Wow friends! I know I speak for everyone on my squad and team when I say we are LOVING being here.
Today was our second official day of ministry! My team is working with a church, Inglesia La Luz in Carapungo, Ecuador. We're partnering with the pastor and really just doing what is needed. So this week we're doing a ton of sanding, spackling, carpeting, painting and cleaning the church! they're re-doing their sanctuary, and also renovating two rooms to use for the children upstairs. And so, for this week anyways we'll work all day, Monday-Friday.
(photo cred: Julie Dickey) (doulos photo-minus the guys)
Then on Saturday mornings while we are here, we're helping an amazingly generous woman named Anita who runs a ministry for street kids out of her own home.
(photo cred: kyle stinnett)
She teaches the kids, does crafts and activities with them, feeds them, and clothes them. She is 29 years old, has a 3 year old son, and has been running this program all by herself for 9 YEARS now. And she has little financial support from the community. (well, really not much of any kind of support). She has the most geniune heart.
Then Sunday we go to church from 10-12ish and have the rest of the day off as well.
This week the service was wonderful, and so was worship. A youth pastor, David, from another branch of La Luz spoke from John 6. We also did communion together 🙂
And Molly, a girl on my team, and I were asked to teach children's Sunday school this next Sunday!
(photo cred: molly williams)
After church my team decided to go to Mitad del Mundo (which is the area you can visit to see the equator)! Even though I have been there a few times now, it's always so much fun to be in two places at once!
My team is AHH-MAZING. the more time I spend with them, the more I can see how God perfectly placed us together. Each one of us has different giftings, talents, and personalities, are we are really trying to take the time now as we begin this journey to REALLY get to know each other. One example is that we are going to be sharing our stories with each other.
we are all learning to be vulnerable with each other, and though it is definitely a process, it is a beautiful one.
