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!