“He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber.” Ps 121:3
Well folks, it is way past time for an update…forgive me for my silence, I shall try to make it up to you. This might take a while, so brace yourselves!
If you read my last blog, my family and I recently said good bye to my Grams. The Lord was faithful to me during this trying time and gave me a beautiful time with family. I had some unbelievable conversations with my aunts and uncles. We spent hours singing old-timey songs that my Grandma had taught them as kids – I never knew my uncles could play the guitar (they said that I had to have inherited it from somewhere)!
When I was a kid, I always thought it would be great to have a really big family…I often said that I would have fourteen kids, just to “beat” Grandma. I have always loved the unique atmosphere of large families. As I’ve gotten older and realize what a huge responsibility it is to raise children, I have changed my mind to thinking that a modest brood of four or five (maybe a couple of adopted orphans) would be more reasonable. The fact that I am a lot older than Grandma was when she started having kids, I am not married, and that our priorities in life are a bit different also changes things! Regardless, the most beautiful thing about my Grandma’s large family, is the immense admiration that they have for her. She was one blessed woman, surrounded by those that she loved as she stepped into eternity.
As for me…it has been an interesting week:
I arrived in Quito on Sunday night, exhausted, but welcomed with warm arms by my Kentucky team. It was so comfortingly familiar to reminisce about college days and just be able to speak English with them. They were also very encouraging and willing to tackle the challenges before them with gusto. I stayed behind in order to get some rest on Monday as they went to Hope Foundation, which is an institution for children with special needs. Tuesday morning, we ministered at a school for children with disabilities. I recognized one of the children who had attended our camp in 2006, the first time I was here. The school was beautiful; so much of the time we encounter less than desirable facilities for these kids. In the evening, we met with a group of 20-somethings at English Fellowship church. There were exchange students from the states and people from other nationalities. We performed a skit and shared the ministry with them. At the end of the time, there was a girl from the states whose Grandma just passed away. As I listened to her share and felt her pain, I knew the Lord put us there at the same time for a reason. The Lord uses everything to teach us and to reach out to others. We talked for a while and agreed to pray for each other during the process of grieving. The next morning, Wednesday, we went to minister to women in a prison. There is a ministry here called Inca Link that has been teaching the Word in this prison for about 9 years. We went into it unsure of what to expect, and left feeling blessed to have been able to worship the Lord with our sisters there, and to hear the Gospel being presented with conviction. Unfortunately, that morning I woke up with a pretty rotten case of diarrhea, so when the group left to go to Pan de Vida to feed the poor and homeless and share the gospel with them, I stayed behind, which was a good idea, since I vomited a few times. That same evening, the group from Wisconsin arrived…greeted by a rather pale leader. The next day, Thursday, I was able to get a bit more rest, as we spent most of our time training the Americans for camp. I expected to be fully restored to health for camp, but, as it turns out, I still haven’t quite conquered whatever bug is living in my stomach.
We spent Friday as tourists, (Jeff definitely ate an entire “Qui” or guinea pig…head included!) only to be thrust into a flurry of preparations and activity that would not cease until the campers and counselors left Sunday evening.
Camp was wonderful, but challenging, as usual. We were all stretched to our maximum capacity in more ways than one. Since the team here is relatively new and this was their first camp, there were many unknowns and much work to be done, especially for my Ecuadorian friends. The facilities we used (Casa Blanca) were beautiful, but definitely too small for forty-some people we were housing. This brought out the best and worst in all of us, for true character shines through when one is tired, cramped, and has to wait in line for a shower!
“But the children, I love the children...they are my heart!!!”
I am constantly surprised by the fact that, amidst all of that preparation and stress, the peace and joy of the Lord somehow comes to rest on the camp. We, the friends, are always so blessed by the love and smiles the campers are so willing to give away. I find myself envying the parents that are blessed with such unique little packages of joy.
Camp is not always a beautiful experience for everyone. One of our boys has extreme Autism. He was rude, bossy, foul-mouthed, and difficult to manage. We assigned two guys (Jeff and Patricio) to watch over him. They gave him every ounce of love and energy they had, but, in the end, because he refused to be engaged in any of the camp activities, his parents came to take him home. As they carried him, kicking and screaming, to their car, I knew he had experienced real love from his counselors. I remembered a similar experience in the States this last summer. I felt helpless and defeated, because a child who desperately needed the Truth of the Gospel and the transforming love of the Holy Spirit, was instead removed from the situation. As I observed the compassion and love of the counselors who were moved to tears, I knew it was a reflection of the Father’s heart. I thanked them for allowing God to channel His sorrow through them, and asked them to use this deep emotion to draw near to Him and intercede for this child. God really does work all things out for the good of those that love Him!
Monday, we were able to spend a few hours at a daycare center which is built in the middle of a garbage dump. Extreme Response, is a ministry that began in the largest dump in Quito. They provide care for the children whose parents work in the dump, separating out the recyclable material, medical attention, housing construction, education, and Bible studies. Theirs is a very large task, as there is a wide array of physical, emotional, and spiritual needs represented by this “community”. I have connected with many organizations here in Ecuador, but this one struck me as especially important. I told the director that he needs to contact Habitat for Humanity, because at the rate they are going they will only be building one house per year, and there are some three hundred families.
In the midst of our work, whenever we had free time, our new friend, Gustavo, the director of Inca Link Ecuador, took us to all the unique and historical spots Quito is known for. He and Aaron, a missionary from Peru, provided us with some much appreciated laughter and camaraderie, not to mention they took really good care of us. They were such a blessing to us during our camp cycle. Gracias chicos!
Today is Tuesday, and my little team of Wisconsinites are in Guayaquil, resting up and preparing for tomorrow. We are planning on going to the orphanage where Flor lives. Thursday, we will head out to the beach and prepare for the camp, which will begin on Friday and end on Sunday. Please Pray: For all the kids coming to camp, all of whom are new! For me, as I am not the healthiest right now, both emotionally and physically. My goal is to make it through the camp, send my team off, and then rest and process everything that has been going on. I am definitely leaning on the Lord to get through these days, as I feel pretty zapped.
Be blessed as you worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth!
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