Ecuador

Our 17 year old son (my baby!) is spending nearly two weeks in Ecuador on a mission trip. His primary objective is to assist with the building of a church, conduct community service, assist with Vacation Bible School, help out with a medical clinic and have a great time while totally cut off from Mom and Dad with 200 other youth and adult supervisors. We haven't heard a word from our eldest since dropping him off at Minneapolis airport, but the organizers had warned us that 'no news is good news' as the plan is that none of the young people will attempt to place international telephone calls from Quito (where they landed) nor from the remote villages where they are serving nor from Guayaquil where they fly out of.

Talk about dispelling the myth that we are over-protective homeschooling parents. We sent our child off with an airline ticket, passport, itinerary and two bags loaded to the 50 lb. limit (including tent and solar shower as the conditions are very primitive). He also has a calling card - which he was supposed to use to call during his layover in Miami, but didn't - as electronic devices such as cell phones are contraband on this expedition.

Join us in praying that this journey will be a safe one and that his very basic Spanish will have allowed him to communicate with the locals (just being able to do things like...find the bathroom, locate his luggage, etc.). You can check out the trip updates on ultimateworkout.org - he is on the UW17 trip to Ecuador.