Ecuador: House Church

Worshipping with Believers in another culture was one of the things about this mission trip that I was most looking foward to.

Enter Jose & Maria.

Jose and Maria lead a house church on the top of a mountain. Seriously, we were level with some clouds. You don't get that kind of view in South Georgia.

The house we worshipped in did not belong to Jose & Maria, but one of their parishoners. I was so impressed with the hospitality of the people we encountered in Ecuador.

If you know me, you probably know that I'm not the person who loves to entertain. I'm not usually comfortable with people dropping by unannounced (unless they're family) because my house is almost never "company-ready". We're a typical busy family. I.don't.have.time.

But the people we met were so hospitable. It made me take a look at myself. And question, does it really matter that my house isn't company ready? Does it? Or is it about reaching out to friends and neighbors? Is it about being available? Honestly, I still would probably be uncomfortable for people that I didn't know to see my laundry basket of clothes that needed folding. Or toys all over the place. But I'm working on it. It may be a process, and not an overnight thing.

There is a freedom to worship there that I think we miss sometimes here. I don't know why. But it was a blessing for our team to experience.

Back to the house church. It was a cement block house (no insulation). There were 3 lightbulbs that I saw (kitchen, living room, restroom). In the living room, the only furniture was plastic chairs or wood planks and blocks made into benches. When we got there it was just our mission group; Jose, Maria and their children; and a couple others. But slowly, more and more trickled in. They all greated us warmly. At last count, I counted over 30 in all.

Despite the language barrier (and I will add here that I am so thankful for translators and people who are bi-or tri-lingual!), it was a very sweet service. The message was good. They encouraged us and they said that we couraged them.

I have a video of one of the songs we sang. What you will hear, besides us trying to place what the song was, is English, Spanish and Quichua. Three languages. United in worship to the only One who is worthy of our worship.

We call it "Do Lord" here.

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.
Matthew 18:20 HCSB