May’s Flowers after April’s Showers: Seeing some Fruit after a Long Season of Planning and Sowing
Starting to Disciple + Jane’s Story
This month, I began my discipling journey! I am being trained by different coworkers who have been discipling these women for years. During these trainings, I sit with an Amada—one of the beloved women we serve—and a team member as they lead the discipleship conversation. This is how I met Jane*, a 24 year-old mom who has already spent many years in prostitution.
Jane gave her life to the Lord recently. As we sat and talked with her about the story of Jesus stepping in to save the women caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), I could feel the joy radiating off of her. It wasn’t the kind of joy that comes from perfect circumstances—because her circumstances are still very hard—but a joy rooted in something deeper. Her faith in Christ has given her an unbreakable hope, and being with her reminded me of the “why” behind what we do.
We may not be able to fix every circumstance, but we can offer eternal hope and joy in Jesus.
Please pray for Jane as she has recently been diagnosed with a difficult mental illness and is currently away from her family receiving medical attention. This time apart is not easy, but she is committed to her healing. She has also made it clear that once she finishes the program, she does not want to return to prostitution.
Pray for her healing. Pray for her as she is away from her child and husband. And pray that when she returns, God would provide new opportunities, support, and open doors so she can continue forward in freedom. Her story is still being written, and we trust God is with her every step of the way.
*Name changed for privacy and protection
A Very Busy Season
The past two weeks have been full of meaningful activity for our team. From May 28 to June 1, we had the privilege of hosting all the catalysts (community leaders) of One Collective from around the world here in Quito, Ecuador. Our ESE team had the opportunity to share about the work we’re doing—how we engage with the women, how the EsperanzArt workshop operates, and more! It was a joy to connect with people serving in diverse contexts across the globe and to witness how God is moving in so many nations.
Then, last week, we had the joy of hosting a short-term team from Tennessee. During their time here, they will be leading a puppet ministry for children and youth, but they also made some time to serve at Casa Adalia, our ministry’s former safe house. They helped with various projects and renovations that will be incredibly helpful for the future of our ministry. Also during their visit, some of the women shared a meaningful devotion on the importance of being present despite past traumas and instructed us on how to pass on what we learned to our Amadas.
The following day was dedicated to preparing for our annual women’s conference, which took place on Wednesday—and what a day it was! More on that below. . .
On Thursday, after two intense weeks of activities, we took a much-needed day of rest and reflection in Papallacta. We visited the natural hot springs at the base of a volcano—a perfect setting to slow down, reconnect, and process everything we had experienced. It was a beautiful time of reflection, sharing, and growth as a team.
We ended the week with a special training session on forgiveness, led by Phil and Debbie Douce, two of the original founders of End Slavery Ecuador. They returned to Ecuador for a short visit and felt led to pour into our team by sharing wisdom from their years in ministry. Their lesson emphasized the importance of understanding the process of forgiveness—not only for ourselves, but also in how we guide our Amadas through their own healing journeys. The tools and insights they shared will be incredibly valuable as we continue walking alongside the women we serve.
Life Hurts but Love Heals Conference
The highlight of the week—perhaps even of the entire month—was our annual women’s conference on June 4th. This year's theme, “Life Hurts, but Love Heals,” could not have been more powerful. We knew this topic would resonate with the women in our community, as many carry heavy stories of pain, trauma, and perseverance, but we never could have anticipated what God had in store.
Last year, we were thrilled to welcome 80 women. This year, we took a step of faith and prepared for 150. Still, nothing could have prepared us for what actually happened: nearly 200 women came through the doors—many of them bringing friends or family members. As the room filled beyond capacity, my coworkers and I found ourselves scrambling to add more and more chairs. Eventually, even those ran out, and the theater turned into standing room only.
From the moment the conference began, it was clear that hearts were open. The theme struck a deep chord. For many of these women, “Life Hurts” isn’t just a poetic idea—it’s their reality. But the second half of that truth, “Love Heals,” brought hope. Through powerful, interactive teaching, our guest speakers illustrated how God’s Spirit is the living water—how it heals and overcomes life's traumas, and how it brings about unexplainable peace to our lives. They didn’t just speak to the women; they engaged with them—using visuals, personal stories, and moments of reflection that made the message come alive. At the close of the teaching many of our women responded, coming forward to share their stories and ask for prayer.
Sorry this has been such a long newsletter but thank you to everyone who made it this far! We have been so busy serving these women by hosting special events and meeting their physical and spiritual needs in any way we can. Thank you to everyone of my supporters who are helping me to be here, and thank you to those who support the ministry as well. None of this would be possible without your faithfulness.
Answered Prayers
• All of the major events and trainings we’ve had have gone (relatively) smoothly
• The Lord’s provision for a new apartment for me that is perfect in every way!
• The Lord brought so many unexpected women to our conference to hear the Word of God and receive prayer
• The Lord multiplied our the small gifts we had for the women who came to the conference so no one left empty handed
• A new alliance with an organization who can offer additional training and programs to our women
Prayer Requests
• For our Amada I* who is looking for a job so she can leave prostitution, but is facing a lot of discrimination for her age
• For our Amada Jane* that she would be able to receive medical attention, heal, and return to her family soon as well as find a new job
• For the relationship between our team and the board
• For this new alliance and the women who will go through these new programs, that they would bring about sustainable transformations and change these Amada’s lives