Our ministry this month in Ecuador is my favorite so far. We get to spend the day with 4-16 year-olds that would probably be on the street up to no good if they were not hanging out with/ on us. COVI is an after-school youth center nestled in the heart of Parque Carolina that was designed to keep “at risk” kids off the streets of Quito. But really, all kids are “at risk”, everyone is when you consider our inevitable eternal life away from God. That is, until we meet Jesus.
So let me tell you a little about Him. Mathew 25: 31-46 talks about how God will separate the faithful (sheep) from the unfaithful (goats) on judgment day. And in verse 40 when asked about the basis for doing so, Jesus replies with ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ After reading this one morning, it occurred to me that when I interact with these kids at COVI every day, I’m interacting with the King of Kings.
Anyone who has or has worked with children knows the challenges that can surface. These kids at our ministry site are liars, cheaters, thieves, and down-right disrespectful at times. To make it more challenging, I have learned that there really is no distinguishable change in response from an English “no” to a Spanish “no” when dealing with problems among Latino children. But the most challenging part of it all is that God calls us to treat them like we would Himself. Throughout our ministry at COVI, my wife and I have really been able to just love on these kids but we have been challenged in that we are called to not just love them, but treat them as we would Christ, with respect, honesty, and service.
But after challenges also offer rewards. Susan has been able to use her teaching experience to help these kids in so many ways. From leading activities to organizing games and helping with homework, it is so awesome to see my wife bring honor and glory to God with the gifts and experiences that He has blessed her with. God continues to use the gifts and talents He has blessed me with as well. I get to help the kids with math homework (thankfully numbers are universal) but more importantly I get to help the kids draw whenever homework permits and sometimes even when it doesn’t.
Plus we get to garden!! We both miss gardening at home but God has allowed us to pursue this passion at ministry almost every day. The city of Quito has provided land for COVI to cultivate and grow numerous types of plants and produce and our team gets to tend it. Such a blessing!
So here are some pictures of Jesus and some ways we get to serve Him while at our ministry site in Quito, Ecuador.
3 Amigos
EARTH SCIENCE
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COMICS!
LEGOS!
Tomatoes can and do grow on trees.
