Ecuador: The Middle of the World, The Heart of the Story

Welcome to Ecuador! After arriving into Quito, we’ll settle into our accommodations and gather for a welcome dinner featuring local Ecuadorian dishes. Opening devotional and orientation: what does it mean to serve as the hands and feet of Christ in a new culture?

This morning we’ll explore Quito’s historic center, one of the largest and best-preserved colonial old towns in the Americas. Visit the Plaza Grande, the Basilica del Voto Nacional, and climb El Panecillo for a sweeping view of the city ringed by volcanoes. In the afternoon, travel to Mitad del Mundo, the monument marking the equatorial line, and stand with one foot in each hemisphere. Evening devotional on cultivating a servant’s heart.

Travel south to the Cotopaxi region, where we’ll be serving all week, and meet our long-term missionary partners and local church leaders. Tour the school or church facility where VBS will take place, set against the backdrop of Ecuador’s most iconic volcano. Team training on games, crafts, and Bible lesson delivery, plus cultural orientation led by our local partners. Devotional: praying for the week ahead.

Our week of service begins! Mornings will be spent leading Vacation Bible School — Bible stories, worship songs, crafts, and games — for local children in the shadow of Cotopaxi. Afternoons include team debrief and reflection on the day’s ministry, plus free time to build relationships with community members.

Continue VBS programming with the children. Team members rotate through teaching stations: storytelling, arts and crafts, music, and recreation. Afternoon: home or community visits alongside our local church partners.

VBS continues, with today’s Bible lesson focused on community and belonging. In the afternoon, join a service project alongside the local congregation — this may include light facility improvements, a meal distribution, or a neighborhood outreach event.

VBS programming continues. Today’s theme centers on identity and being known by God. Evening: shared meal and time of worship with the local church family.

Our final day of VBS wraps with a closing celebration — performances, certificates, and a farewell fiesta with the children and their families. Time for the team to say goodbye and reflect on the relationships built this week.

Since our VBS community sits right in Cotopaxi’s shadow, we’ll spend our final full day exploring the national park itself. Hike through the páramo grasslands, visit Limpiopungo Lagoon, and take in sweeping views of the snow-capped peak — a powerful reminder of the beauty and scale of God’s creation.

Final group devotional and debrief: what did God teach us this week? Time for last-minute souvenir shopping in Quito before heading to the airport for your international flight home.