Our first ministry in Ecuador, Dunamis, looks like sleeping on the floor of a house in the mountains. 11 acres filled with land, a house for girls that were recently involved in sex trafficking, and two other houses that are for the people that allow this place to even be. I’ve fallen in love with the heart behind this ministry and why these people have devoted their lives to protecting young girls that have been through extreme circumstances. Most days are filled with painting, cleaning, moving trash, and all sorts of manual labor. These days are truly tiring but are worth it when you begin to remind yourself why you’re even doing this in the first place. Dunamis had a wall built around the whole thing, built by another squad that came last year. We’re now working on moving cement blocks and trash while painting inside the house, solely for the purpose of the girls and this new environment they’ll be in. In Ecuador, sex trafficking is huge because it’s legal, allowing traffickers and women to come here. Ecuador is also a user of USD, which allows the girls to make more than in countries like Venezuela or Columbia. There’s about 15 girls that will be coming here that we’re rescued. This place is apart of stage 3 in sex trafficking, known as restoration. These girls are from age 9-17 and are sold up to 30 times a day, sometimes more. They are blinded by what real love is, what life is supposed to be like for them and more. This place will be a space for them to be in a healthy community, receive counseling, safety, and eventually get back to life in the world. This is my team and I’s second ministry that has involved victims of trafficking. My biggest prayer is that they would learn that they’re so loved and worth more than what they’ve been told or gone through. It’s a heavy reality that unfortunately is a billion dollar business and is ongoing in more countries than I ever knew before being here. It’s a sense of darkness that can be overwhelming but being apart of something that brings it into the light has been a privilege. Us as human beings tend to underestimate the impacts we can make on communities or people that are in desperate need. Being in places like this has shown me God’s heart for his people and the nudges/desires he puts in those to be a hand to those that need it. Although manual labor isn’t the most fun thing to do M-F, it’s worth it knowing it’s for something greater, all while glorifying God.
