Last month, I celebrated 6 months in Ecuador! My team and my family here have told me it feels like I’ve been here for years, not months. That’s a huge compliment that means a lot to me. It’s really sweet to know that I’ve adapted well and I’m an important part of both my team and my family.
So many things have happened in the last 6 months, and the Lord has faithfully sustained me through it all. I’ve seen His amazing provision in: all the funds and documents I needed to come and live here, an incredible family that adopted me as if I were their own daughter, a wonderful team that also welcomed me in, a lovely apartment that is exactly what I need, a church deeply rooted in the Word of God, and so much more.
I’ve also noticed the character and life of Jesus growing more and more within me. As a result of what I’ve experienced with and learned from the Lord and from those around me, I am more generous, hospitable, thankful, aware of my dependence on the Lord in every moment, courageous when I lean on His strength, flexible, and compassionate. I prioritize people and relationships over tasks more than I did before. Material things are no longer as important to me as they once were. I’m learning to embrace the reality that I am constantly learning, and that’s okay. I’m also learning to lament and to trust God more in the midst of pain and suffering that doesn’t make sense. I’m more attentive to the Holy Spirit and aware that my tears reflect God’s own tears. I feel like, by living here and doing this work, I am experiencing Jesus’s sacrifice and resurrection in a deeper way.