I am writing this post while at debrief with my whole squad in Baños, Ecuador. It has been sweet to reconnect with my squadmates and hear how God worked in their lives this month. On Thursday 3/10 my squad will travel to Peru for our third month of ministry and our last month in South America. Although I am looking forward to the growth God has for me the rest of the year, I am also sad to be leaving this beautiful country.
Theme for month two: Relationships
Something huge I learned this month is that service doesn’t always look like we might expect. This month was all about people: missionaries, church members, neighbors. We spent time teaching and learning from them, eating meals together, throwing surprise birthday parties, putting on a wedding, cleaning and painting, encouraging, praying, and growing closer to the Lord and each other.
Before going on the Race, I prayed that God would place a specific ministry on my heart, whether it was something I would support financially, visit once in a while, or return for long-term missions. And while I know I’m only two months into the race, I believe God has answered that prayer with Kingdom Life Ministries in Cuenca, Ecuador. I was wooed by this city and especially its people. They welcomed and poured into me in a way I have never experienced before. The church is doing amazing things for the Kingdom. Their services are bilingual. They have a discipleship program, youth services, and a young adult Bible study.
Getting to teach English classes in Cuenca was a sweet gift from the Lord. The moment I was back in the classroom, whether with children or adults, I felt at home and alive. I strongly feel like my future could hold a teaching position as a ministry in South America. I don’t know this for sure, but I do know that I’ve never felt so purposeful and fulfilled.
I felt purpose and belonging there. My heart aches for the people I met and got to know in Cuenca. They gave my team and me a sense of belonging. I know God called me to the Race and I am excited for the things I’m going to learn in the next nine months, but part of my heart will always be in Ecuador with Bob and Lori, Bekah, Javi and Carol, Emi, and so many more people.
My prayer now is that this passion God gave me for ministry in South America would not diminish but would grow stronger. Yet not my will but his be done. I want to be fully present in the following nine countries. Please pray that homesickness, both for my family in Wisconsin and my family in Ecuador, would stay at bay. God has blessed me so far with strength of mind and emotions on this trip. I have been able to focus on what the Lord has for me here without homesickness or anxiety. Your prayers are working and I am so grateful to you and God!
Some things I learned this month were the power of prayer and the power of encouragement. I find myself interceding for those around me, where I would previously have stayed silent or not even thought to pray. On our last night in Cuenca, a missionary prophesied over each person on my team. Each prophecy was spot-on relevant to the person. I was told that people would follow me. That I shouldn’t be afraid, but need to just go, trust what He is doing, and people will come.
Something else I grew in this month was learning more about how to recognize and walk in my spiritual gifts. My team had a feedback session each week where we called out a spiritual gift that we observed each of our teammates operating in that week. We followed up the observation with an encouraging scripture. The first couple times I wasn’t sure what I had observed, but when I prayed about it, the Holy Spirit filled my mind with examples of how my teammates used gifts of service, administration, encouragement, leadership, and more to build up our team and the Kingdom. I grew in recognizing spiritual gifts in those around me. I was encouraged to learn about my own spiritual gifts, which include faith, service, teaching, compassion, administration, helping, encouragement, knowledge and wisdom. I feel more confident in using my spiritual gifts now that I know more about them.
My prayer at the end of month 2:
Thank you for the ways you have grown me this month. For making me more people-focused instead of self-focused, that I can approach and talk to strangers. Thank you for giving me a heart for people, and the courage to love even though it’s going to hurt. Please continue to work on my heart in this area, that I would love people well. Thank you for Val and the wisdom she pours into my life. Thank you for using her to help me realize that You made me the way I am to reach a specific group of people. That my emotions are often indicators that can lead me to positive action if I let them. I’ve believed that I can’t trust my emotions because I don’t understand them and don’t like feeling bad or confused. Thank you for bringing light to that area of my heart and thoughts this month. I choose now to not see my emotions as wayward and untrustworthy, but as a gift from you to learn about and a tool to spur me to service, encouragement, conviction, or other actions your Spirit wants me to take. I will not ignore how I feel or try to figure it out on my own. I will open up to a godly authority or friend and process those emotions. I am so grateful to you for showing me that I am not broken inside, but knitted together with intention and special gifts, that my personality, heart, and mind are created and known by you. Thank you for team unity. Please give me renewed strength and focus for month 3, that I would jump into ministry and relationships in Peru with passion and joy.
