My team partnered with an organization called Pan de Vida in Quito, Ecuador. Our host Oscar, told us that he started Pan de Vida. He had a master’s degree in business, travelled to the US multiple times, knew English well…yet he still wasn’t satisfied.
One day he was getting his shoes polished by a poor boy. Who was saving enough money to get back home. Oscar said that he would pay him double what the boy asked of him and take him out to dinner. He told him about Jesus and gave him a children’s bible. The next time Oscar saw the boy, he brought along with him all of his friends. That is how the feeding program grew. There are people starving in Quito. But with Oscar’s business mentality, he wanted to be a bridge for people to get back on their feet. He would always say “poverty is a mindset”. And it’s true. Working alongside with his employees who live below poverty line, but work hard, have a positive attitude, and hope in Him.
So today not only does he run VBS, feeding program but also has sewing classes in the basement. Women learn how to sew and on their graduation day get a free sewing machine which they use to make money to support their families.
One week we made 585 emergency kits to distribute in Bahia de Caraquez and Canoa. On April 16th the coast of Ecuador was hit with a 7.8 magnitude, with a least 661 people were killed and 27,732 people injured. It was hard to see all the homes and building destroyed. Natural disasters are scary, hurtful, and painful. It tears apart your home, your loved ones. Please be praying for those who are suffering on the coast of Ecuador. Many are desperately trying to get back on their feet.
We also got to do construction for a lady named Norma. One day she came to Pan de Vida and collapsed at the door step. She hadn’t eaten for five days. She was selling drugs so that she and her two boys would be able to survive. Then she needed emergency surgery. With that, she knew she couldn’t provide any more food for her family. She poured poison into her two sons coffee and her own. She knew it was wrong but she couldn’t see them starve to death. Right as they were about to drink it, there was a knock at the door. It was an employee, Agustin, from Pan de Vida. He and his wife had a tug on their hearts from the Holy Spirit to go visit her. When Norma opened the door she fell to her knees crying “God sent you.” Agustin and wife didn’t know why she was crying until two months later. But that wasn’t the only thing. The government wanted her home too. Pan de Vida fought for her home and now we are able to reconstruct it! Today she’s a completely new woman. She found work to support her small family. Norma has accepted God in her heart and hopes in nothing more than Him.
Now we are almost to an end at debrief in Banos. Probably one of my favorite places I have been the race. Y’all need to put this town on your bucket list!
Thank you again for your prayers!
