Yesterday was a crazy day. Life changing could be another word to potentially describe it. Even as I sit and write this blog my mind and heart is still trying to fully grasp all that God did in me and to me. But before I get into that, I’ll give you a recap of the day.
So yesterday was our final day in Huaticocha, Ecuador where my team had been doing ministry for the past almost 3 weeks. A couple of us had gone into Loreto (a town about 25 minutes away) in the morning to get some gifts for our ministry contacts that we had grown to love during our time here. We printed off some pictures of our team and their family so they could see our faces and remember us by them as we leave. We also got them a headlamp to use during the night when they have to feed their pigs or do some other chores when it’s dark out.
It was sad to leave them. In only 3 weeks God really brought us into a close and intimate relationship with them filled with love. They told us how much they appreciated and were encouraged by us being there. I can only hope that we brought as much encouragement and love as they brought to us. I have rarely seen people so eagerly and graciously accommodate complete strangers and feed them, provide shelter for them, talk to them, laugh with them, and love on them. God truly blessed my team with such amazing brothers and sisters in Christ to live with: Ivan, Nanci, and Isaac. Jim was also such a huge blessing to our team as he translated everything for us. I can only imagine how draining that must have been, but he always did it with his big, goofy smile on his face. Thanks Jim for everything.
We left for Quito a little after 2pm. Several kids that we had hung out with before came to see us off including Michael who I had blogged about earlier. I was glad we were able to see the kids one last time before heading out. We talked with Ivan and Nanci and asked them how we could be praying for them as I know they will be people that will forever be in our hearts. Please pray for them as well. These people have such a heart for the Lord and seeing His Kingdom expand in their community.
Prayer Requests:
· Ivan, Nanci, Isaac (their son), and family; that they would have a boldness to proclaim Jesus’ name to the people of Huaticocha
· Marro (Nanci’s brother); that he would return to the Lord and be committed to serving Him
· Church/Members; comfort during discouragement from financial troubles or family troubles; against falling away in the faith
· Ivan’s financial debt; that God would provide for him
· Ivan and Nanci; that they would continue to serve the Lord faithfully
· Isaac; that he would grow in obedience and desiring the Lord; that he would be unashamed in the gospel and invite other kids to church
Thanks for all your support and prayers. One of the many things God has been showing me this past month is that His Kingdom is BIG! Being in America my whole life, the vastness of God’s Kingdom was only something that I could try to imagine in my head. I knew that it was alive and active around the world, but actually seeing it first-hand was such an eye-opening experience. Here we were in the jungles of Ecuador and the body of Christ was still found. It makes me look that much more forward to the day when we’ll all be in heaven worshiping God together!
So I ask you brothers and sisters in Christ back in America, pray for your fellow brothers and sisters here in Ecuador. We may be from different cultures and different languages and separated by thousands of miles, but we are of one body. Let’s unite and fight for one another! May God’s Kingdom continue to expand in Ecuador as we leave today for our next country: Peru! Thanks again for following my journey. I love you all.
That was longer than I was expecting so to prevent this blog from being super long I will finish my story about the crazy thing God did in my life last night in my next blog. Stay tuned!
