Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Hey, friends! I am sorry for my delay in posting, but nonetheless… Gap H has made it to ECUADOR! To get here, we took a 4 hour bus ride to Johannesburg, South Africa and then got on our first 12 hour flight to Istanbul, Turkey. There was a 2 hour layover, and then we hopped on a 10 hour flight to Bogota, Columbia. After that, there was a 2 hour flight from Bogota to Panama City, Panama! We had a little bit of a longer layover in the Panama airport to grab dinner and then one last 2 hour flight to Quito, Ecuador! Our next travel day will be when we head back to the United States!!

Since arriving in Ecuador, we have gotten settled in, and started ministry. I have to say I am absolutely in love with what I get the blessing of doing here. My team gets to partner alongside Camp Hope! On any given day there we get to work with special needs students any age from 6 to 37. The first week and a half of ministry I have been partnered with a physical therapist. When she found out we were all christians doing Kingdom work alongside her, she danced. She was so excited to learn of what all we had been doing in the last 7 or so months. Each day with her we work with an individual for about 30 to 40 minutes. We mainly work on gaining muscle strength for each student. The students have various challenges they face everyday. Getting to know them and work with them has already been such an honor and blessing. Sadly, we have had to take a few days away from Camp Hope.

There has been a covid outbreak within the squad. 12 of us, over the past few days and currently, have battled or are battling symptoms. As a whole, we have quarantined ourselves and will not break the bubble for at least 10 days from when each person’s symptoms started. There are only a few more days of quarantine for some, while others are still experiencing symptoms currently. I am a first timer with this virus and am hopefully on the up and up. I am currently on day four. Traveling during this time, each of us knew that this was a possibility, but the people who have heard of Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior make the travels all the more worth it! 

I thankfully get out of quarantine on Easter! I am stoked at the thought of celebrating such an amazing day with my friends who have become family. Though we might put together an Easter egg hunt, that is not at all what it is about. Jesus ROSE from the grave and is alive today and forevermore! And that is what we will truly be celebrating on not only the 17th, but each and every day. 

I am very much looking forward to being back at Camp Hope soon. To see them smile and progress in exercises is such a gift. Please be in prayer for the students at Camp Hope along with the 12 that are getting over covid. It is also crazy to think that I am 50 days away from being back with friends and family! Please pray for me to be where my feet are and to soak in every last drop of what the Father is doing here in Ecuador. 

God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.

Much love from Ecuador,

Kate