During September we celebrated our Second Annual Reverse Mission Trip and Celebration Dinner, this time in partnership with Bethany Covenant Church in Berlin, CT. This year we had a little bit smaller crew of just Carlita, Esther and Mirian who came.
Along with Jessica Dedert, who works for the Santiago Partnership and myself, the five us made up the official team, but Kim and our kids were able to join us over the weekend for the festivities.
This year’s Reverse Mission Trip was in partnership with Bethany Covenant Church in Berlin, CT, one of our supporting churches that have been a part of our ministry for quite a long time. They have brought four teams down to Ecuador and have partnered with the Santiago Medical Clinic to hold medical caravans each time.
For those of you not familiar with what we do and are possibly interested in learning more, the Reverse Mission Trip is just as it sounds, doing mission in reverse. Many of us are accustomed to overseas mission trips being one in which a bunch of folks travel from North American down to Ecuador to experience missionary work for a short period of time. Well, a Reverse Mission Trip flips the script on that typical narrative and invites our partners from Ecuador up to experience mission with all of us in North America.
Our Reverse Mission Trip in September was a week overflowing with fellowship, collaboration, partnership-building, service, and love—the kind of week that reminds you how beautiful it is when communities come together across cultures and callings.
We began our journey in Boston, welcomed by the team at the New England Seafarers Mission. Their ministry is rooted in compassion and presence, and it was a gift to learn from their work and serve in their facilities. While in the city, we embraced the full Boston experience — navigating the subway for the first time, wandering through Faneuil Hall, taking in the view from the wharf, and soaking up the street entertainment and food that make the city so vibrant.
From there, our team entered a meaningful period of collaborative learning with Adelbrook. Both organizations shared our stories, our beginnings, and the heart behind our ministries. We even dreamed together about a future initiative — a flower shop that could provide work opportunities for their youth while selling flowers grown by our artisans in Ecuador. It was a moment of mutual vision and possibility.
Bethany Covenant Church hosted a potluck dinner for everyone who has traveled to Ecuador over the years. It was a night of reminiscing, storytelling, and laughter — the kind of gathering where memories feel alive again. Our team also spent time with the women of the church, learning about their backpack ministry and joining them in crafting items for a youth fundraiser. These moments of shared service were tender and joy‑filled.
The Celebration Dinner was one of the week’s main events —a lively evening with a rousing live auction, delicious Ecuadorian food, ministry sharing, and so much fun. On Sunday morning during Sunday School, we held a Q&A session where members could learn more about our ministries and the dedicated workers behind them. It was a beautiful time of connection and curiosity.
Sunday evening, we traveled to Pilgrim Pines in New Hampshire, a camp and retreat center tucked into the trees. We met with the director and staff, shared our ministries, and explored what partnership together could look like in the future. Later, we gathered with the church team to debrief the week — reflecting on what we experienced and imagining what future trips might hold.
And woven throughout the week were moments of rest and delight: sightseeing, a little shopping, and peaceful hours at the beach. These small pauses gave us space to breathe, reflect, and simply enjoy being together.
What made the week truly unforgettable was our hosts’ radical hospitality. Our friends at Bethany Covenant welcomed us into their homes, their families, and their hearts. Their generosity and warmth reminded us again that mission is mutual—we serve, learn, and grow together.
Many of you have been following us along for a long time.
The Santiago Partnership