Recognizing Quito:

09/04/07

Recognizing Quito:
I have spent the last 3 days in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador where I studied the last 3 years of my high school. Many memories are still living in these busy streets almost completely covered of small businesses and tiny stores of anything able to make you take one dollar or less out of your pocket into the tight economy of a family who has sacrificed their living room to create provide another source of income to the household.

Five years have passed after big changes in the economy of Ecuador when our native currency passed away to adopt the US dollar as own. It seems the country is doing better; the streets are full of new cars of tiny models that make me think in Europe; it seems the city has grown and I can see many new constructions and especially new giant shopping centers built as temples to consumerism; but I still wonder about the hearts of the people whose faces seems to yell at me “I don’t care, I’m trying to survive myself…” It’s sad; it seems people really don’t care about each other and about anything other than surviving financially… those may be the scars of five years of striving and fighting to endure this hard and never-ending social, political and financial crisis.

I’m asking God to reveal me about the spiritual realities of my country and I have been reading and meditating about our history as country. So far two words are in my mind about my land: oppression and rebellion… my country is a rebel country that has been oppressed for many centuries; oppressed by the Incas that came from the south; oppressed by the Spaniards that came from Europe; oppressed by the first governments from foreign military after the independence; and oppressed since then by our own authorities who – by their majority over the years - have also been saying “I don’t care, I’m thinking only about myself”
Oppression brings rebellion; and rebellion produces bitterness compromising justice, righteousness, and truth. Hearts are deceived and hardened.

My people is reaping what have been sawed over generations; is judging just to be judged in the same way; is looking for an identity almost forgotten under the oppression; is choosing what is convenient instead of what is righteous; is laboring to receive no profit; my people is rebelling; is coursing our governments and our destinies; is blinding our eyes to make ourselves incapable to discern what is right and wrong suppressing moral values; incapable of choosing good authorities. Even our independence of Spain came out of rebellion inspired in the French Revolution; social, politic and spiritual rebellion… We are living our independence with our eyes blinded.

Freedom is required; the freedom based in righteousness and reconciliation with the Supreme Authority; the freedom of Christ.

As I keep walking in the land I keep praying for more revelation and discernment to pray for my country. After all I hold hope deep in my heart because I see also the Kingdom of God growing in my native Ecuador… there are more Christian Churches than I imagined and I hear about powerful testimonies about the grace and love of our Sovereign God… I’m looking forward to serve the Body of Christ in this country for the time God has established for me to be here; I pray for revelation to the Ecuadorian Church, for unity and God’s presence in her. My heart is still in the nations and Ecuador is one of them… May Houston pray for Ecuador and Ecuador for Houston!

Tomorrow I leave to Riobamba taking another step deeper into God’s purpose for my trip. I’m excited, leaving consciously my heart and my destiny into God’s hands… “Teach me your way oh Lord and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart so I’ll fear your Name”