Hello Beautiful People!
I AM IN ECUADOR. The Lord is so faithful. My squad and I will be serving at 2 different ministries in the next 3 months of our time in Ecuador. Me and 13 other women on my Squad are currently serving at El Refugio. After 1 ½ months, we will switch ministry and my team of women will serve at Dunamis.
El Refugio: Located near a small farming town in the mountains, 40 minutes outside of Quito. El Refugio is a Christian organization whose main goal is to share the Gospel and facilitate a deeper relationship with the Lord through nature and outdoor adventure. The ministry at El Refugio will look like partnering with and supporting other ministries and locations that exist here in Ecuador and surrounding areas. El Refugio also partners in the community and with Compassion International with youth and feeding programs. Over 3,000 people stay at El Refugio every year- and hear the Gospel!
Dunamis: is a non-profit organization who serves underaged girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking and/or sexual abuse. Dunamis aims to teach these women life skills while providing a Christ-centered environment focused on restoration. Dunamis enables and empowers these women to reintegrate into the world as healthy young women. Many World Race Gap year teams have served at Dunamis in past years and the Lord has moved in mighty ways through their time there. I cannot wait to see how the Lord moves through ours.
In Genesis the Lord told Abraham to pick up his things and move to a destination completely unknown to him. Abraham stepped out in faith, with a promise from the Lord to guide him. “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). I flew into Ecuador, heart racing, utter glee pumping through my veins…. Until I am told our Squad will be splitting up, ministry will look like blisters from shoveling dirt all day, and that due to covid I will not be able to leave El Refugio. All expectations, even low ones, down the drain. I sit in tears crying out to God, what is your plan in all of this?
Beloved… trust me.
Similar to Abraham, I didn’t know where I was going or if I would even be able to leave the US. I didn’t know what ministry would look like. Over the past 4 months I rarely knew where I would even rest my head at night- an old church Sunday school room? The basement of AIM, the kitchen at AIM? Or maybe my tent? Never a bed…
Beloved… trust me.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”
See Jesus and Him ALONE is the way. Not my expectations, not my comfort, not my perception of being the “hands and feet of the Lord”. Trusting the Lord and His plan is easy when His plan and way and truth is also MY plan and MY way. El Refugio is a camp where over 3,000 people from all over are able to experience the Gospel. If shoveling dirt, or building a roof helps further the kingdom then I will shovel dirt until I can barely move… or breathe (because of the altitude LOL). A few truths I am reminded of…
– God’s timing is not our timing.
– Faith is a lot of small steps in the same direction
– God is sovereign, He is in control!
– Covid world is KNOWN for constant change. This week ministry could look absolutely nothing like ministry 2 weeks from now.
You are all LOVED by the Father. It is the biggest honor and privilege to walk alongside each of you to further the kingdom. Please keep my Squad in your prayers as we are on FIRE for the Lord in Ecuador.
My team going on a walk with our host (Mabe and Fabi) dog Sunny:)
Road work in the mountains.
The roofing project we are working on at El Refugio.
Emily and I holding on for dear life on the sides of Oljer’s tractor as we make our way down the mountain after a full 8 hour day of work.
First time working with a machete… Oljer’s only instructions were to clear the path of weeds and not slice my leg open like he did a few years ago.
Work with a view!
Wishing you and your families blessings upon blessings,
Love Viv<3
