We have been in Ecuador for two weeks now and it has been full of work, play, building relationships, and sun! We are working with a local church called Templo Metropolitano Alianza which has a couple hundred members.
Ministry looks different every day. Two days out of the week we go to spend time working with orphans at The Foundation for Love which is about an hour and a half outside of Portoviejo.
The rest of the week finds us painting on the the church property, visiting the Nursing Home two days a week, participating in prayer vigils, attending church services, manual labor, youth group, practicing with or cheering for the TMA soccer team, or doing house visits.
One day last week Juanita (a nurse from the church medical center) asked if two of us would be willing to go with her to a pueblo outside of the city to do a house call. Even though it was our one day off a week, Lizzie and I agreed to go. As we drove the 45 minutes one way to the pueblo, I thought to myself, “Wow, she takes a full afternoon, an hour and a half drive, food etc. to go all this way for one person.” The lady was bedridden and we ended up moving some of the slats in her bed, flipping her mattress, visiting with her and speaking about God’s love to her as well as her neighbor who joined us.
I realized on the way back that evening, that even if we were there to just bring a bit more comfort and words of encouragement to that one lady….it was worth it!!
This past week we did another house visit to a family with two little boys (ages 9 and 11). The young mother has a degenerative disease where her muscles are atrophying and she is in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. We were able to clear rocks out by her small house so her family can start a garden and we also mixed concrete to help build the outside of their future tienda (store) to sell their products.
I realized in the heat of the sun, that if we were there to bring a glimmer of hope to just that one lady or to her small boys for a brighter future…it was worth it!!
Every day we go to the nursing home, we continue to build more relationships with the people there. Many of them are alone with no family, no visitors and no change of pace or view. They sit day in and day out in the same room, same chair at the same table with the same routine. They never leave. When Bold Radiance walks through the doors now, they recognize us. Faces light up and hands start waving.
I have realized, if we are there to bring a smile to one face; to see the joy of Christ fill up one heart….then it is worth it!!
As I see the smiles, hear the laughter, feel the genuine embrace of a hug given in gratitude, I cannot help but cast all doubts aside that no matter the cost, time, or energy, when Christ’s love is shown through me…even to just one, it is worth it.
