Hi Friends!
This month, our last month on the World Race, is a little different than most months. At the end of last month, we were given an opportunity to ask the Lord what He was doing in Ecuador and how we could partner with Him. We were asked to pray about which people group the Lord wanted us to pursue in our final month and then go for it.
At the beginning of the month, we were given all of our money for lodging, food, and transportation and were given the freedom to go wherever we felt the Lord wanted us to go. The three of us, Hannah, Farrah, and Cody, felt the Lord asking us to pursue poor families and so that is exactly what we are doing! The three of us met and prayed and knew that the Lord was asking us to pursue one or more families this month and to have faith that He would provide for their needs.
We spent our first two days asking the Lord for more direction and on our FIRST day out and about, we met Roberto. Roberto was our Uber driver who had picked us up to take us to a homeless shelter that we were looking to partner with. On the way, Roberto asked us what we were doing in Ecuador. We were able to tell him about the World Race and how we were looking for organizations/people in need.
We asked him if he knew of anyone and he very humbly said, “Well, me.” He then proceeded to unleash his heart to us. He told us about how he works 12-14 hour days, 6 days a week to provide for his 10 family members living in his 2 bedroom house. He told us about how he hurt his back and now uber is the only job he is able to do. The most challenging thing for Roberto is his 31 year old brother-in-law, Victor, who has muscular dystrophy. Victor only has movement in his hands and a little bit in his feet. He is unable to eat, dress, and go to the bathroom by himself. Anywhere he goes, his family has to carry him, an uneasy feat for Roberto who already has back problems. Victor is rarely able to leave his house because of this makeshift ramp pictured below. We were able to go to Roberto’s house, meet Victor and the rest of the family, pray for them, share a meal with them, and were welcomed into the family.
That being said, we truly feel the Lord asking us to put all of our efforts into helping this family and to make them our main ministry for the month.
There are a couple of different things that this family desperately needs. Victor’s wheelchair is too tall for him, uncomfortable, and doesn’t have breaks. He also is very dependent on his family to move him around his own home with the current manual wheelchair he has. We are hoping to gift them an electric wheelchair that will help Victor feel more independent, empowered, and altogether more comfortable. Another thing we are hoping to provide for this family is two new mattresses. Currently, they are essentially sleeping on springs, and Roberto, Roberto’s wife, Elysia, and ESPECIALLY Victor are suffering because of it. With Uber being the only job Victor can find because of His back, we are also hoping to provide a back brace for his car. With their current make-shift ramp necessary for leaving their house, it is impossible for Victor to get across, even if we get him a new wheelchair. That being said, we are also hoping to build a ramp that won’t feel the effect of weather and warping.
This is where YOU come in. We recognize that the things we are asking for are not cheap. In fact, we are hoping to raise $4,000 for this family. But that number doesn’t scare us. Us racers, and all of you through us have seen how the Lord has provided the finances time and time again. Like that one time all 37 of my squadmates fundraised $18,200 to even come on the World Race. Or like last month in Colombia, when we heard about the crisis in Venezuela and wanted to help. We were able to fundraise $5,000 in just a couple of days! We are full of faith and we believe that this time will be no different.
Will you partner with us and help Roberto, Victor, and their family?
To recap, we are hoping to purchase a wheelchair, two new mattresses, a back brace, and a new ramp system for this family and we are projecting that we need $4,000 to do it. Any remaining funds will go towards possible physical therapy, bibles and other household needs. Will you give $5, $10, $50, or more today?
To give:
E-transfer & PayPal: [email protected]
Thank you!
