This month in Ecuador has flown by so fast and I am really sad that I will have to say goodbye to this beautiful country and these beautiful people on Saturday. This month we have been helping out with Kingdom Life ministries in Cuenca. We have done a variety of different things from painting the church,, to playing the part of the paparazzi at an event for children with special needs. We have also lead bible studies, shared our testimonies in the park, helped in the cafe’ during the youth outreach open mic night, ran a kids’ camp and hosted an outreach event with Samaritan’s Purse. All in all, this has been a busy but amazing month.
I have been so inspired this month by the community at Kingdom Life. Bob and Lori Leek moved to Cuenca from New Jersey about three years ago because they felt like the Lord was calling them here to plant churches and disciple young people (basically taking a special interest in encouraging people to grow in their faith and step in to their calling). They came here with their five kids…and each person only got to bring two bags with them. They literally gave everything they owned to follow Jesus. They didn’t even speak Spanish and they didn’t know anyone, but they bravely accepted the call. That takes some serious faith and God showed up in a huge way by providing the most amazing people that now make up the church.
The Leek family has been so incredibly welcoming to us this month. They have had us to their home for delicious meals, let us use their Netflix accounts and just rest and relax, and more than anything, they have loved us so well. They are warm, open, and inviting and have told us that we are family multiple times. No wonder people love working with them and their ministry!
I think it is amazing that this family picked up everything and moved to a country where they didn’t know anyone, and didn’t speak the language, and jumped in to an entirely different culture, and they still feel so much at home. it isn’t just their physical house that feels like home (although it is actually really homey). Its just the way they are. The way they welcome people. The way they serve. The way they are completely themselves and they aren’t trying to be anything else. I think this is the way Jesus wants us to invite people to Him. We should remind them of home. We should be safe, secure, comfortable, and real.
Bobby and Lori also refer to the people in their church as family. They call people their sons and daughters or brothers and sisters in the faith. This has stood out to me so much this month. You know, we really are all in God’s family, but sometimes we just forget. I just love that they speak it out so often here, reminding the congregation that we are in this together. I get the sense that they would really fight for the people in their lives. And by fight, I mean they would not give up on them. I want to see more of this back home. I want to see more people fighting for each other instead of judging each other.
Bobby explained his idea of “mentorship” to me and he said that it is basically adopting someone as your son or daughter in the faith. The mentor takes on the role of a “spiritual parent”. This is a HUGE investment, one that has clearly paid off after seeing how kind, loving, and invested his spiritual sons and daughters are. But the thing that stood out to me the most about his idea of mentorship is that he said, you stand by that person for life. Of course there will be times of less influence than others, but the point is, you don’t turn your back on the person just because you have a difference of theology, or because they move to a different church. You don’t write that person off if they are doing things you disagree with. This idea of commitment and patience and dependability is something that I can’t say I have seen very often. I think this is what being a Christian is truly about, doing life together in the good times and ESPECIALLY in the hard times.
Obviously this month has given me a lot to think about but the main point is, I love love love Ecuador and Kingdom Life Ministries! I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to serve, learn, and grow with them this month. As always, thank you to my donors for giving me this opportunity!
I do still need about $2200 and am way past my deadline! Please consider making a tax-deductible donation or passing along my information so I can stay for the last 3 months! 🙂
