Hello!
I hope all is going well wherever you are and that God is blessing you daily. I would like to share about one of our ministry opportunities that we have here in Portoviejo, Ecuador and some of the impact it’s had on my heart. We have many ministry opportunities here in Ecuador that we’ve already been able to settle into and plan to continue to both aid and partake in until we depart, but I want to share with you about one of these opportunities that holds a special place in my heart. (along with some pictures we’ve gotten to take)
I’ll call this place the “Edge of Ecuador.”
Edge of Ecuador
The reason I chose this name is because, even though our ministry might be stationed in the middle of Ecuador, it seems like the people here in this ministry location are living on the edge with very little to hold on to in life. I do not mean that, by any means, the people are forgotten. What I do mean is that from their location, they very well easily could be. Their location is a little outside of the city in the part of the city that is home to the local landfill. Their homes reside within a football field of this landfill. For those of you that don’t know, a landfill is the city’s garbage dump. And so to my nose, the smell that comes from this landfill is quite strong and stands out to me whereas to them, it’s very well the norm. But the smell is nothing that I have any room to complain about or even say something about, considering the living condition I’ve received in Ecuador, not to mention in the States. Their homes seem to be self-constructed with some wooden planks and boards that come together to form a small one room house that, by looking at the construction, you would not describe as sturdy.
The families spend most of their days filtering through trash from the landfill in hopes to find any plastics that they might somehow transport the plastics to a recycling company to receive compensation, which here would be money so that they may try to provide for their families. I cannot say for certain that I know what their everyday lives look like, but, from observation and having the fortune of even being here, my experience has revealed a good picture of what they’re lives look like. I can conclude that they are not receiving education nor do they have the opportunity. The families spend their days together going by life one day at a time with little to no excitement outside of their small world in this location. But in light of this matter, throughout the day, the children can play made-up or even games they’ve been taught to pass the time. And maybe, if their parents know something along the lines, they could teach them a thing or two but probably not about mathematics, about life-skills. The next thing to mention would be that these families of two parents not only have one child, but typically have multiple. This place has been an experience that, to me, words could not describe the living conditions, eating conditions, drinking conditions, and on top of that, I would go on to share about what we consider possessions but the only things that these families can pay for on their budget, and barely, are their basic needs.
So far, it’s been a completely humbling experience. As I’ve pondered about this, I truly believe that the thoughts and sights of these families and their conditions that scramble through my mind could never bring me to a place in my mind where I’d truly understand what it’s like to live in this situation. These thoughts bring conviction to my heart as we joke about our impatience to eat Chick Fil A when we return, whereas the families here would consider this meal a blessing beyond their reach. The choices I have in front of me in the States that for these families are not only not a choice they have, but not even a possibility. So, I find myself evaluating and looking at my own life. This life it seems I’ve been given, now seems to me to be of so much less of any hint of importance as I stand surrounded by the people of this small yet only surviving community. How could I complain about what’s for my next meal when there’s a boy that only holds on to the thought of a hope that he might have a meal that day? How does it make me feel that I get a new mattress replacing an old one, to then see that a family of 5-6 would share one, that being if they had one? What am I that I have the choice of drink from all that I like when all over the world, we find children working that they may receive water, or maybe even some food, to compensate their work? I could go on with my convictions, but they are few too many and as my thoughts continue on, indescribable gratefulness for what I’ve been given floods my mind as I find myself at a loss for words on behalf of these families and their living conditions. Living conditions that described to us could not do justice to seeing them first-hand but also that we could not truly know it for what it is unless we experience it ourselves, which most of us will never have to live through, thanks be to God. Yet, we must never forget all that we have in comparison to those around the world and even in our own country that seem to have nothing and struggle to fulfill their family’s basic needs. If we can keep this mindset, a sense of entitlement to our possessions will never take over and we can a live a life filled with gratefulness in view of what we have. In other words, I will strive to never lose sight of those I’ve come to know that seem to, so easily, have a smile when at the same time their possessions consist of close to nothing; where on the flipside I can find myself and others in the states struggling to find a smile when in reality, the possessions we have and the living conditions in which we live are considered a fortune to some.
But no matter the living conditions, all across the world, we begin to see a trend. We see the people of Earth pursuing the water their body needs to survive, the food that their body needs to continue working, the necessity of a roof over one’s head to shield us from the cycles of Earth if we make it that far, and then maybe if possible, clothes to shield and protect our bodies. The trend continues. That if we satisfy these basic needs, the basic needs that most of us will never experience a day what it’s like to live without, we pursue what’s next. Not even to the extremes yet. We would like a bed to rest our head on to better our shelter and daily life and rest. We would like better clothes to better shelter and cover our bodies from the world, and down the line maybe even clothes that have better value based on the logo the clothes carry. We’ll take the #2, a large combo at that. My point being, not that humans are careless and seek to only satisfy themselves, is that wherever you stand in the man-made scale of style or satisfaction of life, whether it’s meeting our needs or continuing on to pursue our wants, life goes on.
Life will go on and we will continue to satisfy ourselves. First, satisfaction in our needs by honest work in life, some by dishonest, and second, the learned habit of satisfaction will be carried over into our wants without our realization because as humans, we continually desire to satisfy a part of us on the inside that exists outside of our basic needs; a part that was designed to be only satisfied by God. This is the reason we see the man-made scale of satisfaction life. Even at the top of this scale, there’s no true satisfaction, people only continue to pursue more. And so, it’s a trend that only after having been noticed, we can do something about. That I can do something about in my life. Whether living in the United States, Ecuador, China, if you’re on planet Earth, life will go on the same and to quote the words of a man that I met between our recent country swap that had left New York to pursue a new kind of lifestyle different from that of the U.S. and found himself in Medellin, Colombia. “Man. Wherever you go, it’s all the same.” To which I responded, “What do you mean?” “Wherever you go, it’s all the same. Life goes on. People work and live and it’s just all the same man. There’s gotta be more to life.” In other words, life will go on and whatever the circumstances and wherever one stands in the scale, after one has worked and done his best to his satisfactions with his life, what did this man do when it came to satisfy the God-sized hole that was born into his heart that desires more than this life could offer that points all people to God but is easy to go unrecognized? But on that day, we as Christians, as those that did not choose this life and instead chose a different life, will be able to stand before the glorious throne with a smile on our face because we decided that the temporary satisfaction of this life that comes from the world was not worth it and we gave up our life for Jesus sake, that we might gain the true life of abundance in Heaven.
And so, I find myself asking this question with this perspective of the families, “What I am to do with these kids, for these kids, that seem to have nothing?” I know my answer. I know what I will do. I will give them everything. First, I am not going to give them all of my money, or any of the things that my money can buy, I am going to give them Jesus. Because Jesus is everything. Jesus is the difference between eternal satisfaction and the contrary. And one day, to my hope, I believe that these families and I will be able to look back at our time on Earth that is but a breath to eternity and see that the things that the world once held to so tightly, will be of no worth because of the surpassing worth of choosing Christ and giving this life for His glory, and in turn receiving Heaven. What more could we ask for? What of this world has lasting worth in comparison to the treasure that is Heaven? To me, nothing. And so, until the day I stand before the throne I will, to the best of my ability, utilize all that I have been given to share Christ with whoever I come in contact with however I can. All throughout the Bible, you see Jesus do things for people whether it’s by His power or through giving forgiveness, he ultimately provides provision for the people and points them to the Kingdom of God. And so whether sharing the gospel or loving them like Christ would or providing food, it’s all so that they may have this same hope that I have and that I hold onto with the hope that they may share that smile with me on the day that we stand before the Lord.
In this life, I will consider my money and possessions only temporary possessions that I have been given so that I may use all I have to win souls for Heaven in some way. That’s what I will do, and that’s what I’m doing. That’s the way that I will live for these kids. That though our origins are of different descent and we most clearly see that our living conditions look different, our destination is the same. Our destination, in contrast to the place we temporarily live, is a place where poverty is of no existence, where hunger and thirst are no more. Our destination is a place where unhappiness is unheard of. Our destination is a place where worries are non-existent. Our destination is Heaven and I will do my best to let God use my life as a street sign if need be so that I might point people to Him not only for eternal satisfaction, but also for a hope to have in this life. And so, my conclusion is that when I see those kids, I know that nothing that I could say or do or even possess makes me better than them, or them worse than me, because no matter where we’re living right now, our current homes are simply temporary. Our true and eternal home is in heaven and that’s what we have that to look forward to and will hold on to until the day we arrive. And whether those kids have that hope right now or don’t, God as my witness, I will do my best that by the power and will of God, not just these kids but their families will find that hope and hold on to it until the day that they stand before speaking the words “I made it.” And so, the desire of my heart is that, God willing, He will use me to lead souls into the eternal treasure of heaven that beyond any knowledge surpasses the temporary treasures of this life.
“Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39
“19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21
15 “That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. 16 They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. 17 For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:15-17
Small outline of what the ministry looks like with the kids
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- We would arrive typically anywhere between 4:30-5
- We would then set up the chairs and drawing board for the kids
- Kids would have typically have already been there waiting
- Once everything is set up and ready, at the beginning there is some sort of teaching or story time where the leader will tell a story about Jesus or we (the Americans) will teach the numbers, alphabet, or colors
- We will then take part in anywhere between one and four songs
- The kids may or may not then do a drawing that pertains to the story of the day which for example Monday was a house floating away on a hill that was the house that was built on sand
- Lastly, we will then feed the kids dinner and if we have enough food for the 30-40 kids, we will try to feed their parents as well
- After dinner, we may spend a little hangout time with the kids before we leave
- We would then put away all the chairs and clean everything up and then head out
- Attached are some pictures from the ministry
The ministry here does this every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and has been before we arrived and will continue to after we leave. It’s been our honor to be able to step into this opportunity and help and show these kids that they mean so much to me that we would leave the United States to leave our life of comfortability in hopes that we may share one hope in unison.
I had the honor of teaching the children the colors they knew in Spanish in English.
One of the houses from the ministry location
