From November 16 to 24, 2011, a Couples for Christ (CFC) mission team, composed of Jose Sonny Aguiling, Regional Coordinator of CFC South America; Luis Paez, missionary for CFC (or Parejas para Cristo in Spanish) in South America; and Jorge Sarmiento, of CFC in Guayaquil, Ecuador; conducted a mission trip to Guayaquil as a “response to God’s vision of grace.”
Guayaquil (pronounced: [ɡwaʝaˈkil]), officially Santiago de Guayaquil, is the largest and most populous city in Ecuador, with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as the nation's main port. Guayaquil is also the city with the highest rate of underemployment (about 40% of the economically active population) and unemployment (about 11% of the economically active population) of Ecuador. Guayaquil has city partnerships with Miami, Florida, USA and Houston, Texas, USA (1987).
The climate in Guayaquil, Ecuador is hot and generally humid throughout the year with little variation in average temperatures.
The Church and CFC in Guayaquil
Guayaquil has a cathedral and many Roman Catholic churches. Approximately 80% of Guayaquileños are Catholics. Couples for Christ (Parejas para Cristo) is privileged to have been officially recognized by the Archdiocese of Ecuador. 
The November Mission Trip to Guayaquil
On November 16, Sonny and Luis arrived in Guayaquil. Jorge had arrived one day earlier.
The team met with the Nuncio of North Guayaquil, Fr. Alfonso Aviles Perez, who gave them a list of parishes under his responsibility (over 50). Fr. Perez authorized the team to contact these parishes. Fr. Perez is also the pastor of Santa Teresita del Nino Jesus in Samborondón, Guayaquil, Ecuador. Samborondón is a suburb of Guayaquil and one of the cantons of Guayas province in Ecuador. It is one of the most exclusive residential and entertainment districts in Ecuador, boasting many gated communities (urbanizaciones cerradas), and several retail developments are located in the suburb. It is very close to Guayaquil itself (you get there by merely crossing a bridge).
Between November 18 and 20, a CFC Christian Life Program (Programa Vida Cristiana) was conducted at San Juan Bautista Church, Los Esteros, Guayaquil, Ecuador. We were blessed to have Padre Diego Solano introduce CFC to his parishioners. The Orientation night was attended by 100 parishioners, with 24 individuals completing the whole CLP, composed of seven CFC couples; four Handmaids of the Lord; four Singles for Christ; and two YFC members.
Prior to the CLP proper, Luis Paez taught the music ministry members CFC songs in Spanish. All the music ministry members (who were initially non-CFC members) were able to finish the CLP and also become community members.
The new set of leaders for the CFC community in Guayaquil are as follows: CFC - Carlos and Charito Jarrin; HOLD – Ibara Ruiz; SFC – Marjorie Pisco Acebo and Paola Sanchez; YFC – Francisco Vera.
CFC Guayaquil has Father Diego Solano as their spiritual adviser. Fr. Solano has approved the use of the church hall facilities of San Juan Bautista Church for future CFC CLPs, meetings and assemblies.
Aside from the CLP, the mission team members also met Auxiliary Bishop Marco, who represented Monsignor Antonio Arregui Yarza, Archbishop of Guayaquil, Ecuador, who was not available at that time. Bishop Marco welcomed CFC to do its work with parishes in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
The team also had a meeting at the Consulado de Filipinas (Philippine Consulate) with the Philippine Consul of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Corazon Oliva-Reyes, and her husband, Aurelio Reyes. We informed them of the presence of CFC in Guayaquil. There are very few Filipinos in Guayaquil.
It was truly a blessed time for the team members, who felt God affirming the earlier welcome message given by Msgr. Antonio ArreguiYarza, Archbishop of Guayaquil, Ecuador throughout the entire trip: “Due to the approval of the Couples for Christ statutes from the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Archdiocese of Guayaquil is pleased to allow you to develop your charism among our faithful.” Truly, God is using CFC and its charism to touch the lives of people in Ecuador. Viva Jesus! By Sonny Aguiling
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