A Newsletter of Reflection over the Past Year
Wow! I can’t believe I’ve already been her for a whole year! I can still remember the first weeks being here with such clarity. It’s crazy to look back on the first days that I arrived when I couldn’t even order food, and now I can hold entire conversations in Spanish! I definitely think language is where I’ve seen the most change over the last twelve months. But outside of language, I’ve seen other growth and stretching too. I’ve seen people come and go from Ecuador. I’ve learned how to make friends, even when I know it’s short term. I’ve also built friendships I’m sure will last a lifetime. I’ve gotten healthier and accomplished hikes that make the Blue Ridge Mountains look like hills. I’ve grown a lot as an adult who is responsible for herself. I’ve learned how to cook! I’ve started to grow into my role at End Slavery. More important than any of that, I’ve seen my relationship with God stretch, break, and come back even stronger.
Things the Lord has taught& is teaching me
Over the past year I feel like I’ve been learning to trust the Lord and love unconditionally (and I’m a far from being perfect on both accounts).
From unmet expectations to rapid changes, I had a really hard time when I first arrived to Ecuador. Adjusting to the culture and life here while dealing with heartbreak and disappointment translated into a lack of trust towards God. I found myself asking a lot of questions: Why am I here? Did God actually want me to move to Ecuador? When will I be able to actually do ministry? How can I build a semblance of community in such a transitional stage of life? Honestly, I still don’t have all the answers. But trust doesn’t mean knowing the answer, it’s walking with God and believing in his control on the outcome no matter what it may be. I have such a long way to having the trust in God that many of my role models example, but each day is chance to grow in trust and “fake it til I make it.”
In the more recent months and as I’ve been working with our women, I’ve realized how incredibly difficult it is to love unconditionally. It is so unnatural haha! I want to learn how to give all of myself without getting anything in return. I had the realization recently about how selfishly I can love. Even when it feels selfless and kindhearted, I often receive some sort of gratification from it in return, and I want to learn to love without receiving anything back. This is how Jesus loves us, and in my striving to live like him, I want to learn to love like him. I know learning to love unconditionally is something that will take me a long time to learn (if it’s something I even get to learn during my time on this earth) but I think it will be worth it. I want to love like Jesus, and I want this to become one of my defining qualities.
Exciting Things!
There are some exciting things happening in my life in the next few months! First, my family is coming to visit me! I am ecstatic about this as I will get to celebrate my birthday with them and show them around my new home. Having people come visit me has been so encouraging and fun. I can’t wait to get to play tour guide and translator for my parents!
Second, I am starting to take a more active role with our women. Previously, I’ve been mostly focused on social media, website, marketing, and communications. Now, I’m getting to actually interact with the women and being part of their growth process. I am being trained on how to disciple (in Spanish!), working with them as they go through the PDP (Personal Development Plan), and taking a more active role in the outreach we do every week. This feels like a huge step and I’m honestly just so excited to grow in my role at End Slavery.
Third, I am still evaluating/in the process of extending my time here. I feel as though I could see myself here for several more years. As my community has grown and strengthened and I’ve fallen in love with my job, I just can’t imagine my life in the States right now. I definitely believe I will return one day (I don’t see myself living in Ecuador forever) I do think I will be committing to at least one more year in Ecuador. Please be in prayer for me as I finalize this decision.
Fourth, we have a new team member coming to join our team! I’m so excited to have a new team member, and selfishly, I’m glad she’s close to my age. She will actually arrive on my birthday! Please join me in praying for her safe travel and adjustment to Ecuador!
Answered Prayers
• Having a rainy season!
• Our Amada who made it safely to Colombia and is adjusting
• We are back to having power 24/7 (at least until April)
• Our relationships with the Amadas women is continuing to improve
• The health of my family and my parents being able to visit me!
• For God’s provision and the many, many prayers he has answered over the past year. He has been faithful, even when I’m not.
Prayer Requests
• For my parents to have safe travel on the way here and for their return. They fly in March 4th and leave March 14th.
• For our new coworker, Emma, who arrives March 13th!
• 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
• 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. Specifically for one Amada who is in her sixties. She hates this work and is actively trying to leave but faces extreme discrimination for her age and hasn’t been able to find a job in the months she’s been job searching – please pray for an opportunity for her to open up.