Translation Goof

I thought some of you would appreciate this slip up in translation...

Tonight, I called our bus driver to ask him to pick our team up at 7am to pack our bags. Instead of saying the word for suitcases, "maletas" , I said "muletas".

In essence, I asked him to come at 7am to pack our crutches, not our suitcases.

After I ended my conversation, my pareja, Rachel, quickly corrected me. :D

I'm hoping this isn't some sort of bad omen or something...

Fruit

Dear Supporters,

Our second team is actually from Maryland.

I am tremendously excited at what God is already doing in our team.

Today we helped out at a school/church called Argelia Alta. In our debrief time tonight, one shared that she actually knew God loved her for the first time in a month because her life circumstances have been convincing her otherwise. Another guy shared he hasn't been trusting God enough with his life because he hasn't felt like he has been able to be trusted by his friends and family. Yet another team member shared that they have been too lazy and now they want to take their relationship with God more serious.

All of these reflections help me to realize the importance of time with the team. I was telling one of the other hosts, Brandon, that if I can participate in an environment where children of God realize his unconditional love in a tangible way-all of the late nights and early mornings are totally worth it!

Thanks for your prayers...especially for my health. Things are getting better slowly, but surely.

Why Short Term Missions?

Often times I have heard, "Why do Short Term Missions?...You could have just sent the money to the country to have the natives do the work. More harm is done when gringos come." OR phrases like, "Short term missions only benefits the people coming. They experience a God high, get warm fuzzy feelings, and then return to their country."

If we are honest with ourselves, at one time or another we have all thought these things to some extent.

Here at Youth World, we believe that in fruitful short-term missions there is a reciprocal relationship and that all parties involved bear fruit (John 15). If God changes the course of one person's life because they participated in short term missions, is it worth it?

Yes, Absolutely!

There is a process that short term missionaries usually go through after completion of the ministry. The hope is that the end result is fruit!

Here is an excerpt from Dana, a full time staff member, in her blog:

"The Five F's is a process that many people go through upon returning home after a short term mission. Here they are:

"Fun": it's fun to speak English, flush toilet paper, drink Starbucks, see friends and family.

"Flee": Expectations of home don't meet reality. You expect people to care more and listen longer as you share about the mission. The people at home don't really get it, so the only people you want to be around are your team members.

"Fight": Your passion gets a little misplaced. You are filled with passion and motivation to change the world after everything you have seen and learned. You know God is calling you to a higher purpose, but you just find yourself fighting against your home culture. So you do things like: sleep on the floor instead of your bed because that's what you did in India, or take cold showers to identify with the people in Jamaica...but none of it actually makes a difference.

"Fit": You eventually have to reengage into life at home. You need friends, even if they don't understand. You have to go back to work or school, and slowly your life looks like it did before you ever got on a plane. Unfortunately, many people stop the process here.

"Fruit": The ultimate goal and expectation is that you would bear fruit as a result of the short term mission. Fruit looks different for everyone. Sometimes it means you start a scholarship program for kids at Argelia Alta, or read your Bible because you actually want to, or appreciate your family more, or change your major... Fruit is between you and God, so no fruit is better than another. This is one of the ways we can determine the success of a mission: if the team members bear fruit."

Can you relate to these things? We have been pointing all of these ideas back to John 15 where Jesus says, "Apart from Me You Can Do Nothing." It's only because of Jesus that we are able to live, breathe, and have our way...yes, and even participate in short term missions.

Be Blessed!

My past 10 days in Pictures

1. 1. Staff Picture (Back Row Left to Right): Manuel, Sarah, Amalia, Leigh, Brandon, Caleb, Me, Jose Luis, Gina, Cameron, and Dario (Front Row Left to Right): Kristin, Dana, Joanna, Christy, Rachel, Laura, and Danny
      

   
   

Quito, Jungle, and Argelia Alta

(Pictured Above Center: my short term group from Chicago at the bus stop in the jungle.)

Pictured Above Right: Mariano, the leader of the church in Shandia, me, and a student at the school. Please pray for Mariano as he teaches at a school where many kids come from broken villages that abuse alcohol and do not know Jesus as Savior)

Yesterday, my partner host (pareja), Joanna and I finished our first group. It was a great experience. Here’s a brief run down of our experience:

First, we did a cultural orientation of Ecuador through visiting the Basilica, different plazas, and historic Quito.

We traveled 5 hours to the jungle to a village called Shandia. Jim Elliot served in this community and still has a house that is in the village today. His efforts more than fifty years ago continue to bear fruit today. We cleared jungle for the village so a future retreat center can be built for Pastors and/or kids.

We did VBS for kids at a school called Santa Rosa and at the school in Shandia. It was great time to love the kids and the community.

The jungle was beautiful with many great memories.

After the jungle, we helped out at a ministry site called Argelia Alta. It is a school that is sponsored by Compassion International. It also has a microfinance program, a high school, and it is a church that sends out Ecuadorian missionaries. It serves a community largely made up of single mothers who struggle to support their kids.

At Argelia Alta, we painted, made house visits to pray for women, helped out in the classrooms with crafts, and went on a field trip with the kids to play at a park.

It has been overwhelming to ponder about the good work God is doing in Ecuador as well as doing in my life while I am here. He has been challenging me to depend more on him in everything. God’s grace is sufficient for me!

Thank you for all of your prayers. Monday night I had problems with my health, but now I am doing much better. This next block starting Sunday is 31 people from Canada. I will be working with two other hosts and I will be in charge of all of the finances and logistics. I think it will be a great opportunity to develop good management skills and learn more about responsibility. We will be serving in Quito as well as going to jungle. I'm excited to go back to the jungle!

Please continue to pray for my health, unity for the staff, Spiritual fruit for the team from Canada, and a consistent devotional time with God.

Blessings on You!

Please feel free to ask any questions, comment, or leave prayer reports!

Church

Buenas Tardes!

Thank you for your prayers.

Today was a great day to attend a church here in Quito and have lunch afterwards.

Here is a picture of the Quito Quest staff:

(right side: Kristin, Manuel, Joanna, Brandon, Dana (covered), Caleb, and Leigh; left side: Me, Christy (covered by my big head), Cameron (our director), Rachel, Amalia, Laura, and Jose Luis.

Yesterday, I was able to sit down and have coffee with the director of Youth World, Brad. God is doing an awesome work in his life. We had an awesome conversation about life lessons and what God is teaching us. He and I shared prayer requests and I would like to share them with you:

• greater dependence on God as I take on new responsibilities this summer
• To have a continual mindset of prayer throughout the day
• To be able to listen to God about his plans for my future vocation
• A great partnership with my pareja (partner)

Day Off

Staff training finished well.

Pictured at the Basilicia (Right to Left): Me, Jose Luis, Rachel, Amalia, Leigh, Brandon, Manuel, and Krisitn

It's been awesome to see the dyanmic partnership Youth World has with many different churches and programs in Quito. It's been great to hear from the Pastors how the short term teams positively impact their churches and communities for Christ.

My stomach is feeling a lot better. Thank you so much for your prayers.

Last night, we had a celebration dinner that the staff made for us on the roof of an apartment building. We did some salsa dancing and had delicious Mexican food. It was a great time of fellowship.

Today, we had the day off. I slept in and us guys went to lunch at a cafe not too far from our apartment. Afterwards, we went to the grocery store. This afternoon I was able to go running for half an hour. It's a little bit different running at 10,000 ft above sea level!

Tonight, the female interns are all cooking us dinner! :) I can't wait!

I found out yesterday I will be leading a team to the Jungle to a village called Shandia. We will be working alongside the Waodani Indians, visiting Palm beach, (where Jim Eliot made contact with the Waodadani), and putting on a VBS for the children.

I am so excited to see God work this next week and see him in a new way.

Please pray for health and protection.

Blessings on your week!