Our Final Day in Ecuador

Thursday was our final day in Ecuador. After a wonderful day of work and closing Eucharist on Wednesday, we spent Thursday packing the bus. one final presentation at Youth World Headquarters complete with good-byes to staff, and then touring the "Middle of the World"- the museum and monument demarcating the equator.

With time to wander as a large group, share a final meal at a restaurant and do some final shopping- we then headed out to El Refugio for time to savor God's creation in the outdoors. El Refugio is a retreat center run by Youth World and gave us the opportunity to reflect on our week in small groups, solo in hiking and being in the outdoors, and then as a large group.

We ended our time at El Refugio with roasting hot dogs, making s'mores, and singing camp songs. Before we boarded the bus to get to the airport, we spent time in prayer and our hands were anointed for the mission we were departing and embarking upon simultaneously.

Our flight departed at 11:30pm and arrived in Atlanta just right before 6am on Friday morning.
We departed each other's physical company when we finished customs and those who drove went off to the right and the rest departed to check in and continue their journey home by airplane.