“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8)
In 2013, when I was in Thailand, I lost my sense of smell-and taste-for about one week. It was not fun for me at all, considering how I love to eat and to try new food. However, the Lord taught me about Himself and how, ultimately, I need to taste and see that He is good. How He is the ultimate good. Those few days really made that verse come alive to me.
The Lord brought this verse to my mind today as I contemplated my “end of Ecuador” blog post. This past month, I’ve definitely tasted and seen that He is good, especially through the grace He has given me. Both personally and in the lives of those around me. At Camp Hope, I served alongside beautiful Tania, an Ecuadorian woman with a gracious and loving spirit. The Lord showered me with His goodness and love through her smiles and words of encouragement. He gave me opportunities to pray for her before and after her oral surgery. I’ve experienced that type of surgery before (three times, actually), so I was able to empathize with her. He showed me grace every time we tried to communicate. I was forced to use my little Spanish, but I was also able to teach her some English words. He showed me grace when we hugged goodbye yesterday. Tears were shed. Grace was dispensed. Our English classes proved to be another arena for me to experience His goodness. He gave me grace when I felt very under-prepared and under-qualified to teach. He also gave me the grace to say goodbye to our students, each of whom was very grateful. I think I signed about 20 New Testaments and took countless photographs at our party last night. 🙂
I literally tasted His goodness when our ESL ministry host, Pastor Efrén, and his family fed us ceviches, plantain chips, and then cookies with caramel, at their lovely home. His family was so hospitable to us. I could not have asked for a better host family.
Our hosts, Fabi, Mabe, Gustavo, Andrea, Patrick, Anna, Catie, and Kylie have all been instruments of His grace and goodness with their cooking, cleaning, preparation, guidance, wisdom, prayer, and friendship.
I also experienced His goodness and grace through the grace poured out to me by my team and my squad. I’m learning true community and vulnerability more than ever through my PSquad family.
This time in Ecuador has been full of amazing sights and tastes. However, tasting and seeing the goodness of God has made it even richer. I pray to return again someday soon. I ask you to join me in praying for Tania, for Camp Hope, for Casa Blanca (our church home), and for Iglesia La Luz-Carapungo (our ministry host church).
Also, please continue to pray for my team and my squad. Our squad has been hit with some illnesses lately (a few of whom are still ill), but we encouraged in the Lord and continue to trust Him for good health.
Love in Christ,
Lauren/Lorena
