Jan 9 - 18, 2025
$2,950
Quito, Ecuador
Kason Bloom, Liberty Baptist Church
Kason and Bethany Bloom and their children, Jaxon, Noah, and Mackayla, serve as missionaries in Quito, Ecuador. Pastor Kason was saved at the age of 11 years old and was called into missions at the age of 18. They planted Liberty Baptist Church in early 2022 and just finished construction in early 2024. The church offers music and English classes as outreach opportunities and regularly participates in giving out Samaritan’s Purse boxes as well as Christmas baskets through a non-profit in Ecuador.
The church desires to grow by reaching out into their community and making contacts that will allow them the opportunity to share the gospel. They are looking forward to partnering with MMO and serving those in need in their community.
The people of Caldrón in Quito have limited access to general healthcare, and almost all optical issues would have to be seen in a private clinic which many cannot afford. Pastor Kason says providing an optical clinic to this community will be a great blessing.
Connect with them:
https://www.facebook.com/ReachingEcuador
https://www.instagram.com/reachingecuador/
Ecuador’s name comes from the Spanish word for the equator, so appropriately, it is found straddling the equator on South America’s west coast. Its diverse landscape encompasses the Amazon jungle, Andean highlands, and picturesque colonial towns. The territories of modern-day Ecuador were once home to a variety of indigenous peoples that were gradually incorporated into the Inca Empire during the 15th century. The territory was colonized by the Spanish Empire during the 16th century but has been a sovereign state for almost 200 years.
This trip will be to the capital city of Quito, which is in the foothills of the towering Andes mountains. Quito was built in the 16th century on the ruins of an Incan city. The town and its buildings have survived many earthquakes and has the best-preserved Spanish Colonial architecture in Latin America.
Speaking of the mountains, Ecuador’s highest mountain is actually the furthest point from the earth’s center. That is because the earth is not a perfect sphere, and due to its rotation, it bulges towards the equator. Although not the tallest mountain relative to sea level, the summit of Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador is the farthest point from the earth's center, higher than even Mount Everest! It’s also why you’re more likely to get sunburned closer to the equator, so pack your sunscreen for this trip.
With around 300 different types of bananas growing in the country, Ecuador is one of the world’s largest exporters of bananas. Other natural resources of Ecuador are oil, flowers, fish, timber, and hydropower. Ecuador also grows over 350 varieties of corn. Corn is eaten boiled and steamed or as popcorn and used in many dishes such as the popular mote pillo, which is hominy cooked with eggs.
Cacao has grown in South and Central America for centuries, and recent studies have indicated that Ecuador might even be the original source of cacao. As worldwide demand for high-quality chocolate has increased, so has the in-country production. Today, Ecuador is recognized as the producer of the highest quality cacao in the world. It is also one of the largest exporters, producing as much as 80% of the world’s finest cacao beans.
For more country information, click here https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ecuador/
Our plan is to offer optical care to this community. Every patient who receives care will hear the gospel from a member of this local church.
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