Ecuador: The Journey Begins

As I headed to the airport on the morning of June 4th, I was feeling unprepared. Don't get me wrong- my bags were packed. I had all the necessary items for a week in a foreign country (plus probably a fair number of "extras) as well as gifts I had put together for our sponsored girl and her family. I had attended the preparatory meetings that focused on language and guidance on entering a different culture. Outwardly I was ready, but when it came to my head and my heart, I just didn't feel like I had found or made the time to prepare the way I wished.

23 of our 25 member team ready to depart from Colorado Springs

Straight out of my journal: Stillness

"The last many weeks have been busy. It has been a good busy- babies to celebrate, weddings to attend, cakes to bake, end of school year events,  graduation parties, increased work with the missions ministry all while still striving to maintain a pleasant home and home life. Oh and how could I forget the preparation and beginning of the class for special needs children. I'm thankful for the friendships that have led to so many reasons for celebration, and I love the opportunity presented in my role with missions and the special needs class. Yes, the busy-ness has been good, yet so is the stillness.

For now I find myself on a plane headed for Miami and from there on to Ecuador with little to do now but rest and be still. And stillness is just what I need at this moment- a chance to "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) A chance to slow down, reflect on Him and seek Him out as I prepare for this next event....

Ecuador!

I am excited that I can go, grateful for Drew's encouragement and flexibility, and eager to meet Alejandra and learn about her and her community. I want to pour love and joy into her life and show her that, despite my failings, she is so frequently on my mind. I want to thank and encourage those who work with her at the center- those who are on the front line in reaching out to her and sharing God's love. Yet I cannot do that if I am empty or weary from all the wonderful busy-ness.

So I sit here in the stillness (if you ignore the turbulence) and the relative quiet and ask....

Lord, use me. Make me your hands and feet to go and share your love to a lost and struggling world. Take my mouth and fill it wholly with Your words and Your love. Make my thoughts and actions captive to Your will and guide me through this week.

Use me- for Your glory and Your kingdom."

I would have hours to focus on God and ask Him for His guidance throughout this trip as the journey to Ecuador was comprised of three separate flights, totalling approximately 3,600 miles in the air, and I intended to make the most of those miles. Honestly as is often the case, after praying over the whole situation and reading some from my Bible, I found myself feeling far more calm about the whole situation. I had found peace and rest in His presence- once again.

By the time we arrived in Guyuaquil, Ecuador, it was early Sunday morning. We would make it to our hotel for that "night" at 3am and I would find myself laying down by 4am. As tired as I was, I found it hard to sleep due to the excitement at being so close. 4 hours later, my alarm would go off so I could prepare for the remainder of our journey.

I found myself journaling again: Refreshing

"After only 4 hours of sleep, we are up again and preparing to head down for a meeting after which we'll head to the coast.

4 hours isn't much for a night's sleep. Both my roommate and myself decided to take a quick shower just to rinse off. My roommate came out saying it was worth it and I was left feeling refreshed. Thank you Lord for that.

Lord, may we not be the only ones refreshed. Give everyone an increase of rest within our group and prepare us so that we may refresh those who work and serve You here in Ecuador. They have been through so much lately due to the earthquakes and we know spiritual forces are at work here as well. May we bring Your refreshing to this region and Your servants here.

Isaiah 40-29-31 "He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."

Before we boarded the bus to take us out to the coast of Ecuador in the town of La Libertad, we held a meeting where we met the in-country Compassion workers who would work with us and assist us with translations throughout the week. During the meeting, we also learned a bit more about Compassion's work in Ecuador and the region around La Libertad. During the meeting, one of our translators shared a story with us about a well-known pastor in the La Libertad region and how he got his start. In his early 20's, this pastor was taken out to the La Libertad region by his pastor and told they would be holding a church service. They went through town announcing and inviting people to a service that evening. They then went to clean up the space where they would meet. The door to the meeting room was locked and no one had a key. In the end, they would break the lock, so they could enter the building to sweep and later hold service. At that first service, only a handful of people attended, but that first step would eventually lead to a thriving church body that would help to plant numerous churches throughout the region.

Breaking Chains
"What a perfect image!

Without God, a place or a person is like an unkept, locked room with no key present. Love and Christ are the key. Joy can be found within.

We have been called to loosen the chains of injustice, set the oppressed free and break every yoke. Just as the pastor broke the lock on the door, so we can break down the chains that bind us and others through the power of Christ.

Isaiah 58:6-8 "Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?“Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? “Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard."

From Guyuaquil we then travel by bus to the coastal town of La Libertad, where we would stay for the remainder of our trip. On the bus, I was feeling the effects of only 4 hours of sleep. In some ways, I wish I could say that by the grace of God, I experienced no headaches or migraines for the duration of the trip, but that wasn't to be. Less than 12 hours in country and I was struggling with a migraine. All I could do was pray that God would give me the energy and clarity of mind when it was needed so that my physical ailments wouldn't limit me during the trip. This will be the only time I mention my headaches because each and every day and with every headache, I can say the same thing: "God provides." I can remember dealing with headaches almost everyday that I was in Ecuador, but I have no memory of pain or impairment of thought (a common issue that I have with my headaches) while we were at the church or with the children. I may not have been free from headaches, but God brought me through each and every time as needed. God be praised!

Looking out at La Libertad- to the east

and to the southwest

And so the majority of our traveling was over. We had made it to La Libertad. We would have to drive on to the town where the Gozo de Dios Church and Compassion project were located, but we had been brought safely this far. With the traveling behind us, we could now look forward to the work and fun that lay ahead.