Serving the Least of These

To start of Ecuador we had a debreif time of a few days in Banos. This was a time to check in with leadership and be encouraged and refreshed in the word. Some of us also took a little time on our own to go sight seeing or do and activity. At the end of this time I got pretty sick with some stomach thing. It took me about a week and a half to recover. I was so blessed by 3 of my squad mates during this time as they went above and beyond to help me wether cleaning up, translating, accompanying me to the hospital, or using their nursing skills to try and help me I was blessed and encourage by their kindness, thoughtful, and care for me.

My team is ministering in Portoviejo this month. I missed about a week of ministry as I recovered. During that time I took time to pray and prepare a devotional to teach sometime on the trip and lots of rest.

What does ministry look like this month?

 

Wake up somewhere between 5am and 6:15am (depending on how much alone time you want and how much time needed to get ready).

6:30am – Hannah starts to help Gema

Around 7:00am – Breakfast

7:20am to 1:30pm – team goes to senior home to help feed, clean, or entertain residents (Hannah stays and helps Gema clean and cook and etc.)

1:30pm – Lunch

2:00 to 4:00 pm – rest/prepare for Garbage Dump Ministry

4:00 to 7:00 pm – Garbage Dump Ministry

7:30pm – Dinner

8:00 to 9:00 or 9:30ish – team time (debrief day)

9:30 to whenever it takes – get ready for bed…

On Saturday instead of Garbage Dump Ministry we do Youth Group (which is a group of young adults that meet for a Bible study time). Last week I taught my devotional I put together during my time of recovery.

 

I have so enjoyed my time serving Gema in the mornings and being a encouragement to her through the cleaning or help cooking that I can do. In the afternoons I so enjoy being with the children that live at the dump. It is heart breaking that they have no other choice but to live there because they are so poor but it is so rewarding to be able to minister to them. Each day we do a little VBS type program – a story from the Bible, a memory verse, a game, a coloring sheet, and then we serve a little food that Gema’s mom makes for them. 

My time with the Garbage Dump Ministry reminds me of this passage in scripture.

 

Mathew 25:34-40

 

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdomprepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’