Why I Went on a Mission Trip to Ecuador

Sometimes saying yes to Jesus starts with a nudge. For Jaclyn, that moment came during a weekend service at FAC. She had always wanted to go on a missions trip, but had never taken the step. This time, she signed up for the Quito, Ecuador Short-Term Missions Trip to see where it would lead. 

From August 7–16, 2026 she joined 9 other adults from FAC in Quito, coming alongside a local church to help and build relationships in the community. What did those 10 days look like? Jaclyn shares about her experience and the and what she learned about saying "yes" to joining Jesus.

FAC: When did you first get connected with FAC? 

Jaclyn: “I first started attending the Deerfoot Campus in 2018 after going through Alpha. My parents were already a part of FAC, so it was a place I was familiar with, but Alpha was really the beginning of reconnecting with my faith and becoming more involved in the church community.” 

FAC: Can you share a bit about your faith journey? What led you to make the decision to go on the Quito Short-Term Missions Trip? 

Jaclyn: “I grew up as a Christian, in a Christian home, school, and church community. As a teenager, I strayed from my faith and eventually stopped going to church. Over time, I felt a growing longing to find my way back to God, which led me to take Alpha in the fall of 2018. 

During that season, I asked Jesus back into my life, and in March 2019, I was baptized at FAC. Since then, my faith has continued to grow and evolve. I’ve learned to pay more attention to those little nudges God places on my heart. 

During a weekend service, there was a message about missions, and I felt a very strong prompting to sign up to go to Quito, Ecuador. Going on a short-term mission trip was something I had always wanted to do, but for whatever reason, I had never taken that step. This time, though, it felt like the right time—like God was calling me to go.” 

FAC: While in Quito, what was a typical day like? Was there a memorable moment or a moment that surprised you? 

Jaclyn: “A typical day started with breakfast at 7:30 am, followed by helping to run Vacation Bible School for kids from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. We would head back to the base for lunch, then spend our afternoons serving the church and community in different ways. Some days included visiting Casa Elizabeth, a program for pregnant teens and moms, helping to paint an apartment, working at the local food bank, and other opportunities to serve in the community. We would finish the day with dinner and an evening debrief with the team.” 

“There were so many memorable moments, but one that will stay with me was giving a Noah’s Ark wall hanging to the staff at Casa Elizabeth and seeing them hang it in the baby’s room. It was especially meaningful because the wall hanging was made by my mom when I was little, and had hung in my own bedroom growing up. For many years, it has been tucked away in a box, waiting for its next chapter. Now it will hang there and be a reminder to every mother and child who sees it that they are deeply loved, never forgotten, and held by a God who is with them in every new beginning! 

Another memorable moment was frying plantains for a local church community in a tiny kitchen where I was the only one cooking who spoke English. It reminded me that serving doesn’t always have to look big or dramatic. Sometimes it’s simply being willing to show up, working together, and cooking and serving a meal.” 

FAC: How did you see God move, both in your heart and in those around you? 

Jaclyn: “I saw God move in so many ways, but one of the most powerful was watching the children open up and be vulnerable about their lives and their faith. Seeing some of them make the decision to give their lives to Jesus was incredibly moving. 

God also worked in my own heart. I found myself being challenged to step outside of my comfort zone: to lead, to pray out loud, and to be more open and intentional about loving and serving the teen Moms and children we met. I went into the trip thinking I was going to Quito to make an impact, but I came home realizing how deeply the experience had impacted me as well.” 

FAC: What would you say to someone who is sitting on the fence about going on a short-term mission trip? 

Jaclyn: "Pray about it, and trust in the Lord! If you feel even a little nudge toward going, don’t immediately talk yourself out of it because of fear, uncertainty, or discomfort. Be open and willing to trust the process and allow God to lead you. 

You never really know what God is going to do through an experience like this; not only in the lives of the people you’re going to serve, but in your own heart as well. Sometimes you just have to take that first step and trust that God will open your eyes, change your heart, and show you why He called you there."

Thank you, Jaclyn, for sharing your experience in Quito! Discover how you can live on mission through community outreach and global partnerships at FAC.