A mission trip is probably one of the most underrated forms of travel. Instead of being put on a show on a typical vacation that "enhances" your experience, the mission trip lets you see what the local people REALLY do during their daily lives...
This has easily been proven during the mission trip to Ecuador since we arrived one week ago. In Guayaquil, we got to hear stories by people who have Hansen's Disease along with interacting with them. They even threw us a farewell party for being their with them, something an average vacation tour would lack. In Quito, our group got to watch a World Cup game (Ecuador vs. France) with hundreds upon hundreds of native Ecuadorians, including the vice president of the country, Jorge Glas.
Mission trips also alters your perspective on your own life and the world around you. At the Working Boys Center, you meet people who have a desire to work and be successful, not to become wealthy, but to support themselves and their families. Compare that to many students in California, who seem to believe that they are entitled and don't have to work for anything. Also, seeing how people live in the northern area of Quito live in small "shacks" with almost no luxuries is shocking, especially for Americans. However, the most amazing thing was that despite their living conditions, they seemed extremely happy. People in wealthier places always seem to want more, and don't feel impressed by what they have, which is sad as there are people who have a much harder life.
Overall, this trip has been eye-opening, inspiring, culture filled, amazing and more. I cannot wait to see what the next week will bring to our group as we experience more of Ecuador.
- Travis Bender
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