and to meet the five Canadians.

We Christians must first remember to serve one another in love, our neighbour. And who is our neighbour? Our friend, family, co-worker? No, anybody that the Lord puts in your path.

That means a stranger.

That homeless on your street.

That lonely single mother.

Or those young kids who seems to be neglected( dirty and hungry)

Being exposed to this reality was hard because few days earlier upon my arrival, I met the president. It shocked me to see his country in a state of chaos. And I wondered if he ever goes to this forgotten places. And if he goes, what are the actions he is putting in place to improve the living conditions of this Ecuadorians.

Some of this people living conditions are very sad. Living in dusty smelly places, some even live in plastic houses. When kids have only one meal a day or are showing up to VBS in the same clothes as the previous day. Really smelling bad, to the point if gives you nauseas. It doesn’t always meant that it was a sign of negligence but rather this kids and their families can’t afford to take showers everyday. Water is a necessary in Ecuador. But you would say but Zaida you came from Angola. You must have seen this. Mind you, though I was not rich. I lived well, and if you live well in some of this corrupt countries, you are sheltered from the reality. The separation of neighbours and classes were very evident. So who were my neighbours? The sons and daughters of people in power, or influence. Most of my life after that, was in Portugal.

So, yes I am changed, and every time I recall some details of this trip, I cry. I think about my own life and say;

“ I really have nothing to complain about!”

I landed in Canada with new eyes, and a new heart. A heart for nations, the poor and the forgotten. Out of this expirence, a desire for mission was birth. Does it mean perhaps going back to the place I fell in love with ?! Does it mean a new challenge on horizons?! Different country. Eh, team. Perhaps Malawi. Does it mean, I will become a missionary in the future?! Most likely. But for now, my mission is here in Canada, in my neighbourhood and to whoever God puts my path. I am F. A. T all day. Haha