SST

Feb 07 2022

We continue individually and as a group to process the tragedy of the landslides in Quito that occurred last week not far from some of our host families and in a neighborhood that we have, on a couple occasions, passed through...

Feb 05 2022

Jan 31 2022

After a couple of normal days of class, we made our way through the mountains to the northwest region of the Pichincha province where we explored the amazing cloud forest. We are bringing last weeks’ historical context with us as...

Jan 25 2022

Welcome to the Indonesia SST 2022 blog! Due to the complicated nature of travel during COVID-19, the spring 2022 Indonesia SST group is starting their semester in Philadelphia – at the Philadelphia Praise Center – to immerse themselves with the…

Jan 23 2022

Time is flying by and students are settling into a new rhythm here in Quito between classes and a new life with their host families. The omicron wave is beginning here in Ecuador and we’re continuing to make adjustments as...

Jan 17 2022

Welcome to Quito! We are so pleased and honored to welcome 15 new students to this beautiful country of Ecuador. And welcome to you, who may be following along and supporting our journey from afar. We had an absolutely fantastic...

Nov 29 2021

Nov 22 2021

Today was a different day here in Salinas de Guaranda (Salinas for short). It was sunny and beautiful unlike the usual rainy weather we have been getting. I was really excited to know what I will be doing today since...

Nov 20 2021

Mindo, where my service portion of SST is located, is between the descent from the Andes to the coast.  It is one of Ecuador’s most biodiverse places with birdwatching being one of the well-known activities.  It is two hours away...

Nov 14 2021

Nov 12 2021

My service location is in Pedro Vicente Maldonado, a small city about 2 and a half hours drive from Quito in the coastal region of Ecuador. However, the coast is still quite a ways away. To Esmeraldas, the closest coastal...

Nov 06 2021

Cayambe, a very beautiful town in Ecuador that’s 1hr and a half away from the capital of Quito. Cayambe is also the third highest volcano in Ecuador, and not only that, it’s also right in the middle of the earth....

Nov 02 2021

My day began unlike any other I had experienced at Salinas de Guaranda. After a simple breakfast of a boiled egg and tea, I struck out for yet another day of burning music for the local radio station. But I...

Oct 19 2021

Oct 12 2021

We had a good final week of classes, wrapping up the “study” portion of the term that makes up our Study-Service term namesake. On Friday evening the students hosted all the host families and other program partners for a despedida,...

Oct 09 2021

As a part of her SST experience, Amanda has been involved in a special sign language track here in Ecuador in which she has been dividing her morning class time between learning spanish and sign language. Beyond her individual class...

Oct 04 2021

Sep 28 2021

Sep 21 2021

This week after a couple days of class we made the trek west through the mountains to the region of Mindo for an extended weekend. The lush cloud forest was a refreshing break from the congested concrete valley of Quito.

Sep 11 2021

Orientation and the first week of class are already behind us! Wow, we’ve already covered a lot of ground! I think everyone felt like the time has flown by.  Here is a glimpse of the story in pictures:    

Sep 03 2021

On Tuesday evening our SSTers arrived safely in Ecuador and are beginning their orientation to their new Ecuador surroundings! One student has been held up by visa issues. We are working hard to remedy the problem and plans are taking shape...

Aug 29 2021

  Yep, you got it, we’re back! For all of you who forgot you were subscribed, get ready, we’ve got a new adventure coming your way! After more than a year and half of Study-Service Term (SST) unit cancelations we...

Mar 20 2020

They have boarded the plane and left Tanzania.  Praise be to God!

Mar 19 2020

What is “Service”.  The concept of service in a North American context generally revolves around productivity.  In our lead-up to service with the current Ecuador SST group, we spoke at length about what service is and is not in a...