By Hillary Harder On Sunday, July 26, our students returned to Quito from their service communities and we began our final retreat together! The afternoon was full of joyful reunions as each student arrived at our Quito home, la Casa…
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Visit with the Basquitay Community and Ingapirca ruins
Jul 14 2025
We were so fortunate to meet Maria Virginia Farinango, the author of The Queen of Water. Students read this book together for class discussions. She writes of her experiences as an indigenous child forced into domestic service. Her path to forgiveness and reconciliation with her family is deeply moving.
We were also warmly welcomed by Julian Guaman’s community, the Basquitay. Their hospitality included food and special dances, and the students talked about the beauty of culture, and the meaning of gratitude. Goshen College has been involved in this community previously, and has contributed to the solar panel which powered the light in the building.
Following the gathering with the Basquitay community, students visited Riobamba, the city in the foothills of Chimburzo, the tallest mountain in Ecuador. On returning to Quito, we toured Ingapirca, the Inca ruins which are considered the most important Pre-Columbian archaeological site in Ecuador.
Study AbroadFinal retreat in Ecuador
Study AbroadLife on the ward
By Dayanara Aguirre-Mulato During my service placement at the municipal Centro Médico in Riobamba, I had the privilege to be able to work alongside other nurses. Day to day each patient comes in to register for their appointment and I…
Study AbroadService visits: opportunities for connection in Ecuador’s “provincias”
By Hillary Harder During the Service term, leaders have the privilege of traveling to visit each student at the home and volunteer assignment where they are spending their time during the second half of SST. For us, that meant traveling…