Ecuador Mission Trip

Building Relationships for Eternal Impact

Join a trip focused on Christ-centered connection. You’ll have opportunities to build relationships with local villagers while encouraging and supporting missionaries in their ongoing ministry.

Key Information

  • Ecuador is a beautiful country with majestic mountains, lush rainforests, and stunning waterfalls. You can expect to get to know Ecuadorians in both jungle and mountain villages. This trip is full of sharing testimonies, worshiping alongside local believers, and seeking opportunities to share the Gospel. You will also spend time doing service projects at El Refugio, so be ready to get your feet dirty.

  • October 28 – November 9, 2025

    Application deadline is August 22, 2025.

  • $1,900 per person
    Please note: This price covers all meals, lodging, in-country travel in Ecuador, and the program fee. It does not include personal expenses such as airfare, transportation to and from your U.S. departure airport, or personal spending money. (Total estimated cost with airfare and personal expenses: $2,650-$3,000)

    Participants are responsible for booking their own round-trip travel to and from Quito, Ecuador.

    After being accepted to the team, you’ll be required to submit a nonrefundable deposit of $500 to secure your spot within one week of acceptance.

  • Age Requirement: 13–65 years old
    Participants must able to hike short distances and perform basic manual labor.

    Team Size: 10–15 participants (+ group leaders)

  • One Collective (El Refugio)

    Hacienda El Refugio is a training and retreat center in Ecuador that facilitates experiences to grow through rest and outdoor adventure.

    This is the same organization that the LIFT Program has partnered with for over 10 years.

  • You’ll spend most of your time at El Refugio, the retreat center we partner with. You’ll also stay in remote jungle cabins during the trip into the Ecuadorian jungle. In El Chaco, you’ll stay in a hostel.

  • Prior to the trip, the team will participate in 5 to 6 Zoom meetings dedicated to team building, spiritual preparation—including Bible study and reading Through the Gates of Splendor—and logistical planning. These sessions will also address necessary documentation, visa requirements, and recommended medical preparations.

What to Expect

  • Connect Relationally

    You’ll visit remote villages to meet unreached people groups—hearing their stories, learning their culture, and sharing your own. Whether you're planting seeds of faith, praying with families, or simply listening, you'll help bring hope through genuine connection. This is a chance to model love, share your story, and be part of something eternal, side by side with others of all ages.

  • Work on Projects

    Serve the mission by helping with meaningful work projects at Hacienda El Refugio, such as remodeling and upgrading housing for staff and missionaries. Your efforts will support long-term ministry in Ecuador and bless those who serve daily. Your work leaves a legacy that continues long after the trip ends.

  • Worship Alongside Believers

    Join local churches for worship and witness firsthand how God is moving across cultures. You'll be encouraged as you sing, pray, and learn with believers from different backgrounds. These shared moments of worship foster unity, deepen your faith, and remind us that we are all part of God’s global family.

  • Explore Ecuador

    Discover culture, beauty, and history along the equator. From standing at Mitad del Mundo—the “Middle of the Earth”—to exploring the cobblestone streets of Historic Old Town Quito, your time will include moments of awe and learning. Visit artisan markets, stunning cathedrals like the Basilica del Voto Nacional, and cultural landmarks while building community with your group.

Have Questions? Email Tim!

MEET YOUR TEAM LEADER

Tim Trezise

Tim is close friends with Rick Borman, founder of Hacienda El Refugio. Throughout the past 15 years, the Trezises have taken COTW members and LIFT students on mission trips to serve with Rick and have also experienced some personal tourism and mountaineering while traveling in Ecuador. 

“Rick Borman will take our team to a very remote jungle village, where you can participate and experience the legacy of his father, who was the first to bring the great news of Jesus Christ to the Cofan people during the same time that his friends, Jim Elliot and Nate Saint, were attempting to bring the Gospel to the Waorani tribe. 

Come travel through the majestic and beautiful land of the Andes mountains and Amazon rainforest, share the love of Jesus, receive the warm hospitality of the Ecuadorian, Cofan, and Quichua people, and of course, eat some delicious empanadas and tropical fruits.”

Memorable Moments

  • “We had a sweet time meeting with the women of the church in El Chaco. Even though there was a language barrier between most of us, we were still able to share testimonies and pray for and encourage one another. I have continued to keep in touch with one woman from there and we have been translating scripture and prayers to send each other.”

    - Laurie S.

  • “I remember standing at the Cofan village gravesite where Rick and Ron Borman’s parents were buried and seeing on their gravesite, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant.’ That was a powerful moment for us.”

    — Marcos C.

  • “We trekked through the jungle with our team to find a remote church nestled deep in Cofan territory, where we participated in a worship service that glorified God in English, Spanish, and the native Cofan language. Worshiping alongside fellow believers in such a setting gave me a renewed vision of the global Church and the beauty of praising God in many tongues. I came away with a clearer understanding of what it means to be united in Christ—a unity that transcends language, culture, and all the things that often divide us from a human perspective.”

    - George A.

  • “Hearing the villagers sing hymns that Rick Borman’s parents translated into the Cofan language was so impactful because I was witnessing the fruit of their lives and how God is praised in every tongue.”

    — John G.

  • “Our ‘shoeless’ morning spent with God on top of a hill with amazing views of the Andes mountains left me humbled that the God that created these mountains would spend time with me.”

    — Rich A.