Exhausted but content is the only way to describe the last seven days. Last Wednesday we started our adventure by waking up at 3 AM and heading to the airport. There we spent nine hours napping, checking in, eating our last American food, and waiting for our flight.  Then each of us hopped on the plane to Ecuador with thankful hearts and nervous minds. I can’t even describe to you how beautiful the views were while flying above the clouds and over Central America. It was so magical that I spent a good three of the five hours staring out the window. When we finally landed I noticed two things 1. It is way harded to breathe here because we are 10,000 ft higher than I am used to and 2. I can’t understand a thing anyone is saying, but neither of those things took away from the immense joy I took in being in a new country. Fabi (one of our base hosts) was waiting for us with a charter bus to take us to our home for the next seven days. Then I promptly snuggled into my bed and slept until the sun came up.

We had a day of rest and then real life in Ecuador started. Each morning I wake up to a view of the city that I pray I never get used to. There I sit outside and have quiet time until breakfast. Now let me tell you about the food here. It is ESQUISITE. Our first day we had empanadas for breakfast and I could have cried because it tasted so good. Then we are on to a part of the day that I never expected but have come to enjoy. Bryan. Bryan is a crossfit trainer who Fabi has enlisted to kill us, by that I mean work us out. You may be wondering, “Sarah, I thought you were doing mission work, why are you working out with a personal trainer?” WELL, I do indeed have an answer for this. Fabi and Mabe value health, as we all should. They want us to be not only spiritually and mentally healthy, but also physically as they all go hand in hand. 

After our oh so tiring exercise and a DELICIOUS lunch it is time for chores. The first day Viv and I had a pretty simple chore of organizing a cabinet in the laundry room. The next day it was not so simple. Fabi and Mabe needed the back wall of their house sanded and painted. In theory a pretty simple task. Until you look at the ladder that is made out of bamboo that at least two people need to be holding at a time. I won’t lie to you. It was actually pretty fun for me to go up the rickety ladder and say, “it’s sturdy as it’s ever been and ever will be'' each time I went up it. Fully knowing that sturdy was one thing it was not. But seeing the smile of Fabi’s face every time he came around the corner and saw how far we had gotten made it more than worth it. 

Once chores are done which typically takes about two hours we head either to the shower or to team time. Normally, my team chose to have team time. The next hour could be filled with many different things and it always is. Some days we go on walks to look at the view of Quito and other days we cry (both sad and happy tears) over any number of things from earlier in the day. A fan favorite is playing an exhilarating game of BS while sitting on the floor of someone’s bedroom. We tried to branch out and play a unicorn card game one time but it was too much and we quit in the middle. So, we stick to BS.

Dinner time is one of the loudest and most fun times of the day. It’s the only meal that we all sit inside together and also the only meal we get dessert. Mix those two together and there is bound to be dancing, singing, laughing, and possibly arm wrestling. It’s like being in a family with 29 kids all the same age. To some it sounds overwhelming and stressful but to me it is one of my favorite things in the world.

After we have scarfed down all of our food it is once again time for chores. But now with a twist ~team chores~. My team has been tasked with cleaning the kitchen each night. We crank the music up loud and dance the chores away. You might be thinking, “Sarah, chores could not possibly be that fun”. Then you need to talk to my other squadmates. We literally have to kick out of the kitchen so we can finish. It’s the most lively room in the house (especially when team CAYA is in it).

Now it is finally time to knock out for the night. 10 PM lights are out and my head has hit the pillow. Sweet dreams from my bunk bed and the seven other girls I share a room with.

This is the absolutely wonderful life I have been living the past six days and tomorrow everything changes once again. In the morning half of my squad and I will be moving to Dunamis, a ministry involving women who have been through human trafficking. I’m not sure what anything will look like their except I will once again be living in a tent, bnt this time I will have an amazing view of Quito at an elevation of 10.500 ft. I am absolutely filled with excitement for the next leg of this adventire and I can’t wait to tell you about it.

all the love,

sarah hicks

P.S. LOOK AT MY FUNDRAISING GOAL!!! I am officially $178 from being fully funded! Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to me and prayed for me over the last few months! I am more grateful than you will ever know and I’M ALMOST DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!