Y’all there is sooo much purpose!! God times everything so perfectly and I rejoice that He chooses to use me to advance His Kingdom and share His unfailing, unconditional love with this world!! As I have shared before, God’s calling for me is to be a missionary and share His Gospel, making disciples of all the nations!
Here’s the sequence of events on 12/15/16
We left ministry a little after 4pm, then talked with two men who work for the bus station, then headed to the bakery. As we started walking towards our bus station, we stopped to talk to and pray for a blind woman and her friend, outside the Catholic church. All this was a part of God’s perfect plan and will. So at the bus station I talked with the security guard, Raul, we always see him, please pray that he will give his life to Jesus! And a young man, started to talk to us, seeing that we were American and spoke english. His name is Francisco, and he’s 25.
He told me about his life and how he learned english from living in Europe for a few years. He told us he was going to a party that night and showed us the liquor he just bought. Such purpose though, and it was all the Holy Spirit. We got on the bus and Francisco and I continued to talk. He told me more about his life and how he grew up Catholic. I asked him if he felt like he had a relationship with God and Jesus, he said no. I told him about Jesus and how he could have an intimate relationship with Him. In Francisco’s eyes you could see that he sincerely wanted something more in life than what he was experiencing. He could see in my eyes and passion that I was telling him the truth and that Jesus is the truth. He told me he didn’t feel satisfied in life and he was completely honest with me, about how we drank, smoked weed, and he even told me he cried that day as he was thinking about his mom who died 6 years earlier. This was all Jesus’s perfect timing and Him calling Francisco to Himself. He said that he didn’t believe in chance and coincidences, and I told him I didn’t either, and that It wasn’t a coincidence that we met and started talking!! On the 15th of December we gained a brother in Christ and Francisco gained every single thing in Jesus Christ. Literally all this timing was so beyond perfect. I asked him if he wanted to accepted Jesus as his Savior, HE SAID YES!! So I led him in a prayer, and he gave his life to Jesus right there on the C5 bus. All of this took place in a matter of 20 minutes! Seconds after we said amen, I gave him a huge hug, and he got off the bus, since that was his stop. Nothing could wipe away the joy from my heart after that!! I praised God that Francisco gave his life to Jesus and I praised Jesus and was so humbled that the LORD chose to use me to bring him to know Jesus! That’s evangelism, that’s making the most of every opportunity and sharing the love of Jesus!! I love Jesus sooooo much!! Since being in Ecuador, I have been praying that God would put english speaking people in my path so that I can talk with them and share Jesus with them, and Jesus definitely has!! God has had so so much purpose for us being in Ecuador!! And in eternity we will see all the impact our time here has made in so many people’s lives.
I’m also reading a really really impactful book called, “Jesus Freak” by Voice of the Martyrs, which gives a 1-2 page testimony on hundreds of martyrs throughout history who died for Jesus, each and every testimony in that book is so encouraging and really gives me so much faith! And every single testimony, as they died, many people gave their lives to Jesus through seeing their joy and love even as they were tortured to death and died in horrendous ways. I highly recommend you all to read that book!
The last few days (16th,17th,18th) we’ve had Christmas parties at Pan de Vida for those who are in the most need here in the surrounding city of Quito Ecuador. Over 700 children and adults attended these Christmas Parties, each hearing the gospel, and each receiving a meal, candy bags, a Christmas present and the love of Jesus Christ. My team even sang some Christmas songs in English and did a skit, showing what Christmas is all about! The birth of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior, who left heaven’s glory to die for all the bad things we have ever done! That’s the greatest gift we can ever receive. Forgiveness of our sins and the blessed assurance and promise of eternal life in heaven, all through Jesus! Jesus loves us so much!!
Jesus cares for us so much, y’all! I really wanted it to feel like home and Christmas, and God answered that prayer! Our ministry host Oscar invited my team over for a nice dinner and to decorate their house for Christmas!! It was so sweet and I really enjoyed the time with his family and the talks we had!! Jesus is so good to us!
Really embrace and enjoy the time you’ll spend with your family this Christmas!
I also wanted to again say thank you everyone for generously funding me to be here and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I’m a little over $2,000 away from my last deadline which is January 31st. But I know for absolute certain the LORD will provide all the money! I already praise God for everyone who has given and will give for me to reach that deadline! God bless you all!! Jesus loves you!!
Merry Christmas!!
