A Week of Fellowship, Partnership, & Radical Hospitality

For many years, mission teams from the United States have traveled to Ecuador to serve alongside the Santiago Partnership's ministries, build relationships, and learn from our Ecuadorian friends. This fall, we experienced that partnership from a different perspective through a reverse mission trip. Instead of us traveling to Ecuador, members of our Ecuadorian staff (Carla Cabascango, Esther Moreria, and Mirian Valle) visited us, sharing firsthand about ministry in Ecuador while learning, teaching, collaborating with local organizations, and strengthening relationships.

Our Reverse Mission Trip was a week overflowing with fellowship, collaboration, partnership-building, service, and love—the kind of week that reminds you how beautiful it is when communities come together across cultures and callings.

We began our journey in Boston, welcomed by the team at the New England Seafarers Mission. Their ministry is rooted in compassion and presence, and it was a gift to learn from their work and serve in their facilities. While in the city, we embraced the full Boston experience — navigating the subway for the first time, wandering through Faneuil Hall, taking in the view from the wharf, and soaking up the street entertainment and food that make the city so vibrant.

From there, our team entered a meaningful period of collaborative learning with Adelbrook. Both organizations shared our stories, our beginnings, and the heart behind our ministries. We even dreamed together about a future initiative — a flower shop that could provide work opportunities for their youth while selling flowers grown by our artisans in Ecuador. It was a moment of mutual vision and possibility.

Bethany Covenant Church hosted a potluck dinner for everyone who has traveled to Ecuador over the years. It was a night of reminiscing, storytelling, and laughter — the kind of gathering where memories feel alive again. Our team also spent time with the women of the church, learning about their backpack ministry and joining them in crafting items for a youth fundraiser. These moments of shared service were tender and joy‑filled.

The Celebration Dinner was one of the week's main events —a lively evening with a rousing live auction, delicious Ecuadorian food, ministry sharing, and so much fun. On Sunday morning during Sunday School, we held a Q&A session where members could learn more about our ministries and the dedicated workers behind them. It was a beautiful time of connection and curiosity.

Sunday evening, we traveled to Pilgrim Pines in New Hampshire, a camp and retreat center tucked into the trees. We met with the director and staff, shared our ministries, and explored what partnership together could look like in the future. Later, we gathered with the church team to debrief the week — reflecting on what we experienced and imagining what future trips might hold.

And woven throughout the week were moments of rest and delight: sightseeing, a little shopping, and peaceful hours at the beach. These small pauses gave us space to breathe, reflect, and simply enjoy being together.

What made the week truly unforgettable was our hosts' radical hospitality. They welcomed us into their homes, their families, and their hearts. Their generosity and warmth reminded us again that mission is mutual—we serve, learn, and grow together.

This Reverse Mission Trip was just the beginning. In the coming weeks, I’ll share more stories from each event — the moments that shaped us, surprised us, and reminded us of the beauty of partnership across borders.