LIFT 33 is into its third day in Ecuador. I apologize for not getting an update in on our day of arrival. We traveled a total of about 22 hours by vans, plane and bus to make the journey from CAMP-of-the-WOODS to NYC to Panama to Quito, Ecuador then to our base, El Refugio. Thank you for praying for our journey down - the traveling was smooth, just long with a red-eye flight with all of us catching naps whenever and wherever we could.
After an evening of orientation to El Refugio (the refuge) and Youth World - the ministry we are partnering, we all hit the bunks for a good night's sleep. Wednesday morning, we started right out with team-building activities which culminated on the high-ropes course in the forest a few minutes up the mountain from the campus. Before launching out into two weeks of ministering with the churches and villages we will be visiting it is important that we are united and working well together as a team. The students were challenged to work together and trust each other in a variety of ways as they were blindfolded then progressed to crossing high above a ravine on very wobbly obstacles (with safety lines of course).
The afternoon consisted of starting the work projects we will be doing when on the base here to help the outreach potential of El Refugio. The three big projects are to continue to improve the facilities and beauty of the prayer garden and a bouldering wall. Both of these projects have been ongoing over the years as previous LIFT teams have contributed to the development of these through funds and hours of labor (many hands making the work light for the staff here who struggle to find time to get these done). The bouldering wall is a continuation of the climbing wall project that LIFT help start 5 years ago.
The current students are able to benefit from the work of previous LIFTers by getting their first exposure of the semester to outdoor rock climbing on the 40 foot wall. It is inspiring to see all the LIFT students climbing at night under the lights and having a great time encouraging each other in overcoming their fears and trusting each other - knowing that this wall is used in similar ways with many groups of youth and churches that come to this campus to learn Christian principles and lessons through such a practical hands-on experience.
The other big project the students are working on is new to El Refugio. They are helping develop a 5K race course through many obstacles of jumping, climbing, sliding, and crawling - mostly through thick slimy mud, but also including some fire and water obstacles and steep mountain running. The event was inspired by the "Tough Mudder" race series that has become very popular in the states. It will be called "Todo Lodo" (All Mud). Love the name! The race will be in mid-April, hoping to draw over 1,000 competitors, being an outreach to the public of Quito (a city of over 2 million) and open the door for relationship-building and exposure to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Needless to say, the LIFTers are having a lot of fun working hard and serving in helping with all that needs to happen before such a big event comes to this small little campus. They may even need to take the opportunity to "test" out the course.
LIFT heads out to the village of El Chaco tomorrow (Friday) to team up with the local evangelical church in doing a wide variety of outreaches. Everyone is doing very well. No illnesses, just some sore muscles with the work and the fitness training they have been doing in preparing to climb a large mountain at the end of their time here.
Please pray for good health for the team and that the Holy Spirit continue to move in their hearts as they look for opportunities to minister and be ministered to.
Tim
After an evening of orientation to El Refugio (the refuge) and Youth World - the ministry we are partnering, we all hit the bunks for a good night's sleep. Wednesday morning, we started right out with team-building activities which culminated on the high-ropes course in the forest a few minutes up the mountain from the campus. Before launching out into two weeks of ministering with the churches and villages we will be visiting it is important that we are united and working well together as a team. The students were challenged to work together and trust each other in a variety of ways as they were blindfolded then progressed to crossing high above a ravine on very wobbly obstacles (with safety lines of course).
The afternoon consisted of starting the work projects we will be doing when on the base here to help the outreach potential of El Refugio. The three big projects are to continue to improve the facilities and beauty of the prayer garden and a bouldering wall. Both of these projects have been ongoing over the years as previous LIFT teams have contributed to the development of these through funds and hours of labor (many hands making the work light for the staff here who struggle to find time to get these done). The bouldering wall is a continuation of the climbing wall project that LIFT help start 5 years ago.
The current students are able to benefit from the work of previous LIFTers by getting their first exposure of the semester to outdoor rock climbing on the 40 foot wall. It is inspiring to see all the LIFT students climbing at night under the lights and having a great time encouraging each other in overcoming their fears and trusting each other - knowing that this wall is used in similar ways with many groups of youth and churches that come to this campus to learn Christian principles and lessons through such a practical hands-on experience.
The other big project the students are working on is new to El Refugio. They are helping develop a 5K race course through many obstacles of jumping, climbing, sliding, and crawling - mostly through thick slimy mud, but also including some fire and water obstacles and steep mountain running. The event was inspired by the "Tough Mudder" race series that has become very popular in the states. It will be called "Todo Lodo" (All Mud). Love the name! The race will be in mid-April, hoping to draw over 1,000 competitors, being an outreach to the public of Quito (a city of over 2 million) and open the door for relationship-building and exposure to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Needless to say, the LIFTers are having a lot of fun working hard and serving in helping with all that needs to happen before such a big event comes to this small little campus. They may even need to take the opportunity to "test" out the course.
LIFT heads out to the village of El Chaco tomorrow (Friday) to team up with the local evangelical church in doing a wide variety of outreaches. Everyone is doing very well. No illnesses, just some sore muscles with the work and the fitness training they have been doing in preparing to climb a large mountain at the end of their time here.
Please pray for good health for the team and that the Holy Spirit continue to move in their hearts as they look for opportunities to minister and be ministered to.
Tim
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