Ministry Updates
This month was a super busy month for our ministry! In addition to our normal, weekly activities, we were approached by 'Vista Para Todos’ to host an event. Vista Para Todos roughly translates to ‘Vision for Everyone.’ They are a medical, non-profit organization focused on meeting the vision needs of the community. They approached us, asking to hold an event for the children (ages 6-17) of our Amadas. They set up a free eye exam and provided free glasses for around 100 children! This event was huge for our women as most of them live in relative poverty and glasses can be incredibly expensive in Ecuador. Many of the children needed glasses, but due to finances, had not had them. Through this event, we were able to show the love of Jesus to these women through meeting their basic needs, as well as get a chance to pray with them and grow in our relationship and trust.
Parents in Ecuador!
In March, my family was able to come visit me! Although their flights did get changed, they arrived safely (though exhaustedly) on the fourth and stayed until the fourteenth. It was so sweet to be able to show them Ecuador, take some time off work, and introduce them to my boyfriend (in person). We traveled to Papallacta, Baños, and saw some sights around Quito! It was amazing just to be able to spend time with them.
This time with my family was so restoring to my soul. I love my job and my life here, but it was really amazing to get a respite and just have fun for a week. We hiked, rented a jeep, made chocolate from scratch, and hung out in a jacuzzi. Doing things like this really goes a long way to helping Ecuador feel like home, and it’s always such a joy to share this home with those who I love the most.
Celebrating my Birthday
My birthday was the 13th of March, so my parents were still in town! Even sweeter, my parents, friends, and boyfriend all worked together to throw me a surprise party! It was just so sweet to see my community want to serve me and love on me in this way. This birthday was a huge juxtaposition to my birthday last year. It is really crazy how much life can change in one year. When I turned 23 I remember feeling so alone, so confused, and spending most of the night crying and missing home. This year, as I turned 24, I felt so much love and peace. I’m grateful for the home and community that the Lord has blessed me with, and can see the path the Lord laid out for me much more clearly. This year has been such a blessing to me!
Personal Note
This newsletter has been very picture heavy and focused on my personal life, but I guarantee you that the Lord has been working in the End Slavery ministry as well! We had two large events in March and a major event April 1st. I will go more in depth with these in my next newsletter, I just really wanted to take time to focus on the beauty of what God is doing in my personal life in this newsletter.
I am so appreciative for those of you who read my newsletters and support me both in my ministry and my personal life. I will never be able to express my gratitude to each and every one of you, but I do want to share about how I pray for every one of you and your families. None of this would be possible without you. The Lord is using your prayers, donations, and emotional support to do an amazing work here in Quito, Ecuador, and it would not be possible without your faithfulness. So from me and the women we serve, I want to give a HUGE thank you!
Answered Prayers
A year in, and wow! the Lord has answered a lot of prayers. It has been a gift to be able to see God answer these prayers time and time again.
• The Lord has brought LOTS of rain and thus having power 24/7 again
• Our Amada who is taking her next steps in Colombia
• Seeing breakthroughs in the lives of our Amadas and seeing the walls of anger and resentment come down (as well as seeing more openness to the Word)
• My parents being able to visit me without any major complications
• The Lord’s provision for a new apartment for me that is perfect in every way!
• This prayer has been answered over and over again, but I am just so grateful for having learned and continuing to learn the language. Learning a second (or any additional language) is really hard, and I’m grateful for the ability to learn and for God’s blessing over this area of my life.
• For my family and community both here and the United States
Prayer Requests
• Our new coworker, Emma, as she is adjusting- specifically for her stomach
as food and water here can be hard to adjust to
• That the Lord would use the team at ESE to do his will
• For the relationship between our team and the board
• For me as I continue to evaluate officially extending my time here. At this point I feel confident that the Lord is telling me to stay, but I don’t know 100% what that looks like yet
• For me and my Spanish as I begin discipling one of our women
• For opportunities for the Amadas women, that the Lord would bless them and help them leave prostitution permanently.
• For Ecuador’s elections on April 13th
• For safe travel for me. I am coming back for a weekend to celebrate a dear friend’s wedding. I’ll be traveling April 8th and April 13th and some have speculated that traveling during this time could potentially be dangerous depending on how the election goes, so I’m praying the Lord’s hand of protection over my travel, the planes, and transport to and from the airport.
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Bonus Content
I’ve been reading God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew, John Sherrill and Elizabeth Sherrill, and it has been such an encouraging and motivating biography. It’s a relatively short book on Brother Andrew smuggling Bibles and advancing the gospel behind the Iron Curtain, but the part that has stuck out to me the most is the power of prayer. I would encourage this book to anyone who may be struggling or feeling stagnant in their prayer life. I have felt challenged to pray more and pray harder because of this book, and it’s a wonderful reminder of the great and powerful God we pray to and get to serve (and there’s a free version on Kindle Unlimited). Happy reading!