There and Back Again in the Middle of the Earth

Ecuador is an amazing country that is about double the size of New York State.  It is packed with jaw-dropping scenery that sings glory to God with all of its beauty, variety, and grand majesty spanning from tropical jungles  to glaciated alpine peaks towering over 20,000 feet – all in the middle of the earth.  LIFT 29 has been taking it all in as we have traveled over the equator and the Andes Mountains several times to sojourn in our places of ministry (Oyacachi & Chaco).  The western side of the Andes is lush, rolling highland farms of the Quechua people, all linked together as a great quilt of green, yellow, brown, and purple patterns. Higher up in the mountain passes is the Padamo (alpine grasslands – the Ecuadorian version of tundra).  Dropping down the eastern side is extreme terrain with precipitous drops of hundreds of feet, creating a mystical land of waterfalls and impenetrable jungle.

Larissa White, Nate Knyfd, Ryan Delgatti, and Ariana Hydro
face Cascada Malo's fury
Photo credit: Tim Trezise

We have had some excursions to get out into it all. . .  being blasted at the thundering power-shower of Cascada Rio Malo, seeing two of the tallest waterfalls in the country,  hiking two different trails into the jungle, and rafting the large, raft-tipping class III-IV rapids of the Rio Quijos.

LIFT is wrapping up its time of ministry here with the excursion the students have been training for with the winter hikes in the Adirondacks . . .  mountaineering on Illiniza Norte, the eighth highest peak in Ecuador, standing over 16,800’, higher than any peak in the U.S. except Alaska.  On Sunday we will say goodbye to our homebase, El Refugio, to set up basecamp at 13,500’.  Around 3:30 a.m. we will start our trek with headlamps up into the high altitude of rocks and snow in several teams and hope to summit mid-morning and return by 1:00 p.m. to break camp. We then journey into Quito to a hotel then downtown to celebrate with some of the El Refugio staff at our last dinner together.

Our hearts are full with emotion as we leave such a beautiful country and beautiful people, seeing God’s hand in it all.  It has been very good to be here, to experience God working through us and in us and in those we have met – all deepening our perspective of how the Holy Spirit is advancing the kingdom of God.  It will also be good to be back again and pour into our families, friends and communities.  This brings our chapter in Ecuador to a close.  Thank you for following along in this LIFTers’ tale.

Tim Trezise

LIFT rushes Cascada Malo, pictured is about half of the
waterfall's total height.
Photo Credit: Tim Trezise