Celebrating 20 Years of Taylor Students in Ecuador

At Taylor University, cross-cultural learning and global engagement are an integral part of who we are, and this year, we’re celebrating 20 years of Taylor students studying in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Since 2006, Taylor has offered semester-long programs, Lighthouse service trips, and January term academic trips in Ecuador, thanks to strong partnerships with Universidad del Azuay and Arco Church in Cuenca. From overflowing fruit markets, to crashing waterfalls in the Amazon rainforest, to hands-on work in medical clinics, Ecuador offers students a vast spectrum of educational and relational experiences that change lives.

A History of Relationships

Taylor’s Ecuador programs were founded by Dr. John Moore, Professor Emeritus of Biology and President of Fundaćion Taylor del Ecuador. Moore made it very clear that God was directing the program: “I don’t know why I was chosen to do this. I didn’t speak Spanish. I didn’t even have a heart that wanted to go. The first thing that had to change was my heart—and God did that through a boy named Diego Palacios.”

In 2003, Diego Palacios, a high school student from Ecuador, lived with the Moores, quickly becoming a beloved member of the family. Upon Diego’s departure, Moore began dreaming up a way to bring students to Ecuador for a pre-medicine experience, little knowing how God had already been preparing the way.

He connected with Diego’s father, Dr. Marlo Palacios, who had strong ties to local churches and organizations that opened doors for Taylor pre-med students to have a robust, hands-on experience at a local medical practice in Cuenca. When Moore asked Dr. Palacios if the church could host a group of Taylor students, the answer was a resounding yes. Moore went from host parent to trip leader, and in January of 2005, he and eight pre-med students headed to Cuenca on a medical brigade Lighthouse trip—the first of many.

When Moore arrived at the airport in Cuenca, Dr. Palacios put a hand on his shoulder and said, “John, I’m so glad my son has had two fathers.” This spirit of hospitality has been the bedrock of Taylor’s Ecuadorian programs. Moore knew that if he and Taylor were faithful to develop these relationships, the program details would quickly follow.

A channel of relationships now flows between Cuenca and Taylor. Some faculty take their sabbaticals in Ecuador, and faculty in almost every department have found their way to Cuenca over the years to teach, study, or perform. Additionally, Taylor frequently hosts visiting faculty from Universidad del Azuay, and whenever Maria de Lourdes Larrea is on campus, alumni of the Ecuador program make a beeline for her.

TU in Cuenca Today

The Ecuador programs are unique in that they’re cross-cultural experiences run by Taylor faculty for Taylor students. And this year, more than 20 students will have a semester-long experience in Ecuador.

When students are in Ecuador, they take classes at Universidad del Azuay, Taylor’s partner school, as well as at the church. Departmental courses and practicum experiences in the students’ areas of specialization are provided in Biology, Engineering, and Exercise Science. General education courses in history, literature, and science are also offered. All students are enrolled in Spanish classes, and there’s even an option for a Latin dance course!

One of the hallmark features of the Ecuador programs is home stays. Rather than staying together on a partner school campus, students are paired with host families who introduce them to Ecuadorian culture through daily living. Dr. Ken Kiers, the Director of Ecuador Semester, commented on the quality of these relationships, saying, “Their host families really love them. When students come back, it's very normal for them to say their host family was the highlight of their trip.”

Lives Changed

The Ecuador programs have been so enduring because during their travels, “students discover opportunities and possibilities they may never have imagined for themselves,” said Maria de Lourdes Larrea, the Executive Director and On-Site Director of Taylor Ecuador Programs. “Without an experience like this, some might never realize what they are capable of becoming or accomplishing.”

Students then take those transformative experiences and impact the world. Larrea spoke of graduates who have “become physicians who participate in medical brigades throughout Latin America, Spanish teachers who help Americans learn language and culture, educators who have developed international programs in their schools and universities, pastors, and professors who train church leaders throughout Latin America.”

The relationships continue. From a seed of affection planted in Dr. Moore’s heart by Diego Palacios, generations of Taylor students have learned what it looks like to love and serve others—and in the process were loved and served themselves. These relationships have flourished and deepened and spread because, Moore said simply, “this is God’s program in Cuenca, Ecuador. These are my good friends. Deep friends. And I’ve learned so much from them.”