I can’t even begin to find words strong enough to recap the last month of my life here in Ecuador. Ecuador was by far my favorite month of the race. Living in Huaticocha was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were able to minister to multiple villages there in the amazon region, and really spread the stories of God’s love and goodness to some kids who have never heard it before now. This being said, trying to wrap up the month as a whole would be impossible. So I have compiled a couple of my favorite ministry moments and the things The Lord has been teaching me this month.
First of all, I absolutely loved teaching english in the public schools there. At first, I really hated it. I disliked feeling like we were thrown into it with no say. I felt insecure in my ability to speak Spanish well enough to teach four classes of native speakers a new language. I felt so unprepared to make lesson plans for each of my classes. All of these things were very real weaknesses of mine that so easily could have hindered me from really going after this aspect of ministry. These are also the three areas that showed his glory the most as I stepped up and taught the classes. So one of my favorite ministry moments was my very last day with my class. Saying goodbye was hard, but it was so fun to do review and see all that they truly had learned. They had learned some English. They had learned it because God put me here at this time, in this place to impart that skill to them. It was just really cool to see God truly use me and be able to see the fruit from it while I was still there.
A second moment of ministry that I absolutely loved was sharing my testimony at the church in Sumaco. We showed up at this church for the very first time, thinking that we were just attending church. Nope, they wanted one of us to give a short message/time of testimony. So I asked the team if anyone wanted to and everyone said no. So I told the Pastor that I would, even though I was once again, completely unprepared and now on the verge of having my heart beat out of my chest. During worship, I told The Lord how nervous I was and that I didn’t have anything to say without him so I kinda needed some help. ha When I got up there, I was just so overwhelmed with his presence and knew just what to say. As I told my story and watched the man in the front row with tears streaming down his face, I knew that this is what it is about. It is about obedience. Just like with teaching english, I felt unprepared. I felt out of my element. But God doesn’t care if we feel unprepared. He knows our gifts, and he asks anyways. All he requires us to bring to the table is obedience. He is faithful to bring the rest.
As I head to Colombia, I know that The Lord is calling me into higher levels of obedience. He doesn’t care how “ready” we think we are. He doesn’t care how “inconvenient” what he is asking might seem to us. He sees the bigger picture, and he wants to let us see it too. This comes through obedience. Obedience is the language of friendship. I don’t know about you, but I long to pursue a deep, intimate friendship with my Lord and Savior. Are there areas in your life that he is calling you to walk in deeper levels of obedience to him? He longs to reveal himself to you as you walk hand in hand fully aware and obedient to his presence. Let his glory shine through you!
**Side note: Our squad leaves for Colombia tonight. Please be praying for safety in travel and in border crossings as Colombia is the most dangerous country we will have entered thus far! Thanks!**
(Pictured below is one of the girls from my first hour English class, Leidy.).jpeg&maxwidth=640)
