Students Serve on Mission in Ecuador

Nine Bluefield College students took advantage of Spring Break 2019 to spend a week on mission in Quito, Ecuador in South America.

Among the students on the BC mission team: freshmen Noel Saunders and Mason West; sophomores Madison Brewster, Kaylyn Bridges, Emily Carlisle, Cameron Gasperson and Carlee King; junior Christalyn Doig; and senior Cade Mullins. Joining the students was Dr. Henry Clary, BC’s director of spiritual formation and missions.

In Quito, the students stayed at an orphanage named For His Children (FHC) where they helped take care of the resident children. Before leaving for the trip on March 1, they were told to prepare themselves for not only the culture shock, but also the poor living conditions.

“Staying in the city of Quito allowed us to see life on a very real level,” Mullins said. “Every single house was gated or walled in with fences or broken glass on the top to stop people from climbing over and breaking in. People walking the streets trying to sell whatever they can to try and make money, and hearing the horrible orphan problem that Ecuador has really put into perspective that we, as Americans and as a country, are very blessed.”

Since 1990, For His Children has provided quality care for Ecuadorian children in at-risk situations, such as abandonment or neglect. They work with local authorities and social services to try to reunite children with their birth family. They also help create permanent, loving families through adoption.

“There is nothing like holding a little girl with autism, not being able to speak in her language, but feeling an overwhelming assurance from the Lord that he is sowing more and more love into her heart day by day,” Carlisle said.

As part of their work at the orphanage, the students conducted Bible studies and taught the children Christian songs. They also had fun with the kids, playing games and sightseeing.

“My favorite part was the bonfire we had with the kids,” King said. “We sang, made sʼmores — it was just a lot of fun. I would absolutely go back in a heartbeat.”

In addition to the blessing of spending time with the orphan children, the students spoke about the opportunity they had to spread Godʼs love and teach the kids about Christ. During their eight days in Ecuador, they said they saw children living in deplorable conditions. As discouraging as that was, seeing smiles on the kids’ faces when the students spent time with them made it much better.

“There’s nothing like kissing a one-year-old on the forehead and seeing him smile from ear to ear,” Carlisle said, “and him putting his forehead against yours as he kisses you back on the forehead.”

Article photo courtesy of Kaylyn Bridges.