A Glimpse of Heaven: Seeing God Work In Ecuador
March 26, 2026
Lipscomb Missions: Ecuador 2026
By Arlie Akers
This spring break, I traveled with a Lipscomb missions team to the Hacienda of Hope in Tabacundo, Ecuador. The Hacienda of Hope provides a safe home for children who have experienced severe abuse and neglect, with the ultimate goal of restoring and reuniting these children with safe, loving families. Each year, a Lipscomb team spends a week at the Hacienda completing a work project and building relationships with the kids.
This was my second year serving at the Hacienda, and I learn so much about God each time I go. Our week in Ecuador felt like a blur, but daily team devotionals helped us slow down and process all the ways we could see the Lord moving and teaching our team. Throughout the trip, I journaled my devotional reflections and some memories from each day. I hope that these entries help you see how the Lord worked through our team in Ecuador!
Each entry includes the title of our team devotional, some main memories and takeaways, and a portion of the scripture we read that day,
SATURDAY - CALLED TO LOVE LIKE CHRIST
Our trip started in a way none of us would have chosen. Instead of arriving at the Hacienda of Hope early Saturday morning, our flight was delayed by a full day. We were completely out of control of the situation, and all we could do was pray that we could make it to Ecuador.
Our pre-trip devotional was titled "Called to Love Like Christ." One of the lines in the devotional read, "As you pack your bags, lay aside expectations of perfection, performance, or emotional self-sufficiency. Bring instead a heart open to God's leading, open to learning, open to being stretched, and open to loving children the way Jesus does–fully, patiently, and tenderly."
None of our team would have chosen to spend an extra day in the airport, but I believe that God was teaching us all an important lesson about what it looks like to love like Christ. Jesus went out of His way and changed His plans to serve people where they were. In the same way, our team was called to surrender our own agendas to be where God wanted us to be, even if it looked different from what we expected.
"A person's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?" Proverbs 20:24
SUNDAY - BOLDNESS AND PURPOSE
After a few hours of sleep on Sunday night, our team sat down for our first team devotional. We shared our fears: that we wouldn't be ready to serve, that the language barrier would keep us from communicating, and even that the kids wouldn't connect with us. Scripture from 2 Timothy encouraged us and reminded us that the Holy Spirit empowers us to boldly love others.
When we met the kids for the first time, they ran up to give us huge hugs. As we walked to get ice cream, the kids held our hands, laughed at our first attempts at Spanish, and played games with us. Our fears quickly faded, and we played with them all afternoon.
Jesus often calls us into situations that we don't feel prepared for. None of the people on our mission team were perfectly equipped to serve, but we were all willing to be obedient. The Holy Spirit empowered us to connect with the kids in ways we never could have on our own.
"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7
MONDAY - SERVE WITH GLADNESS
On Monday morning, we started our work projects. Over the week our team would build picnic tables, paint and organize a storage room, and plant trees. Each day was going to be long: we worked from breakfast to lunch, took a short break to eat with the kids, and then worked for a few more hours until afternoon activities started.
Our devotional on Monday reminded us that God doesn't just call us to serve; He also tells us to serve with gladness. Even when our team was tired, I saw how God enabled us to joyfully serve. When my work group finished planting trees early on Monday, we quickly volunteered to help another group sand boards. Our team spoke Spanish with the Hacienda maintenance crew we worked alongside, and we constantly sang and danced as we worked.
Both years I have been in Ecuador, workers at the Hacienda of Hope have told our team how joyful we are. Mission trips can be difficult–we run on little sleep, quickly adjust to a new environment, and work with people whom we don't know very well. God calls us to serve with gladness, and this week reminded me how to be joyful in all circumstances.
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs."
Psalm 100:1-2
TUESDAY - SERVING JUDAS
Our time at the Hacienda is joyful, but it is also heavy. The kids there have experienced so much trauma, and each of them responds to it in different ways. It can be difficult to meet each child where they are at.
Our devotional on Tuesday morning reminded us how Jesus washed Judas' feet, even though he knew Judas would betray Him. Jesus showed no favoritism when he served others, but poured himself out completely for each person. In the same way, we are called to serve each person we encounter patiently and fully.
Our team does an amazing job of seeking out each child and helping them feel loved. I was able to see the fruit of this service through one little boy who was at the Hacienda both years I was there. Last year, he rarely smiled, and often isolated himself. Still, our team tried to include him and went out of our way to love on him. This year, the little boy was completely different. He was first in line to play every game, and he and I even made a special handshake.
Spending a week at the Hacienda of Hope teaches me how to serve without favoritism. When our team spends time with the kids there, God shows us how to meet them where they are. I am learning that Jesus did not seek out people who were easy to serve; he went to the people who were far, and brought them near.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Mark 10:45
WEDNESDAY - REJOICE ALWAYS
On Wednesday, we went to a market in nearby Otavalo. The Hacienda staff helped us practice our bargaining and took us to their favorite vendors. We spent the morning surrounded by the colorful patterns and handmade jewelry of one of the world's most famous artisan markets.
After the market, our team shared a meal and visited scenic spots to take pictures. Market day is always one of my favorite days because of the photos we capture. Our team shares so much joy and life during our mission trip, and it's evident in our huge smiles in every picture.
One thing our team reflected on during this week is how service is a blessing. God calls us to serve with gladness, and our team constantly reminded each other how lucky we were to be in Ecuador with the kids we had grown to love so much.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
THURSDAY - A DIFFERENT KIND OF BLESSING
Thursday was our last full day at the Hacienda of Hope. We started our day by talking about how Jesus’ definition of blessing is completely different from our world's ideas about power, fame, or wealth. To me, this truth is never more evident than in the kids at the Hacienda.
That day we worked hard–even through a thunderstorm–to complete our work project, and I considered how much God had changed my heart over the past week. Instead of focusing on serving myself, I felt fulfilled in serving wholeheartedly each day. The kids I was serving, who the world would call poor in spirit or meek, had taught me so much about the love of Jesus.
On Thursday evening, we played our annual game of shaving cream baseball, which is a messy and chaotic kind of joy. We quickly showered and ran to a pizza/dance/ice cream party with all of the kids. We pulled even the shyest kids into our dance circles and shouted the lyrics to our favorite songs in Spanish and English. Finally, we said goodnight–exausted, but happy.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:3
FRIDAY - CHANGED HEARTS
On Friday morning, we woke up early to pack. We finished our notes for each child, telling them how much we loved each of them. After a quick trip to the Equator, we came back to the school to say goodbye.
As we gave everyone one last hug, we worked hard not to cry. It's so hard to leave the kids who we love, and who have loved us so well, especially when we don't know what the next year will hold for them.
Throughout this week, God laid a verse from 1 Corinthians on my heart. Paul writes,
"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
This verse represents our trip in so many ways. We can only visit the Hacienda for one week a year, and our impact is limited. We are planting seeds of love and faith in these kids' lives, like we planted trees, but we have to leave before we can see them grow. We have to trust that God will not waste any of our work; He is a faithful and patient gardener, and promises to make things grow.
As we were walking through the Quito airport to board our flight, we saw two little boys that we recognized: it was two brothers who we visited at the Hacienda last year, getting ready to fly to the United States with their new adoptive family.
Many people on our team started crying tears of joy at this clear reminder of God's promise. He is constantly growing things for good and does not waste any of the planting or watering that we do in faith. I can't wait to return to Ecuador next year to see how our trees and our kids have grown!
1 Corinthians 3:6-7
Not a Trip
Category: Student Life