So it’s officially the first 7 days of residing in Ecuador, can’t say it went by fast. I’ve enjoyed every second of it though. Quito Ecuador is extremely beautiful, tho the city itself has a quantana roo Mexico vibe, it is surrounded by mountains upon mountains and most days are clear so u can see everything. Our ministry hosts House is seated almost 10,000 feet above sea level, so the views are amazing. We can see almost all of Quito right before our eyes. Since the elevation is so high it took a minute to adjust to it but the air is so fresh and its actually cold. Not to the point where water freezes but around there. The house we stay in is beautiful and large, basically a house just like back in the states. Sadly me and my team have been in the front yard in our tents for this week since there’s not enough space for us in the house but hopefully within a week or two we’ll be in the next house on the property. Our daily schedule consists of waking up around 6-7 am to have morning devotional. At 8 we have breakfast made by our gracious hosts mabi and fabi. Around 9 me and my team leave for our ministry site (Dunamis). To get there we have to take a total of 4 different buses which only cost $.25 each. That cost is covered thankfully. We typically arrive around 11. Dunamis is a program that rescues under-aged girls from sex trafficking. Me and my team are currently building the wall that surrounds the compound at 12,000ft. Our work consists of making cement (either by hand or with the machine if we’re lucky, today it broke again) and wheeling it to the wall where my team then lifts up buckets to me on the 9 foot wall and I pour the cement down this mold that is the connector of 2 pieces of cement wall. If we work we’ll we get about 8 connectors done in a days work. The work is hard but fulfilling, I love construction work. The wall’s purpose is to keep pimps out of the compound so they don’t steal the rescued girls back and also to prevent the girls from trying to leave. When your brought up and brainwashed in that type of life and such a young age, that’s all you know. Some girls in the past have tried to run back to that life because it’s all they knew. This wall will prevent that. Dunamis provides beautiful facilities for the girls and even their babies if they have them, to grow and learn how to live a new life with Jesus. They teach them how to make jewelry and make food so they can survive on their own when they leave the program at 18. I am really passionate about this ministry and take pride in the work that me and my team put in everyday. We have off days Saturday and Sunday, this past Saturday me and some of my squad mates went to old town. We took a lot of buses but we eventually made it there and back thank God. Old town was beautiful and full of the different culture of Ecuador to absorb, there I ran into Carlos 8 years old and his cousins. They were cleaning shoes to earn some money for food and school. My heart ached for them so I gave them everything I currently had on me rather than what they asked for (he did a pretty good job on my shoes too). Carlos and his cousins and the countless stray dogs I see everyday really make my heart heavy. Now I know some of you might be thinking “stray dogs? There are stray dogs everywhere.” however, I have had a passion for animals since I was a kid. A person can say all day “omg look at the poor starving dogs or the poor kids” and move on with their life or say or short prayer. But I am a man of action, God called me on this trip to pour into my surrounding community, weather that be man or creature. What is faith with-ought action? I have had so many people pour into me for this trip, it is only right that I pour into the people of Quito. Every time I see a starving stray or homeless I make sure to give all that I can RECKLESSLY. It’s not for self fulfillment or self gratification, this is what God has called me to do and do so I will. I have received some opposition to the way I do my ministry on my own time, but I have prayed and wept before the lord and have received nothing but encouragement from him. In his word as I strived to find answers as to how I should be his hands and feet, I found these parables:
“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” Proverbs? ?12:10? ?NIV??
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs? ?11:24-25? ?NIV?
“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Proverbs? ?14:31? ?NIV??
“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,” 2 Corinthians? ?8:3? ?NIV??
“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” 2 Corinthians? ?8:12? ?NIV??
“Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless like ostriches in the desert. Because of thirst the infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them.” Lamentations? ?4:3-4? ?NIV??
With these verses and other ways God has encouraged me in the past 24 hours, as well as communicating with my elders and leaders, I have made my conclusion that I will continue to please him and seek his will. I have learned a lot and felt a lot in just a week, I’m looking forward to further growing with God as I continue to seek him and his kingdom.
