Two months full of seeing God work through relationships!
School Supply Distribution
For the whole month of September we hosted our annual school supply distribution event. In Ecuador (as in many parts of the world), too many children are forced to drop out of school due to lack of resources. This unfinished education limits job opportunities later in life and continues the cycle of poverty.
Thanks to the partnership between Education Equals Hope and End Slavery Ecuador, we were able to help 100 women with the supplies they or their children needed to start the school year with confidence and hope.
This is just one event that End Slavery Ecuador hosts every year. Our goal is always to meet our women where they are, show them to love of Jesus, and pray God uses it to change their lives. Please join me in prayer for the one hundred families who received aid this year, that their year would be blessed and that their eyes would be opened to the ways that God is moving in their lives.
A Place of Refuge
If you remember, back in April I moved into a new apartment that better fit my needs and future plans. One of my biggest prayers during that transition was that God would use this space for His glory — that it would become a place of peace, sanctuary, and refuge.
This prayer actually started years ago, when I lived with a dear friend and mentor, Michaela Pasqualotto (formerly Parker). When God brought her into my life, I had no idea how much He would use her to shape my heart. One of the biggest lessons I learned from living with her was the idea of creating a safe haven — a home where people could come and rest when they needed it most. We didn’t have much room, but our hands and hearts were open for God to use what we did have.
Fast forward three years, and that same desire has stayed with me. Since moving into this apartment, I’ve prayed that everyone who enters would feel God’s presence and peace — that this place would be a refuge for people who need rest or encouragement. I just didn’t realize how quickly God would answer that prayer!
In early September, a dear friend came to stay with me “just for the weekend.” On her first night, she opened up about some difficult things happening at home and the challenges she was facing. I told her she was welcome to stay as long as she needed — and that weekend turned into two weeks!
During that time, we had the chance to grow closer, talk about God, and process some deep topics like church hurt and what it means to hold on to faith even when people fail us. None of it was planned — but thank God for divine interruptions. I pray she left feeling encouraged and strengthened in her faith, and that our friendship continues to deepen. I know I was deeply encouraged myself — both by our conversations and by witnessing how God so tangibly answered my prayer to make this home a safe haven.
My Brother got Married!
In the beginning of October, I came back for a short, sweet trip to the States to celebrate my brother’s wedding. What a beautiful thing it was to witness their love and celebrate how the Lord brought them together. I pray that God uses their marriage for His glory and blesses them beyond measure!
Back to Ecuador
Since returning to Ecuador, I’ve jumped right back into ministry and relationship building. As sweet as some of my personal stories have been — like the ones I just shared — the lives of the Amadas often stand in sharp contrast.
In the past month alone, I’ve carried stories of hunger, sacrifice, health crises, and deaths. There are always more needs than we can possibly meet. Yet in the middle of it all, I’m reminded that we’re not called to fix everything — we’re called to be present, to walk alongside, and to join God in what He’s already doing in their lives.
In September, one of the Amadas shared that she was terrified about an upcoming doctor’s appointment. After months of painful migraines, she finally had the chance to be seen by a doctor, but she feared the worst. As we prayed with her, she looked at us and said, “Please don’t abandon me. Never abandon me.” We reminded her that we’re here for her, and even though we can’t always be present, God never leaves her side. Later, we learned that her appointment went well — no tumor, no cancer, just relief and gratitude. Praise God for that sweet answer to prayer!
More recently, I spoke with a woman who has lost nearly everything. She left her home country, lost her husband, and now finds herself working in prostitution to provide for her children. And yet — in the middle of her grief and struggles — her faith remains unshaken. She told us, “My faith and my hope are the last to go.”
Moments like these both break and strengthen my heart. They remind me why we’re here — to listen, to love, to bring light into dark places, and to point others back to the One who never abandons us.
As we continue to walk with these women, I’m learning that real ministry happens through relationship — through showing up again and again, even when the needs feel endless. God’s presence is our anchor in every story, both in the joy-filled moments and in the ones marked by pain. He is here, faithfully working in quiet, powerful ways — and what a gift it is to be part of that. Please never forget that you, as my supporters, are also a part of each one of these stories.
Answered Prayers
• That my apartment was used as a safe space for God’s presence to be felt
• The Amada who received a positive diagnosis and no cancer!
• For the School Supply Distribution and the 100 women and their families who were blessed by these school supplies
• The continued donations to the Emergency Relief Grocery Card program
• A grant that End Slavery Ecuador received to host our Christmas Parties in December!
• Safe travel to and from the US for my brother’s wedding
• Flourishing relationships both in my personal life and with the Amadas
• Crazy growth in my Spanish in the recent months
Prayer Requests
• For all of our Amadas searching for new jobs and opportunities
• For provision financially as I have extended my commitment and am preparing to buy a car
• For God’s strength for the team as we pursue his will for our ministry
• For End Slavery Ecuador as we run our end-of-year fundraising campaign
• For our team as we prepare for our annual Christmas Parties!
• For the children and Amadas to have a blessed school year
• My brother and his bride as they begin their marriage!
Learn more about End Slavery Ecuador