Dear friends and family in Christ,
This Sunday, Timothy, Esperanza, and Ezequiel will be embarking on an unforgettable journey with a group of beloved brethren from our church here in Quito, Ecuador. Together, we’ll board a bus bound for Reque, Peru—a small town near Chiclayo—carrying not just our backpacks but also our shared faith, laughter, and anticipation for what God has in store. This isn’t just a trip; it’s a pilgrimage of sorts, weaving through the Andes, across borders, and into the heart of northern Peru. We want you, dear readers, to come along in spirit, to feel the rumble of the bus, smell the mountain air, and join us in this adventure of fellowship and discovery. Here’s what lies ahead on our 1,200-kilometer, (746-mile), odyssey.
Setting Off: Quito’s Dawn and the Call to Adventure
Our journey begins in the pre-dawn hush of Quito, a city cradled at 2,850 meters, (9350 feet), in the Andes. At 5 AM on Sunday, we’ll gather together, hearts full of excitement and a touch of sleepiness. After a prayer for safe travels and God’s guidance, we’ll pile into taxis bound for Terminal Terrestre Quitumbe, Quito’s bustling southern bus hub. The air is crisp, the stars still faintly visible, and the hum of early vendors selling empanadas and café con leche fills the terminal.
We’ve booked tickets with Express Sucre, opting for their “executive” bus—a treat at $20 each for reclining seats and air conditioning. As we board, we can’t help but smile at the scene: Sister Natalia clutching her Bible and a thermos of tea, Brother Edgar juggling snacks for the group, and the younger brethren snapping selfies with the bus as their backdrop. We’re a motley crew, united by faith and ready for the 8-hour ride to Cuenca.
As the bus pulls out at 9 AM, Quito’s skyline fades behind us, the towering silhouette of Imbabura Volcano looming in the distance. The Pan-American Highway stretches ahead, winding through the Avenue of the Volcanoes—a name that feels like a promise of grandeur. The brethren break into a soft hymn, “Cómo No Te Adoraré”, and the melody mingles with the engine’s hum, setting a sacred tone for our journey.
The Andes Unfold: Quito to Cuenca
The first leg of our trip is a visual feast, a testament to God’s artistry. As the sun’s, golden light spills over the Andes, illuminating patchwork fields of quinoa and corn, dotted with grazing llamas. The bus climbs and dips through misty valleys, each curve revealing a new vista. Esperanza, our group’s unofficial photographer, is glued to the window, capturing cloud forests and jagged peaks. “Look at His creation!” she exclaims, and we all nod, awestruck.
The road is smooth but winding, and some of us feel the altitude’s gentle tug—Quito’s thin air lingers in our lungs. Brother Orlando passes around coca candies to ease the queasiness, a kind gesture that sparks laughter and stories of past trips. The bus is chilly due to the AC, so we wrap ourselves in alpaca blankets bought at Quito’s markets. Snacks make the rounds: chifles (plantain chips), humitas (steamed corn cakes), and homemade panela cookies, which vanish quickly.
Around noon, we stop at a roadside paradero near Riobamba for a bathroom break and quick stretch. The air smells of eucalyptus and grilled cuy (guinea pig, a local delicacy). Some brethren buy fresh queso de hoja from a vendor, while others snap photos with a curious alpaca tied nearby. Back on the bus, we share a devotional led by Brother Carlos, reflecting on Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?” The words feel alive amidst these peaks.
By 5 PM, we roll into Cuenca, Ecuador’s gem of a city, its cobblestone streets and colonial domes glowing in the afternoon light. We have a 4-hour layover before our overnight bus to Tumbes, so we decide to stretch our legs and explore. Parque Calderón, Cuenca’s heart, welcomes us with its flower-lined paths and the majestic Catedral Nueva’s blue domes. We sip canelazo (a warm cinnamon drink) at a nearby café, sharing stories of faith and marveling at Cuenca’s charm. The layover feels like a gift, a chance to bond before the next leg.
Into the Night: Cuenca to Tumbes and the Border Crossing
At 9 PM, we board an Azuay International bus at Cuenca’s Terminal Terrestre, bound for Tumbes, Peru. This 4–6-hour ride includes our first border crossing, and we’re a mix of nerves and excitement. The bus is modern, with plush seats and a faint scent of lavender air freshener. As we settle in, Sister Delia leads a prayer for safety, especially at the border, known for its bustle and occasional chaos.
The road descends from Cuenca’s highlands to the coastal lowlands, the air growing warmer and heavier. Moonlight bathes the landscape, revealing banana plantations and sleepy villages. Most brethren doze off, lulled by the bus’s sway, but we stay awake, watching the stars through the window and reflecting on our mission in Reque—to connect with a sister ministry and share in worship.
Around 3 AM, we reach the Huaquillas/Aguas Verdes border. The bus halts, and a uniformed officer boards, signaling it’s time to disembark. The border post is a flurry of activity, even at this hour: travelers hauling suitcases, vendors selling tamales, and money changers waving wads of soles and dollars. We clutch our cédulas, (no visas needed for us, praise God), and shuffle through Ecuadorian exit stamps and Peruvian entry procedures.
The process takes about an hour, longer than hoped due to a slow queue. A few brethren exchange dollars for soles, wary of scams we’d read about online. Our Spanish fluency saves the day, navigating questions from an immigration officer. Back on the bus, we breathe a collective sigh of relief, laughing at our sleepy-eyed photos. The border behind us, we’re officially in Peru, the bus rolling toward Tumbes by 5 AM.
Coastal Dawn: Tumbes to Chiclayo
In Tumbes, we transfer to an Oltursa bus for the 6–8-hour ride to Chiclayo, our gateway to Reque. The terminal is modest, with a panadería selling fresh cachangas (fried dough) that we devour gratefully. The Oltursa bus, a step up at $25, feels like luxury: reclining seats, Wi-Fi (spotty but welcome), and a breakfast tray of juice and a roll. As we depart at 6 AM, the coastal sun rises, casting a pink glow over Peru’s arid plains.
The Pan-American Highway stretches flat and straight, a contrast to Ecuador’s winding roads. We pass dusty towns, rice fields, and occasional glimpses of the Pacific Ocean. The landscape is stark yet beautiful, a reminder of God’s diversity in creation. Ezequiel shares a devotional on John 4, the woman at the well, sparking a lively discussion about outreach in Reque. The brethren’s passion for ministry is infectious, and we feel blessed to be among them.
The bus is comfortable, but the coastal heat seeps in, prompting us to shed our jackets. Brother Adrian distributes water bottles, ever the group’s caretaker. A few hours in, the driver plays Peruvian cumbia over the speakers, and Brother Anderson can’t resist a quiet dance in his seat, earning chuckles. We stop once at a gas station, stretching our legs and buying chicha morada (purple corn drink) from a vendor.
By 2 PM, we arrive in Chiclayo, Peru’s bustling northern hub. The terminal is chaotic, with taxi drivers calling out and moto-taxis zipping by. We’re tired but energized, knowing Reque is just 15 kilometers away. After a quick lunch of ceviche and arroz con pollo at a nearby comedor, we negotiate taxis to Reque, splitting into three groups at 15 soles each ($4).
The Final Stretch: Chiclayo to Reque
The 20-minute taxi ride to Reque feels like the home stretch. The road is lined with small farms and roadside shrines, a nod to Peru’s deep Catholic roots. Reque itself is a quiet town, its main square modest but welcoming. When we arrive at the Roma Lee School we unload our bags, children wave curiously, and a warm breeze carries the scent of grilled anticuchos.
We’re greeted by members of the school staff, their smiles as wide as the Andes. They’ve prepared a simple welcome with causa rellena (layered potato dish) and mazamorra morada (purple pudding), and we share hugs and introductions. The exhaustion of 30 hours on the road melts away in their warmth. We gather in their small chapel for a brief prayer of gratitude, our voices blending in Spanish and Quechua, a foretaste of the worship to come.
Reflections on the Road
This journey has been more than a bus ride—it’s been a tapestry of God’s provision, woven through every moment. From the Andes’ majesty to the border’s challenges, from shared humitas to late-night prayers, we’ve seen His hand. The brethren’s laughter, their stories, their faith—they’ve made this trip a living testimony of community in Christ.
To our readers, we invite you to pray for our time in Reque. We’ll be here for ten days, serving alongside the local church, sharing the Gospel, and building bonds across borders. If you ever find yourself on a long road, whether literal or spiritual, remember Psalm 121 our help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.
Thank you for joining us in spirit. Stay tuned for updates from Reque, and may God bless your own journeys, wherever they lead.
Friends, we invite you to continue traveling with us on our mission to Perú by using the same devotions that we will be using. Starting Sunday we will be posting our trip devotions so that we can continue our journey together.