We all stood in silence. I gazed at the bright, golden lights, trying to count them all but soon gave up. There were far too many.
We were at Tablazo, a popular lookout overlooking multiple cities including La Libertad, Salinas, Saint Elena and Ballenita, in Ecuador. At night, the cityscape glowed with thousands of street lights, illuminating the once dark neighbourhoods.
Looking out at the lights, our team faced some rather harsh statistics about our mission field. We had come to share the gospel in a country where only 4% of the population were evangelical Christians. Furthermore, 84% of Ecuadorians believe in a works-based salvation, one that is determined by good morals and periodic church attendance.
We visualized the lights as people. People in need of the message of the gospel. Obviously, in the short time we spent in Ecuador, we couldn’t possibly share our faith with every single person in these cities. But what if we focused on one?
We broke off into smaller groups and prayed for that one person. Whether it was a Christian striving to be a witness to Christ in their community or an individual we may meet and have the opportunity to share the Gospel with them, we prayed for them.
Part 1: Arrival and Ecuador Church Service
I remember when we first got to Ecuador, the team was just elated that those sleepless flights were over. The heat was stifling, yet welcome, compared to the cold Canadian winter we had left behind. We had no idea what lay ahead of us, yet we were still eager to launch ourselves into this unknown mission field. We were kindly welcomed by our host missionary, Wesley, and his son, Levi. They distributed traditional Ecuadorian snacks which we quickly devoured.
We soon found ourselves on the road again, driven by Rony who over the course of the trip became not only our driver but also our bodyguard, tour guide, and trusted friend. He drove us to our hotel where we dumped our bags and got straight to work.
Sunday was almost upon us. Some of us girls were tasked with leading worship for the Sunday morning service and for a church fellowship night later that evening. Running on less than two hours of sleep, we sang through as many songs as we could, changing keys and adjusting instrumental accompaniments as we went. Funnily enough, I tuned my first guitar with a pair of pliers in Ecuador. I learned all the songs a week prior, many of them being the Spanish versions of some of my favourite worship songs.
Sunday morning quickly came and went. We played and sang well, and while I mispronounced a few words, no one seemed to take notice. Everyone was so kind and appreciative that my worries quickly melted away.
Part 2: Ministry Opportunities
For me, Monday’s highlight was Salina’s beach. We set up various sports and invited the public to join in. That night was a successful time of ministry as we played and met more church members and beach-goers. Toward the end of the night, the team experienced an unforgettable interaction. After much conversation, two young women accepted Christ alongside some team members. These women were examples of the power of God’s perfect timing. He had placed us in the path of those women, and this interaction, so early on in our mission, solidified our belief that Christ had called our team to Ecuador. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 15:58, which encourages believers: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
Tuesday was a ministry-heavy day starting early and ending late. We were scheduled to enter a school to share the gospel message, sing worship songs, and organize outdoor sports like cross-net, spikeball, soccer, and football.
Driving to the school was a sobering experience. I witnessed from behind the tinted windows of our van a man being mugged, not too far from the school. We were told that in this particular area of Ecuador, crime was high. Children at this school had likely seen the aftermath of gang and street violence.
This particular school was surrounded by tall, concrete walls and only accessible through a large steel door at the front. The school’s security measures were similar to those of the surrounding neighbourhoods we had seen. Some houses were equipped with ten-feet-tall concrete walls and another three feet of electric fence or barbed wire. Those unable to source electric fences lined their walls and fences with shards of broken glass in an effort to keep out intruders.
We scrambled out of the van, eager to get a look at our new surroundings. We quickly unloaded the equipment and got to work setting it up. Soon the soccer field where we had stationed ourselves was flooded with hundreds of kids. The whole team was so excited.
As we were waiting for all the schoolchildren to arrive, I sat next to a group of young girls who were eager to talk and ask questions. They clearly saw the confused look on my face, but the language barrier didn’t seem to phase them. They continued to question me in Spanish. We laughed together as they realized no matter how many times they slowly repeated a question, it wouldn’t help me understand them any better. I was straining to pick out familiar words but soon resorted to using gestures to maintain a conversation.
Part 3: Sharing the Gospel
Soon our gospel presentation began. We led worship and later performed a drama skit portraying the power of sin and Jesus’s ability to free us from it.
I was particularly excited for the gospel presentation which I would soon introduce. We had all practiced the wordless book, a simple yet effective way to explain the Gospel to children. It’s essentially a book with five coloured pages: one black, one red, one white, one gold and one green. Each page represents a key element of Christ’s message of salvation.
With Alena, my team member and translator, beside me, the story began. Before I opened the book, I told the story of creation: how God had created all things, and everything was perfect until man disobeyed God and ate the fruit. Sin, pain, and death entered the world. I opened the book to the black page and explained how, because of our sin, our hearts are dark. Because of sin, we were separated from God, but God had a plan.
I flipped to the red page. I explained how only Jesus Christ could repair the damage we had caused. The perfect sacrifice had to pay the price for our sins. Christ died on the cross, shed His blood, and rose from the grave to restore the gap between humanity and God. This led to the white page where I explained that through Christ’s sacrifice, we are washed clean. To be washed clean, we need to acknowledge that we are sinners and in need of Christ, accepting Him into our hearts. We can now enter into a relationship with Him and be renewed through His Spirit.
I then flipped to the gold page, explaining that those who accepted Christ would inherit the kingdom of heaven. I emphasized that it is not our good works or behaviour that get us into heaven but that it is through the grace of Jesus Christ that we are saved.
Finally, I flipped to the green page. This page shows how we can grow in our relationship with Christ. We can pray to God and start attending a church. We can also become a part of the mission to tell other people about this gift.
I did that presentation twice that day. Well over 400 kids heard the gospel, many for the first time. It was a very rewarding experience. I am still so grateful for the opportunity to be a witness to Christ for the students at that school.
Part 4: Reflecting on the Mission
Soon enough we were nearing the end of our trip. Our team would need to pack our bags and take the lengthy flight back home.
I’ve always felt conflicted when it comes to leaving a mission field. The transition back is always the hardest. But I quickly remind myself that I will be on mission in my own country when I return.
Ministering in Ecuador was a valuable experience, and it has equipped me to better share the gospel in Canada. The call to evangelism escapes no Christian or country, including us in North America. The notion that ministry must extend beyond North America to be considered mission work is a very limited view, especially when our own culture is in desperate need of Christ.
I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Romans: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”