Bienvenidos a Campamento

June 21th

Patate, Ecuador

Today, another group of M-Fuge campers made their way from Quito to Camp Chacauco for a week of learning and serving in the nearby villages. With the new group of campers came luggage and lots of it. In an effort to make travel easier for the campers in the morning, their luggage was transported directly to the camp via two buses from the airport. Needless to say, this morning began pretty early with 4am luggage duty. After unloading about 300 pieces of luggage, we went back to sleep in preparation for the day ahead. Following breakfast, our staff completed its’ final tasks before we welcomed the everybody to the camp around 1pm.

Once everyone found their luggage and rooms (not an easy task with so many campers and such a spread out camp), I found time to play some basketball with nine other students and youth pastors. The day was fabulous here in the Andes Mountains. Great weather all around for being outdoors. To add to the perfect weather was a pretty violent eruption of smoke from Tungurahua today at about 4pm. It continues to rumble in the distance as I speak. To wrap up our afternoon activities, I went on a three mile run with Dennis, one of my roommates who happens to play soccer (futbol) at Union College in Tennessee. I mention it because it was probably the most intense run I’ve done in a while. The altitude doesn’t make breathing any easier when you push your body to the limit. Anyways, in addition to being on staff here at camp, I’m now his designated personal trainer in charge of making sure he’s in fine shape for summer camp in August (note: he made this designation…I’m just along for the ride).

Tonight brought about the most challenging tasks of the day, driving to a town named Ceballos, about 45 minutes away, to pick up Ester, one of the full-time staff members here on camp. Her car was in serious need of repair, but instead of towing it, we left it at a safe place to retrieve later. What made it so challenging was the fact that I was driving in the rain, on the side of the mountain, in the pitch black darkness, with only one working headlight and no taillights. I remind you that this is Ecuador. Lines on the road are just a suggestion and if your car can go faster than the one ahead of you, evidently you’re supposed to flick your lights and pass them. Boy am I glad I took driving school; defensive driving is the key word here.

After what turned out to be a three hour trip to Ceballos, Ambato, and then Patate, I’m finding myself in dire need of sleep. With a full week ahead of us, rest is key at this point. In fact, that’s why I list it as a prayer request because things are often non-stop here at the camp and people get very tired after a while. With that said, I’m going to sleep because big things are in store for tomorrow.