“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

I looked up from the sidewalk as we turn into a gravel road with an open and spiked gate. The outside isn’t much and even inside with the ornate lighting and professional sound system. Many things struck me as distinct. The walls were masses of sturdy cement bricks, and even the decorative panels could not fully hide the obvious communication of necessity. The seats were likewise portable chairs with the masses naturally climbing into each row like a pack of sardines. The worshippers swayed with enthusiasm as ushers walked the aisles offering Kleenexes to those in need. It was a group of people gathered to worship God—I couldn’t understand most of the words, but the heart and intent of many present was unmistakable. They were present to worship their God—the faithful One (or as the church put it Dios es fiel). Worshipping alongside my fellow Christian brothers and sisters of Ecuador was a joyous blessing that reminded me of God’s continual creativity and beauty. The US and its culture are far from the only way to glorify and honor God.

During yesterday afternoon, my school offered a lesson upon culture shock. Along with many other details, we learned that the process circulates typically in a five-step process which encompasses fun, flight, fight, fit, and fruit. As I regard the circle, I suppose I am still quite present in the fun element, adoring Quito and the friendly smiles of the locals. However, I have likewise experienced multiple fight elements. The traffic is annoying, the sidewalks congested, and the constant honking of horns disruptive. Though so many positives lie just around the corner (like literally, there’s an epic bakery at the corner), it would be easy to become irritable about the few matters which seem inefficient to me. It would be wrong. The beauty of this diverse culture should provide more reason than ever to bask in the beauty of God’s awesome design—recognizing people, and in this case, the people of Ecuador for what they are, individuals dearly loved and formed by God.

One final praise exists for which I am wholly dumbfounded and amazed. In God’s sacrifice of Jesus and the work of the resurrection and the cross, I should never wrestle with holding sufficient reason to adore my King. But sometimes, it is the small, seemingly silly, crazy detailed gifts that blow me away more than the magnificence to waking up to see the glittering peak of Cotopaxi. Skipping many details, I will just report this blessing as God powerfully revealing to me how He is more than capable of providing me with family no matter how far from home I seem to travel. Thank you all for your prayers. Know that many of them have already been answered! Please keep up the prayers; they mean so much.

“Praise the Lord!” Ps. 150:6