My God is SO Good!
The first couple weeks of ministry in Ecuador were really difficult, adjusting to the primitive living and missing friends and home. Last Monday was especially difficult. My heart was aching and I just couldn't seem to shake this feeling of brokenness throughout the day. That night I was asked last minute to come along for a drive with Kaitlyn, Pastor Raphael, his son Milton and his daughter Mayra. Turns out we were making a house call to talk with and pray over a woman who hadn't been to church in a long time. I got – out of the entirely spanish conversation – that her husband had left her with 2 of their children to Spain, and her heart was broken, so she'd drink to take away the pain. There I was with a broken heart of my own and God blessed me with the opportunity to pray for this woman, exactly what I needed praying for myself.
I had an amazing week after that night. God gave me a peace and contentment with where I am. We continued building the church, evangelizing, growing into a deeper relationship with Vanessa and the Pastor's family, and helping them in any way possible. On Saturday, our free day, we got to go to Old Quito and we all pitched in our money to buy the Pastor a new suit. On Sunday we had a really moving church service and performed a couple songs we rehearsed the night previous with the worship band. I grew so much and experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit all week.
But this Monday I had another one of those days. Missing friends, my old lifestyle and the comforts of home. I'm a really affectionate person and I love to cuddle so that's something that's been challenging for me.
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Parents in the community know they can drop their kids off with us at the church to learn and play between 3 and 6. I haven't had much experience with kids so that has been challenging for me as well, but thankfully one of the girls, Amanda, taught children in Thailand for 2 years so I'm learning a lot from her. As of late we've only had one little boy, Pilt, who Dory affectionately renamed Scout. He is 3 and he's the cutest little boy!
It was 4:30 and my teammates were all coloring at the table with Scout and Vanessa's kids, Jadira and Karen. I, still in my mood and just needing some alone time, was sitting at the next table venting my emotions on my computer.
All of a sudden a massive hail and thunder storm started. The hail chunks pelting the tin roof was absolutely deafening. I guess everyone went to look at the storm out the window because they all suddenly disappeared. I remembered I brought ear plugs, so I got up to get them when I noticed Scout covering his ears and crying all by himself. Without even thinking I picked Scout up and brought him into our sleeping area. I plugged his ears for him and started rocking him back and forth in my lap and just comforting him. He became my main concern and I totally forgot about the earplugs. I tilted over so we were lying down on the bed and began praying for Scout to be filled with peace and to not be afraid anymore. Literally within a minute he was asleep in my arms, my finger still covering one of his ears for fear of him waking up and being scared again. I prayed that he would sleep through the entire storm. I prayed that when he woke up he wouldn't be scared to be laying next to someone he barely knows.
His little legs would kick every now and then, but I just cradled him, feeling his precious little heart beat. All at once I realized that yet again, there God was, showing up so promptly, taking the focus off my selfish feelings and allowing me to give to someone else, exactly what I was in need of myself. There's something about being able to do that for someone else that is so much for fulfilling and satisfying than receiving it. Listening to his soft little breaths, I laid there thanking God for every second, praying for wonderful things for him, for his future and for his family.
Fast forward an hour later, the storm finally let up, and Scout is still fast asleep in my arms. My arm was practically asleep (so worth it), when he wiggled. I thought to myself "oh no, what's he gonna do?! Is he gonna wake up and forget where he is and be scared to see me?" But instead the biggest smile comes across his face, eyes still closed, he stretched and snuggled back into my chest. I swear my heart smiled. I laid there with him for another half hour and next thing I knew it was 6 and his mom was standing over us, ready to take him home. It was so cool too because when I woke him up to show him his mom was there, he put his hands behind his head, legs propped up on me and just stayed in my arms, not even wanting to move.
It was just such a great reminder of why I am here. I never would have got to experience that back home. It was such a special moment for me, and extremely humbling.
Thank you God thank you God thank you God.
