Our time in Ecuador was another month of praying and asking the Lord where he wanted us. This time we went in more prepared and with a mission in mind ahead of time. With lots of prayer, discussion, and e-mails back and forth we were able to contact a couple a head of time and arrange a place to stay as well as ways to serve. This couple had been serving in Ecuador for 20 years. The husband (Dr. Wesley King) had bought the property in the 1990’s and built the facilities from the ground up. The property was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! With a view of a river in the back, the mountains surrounding it and a nice distance from town, it was a little slice of heaven on earth.
To make it even better the ministry that had been done on the property is enough to melt anyone’s heart. Wesley and his first wife had started a home for underprivileged boys in the area. This included boys from the town, from neighboring areas, as well as from the jungle. After the passing of his first wife he remarried the wonderful Donna. She came in with arms wide open, leaving her entire life behind in the states to come serve alongside Wesley. During their time in Ecuador they raised nearly 30 young men. They would bring them into their home, share the love of God with them and encourage them in a way that they would never get outside of those walls.
As we settled into our new home we quickly fell in love. Donna and Wesley King welcomed us in just as they had welcomed each child that walked across that threshold. With a quick tour of the home and a speech of how we were welcome to anything and everything we needed as well as a table full of food, our hearts were so full.
We knew this ministry would look a little different as Dr. Wesley and Donna were planning to retire back in the states and would be heading back home shortly after we left. The home was no longer full of young boys that needed help. As we began to plan our days and the ministry we wanted to do while there one thing after another would happen and our plans would quickly fall apart. We made many attempts to go out into the community and encourage other ministries near by in whatever way we could, but still we could never get things to work out. As we continued to pray through it we felt God telling us that Dr. Wesley and Donna were our ministry for the few weeks we were there. They were in a position where they were closing a very long chapter, essentially a lifetime of work. So that was our two weeks, Ministering to them, loving them, helping around the house with chores and with cooking.
As they were beginning to pack and get things together, many emotions came up for them. What a blessing it was to be there in that time with them to listen encourage and love them through it. This also wound up being a great time of filling and spiritual recovery for us. We had all been going through some deeper heart healing and emotional healing that was now able to be processed and discussed within our team.
During the days we spent sitting around their kitchen table we played games such as Mexican train, balderdash, and uno and we listened to stories. My very favorite part however was the visitors that came to love on Dr. Wesley and Donna, seek advise, as well as to say their final goodbyes. Many of the individuals that would sit along side of us for hours at a time were grown men that had once lived in that home as young boys. It was in that time that we were able to witness the true impact their ministry had on the boys they served. The stories only got better when these grown men were around. Some would share stories of their past, some would bring their families along with them, and others would speak into how incredible their lives are and how that is only due to the fact that Dr. Wesley and Donna were a part of it.
There were four boys that had grown into young men that I grew especially close to.
One was Francisco. He was the father of two beautiful young boys, Jim and Wes (yes named after Dr. Wesley). He lived on the property still and would be there to take care of all the property. He would man the land, fix any and everything that was broken, and bring nothing but smiles to Dr. Wesley and Donna’s faces. He was married to an absolutely stunning women named Alba. She would cook for us, making us some of the most delicious meals. Their family as a whole was a true blessing to each of us through their stories, laughter, and love.
Alberto was the younger brother of Francisco. He had a week off of work during the time that we were there. During that time he sat with us telling us stories and expressing his true love for Dr. Wesley. He had an adorable little daughter named Nissi, who took an instant liking to me. As I got to know him better and see some of the paintings he had done around the house I learned that Dr. Wesley and written a book about him and his two brothers. Both Francisco, Andres, and his twin brother Roberto (who i did not get to meet) were part of this book. All three boys lived in the home with the King’s at one point in their lives. The book is titled “My name is”. 
The art on the front cover is a painting made by Andres himself as a fathers day gift to Dr. Wesley while he lived in the home with him.
A 3rd man that we met who had once lived in the home was named Christian. He had a story that was sad enough to make a grown man cry. The strength, love and commitment he showed to the Lord even after all he had been through was so inspiring. He had 2 daughters who are his absolute world. He spent some late nights with us playing games, telling us stories and lighting up the room with his smile. He too had an unreal love for Dr. Wesley and the way he changed his life. He too has a book written about him and his life. What an amazing story full of traumatic events and every excuse you could imagine to not want to go on or love the Lord but yet Dr. King got a hold of him and made him into an incredible young man full of faith and love.
The 4th young man that we met was actually still living in the home. His name was Edison (Eddy) and he was the last one that resided with the King’s. He was in his mid twenties and had minor physical and mental disabilities but loved them none the less. He would walk around the house trying to act macho and like all the white girls were just crazy but when he got to laughing it was such a sweet thing. His laughter could instantly fill a room with joy. He would go around saying how crazy I was and how he didn’t understand why I was so strange. He loved to joke around and tell jokes but was also an incredibly hard worker. He would spend all day outside working along side Francisco or out at his job in town. He was definitely a special young man that blessed our lives beyond words.
Over all our time in Baños, Ecuador was one of a lifetime. the beauty, the love, and the spirit of the Lord was all that filled our days. We learned and grew in ways that we never could without the wisdom of the people we encountered there. What a blessing these 10 days were and the fellowship that was shared around that big wooden table.
