In preparation for our trip to Ecuador in April, the team has come together regularly for bonding and growth. One memorable experience was our Spanish lunch, where we cooked alongside BG’s Spanish small group, challenging ourselves to communicate and collaborate despite language barriers. This experience taught us to adapt to different cultures, rely on context to understand unfamiliar words, and work as a team in an immersive cross-cultural setting. It pushed us outside our comfort zones, both as individuals and as a group, and gave us confidence.
Another bonding opportunity was with Heidi King, who led activities that helped us communicate and trust one another. These activities were harder than expected but they taught us to rely on our entire team. Every individual’s actions affect the collective team’s goal, and acknowledging this now will allow for a smoother foreign experience.
We also worked together to put on a pancake brunch for the church to raise funds. We learned that not everyone makes the same food the same way despite us living in close communities. This experience gave us some insight as to what it will be like in Ecuador, where things are very different. We’re learning to embrace that change.
We continue to learn about Ecuador and different cultures. Julianna and Susanna lead a conversation as we discussed the book, Foreign to Familiar, about cold versus warm climate cultures. It was helpful to understand the social differences between the U.S. and Ecuador.
Through these meetings, activities, and gatherings, we have learned valuable lessons about teamwork, communication, and adaptability—essential skills for our upcoming journey. The support from our church community has played a vital role in our preparation, so thank you all.
We are still working toward our financial goal. Any financial contributions would be greatly appreciated as our departure approaches. Another key factor for our preparation is spiritual and emotional readiness; we ask you all to join us in praying for team unity, open mindsets, and acceptance for what lies ahead. Thank you for joining us on this journey. We are eager to see how God moves through this experience to reach our team and the community we will be in.
Report submitted by: By Teddy Yesudasan & Students: Julianna Fisher, Susanna Needs, Allie Carpenter, Judah Swartwood, Simon Leroux, and Josiah Carpenter.