Wow... two weeks of my life (quite possibly the two greatest of my life) flew by in what felt like a few days. It's impossible for me to share every little thing that impacted me because, frankly, so much happened I can't remember it all. Regardless of whether I remember it or not, God used every moment to teach me something new.
Let me just start by saying that my expectations were high for this trip. Last year I had very few expectations and those were blown out of the agua. So this being my second trip, I expected God to do incredibly huge things. Therefore it's no surprise that I was disappointed when my travel team had to leave a day late. But only a few hours into my trip was I shown why we were delayed. You all know about the lady suffering from cancer that Sunny was able to share Christ with. It was a divine appointment and even though I thought I was going to have no influence on this situation, I was again proven wrong. I had been picking up bits and pieces of the conversation between Kathy and Mrs. Schlenker going on behind me, but I just thought to myself, "I have nothing to contribute, this isn't my kind of situation." So I started to dose off. Suddenly I was wide awake and realized that I hadn't started my day with prayer. Thus I began to pray. Without explanation I felt the need to pray for Sunny. She was asleep right next to me. So I prayed for her. Approximately 2 minutes later Mrs. Schlenker traded seats with Sunny and Sunny shared Christ with this woman who had very little hope... and I had been a part of it. The power of prayer was probably the biggest eye-opener for me on this trip. In Ecuador my first reaction whenever we needed something was to pray. Why can't it be like that in the US? My personal prayer life looks very different.
Another divine appointment was named Carlos. Carlos was our bus driver's grandson and acted as our translator in El Coca. He was raised Catholic but never claimed that religion as his own. He didn't believe in God because when his grandmother was dying he prayed for her to be healed yet she died anyway. Myself, Andrew, Lydia, Austin, Sabrina, Hannah and Mrs. Tucker had the incredible privilege of representing Christ to our new friend for a week. I got to use Skillet's music to strike up conversations between us guys during painting. Carlos jumped in and helped us with skits on the fly and picked up on dances for songs like Sapo and Soy Una Taza. And when Mrs. Tucker asked him to explain our Cada Dia and Liberame skits, he gave a beautiful gospel message. God was using a non believer to reach others with the gospel truth.
My biggest take-away from this trip was the strong calling I felt towards worship. In El Coca, after VBS one morning, I had my guitar out (we had opened with worship). I started just simply playing for anyone who would listen. Then a girl and her mother came to listen. The girl asked me if I could teach her. It was hard not speaking much Spanish but she learned a few chords. Soon all the kids wanted to learn. After trying (to no avail) to teach them chords I simply let them play whatever they wanted. A few nights later, after discipleship with the youth in Coca, I again had my guitar out and soon was teaching one of the guys who knew some basic chords how to play "Abre Mis Ojos (Open the Eyes of My Heart)". Pretty soon a group of the teens asked me to simply play my favorite songs. "En Ingles?" I asked. "Si si," they replied. The language barrier didn't matter. I could share the love of Christ with others by merely playing music for them. Just like how I could use Skillet to minister to Carlos, I could use my own favorites to reach out to people who know like three words in English. To preach the gospel is a privilege. To worship God through music is an honor. To do both at the same time is my passion.
One thing that bothered me last year and a little this year was the fact that I never knew if I really had an impact on the people I met. This question was answered for me by Mrs. Tucker during bible study. She said "When we minister to people, we just do what we can to share the love of God with them. Whether or not it changes them is between them and God. We don't need to know." That's somewhat of a paraphrase but nevertheless it answered a burning question in my heart: is what I'm doing making an impact? I may never know. But that's okay.
From playing hours of soccer to eating grubs; fighting off tarantulas to witnessing and praying over an epilleptic seizure, this trip will always remain in my mind as the time of my life when I learned the most. Thanks to everyone who prayed for our team and supported us with funds; thanks to my team for being awesome; thanks to you for reading this; and glory to God for the blessing this trip was.
In HIS name, love and power,
-Drew Bentley... the chicken killer...muahahaha
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
all home safe and sound:)
Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement! All of us are now home safe and sound.
Much love, Julia Wofford
Much love, Julia Wofford
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
My Ecuador Experience ~ Mari Michel
Hi everyone, now that its the last day of the trip I can finally share with you my experience! This was my first year in Ecuador so I did not have too many expections, but the ones I did have were blown out of the water! I stayed with the group here in Quito, we painted.. and painted, but if I do say so myself its looks beautiful now that its finished. We also put on two VBS's where we got to talk with the kids and just love on them, and of course teach them about Jesus! It was a blast the kids here just love to play and laugh! I wish I could share how amazing it is with just words, but that would be impossible!
I have two "God stories" the first one was with the a little girl named Daniela Mera that I met during one of the days of VBS. She knew a little bit of english so I was able to understand what she was telling me and vice versa. She had three little sisters and and older brother. I could see in her that she was like a mini mom to all of her siblings. She was so patient with me when I couldnt understand her, she taught me how to play a little hand game, but most importantly she taught me that sometimes in life you dont need to have deep conversations with someone to love them, you just need them there with you. That night while I was reflecting on the day not knowing if I would see them again, I prayed that God would some how reveal to me that I did make an impact in those kids life. I really wasnt sure what to expect but I was keeping my eyes open to Gods response. The next day of VBS the Mera family was back! I was so happy I ran to give Daniel a hug, then she handed me a little envelope saying to "Mariana Michel from Daniela Mera." I opend it and inside was the most precious drawing of two girls (me and her) and on top it said "Te Quiero Mucho" and on the bottom it read "Love." I knew that God had shown me the answer to my prayers. I told her I would keep it forever and she smiled. I felt like if that was the only thing I got to experience on this trip I would be forever grateful. We played and laughed and ran around like crazies, but I look back and wouldnt want to change anything. My last time to see Daniela and her family was on Sunday at the church service, I gave her a bracelet and I have a matching one. I gave it to her in the hopes that when she sees it she thinks of me. I know that when I see mine I will always remember the little girl who changed my life.
Now my second story is almost imposible to put into words, but I'll do my best to do it justice. We went to the nursing home on Friday before the other teams had come back. I was nervous because I dont speak enough spanish to communicate with them, and I knew unlike kids I couldnt play patty cake or tickle them to make them happy so I was at a loss on how to build relationships there. We walked in I stopped and gave a few people a hug asked them how they were, but it wasnt until Ms. Wafford called me over and said that this man was blind and almost deaf and he needs someone just to love on him. I thought to my self "Hey I could do that!" So I went over to him held is hand and just rubbed his back with my other hand, at first he seemed a little guarded like he wasnt sure if I was safe. But I stayed there and sooner or later he finally relaxed and he stroked my thumb and searched for my other hand so he could hold both. I could tell that he was thinking hard about something and that he was uncomfortable. So I sent up a prayer to God just begging that whatever pain he is in that its just taken away, and that his mind and heart may be calm. I was sitting there with him for about two hours, not one word was spoken, he didnt know my name and I didnt know his but I was in tears knowing that God heard my prayers and just calmed him and eased his pain for at least a little. I cant explain why that moment meant so much to me, I feel as if he was praying for me too. Leaving was so hard for me because who knows if Ill ever see him again, all I know is that God put him in my life for a reason, and I will continue to pray for him because thats the most I can do for him.
There is so much more I could share but these stories are the ones that touched my heart the most. Its hard to believe that its almost over. I ask that if its put on your heart to pray that my life is not changed for a few weeks but that God has changed my life for good. Its going to be hard to adjust back into American Culture without losing everything I have learned here, but Im willing to accept the challenge! Thank you for reading!
~Love Mari
I have two "God stories" the first one was with the a little girl named Daniela Mera that I met during one of the days of VBS. She knew a little bit of english so I was able to understand what she was telling me and vice versa. She had three little sisters and and older brother. I could see in her that she was like a mini mom to all of her siblings. She was so patient with me when I couldnt understand her, she taught me how to play a little hand game, but most importantly she taught me that sometimes in life you dont need to have deep conversations with someone to love them, you just need them there with you. That night while I was reflecting on the day not knowing if I would see them again, I prayed that God would some how reveal to me that I did make an impact in those kids life. I really wasnt sure what to expect but I was keeping my eyes open to Gods response. The next day of VBS the Mera family was back! I was so happy I ran to give Daniel a hug, then she handed me a little envelope saying to "Mariana Michel from Daniela Mera." I opend it and inside was the most precious drawing of two girls (me and her) and on top it said "Te Quiero Mucho" and on the bottom it read "Love." I knew that God had shown me the answer to my prayers. I told her I would keep it forever and she smiled. I felt like if that was the only thing I got to experience on this trip I would be forever grateful. We played and laughed and ran around like crazies, but I look back and wouldnt want to change anything. My last time to see Daniela and her family was on Sunday at the church service, I gave her a bracelet and I have a matching one. I gave it to her in the hopes that when she sees it she thinks of me. I know that when I see mine I will always remember the little girl who changed my life.
Now my second story is almost imposible to put into words, but I'll do my best to do it justice. We went to the nursing home on Friday before the other teams had come back. I was nervous because I dont speak enough spanish to communicate with them, and I knew unlike kids I couldnt play patty cake or tickle them to make them happy so I was at a loss on how to build relationships there. We walked in I stopped and gave a few people a hug asked them how they were, but it wasnt until Ms. Wafford called me over and said that this man was blind and almost deaf and he needs someone just to love on him. I thought to my self "Hey I could do that!" So I went over to him held is hand and just rubbed his back with my other hand, at first he seemed a little guarded like he wasnt sure if I was safe. But I stayed there and sooner or later he finally relaxed and he stroked my thumb and searched for my other hand so he could hold both. I could tell that he was thinking hard about something and that he was uncomfortable. So I sent up a prayer to God just begging that whatever pain he is in that its just taken away, and that his mind and heart may be calm. I was sitting there with him for about two hours, not one word was spoken, he didnt know my name and I didnt know his but I was in tears knowing that God heard my prayers and just calmed him and eased his pain for at least a little. I cant explain why that moment meant so much to me, I feel as if he was praying for me too. Leaving was so hard for me because who knows if Ill ever see him again, all I know is that God put him in my life for a reason, and I will continue to pray for him because thats the most I can do for him.
There is so much more I could share but these stories are the ones that touched my heart the most. Its hard to believe that its almost over. I ask that if its put on your heart to pray that my life is not changed for a few weeks but that God has changed my life for good. Its going to be hard to adjust back into American Culture without losing everything I have learned here, but Im willing to accept the challenge! Thank you for reading!
~Love Mari
Yandry
The one person who truly opened my eyes on this trip was a twelve year old boy named Yandry. We met Yandry in Santo Domingo on our second day there. I did not really know who he was but he walked into the church while we were painting and went right to work. He spoke very little English and most of us barely speak a word of Spanish but we found a way to communicate. Yandry's family is very poor. At home he and his six brothers and sisters sleep on the floor. He wasn't able to attend school and his older brother, who we met later, was already working and trying to provide for their family. It really crushed me when we were all eating at the Bread Shop in the Church after dinner one night. None of us wanted anymore fruit that we had so we decided to give them to Yandry. His face lit up and all I could think was that the fuit was probably all he had to eat that day. He never complained about work and he always worked as hard as any of us. But he did it on an empty stomach. The entire Santo Domingo team was affected by the heart of this twelve year old boy. On one of our last days in Santo Domingo we were planning to go to the river and go cliff diving. Yandry arrived that morning as always but since he was in charge of watching a five year old boy he could not go with us. Katty who helps run Elohim took the little boy to the nursery upstairs so that Yandry could come with us that day. He was so excited to be able to go with us. The night before we left we all had the opportunity to say goodbye to Yandry. It was one of the hardest things I think any one of us has ever had to do. He was happy to take pictures with all of us and went around giving every single one of us a hug more than once. This boy impacted my life forever. He was so happy and so grateful for everything he had even though it was so little. In America we always need more but he was happy just to receive our hand-me-downs from our donation pile. If I am lucky enough to return to Santo Domingo next year, I would only hope to see Yandry again and possibly find a way to help his family out.
-Adelia Stranko
-Adelia Stranko
The Things We Learn- Emily Nicolaysen
Our brains do not have the capacity to understand all of God's greatness but thats how He designed us. We may not immediately understand His doings but they always turn out to be beneficial to our spiritual wellbeing. They may be painful, exhausting, or just plain amazing but we need all of them to grow. On this trip God brought many things to my attention, many things I already knew but had put in the back of my mind or in other words, forgot about. I had forgotten something very important: we will never be perfect but in Him we are. Everyone tries to give their best effort to be the best they can be and despite our attempts we will not be successful on our own. When we completely and totally surrender all of ourselves to His control, amazing things can happen, plus our overall lives will be affected in a positive way. There were too many miracles that happend on this trip to mention but God's presence was evident wherever we went. I want to use this opportunity to encourage others to be a part of this experience we all know as "Ecuador". It takes experiences like these to teach us and to bring us closer to our Heavenly Father and it is definitely something that made me stronger; I will carry it with me forever.
As time comes to a close. -savannah morgan wright
As time is coming to a close I reflect on all that I have done and seen......
I have seen the heartbreak and struggle. I have seen the tears and sorrow. But still, among all of the pain I have seen the true love & joy of the people that belong to this beautiful country we call Ecuador. They do not have half of the priveledges we are given but they are completely content with their lives. It continues to humble me everytime I come back. I so often find myself being selfish and not content with all of the great things I have. Over these three years I have been, I have been shown overwheleming amounts of love. The children dont even know you and they will run and embrace you like as if you were their mother. At Carmen Bajo i experienced this in a unique way. I walked in and a little girl ran to me, jumped on me, and didnt let go of my arm. She was attached to me like a leech to skin (but in an endearing way). She mumbled something and I didnt understand what she said. I do not speak alot of Spanish so I went to Kristin and the girl repeated what she said. Kristin told me what she said. "She wants you to be her mother." As I heard those words my heart broke. That little girl showed me so much love and felt Christs love through me. i will never forget my experience or that little girl. I was also able to be reunited with Jessica a girl at Elohim. I was afraid she wouldnt remember me but when i saw her we hugged and remembered all the good times of the last year. God has worked through this group in so many ways and I am blessed to be able to be a part of it. As my time here is almost up I am positive that i will never forget this trip and all of the work God is doing in my life and the lives of my fellow students. <3
savannah morgan wright. xx
I have seen the heartbreak and struggle. I have seen the tears and sorrow. But still, among all of the pain I have seen the true love & joy of the people that belong to this beautiful country we call Ecuador. They do not have half of the priveledges we are given but they are completely content with their lives. It continues to humble me everytime I come back. I so often find myself being selfish and not content with all of the great things I have. Over these three years I have been, I have been shown overwheleming amounts of love. The children dont even know you and they will run and embrace you like as if you were their mother. At Carmen Bajo i experienced this in a unique way. I walked in and a little girl ran to me, jumped on me, and didnt let go of my arm. She was attached to me like a leech to skin (but in an endearing way). She mumbled something and I didnt understand what she said. I do not speak alot of Spanish so I went to Kristin and the girl repeated what she said. Kristin told me what she said. "She wants you to be her mother." As I heard those words my heart broke. That little girl showed me so much love and felt Christs love through me. i will never forget my experience or that little girl. I was also able to be reunited with Jessica a girl at Elohim. I was afraid she wouldnt remember me but when i saw her we hugged and remembered all the good times of the last year. God has worked through this group in so many ways and I am blessed to be able to be a part of it. As my time here is almost up I am positive that i will never forget this trip and all of the work God is doing in my life and the lives of my fellow students. <3
savannah morgan wright. xx
Monday, June 18, 2012
Flight safety covering please and Proclaimer update
Please pray for covering for all the groups as they head out tomorrow. Two groups in the morning early and two at midnight tomorrow night. Everyone should be home by Wednesday afternoon. We had a precious time today relaxing in the hot springs and sharing precious memories. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers.
By the way, for those of you waiting for an update on the proclaimers in the Lowland Napo Quichua dialect, there was a bump in the road of getting them to the group that went to Sardinas. But when they finally got there, the group took them to Sardinas to ascertain whether or not it was the correct dialect, and PRAISE BE TO OUR GOD AND FATHER, THEY ARE THE CORRECT DIALECT! They did not leave them yet because Pastor Alejandro wants to leave them with a leader who he is sure that he can trust to start listening groups, but we do not have that connection quite yet. We will very soon. Thank you to all who funded this recording and bringing the word to these people in their heart language! When we did the dental clinics there, many of the older patients required two translators because they only speak Quichua and no Spanish. What a gift the audio bible will be to them!
Blessings to all! Thanks again for praying.
Julia Wofford
By the way, for those of you waiting for an update on the proclaimers in the Lowland Napo Quichua dialect, there was a bump in the road of getting them to the group that went to Sardinas. But when they finally got there, the group took them to Sardinas to ascertain whether or not it was the correct dialect, and PRAISE BE TO OUR GOD AND FATHER, THEY ARE THE CORRECT DIALECT! They did not leave them yet because Pastor Alejandro wants to leave them with a leader who he is sure that he can trust to start listening groups, but we do not have that connection quite yet. We will very soon. Thank you to all who funded this recording and bringing the word to these people in their heart language! When we did the dental clinics there, many of the older patients required two translators because they only speak Quichua and no Spanish. What a gift the audio bible will be to them!
Blessings to all! Thanks again for praying.
Julia Wofford
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Reunion and Debriefing
Happy Fathers Day to all the Dad's back home! We have had a fun last few days. Friday all the teams were reunited in Quito and over the weekend we had a chance to share our God stories and praises. The Maderos/Sardines team had amazing dental clinics, finished details of construction, built a drainage system around the house to wick away water from the foundation, and enjoyed time with the children. The El Coca team painted, did youth workshops, and worked on cleaning up Elohim Foundation grounds. One highlight shared from El Coca was playing hide and seek with the children one night with glow stick bracelets. We laughed at the stories of chasing children in the dark as they watched glowing circles of light bounce around the jungle. Santo Domingo laid cement sidewalks, visited 3 public schools, worked on building a reading room at a public school, had 3 night services, and a VBS. The Quito team had a wonderful time with children in VBS, a very special visit to a nursing home, youth group exchanges, and painting the whole complex. All the groups returned joyful, full of praise, and overflowing with all the work God has done. This really is a remarkable group of students and all of us sponsors consider it a great blessing to be here with them.
Saturday we were involved in our last real ministry project as we had a play day and lunch with the children and their families. It is such a privilege to be with open, loving, appreciative people who have so little and offer so much. Many of us received gifts from friends we have made or have had from previous years. We are truly humbled. We finished Saturday with a visit to the market, Pizza Hut dinner, and finally a tour of the Historic District.
Today we shared a beautiful worship service here in the church and went to a very modern, lovely mall to eat lunch and allow the kids to shop. It was a little shocking to see the middle and upper class side of Quito since most people we have encountered are dirt poor. This evening we spent 2.5 hours sharing stories, debriefing, and sharing God's goodness to all of us. It was a wonderful evening of praise. We have only one full day left and it will be spent recuperating at a hot springs resort, high in the Andes.
1 Chronicles 29:14 sums up our time here in Ecuador:
"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously
as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand."
Full of praise and thanksgiving,
Zoe Schlenker
Saturday we were involved in our last real ministry project as we had a play day and lunch with the children and their families. It is such a privilege to be with open, loving, appreciative people who have so little and offer so much. Many of us received gifts from friends we have made or have had from previous years. We are truly humbled. We finished Saturday with a visit to the market, Pizza Hut dinner, and finally a tour of the Historic District.
Today we shared a beautiful worship service here in the church and went to a very modern, lovely mall to eat lunch and allow the kids to shop. It was a little shocking to see the middle and upper class side of Quito since most people we have encountered are dirt poor. This evening we spent 2.5 hours sharing stories, debriefing, and sharing God's goodness to all of us. It was a wonderful evening of praise. We have only one full day left and it will be spent recuperating at a hot springs resort, high in the Andes.
1 Chronicles 29:14 sums up our time here in Ecuador:
"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously
as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand."
Full of praise and thanksgiving,
Zoe Schlenker
Friday, June 15, 2012
Friday Update
I arrived here in Quito later than the rest of the team getting in Monday night late. Tuesday, after a pretty much sleepless night (our bedroom is over a very busy intersection) I was completely overwhelmed by the tiredness, the extreme noise, the lack of privacy --the opposites of pretty much everything I use to make myself comfortable. By Tuesday evening I was well blasted and to my horror began to quietly weep at the restaurant where we were enjoying a special pizza meal. I simply could not stop. The students on the team were immediately concerned and kind, trying to reassure me that everything would be alright.
Now I need to make you aware that besides being the oldest person to ever go on an Ecuador Missions trip, I also haven't been outside of the US in about 20 yrs and haven't experienced the world outside my comfortable existence. So there I was, in a pizza hut, crying and putting a damper on everyone's celebration. In my heart I'm praying, please God, help! help! help!! When we got ready to leave and were headed downstairs to the cars, I missed a stair and fell very hard on the concrete stairs. Julia said it was a big bang sound and all expected me to be seriously hurt with a head injury. Of course, I was totally mortified, embarrassed and crying even harder and in serious pain. After a while we all determined I was really banged up with a twisted ankle, hurt knee, hurt arm and a cut on my chin but nothing serious. This is nothing short of the sovereign protection of the Lord and probably nothing short of a miracle.
By the time we got back to the Elohim center, I was asking myself, "What did I get into?" and "Lord, why I am I here?" and "What am I doing here!?" I had about decided I had made a serious mistake and needed to get on a plane and go home. I talked with Perry on the phone and he prayed for me.
The next morning I wasn't feeling much better but Julia discerned that I was under some pretty serious attack and began praying over me. I also began to be aware that the Lord was stripping away many of the things I feel I need to be comfortable and happy. In my heart arose the song, "Give Me Jesus". I realized I had to drop every preconceived notion of what I need to be happy and just receive Jesus along. After Julia prayed over me, I spent a couple of hours with the Lord in worship and prayer. That horrible oppression and condemnation began to lift and I felt the joy of the Lord begin to penetrate my heart. From that time on, I have had nothing but peace and joy in my whole being.
I think the best thing for me about the trip has been the students on my team. They are amazing! They work hard with nary a complaint, they are cooperative and kind, and they do everything they are asked with a remarkable attitude. I have heard the same thing from Perry who is with the Sardinas/Maderos team about his students. These kids are amazing. When we adults become worried about the future of our country, we simply need to remember to look at these students. They are our future and the future of our nation sure looks a lot brighter with them in it.
Thank you parents for being willing to forgo your fears and worries for your child's safety and well being and for allowing your student to go on this trip. You will not regret it. This is truly been a blessing and a life changing experience.
Now I need to make you aware that besides being the oldest person to ever go on an Ecuador Missions trip, I also haven't been outside of the US in about 20 yrs and haven't experienced the world outside my comfortable existence. So there I was, in a pizza hut, crying and putting a damper on everyone's celebration. In my heart I'm praying, please God, help! help! help!! When we got ready to leave and were headed downstairs to the cars, I missed a stair and fell very hard on the concrete stairs. Julia said it was a big bang sound and all expected me to be seriously hurt with a head injury. Of course, I was totally mortified, embarrassed and crying even harder and in serious pain. After a while we all determined I was really banged up with a twisted ankle, hurt knee, hurt arm and a cut on my chin but nothing serious. This is nothing short of the sovereign protection of the Lord and probably nothing short of a miracle.
By the time we got back to the Elohim center, I was asking myself, "What did I get into?" and "Lord, why I am I here?" and "What am I doing here!?" I had about decided I had made a serious mistake and needed to get on a plane and go home. I talked with Perry on the phone and he prayed for me.
The next morning I wasn't feeling much better but Julia discerned that I was under some pretty serious attack and began praying over me. I also began to be aware that the Lord was stripping away many of the things I feel I need to be comfortable and happy. In my heart arose the song, "Give Me Jesus". I realized I had to drop every preconceived notion of what I need to be happy and just receive Jesus along. After Julia prayed over me, I spent a couple of hours with the Lord in worship and prayer. That horrible oppression and condemnation began to lift and I felt the joy of the Lord begin to penetrate my heart. From that time on, I have had nothing but peace and joy in my whole being.
I think the best thing for me about the trip has been the students on my team. They are amazing! They work hard with nary a complaint, they are cooperative and kind, and they do everything they are asked with a remarkable attitude. I have heard the same thing from Perry who is with the Sardinas/Maderos team about his students. These kids are amazing. When we adults become worried about the future of our country, we simply need to remember to look at these students. They are our future and the future of our nation sure looks a lot brighter with them in it.
Thank you parents for being willing to forgo your fears and worries for your child's safety and well being and for allowing your student to go on this trip. You will not regret it. This is truly been a blessing and a life changing experience.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Another incredible day!--Julia Wofford
Hi Folks,
I'm not sure who else has been able to post, but I did hear from both the Santo Domingo team and the Sardinas/Coca teams and everyone is well and thriving. Lots of work and play and praising God.
Today in Quito, our group of possibly the nine most willing and sweet high school students on the planet, along with Kasey Floyd and myself, finished painting the church. It was a marathon job and we are all bone tired, but happy and filled with joy. I am so proud of our kids for their open spirits and ready attitudes that I could just burst.
After the grueling paint job, we were treated to beef, mashed potatoes and rice followed up with star fruit and ice cream. Our cooks are truly spoiling us rotten. It was beyond delicious. Anyway, after that supper we had youth group with eleven youth from here and our group. We sang and shared, Michael Porter was able to share a beautiful testimony, and studied the great commission together. Then we hit the crazy busy streets outside Elohim Foundation and passed out tracts and invited people to church tomorrow night. It was really awesome to see the Ecuadorians partner with the Americans and engage the people with the message of salvation. I got a marriage proposal along the way, but I am growing accustomed to that on the streets of Ecuador;) When we all reconvened at the church to play a crazy game of human foosball with balloons. All cultural barriers disappeared after only a couple of minutes of that. It was a free for all and everyone had a blast. We had to make the kids stop so that those who had walked could return home at a reasonable hour. Everyone is happy and full of the Holy Spirit tonight.
Please pray for the teams that are on the road tomorrow returning from Santo Domingo and Maderos (the Coca and Sardinas teams are all together in Maderos tonight).
I'm sure that you will hear lots of reports from the teams coming in tomorrow. Our group will be visiting a nursing home here while they are en route.
Que Dios les bendiga! (May God bless you all!)
Julia
I'm not sure who else has been able to post, but I did hear from both the Santo Domingo team and the Sardinas/Coca teams and everyone is well and thriving. Lots of work and play and praising God.
Today in Quito, our group of possibly the nine most willing and sweet high school students on the planet, along with Kasey Floyd and myself, finished painting the church. It was a marathon job and we are all bone tired, but happy and filled with joy. I am so proud of our kids for their open spirits and ready attitudes that I could just burst.
After the grueling paint job, we were treated to beef, mashed potatoes and rice followed up with star fruit and ice cream. Our cooks are truly spoiling us rotten. It was beyond delicious. Anyway, after that supper we had youth group with eleven youth from here and our group. We sang and shared, Michael Porter was able to share a beautiful testimony, and studied the great commission together. Then we hit the crazy busy streets outside Elohim Foundation and passed out tracts and invited people to church tomorrow night. It was really awesome to see the Ecuadorians partner with the Americans and engage the people with the message of salvation. I got a marriage proposal along the way, but I am growing accustomed to that on the streets of Ecuador;) When we all reconvened at the church to play a crazy game of human foosball with balloons. All cultural barriers disappeared after only a couple of minutes of that. It was a free for all and everyone had a blast. We had to make the kids stop so that those who had walked could return home at a reasonable hour. Everyone is happy and full of the Holy Spirit tonight.
Please pray for the teams that are on the road tomorrow returning from Santo Domingo and Maderos (the Coca and Sardinas teams are all together in Maderos tonight).
I'm sure that you will hear lots of reports from the teams coming in tomorrow. Our group will be visiting a nursing home here while they are en route.
Que Dios les bendiga! (May God bless you all!)
Julia
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
ECUADOR 2012--A first hand look at the mission experience
ECUADOR 2012--A first hand look at the mission experience
I have seen photographs, I have heard stories, and I have listened to other people's accounts of past trips to Ecuador with our student body, but I finally was able to get a first hand look of what our students experience. I just returned from a week in Ecuador with our students and sponsors, and it was a tremendously inspiring, humbling, hurtful, growing, exhausting, and totally awesome experience for me personally, spiritually, and professionally.
I was fortunate enough to experience almost everything, as I was put on the fast track to see as much as possible in the time that I was there. Julia did a fantastic job of organizing the trip so I was able to see most of the sites that our students visit and serve. I first want to say that we have an amazing group of students on this trip, and I was able to visit with most of them and get to know them a little bit better. They have a humble servant's heart and I never heard one of them complain about anything. They were always willing to step and and help where needed.
We had a fantastic day at the Equator with the compassion children, and I know that both the compassion children and our students were very blessed. Andrea, the compassion coordinator, mentioned that the compassion children look forward to this day for months, and it is a very special experience for all involved. Compassion supplies a interpreter for each compassion child, so the communication barrier is not present, and the students are able to have conversations with them.
In the photo above, Hannah gives some of the gifts with her compassion child. He (I don't know his name) is the newest addition to our compassion family.(5 or 6 years old) We shared lunch together and then the student had a couple hours with their compassion child to play, eat ice cream, and spend some time together. One of the parents of a compassion child brought some corn sweetened with sugar cane that she had made, and most everybody tried a taste. Most of the compassion children came with a gift for the students as well, which were very special, as they have very little materially, but were made with a lot of love.
The third day was spent on the road to El Coca, and 7.5 hours later, and 8 mudslides later,(evidently they occur regularly) we arrived at El Coca. We arrived at El Coca, to many anxiously awaiting children. Many of the students played in a 2-3 hour soccer game and a water fight that lasted forever. The kids had a lot of fun, but a poor chicken met his maker when a soccer ball decided to find it's head.....of a beautiful cross. (I won't say who it was.....the chicken killer) We compensated the owner. 5 Ecuadorian dentist and Dr. Cloud from Albuquerque put on a dental clinic for the kids, and worked hard to serve as many people as possible before it got too late. There were a lot of kids still there after dark, and nobody had eaten since lunch. The students decided to forgo their supper so the children could eat another meal instead of going home hungry that night. (they needed it more than us) About 8 of the indigenous children performed a dance for us in costume, they practiced just for our visit. We left a group at El Coca, and the rest of us, with the dentists, loaded the bus to head off to Maderos and Sardinas, a 3 hour bus ride, we left about 8:30 pm.
We arrived in Maderos (sorry if the spelling is wrong) and initiated the new building that was just completed the week before we arrived. In fact it was so new, we took the plastic off the new mattresses, and put up shower curtains the next day. The next morning, some students stayed in Maderos, and Talia and I went down with the Dentists and Mrs. Wofford down to the dental clinic in Sardinas. All of the people live in the jungle, and we only saw the ones that lived by the road that provides access to the community. The dentists serviced about 40 people that day, and many were saved from severe pain and tooth decay. Mrs. Wofford gave a great rundown on what happened in Maderos and Sardinas so I won't go into too much detail. It was amazing to see how these people lived. We are very blessed in the United States.......very humbling. The picture below is the new Maderos Foundation Sight.
I was so priviliged to be able to be a part of the trip and see first hand what is happening in Ecuador. I can see why our students have come back changed and their "DNA" has been altered forever. The Lord is being represented and glorified in so many ways:through the work, testimonies, music, worship, play, listening ears, helping hands, a smile, a hug, tears, and most of all through open hearts. I am still "disgesting" it all, and I have seen the many good things that are happening because of our relationship with Alejandro, Fabian, and many others that we have partnered with. It is neat to see the reciprocity of a trip like this. Our presence blesses the people of Ecuador, and the people of Ecuador definately bless us.......and most importantly the Lord is glorified.
I John 3:17--"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"
---Terry Heisey
Santo Domingo update and photos
Santo Domingo Update & Photos
Our team has had an amazing 2 days here in Santa Domingo. The past two mornings we have gone to public high schools here and shared dramas, testimony, and how the students can resist drugs and alcohol through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Kristin and Shelby shared their personal stories with the students. The administrators and teachers are so appreciative of us coming. In the first school, we had 700 students and the area psychologist happened to be visiting. She told Katty how touched she was by our message and how other schools need to here this same message. The school this morning was much smaller but equally welcoming. The director of the school gave us each a piece of unusual fruit when we left. Very special for all of us.
Upon returning to the Foundation, we started right into hard work. We have hauled rocks and sand up hills, mixed concrete, laid a sidewalk and painted inside and outside the buildings. Our translator, Daniela, told me how very hard our students work. I am so proud of them.
Last night we had a service with parents. Aaron, Seneca, and Kristin led worship and Robert Wright preached on how to walk like Christ. The most meaningful part of the evening was when Adelia shared her life story about growing up a daddy's girl and her father's demise into severe alcoholism that eventually cost him his family and his life. It was so painful and yet so powerful because of the problem with alcoholism in this country. Katty followed up with the lesson of how much alcohol abuse impacts children. I have tears in my eyes as I share with you how brave and powerful it was for Adelia to share.
Today we had many children come to the feeding project. We were able to hand out donated clothes, shoes, and candy. These Ecuadorian children are so beautiful. Elohim Foundation has added a second story this past year and they now have a childcare facility for babies and preschoolers of single, impoverished mothers. They are so precious! We had many infant clothes donated but are lacking in toddler and school age boy clothes so we know what to bring next year.
It is very hot and humid here and we ran out of water last night before completing showers. Not one of these kids complained! I was SO impressed I had already had a shower and can't help but think of how grumpy I would have been without one. Wonderful privilege to be their sponsor here.
Many Blessings,
Zoe Schlenker
For more pictures go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elohim-Santo-Domingo/295459110491167
Monday, June 11, 2012
Swing Dancing~Desiree
After a long day of work, the Quito group finished their night off by swing dancing! Porter is a great coach. He was very patient with me and I quickly learned some fancy moves including the candle stick:) God has placed so many wonderful people in my life and I am so thankful for that. All of you parents out there who are reading this, you raised some awesome kids who are out doing some amazing things in the world. They are changing lives and strengthening their testimonies all in the name of God. It's a sight to see.
A weekend in Sardinas and Maderos--Julia Wofford
Hi again,
Sorry I haven't updated in a while, there is no signal from where we stayed this weekend in Maderos.
With some of the money for our trip that otherwise would have been spent on hotel accommodations for our team, we have been able to erect a missions structure in Maderos, Ecuador for a missions base to do many things. It will host missions teams to work in this area, it will be a missionary home, it will be a training center, and it may well be a refuge and orphanage in the long run.
Our group of dentists (five Ecuadorians and two Americans), nine students and three Hope sponsors along with Pastor Alejandro Mejia and his son Santiago went there this week to set up dental clinics for the people of Sardinas and Maderos. The rest of the team is still there, but Terry Heisey, our high school principal, and myself drove back to el Coca and then flew back to Quito. He needed to return to the USA and I needed to be the sponsor of the Quito team for this second week of ministry.
What we saw in this region was really humbling. One of the big priorities in setting up this mission house is to have a home base for evangelizing the Indigenous Quichuas of this region (Sardinas). So the first dental clinic we set up in the Sardinas school on Friday morning. Although Alejandro had coordinated with the leaders of the community to announce this clinic, very few people were there in the beginning. We had to send runners out to tell the people that we had come and by the end of the day, we had treated 40 people in the clinic. It was at times interesting, at times very fun, at times heart breaking, and always amazing how God works. Dr. Cloud pulled lots and lots of teeth that were rotted back to the gums, literally no tooth protruding but painful and infected abscesses where the partial root of the tooth remained. Some of the children were terrified, but in the end they were glad to have the pain in their mouths taken care of. Some of the older people had to have two translators, English to Spanish to Quichua to Spanish to English. It was really incredible.
At one point I listened to a conversation between Alejandro and one of the leaders of the community. Alejandro and he were discussing why not many people were there at the beginning of the day. The leader insisted that Alejandro had told him a different date. But Alejandro very firmly told him that no, the problem was that when he was trying to arrange the clinic last week, every last one of the community leaders and all of the teachers were drunk. They had been drinking fermented yucca root called chicha which these people drink every day. Alejandro asked the man if that is what he wanted the children of the community to learn, to finish every day drinking until they pass out. The man honestly confessed that he did not want that for his children. Alejandro explained to him that it would take courage and self discipline, but that he himself could lead a different lifestyle and teach a different way to his children. He explained that we want to help him do just that. The man was quite humble and apologetic for the mix up. In spite of that and of a very low current of electricity to work the dental equipment, they day was really amazing. One boy came in with a badly infected ingrown toenail. We brought Dr. Cloud out to see it and he said that if it is not treated soon, the boy would lose his big toe, and possibly his foot. So the boy agreed to let him remove the toenail. Dr. Cloud removed all of the putrid yuck from the boy's toe and gave him explicit instructions for how to care for it and gave him a round of antibiotics. I have a strong feeling that he saved this boy's life. He said that he is now a dental podiatrist:) These people do not have medical care. The closest government clinic is two and a half hours away. They just deal with sickness and death. We saw several children with fever and dehydration, and they explained to us that this is the "flu" and that they lose some children every year to this disease. All of the doctors were doing everything they could, and Alejandro was making a pharmaceutical run to el Coca to bring back much needed medicines.
It was very interesting learning more about this indigenous group. You can look around and see that they have orange trees and coconut, and mandarine, and banana, and so you would think that just from the natural resources, that this would be a thriving healthy people. But that is not the case. The don't go out and gather the nutritious foods, they use the yucca root that grows close to their homes and live almost exclusively on that. We saw all kinds of skin diseases and swollen, parasite infested tummies. You could see the nits of lice in the children's hair. It is almost incomprehensible why with so many natural resources this people would live so poor. One of the Ecuadorian dentist explained to me that that is how they have lived for generations, and with no motivation, they just keep on living in this same unhealthy rut. Even the children live on the chicha and have a hard time concentrating because of it. At one point I had a boy of about 12 years who needed to have two teeth pulled. As the registrar brought him back to Dr. Cloud's station where I was the translator, she told us that he had to have numbers 37 and 46 removed. I told him to remember 37 and 46. Then I asked him what numbers, and he could not tell me. I told him again and made him repeat it, but then he still could not remember just a few seconds after. He did not look retarded, but his mind was definitely impaired. It struck me that these people are in a death trap. How can they possibly live any differently, they cannot even concentrate for long enough to remember two numbers.
I saw other disturbing things, but the rest will have to wait for another night. I am headed to the airport to pick up Kasey Floyd who is flying in to be with me and the rest of the Quito group this week.
Everyone is having a very blessed time and we are learning so much. Please continue praying for the teams as we are all very busy with work and ministry.
May God bless you all richly,
Julia
Sorry I haven't updated in a while, there is no signal from where we stayed this weekend in Maderos.
With some of the money for our trip that otherwise would have been spent on hotel accommodations for our team, we have been able to erect a missions structure in Maderos, Ecuador for a missions base to do many things. It will host missions teams to work in this area, it will be a missionary home, it will be a training center, and it may well be a refuge and orphanage in the long run.
Our group of dentists (five Ecuadorians and two Americans), nine students and three Hope sponsors along with Pastor Alejandro Mejia and his son Santiago went there this week to set up dental clinics for the people of Sardinas and Maderos. The rest of the team is still there, but Terry Heisey, our high school principal, and myself drove back to el Coca and then flew back to Quito. He needed to return to the USA and I needed to be the sponsor of the Quito team for this second week of ministry.
What we saw in this region was really humbling. One of the big priorities in setting up this mission house is to have a home base for evangelizing the Indigenous Quichuas of this region (Sardinas). So the first dental clinic we set up in the Sardinas school on Friday morning. Although Alejandro had coordinated with the leaders of the community to announce this clinic, very few people were there in the beginning. We had to send runners out to tell the people that we had come and by the end of the day, we had treated 40 people in the clinic. It was at times interesting, at times very fun, at times heart breaking, and always amazing how God works. Dr. Cloud pulled lots and lots of teeth that were rotted back to the gums, literally no tooth protruding but painful and infected abscesses where the partial root of the tooth remained. Some of the children were terrified, but in the end they were glad to have the pain in their mouths taken care of. Some of the older people had to have two translators, English to Spanish to Quichua to Spanish to English. It was really incredible.
At one point I listened to a conversation between Alejandro and one of the leaders of the community. Alejandro and he were discussing why not many people were there at the beginning of the day. The leader insisted that Alejandro had told him a different date. But Alejandro very firmly told him that no, the problem was that when he was trying to arrange the clinic last week, every last one of the community leaders and all of the teachers were drunk. They had been drinking fermented yucca root called chicha which these people drink every day. Alejandro asked the man if that is what he wanted the children of the community to learn, to finish every day drinking until they pass out. The man honestly confessed that he did not want that for his children. Alejandro explained to him that it would take courage and self discipline, but that he himself could lead a different lifestyle and teach a different way to his children. He explained that we want to help him do just that. The man was quite humble and apologetic for the mix up. In spite of that and of a very low current of electricity to work the dental equipment, they day was really amazing. One boy came in with a badly infected ingrown toenail. We brought Dr. Cloud out to see it and he said that if it is not treated soon, the boy would lose his big toe, and possibly his foot. So the boy agreed to let him remove the toenail. Dr. Cloud removed all of the putrid yuck from the boy's toe and gave him explicit instructions for how to care for it and gave him a round of antibiotics. I have a strong feeling that he saved this boy's life. He said that he is now a dental podiatrist:) These people do not have medical care. The closest government clinic is two and a half hours away. They just deal with sickness and death. We saw several children with fever and dehydration, and they explained to us that this is the "flu" and that they lose some children every year to this disease. All of the doctors were doing everything they could, and Alejandro was making a pharmaceutical run to el Coca to bring back much needed medicines.
It was very interesting learning more about this indigenous group. You can look around and see that they have orange trees and coconut, and mandarine, and banana, and so you would think that just from the natural resources, that this would be a thriving healthy people. But that is not the case. The don't go out and gather the nutritious foods, they use the yucca root that grows close to their homes and live almost exclusively on that. We saw all kinds of skin diseases and swollen, parasite infested tummies. You could see the nits of lice in the children's hair. It is almost incomprehensible why with so many natural resources this people would live so poor. One of the Ecuadorian dentist explained to me that that is how they have lived for generations, and with no motivation, they just keep on living in this same unhealthy rut. Even the children live on the chicha and have a hard time concentrating because of it. At one point I had a boy of about 12 years who needed to have two teeth pulled. As the registrar brought him back to Dr. Cloud's station where I was the translator, she told us that he had to have numbers 37 and 46 removed. I told him to remember 37 and 46. Then I asked him what numbers, and he could not tell me. I told him again and made him repeat it, but then he still could not remember just a few seconds after. He did not look retarded, but his mind was definitely impaired. It struck me that these people are in a death trap. How can they possibly live any differently, they cannot even concentrate for long enough to remember two numbers.
I saw other disturbing things, but the rest will have to wait for another night. I am headed to the airport to pick up Kasey Floyd who is flying in to be with me and the rest of the Quito group this week.
Everyone is having a very blessed time and we are learning so much. Please continue praying for the teams as we are all very busy with work and ministry.
May God bless you all richly,
Julia
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Changing Lives With A Changed Life
Today being my fourth day here in Ecuador due to a plane mis-hap I am loving every single second of it! Not only has being in ministry with the sweet children so amazing, but exploring the culture of the Ecuadorian people is so interesting. What amazes me the most is how thankful and grateful the children are for everything they have. Simple things like hugs and handing out balloons means so much to these kids because they have so little. In the midst of their poverty they care more about each other and their relationships then they would ever care about money or themselves. For instance, when we were face painting today all of the older siblings and friends made sure that each other was assisted before themselves. Also, every gift that they received they shared with one another. This trip has really put my life into a new perspective! The preconceived ideas that most Ecuadorians have is that us Americans are rich and arrogant, which we are to a certain extent. Being in ministry, we are trying to be the hands and feet of Christ, and by doing so not to make our name better, but for the people to know that Christ is ever present in everything. Something that was amazing to me today was that we met another lady who is going through treatment for cancer and is extremely poor. She started telling me about how God has provided everything necessary for her treatment. She was in tears expressing how amazing God has been in her life. There is no doubt in my mind that God has put these two women with cancer in the my life during this trip so that I could share my personal experience with them, but also to learn from them. We are coming so close as a team and I am incredibly grateful for each and every person that is here. We are doing incredible work here and the love of Christ is showing through everything we do. Tomorrow we will be doing the church service at Carmen Bajo and then the Santo Domingo team will be departing from Qutio. It is very evident that your prayers for us have been answered in every way because God is doing wonderous things here in Ecuador! Parents, prepare for many amazing God stories when we get back because there will be tons!!
Much thanks and love in Christ,
-Seneca Atwood
Much thanks and love in Christ,
-Seneca Atwood
Seeing, learning, and loving
Saturday, June 9
Today is our fifth day here in Ecuador, and I absolutely love it! Words can not describe what we are seeing and experiencing here. God is doing amazing things in our lives, and also in the lives of the Ecuadorian people. Today we went down to the church in Carmen Bajo, and helped celebrate "Dia de los ninos" (Day of the kids). The church was decorated with balloons and ribbon, which we set up yesterday. We played with the kids, sang songs, performed dramas, painted faces, and just enjoyed each others company. Each child was given lunch, a gift bag, as well as a balloon. (which they loved I might add) It was a blast. The Ecuadorian people are so humble and thankful. The kids soak up every bit of affection and love they can possibly get. This was one experience I will never forget. I have learned so much on this trip that if i tried to tell you everything, you would be here for days. But i can try to give you a glimpse of what God has been teaching me. Going from the United States to Ecuador, I feel like I have been blind my whole life, and now I can finally see. All the time we hear of people being so poor they can barely eat one meal a day, or they live in tiny houses with cement floors. It has become a known fact to all of us, but truly you cannot understand until you see it for yourself. And the sad part about it isn't the fact that they have so little because honestly I envy them. They may be so poor that they don't know when their next meal will be, but they are so happy, thankful, and humble. Their faith is bigger then all of ours, and we thought we were the rich ones? I have never seen God more, or felt closer to God then I do right now. I love these people so much, and I just met them. Since I have been here I have not felt judged once. I am so thankful for the time God has given me so far here, and I look forward to the time I have left. If you took the time to read all of this, then I only ask one thing. PRAY. Please pray for Allyson Kniffin, because she has an ear infection. Please pray for our team as we are traveling and trying to reach these people. And please pray for the people, that God may open their hearts.
Con mucho amor, - Kristin Dodd
Today is our fifth day here in Ecuador, and I absolutely love it! Words can not describe what we are seeing and experiencing here. God is doing amazing things in our lives, and also in the lives of the Ecuadorian people. Today we went down to the church in Carmen Bajo, and helped celebrate "Dia de los ninos" (Day of the kids). The church was decorated with balloons and ribbon, which we set up yesterday. We played with the kids, sang songs, performed dramas, painted faces, and just enjoyed each others company. Each child was given lunch, a gift bag, as well as a balloon. (which they loved I might add) It was a blast. The Ecuadorian people are so humble and thankful. The kids soak up every bit of affection and love they can possibly get. This was one experience I will never forget. I have learned so much on this trip that if i tried to tell you everything, you would be here for days. But i can try to give you a glimpse of what God has been teaching me. Going from the United States to Ecuador, I feel like I have been blind my whole life, and now I can finally see. All the time we hear of people being so poor they can barely eat one meal a day, or they live in tiny houses with cement floors. It has become a known fact to all of us, but truly you cannot understand until you see it for yourself. And the sad part about it isn't the fact that they have so little because honestly I envy them. They may be so poor that they don't know when their next meal will be, but they are so happy, thankful, and humble. Their faith is bigger then all of ours, and we thought we were the rich ones? I have never seen God more, or felt closer to God then I do right now. I love these people so much, and I just met them. Since I have been here I have not felt judged once. I am so thankful for the time God has given me so far here, and I look forward to the time I have left. If you took the time to read all of this, then I only ask one thing. PRAY. Please pray for Allyson Kniffin, because she has an ear infection. Please pray for our team as we are traveling and trying to reach these people. And please pray for the people, that God may open their hearts.
Con mucho amor, - Kristin Dodd
Friday, June 8, 2012
God's provision
Today we were blessed with an amazing lunch, but was found to have only enough lunches for the Meager Rations workers and we had none for the few ecuadorian workers. We felt bad and people from our group generously began to give part of our lunches for the workers but miraculously another lunch was found! We had only 29 lunches and we were able to feed 33 people completely! it is true that God provides for the ones he loves and that was shown today. Just want to let you all know that we are doing great and that God is looking out for us and keeping us safe as we continue his work.
-Michael, Elieto, Anna, Tiffany, Sarah
-Michael, Elieto, Anna, Tiffany, Sarah
Adios to jungle teams and preparations for Dios de los Ninos
Another wonderful day. Our Sardinas and El Coca teams departed at 5am. I went to the bus and spotted Perry Floyd at the back of the bus happily serving and loading luggage after arriving here in Ecuador late last night. I spoke by phone to Julia at about 6pm and she reported a fabulous day. The team set up the dental clinic upon their arrival at El Coca and the line was still very long at 6pm. The Sardinas and dental teams were planning to drive on to their final destination tonight. Tomorrow afternoon there will be more dental clinics and the beginning of construction. El Coca will also have a full day of ministry.
Here in Quito we had a day full of hard work, fun, and ministry. We started out with a the meaningful custom of sharing testimony and praise in a large circle with our team and Ecuadorians. Ruben spoke about how he was heavily involved with partying, alcoholism, and domestic abuse. His brothers and sisters had one by one come to Christ and were all praying for him. He was initially drawn to the to the church because they offered food to people. Ruben's wife, Esperanza, became a Christian first and through Christ's change and empowerment in her life, influenced her husband. Now a key leader in the church, Ruben and his wife do marriage ministry and mission trips into the jungle.
Allison Kniffin shared her testimony next. She spoke of how the Lord had used moving to Hope in the 6th grade and the extreme difficulty of having Spinal Meningitis to help her turn to God. Seeing the Passion of the Christ impacted her in a powerful way in 8th grade because she more fully understood His sacrifice for her. It was especially meaningful that she explained so beautifully how the Lord has filled the voids in her life and helps her thru difficult as well as normal struggles.
We immediately launched into hard labor. Some of our young men helped Ruben with a roofing project. My prayer life was very good as the guys walked around on beams....Yikes! Other students continued in demolition of the building, shoveled rubble into wheel barrows, and hauled it to the trash heap. Everyone worked so hard but with great joy. Who needs weight training and gyms?! Reminds me why God created work as a good thing and that it is fun to sweat and be sore with purpose.
In the afternoon, we cleaned the property and decorated excessively for Dios de los Ninos tomorrow when we will be expecting over 200 children for skits, songs, and face painting. Students prepared and practiced while others stuffed gift bags (350 total).
Finally, God used our team to minister tonight at Elohim's Friday night service. The evening started with our students playing soccer and games in the courtyard with children. For the service, some led worship, others did Drama, Desiree shared a very powerful testimony about her difficulties in life and God's provision of a close family, and I taught. Praise God for a wonderful evening! We had to change lodging today so at 9:15 we arrived at a lovely guest house run by a Christian ministry. The students are lounging around in the living room and very happy. I am handing the super fun story from our day over to them! Sorry so wordy but as a momma, I know you parents are missing your kids. Know they are very happy, tired, and prepared for manual labor upon their return home. They are so impressive.
Many Blessings,
Zoe Schlenker
Here in Quito we had a day full of hard work, fun, and ministry. We started out with a the meaningful custom of sharing testimony and praise in a large circle with our team and Ecuadorians. Ruben spoke about how he was heavily involved with partying, alcoholism, and domestic abuse. His brothers and sisters had one by one come to Christ and were all praying for him. He was initially drawn to the to the church because they offered food to people. Ruben's wife, Esperanza, became a Christian first and through Christ's change and empowerment in her life, influenced her husband. Now a key leader in the church, Ruben and his wife do marriage ministry and mission trips into the jungle.
Allison Kniffin shared her testimony next. She spoke of how the Lord had used moving to Hope in the 6th grade and the extreme difficulty of having Spinal Meningitis to help her turn to God. Seeing the Passion of the Christ impacted her in a powerful way in 8th grade because she more fully understood His sacrifice for her. It was especially meaningful that she explained so beautifully how the Lord has filled the voids in her life and helps her thru difficult as well as normal struggles.
We immediately launched into hard labor. Some of our young men helped Ruben with a roofing project. My prayer life was very good as the guys walked around on beams....Yikes! Other students continued in demolition of the building, shoveled rubble into wheel barrows, and hauled it to the trash heap. Everyone worked so hard but with great joy. Who needs weight training and gyms?! Reminds me why God created work as a good thing and that it is fun to sweat and be sore with purpose.
In the afternoon, we cleaned the property and decorated excessively for Dios de los Ninos tomorrow when we will be expecting over 200 children for skits, songs, and face painting. Students prepared and practiced while others stuffed gift bags (350 total).
Finally, God used our team to minister tonight at Elohim's Friday night service. The evening started with our students playing soccer and games in the courtyard with children. For the service, some led worship, others did Drama, Desiree shared a very powerful testimony about her difficulties in life and God's provision of a close family, and I taught. Praise God for a wonderful evening! We had to change lodging today so at 9:15 we arrived at a lovely guest house run by a Christian ministry. The students are lounging around in the living room and very happy. I am handing the super fun story from our day over to them! Sorry so wordy but as a momma, I know you parents are missing your kids. Know they are very happy, tired, and prepared for manual labor upon their return home. They are so impressive.
Many Blessings,
Zoe Schlenker
Thursday, June 7, 2012
The blessing of Carmen Bajo
Hi All!
It's late, but I have to give you a feel for the blessing we are experiencing here. We spent today at Carmen Bajo. We started with a time of sharing and singing and praising and then sharing testimonies. We heard from a girl native to this area from a very poor family who got saved as a high school student and greatly desired to go to seminary. Her parents did not like that idea because they are not Christians, but she managed to make it there and completed the three year course. She said that often she did not have money for food and that friends and strangers many times gave her food. She was full of praise about how God has provided for. She felt like that God really took care of her when she stepped out in faith. Her passion is to work with youth, and I believe that she will be used mightily in that work.
We then were able to hear from Sunny, one of our precious youth, share with them about how through her own fight with cancer, her family received the love of Christ. She shared how only yesterday, she was able to share Christ with a woman who has terminal cancer. This opportunity came because of the missed connection that some of the kids were very sad about. But after that clear God appointment, it was ordained for Sunny's group to miss their original flight. She put this into words so beautifully that many people were in tears.
After sharing, we divided into teams. One went to the church to demolish an existing tumble down structure to make way for a medical clinic to come. So many of the guys got their demolition fix today.
Another group was cleaning up a big dump pile that contained sand, rocks, broken block, broken glass, and a lot of trash. They sorted out what was usable as building material, and what had to be hauled off to a real trash dump (another large trash pile up the road.) It was pretty backbreaking work. They will sleep well.
A third group went down the very steep hill in front of the Compassion project to help begin adding a room on to a grandmother's house whose daughter has had a complete mental breakdown. This grandma is now caring for her daughter and her three children by herself in a two room house (both rooms very small.) They were blessed by meeting this precious woman and who exudes joy even in the midst of crisis.
The next group helped prepare the lunch for the afternoon group of Compassion kids. Lots of hugs from all the children. Our students helped serve and clean up after about 250 kids who eat here after their school day from 7am to noon.
Lastly about 20 of our kids put on a VBS for a group of about 90 kids with singing, dancing, acting, laughing and hugging until we could go no more. After this, we followed the kids to their classroom to do a craft with them. It was a treasure to these kids to simply have a paper plate with some crayons to share what reminds them of Jesus. There are some artists among them I can tell you that. The kids in the room where Steven Moyer was helping were enthralled by his paper plate. I see a future in graphic design for Steven!
After we had pretty much finished working for the day, we just played and played with the kids outside the project. They are so funny and so filled with love. The do not know strangers, we were all fast friends.
In the evening, we were treated to a beautiful meal prepared by the women of Carmen Bajo. It was a fundraiser for their mission work to Cuba.
Julia Wofford-- Good night!
It is hard to share how much the love of Christ impacts a culture. The believers in the church at Carmen Bajo are passionate about reaching out to help others. Pastor Fabian and the congregation put on a beautiful white linen, red rose dinner for us and we took up an offering. The church is raising funds to send 6 people on a mission trip to Cuba. Pastor Fabian went to Cuba and worked with the underground church and pastors there about a year and a half ago. He shared how deeply moved he was at, get this, their extreme poverty and oppression. Many of us were moved to tears as we looked around at a group of extremely poor people who are overflowing with the love of Christ and want to share it with those who have less. It was a lovely way to end a wonderful day. Thanks for your prayers and your participation in changing Ecuador one child's life at a time.
Many Blessings,
Zoe Schlenker
It's late, but I have to give you a feel for the blessing we are experiencing here. We spent today at Carmen Bajo. We started with a time of sharing and singing and praising and then sharing testimonies. We heard from a girl native to this area from a very poor family who got saved as a high school student and greatly desired to go to seminary. Her parents did not like that idea because they are not Christians, but she managed to make it there and completed the three year course. She said that often she did not have money for food and that friends and strangers many times gave her food. She was full of praise about how God has provided for. She felt like that God really took care of her when she stepped out in faith. Her passion is to work with youth, and I believe that she will be used mightily in that work.
We then were able to hear from Sunny, one of our precious youth, share with them about how through her own fight with cancer, her family received the love of Christ. She shared how only yesterday, she was able to share Christ with a woman who has terminal cancer. This opportunity came because of the missed connection that some of the kids were very sad about. But after that clear God appointment, it was ordained for Sunny's group to miss their original flight. She put this into words so beautifully that many people were in tears.
After sharing, we divided into teams. One went to the church to demolish an existing tumble down structure to make way for a medical clinic to come. So many of the guys got their demolition fix today.
Another group was cleaning up a big dump pile that contained sand, rocks, broken block, broken glass, and a lot of trash. They sorted out what was usable as building material, and what had to be hauled off to a real trash dump (another large trash pile up the road.) It was pretty backbreaking work. They will sleep well.
A third group went down the very steep hill in front of the Compassion project to help begin adding a room on to a grandmother's house whose daughter has had a complete mental breakdown. This grandma is now caring for her daughter and her three children by herself in a two room house (both rooms very small.) They were blessed by meeting this precious woman and who exudes joy even in the midst of crisis.
The next group helped prepare the lunch for the afternoon group of Compassion kids. Lots of hugs from all the children. Our students helped serve and clean up after about 250 kids who eat here after their school day from 7am to noon.
Lastly about 20 of our kids put on a VBS for a group of about 90 kids with singing, dancing, acting, laughing and hugging until we could go no more. After this, we followed the kids to their classroom to do a craft with them. It was a treasure to these kids to simply have a paper plate with some crayons to share what reminds them of Jesus. There are some artists among them I can tell you that. The kids in the room where Steven Moyer was helping were enthralled by his paper plate. I see a future in graphic design for Steven!
After we had pretty much finished working for the day, we just played and played with the kids outside the project. They are so funny and so filled with love. The do not know strangers, we were all fast friends.
In the evening, we were treated to a beautiful meal prepared by the women of Carmen Bajo. It was a fundraiser for their mission work to Cuba.
Julia Wofford-- Good night!
It is hard to share how much the love of Christ impacts a culture. The believers in the church at Carmen Bajo are passionate about reaching out to help others. Pastor Fabian and the congregation put on a beautiful white linen, red rose dinner for us and we took up an offering. The church is raising funds to send 6 people on a mission trip to Cuba. Pastor Fabian went to Cuba and worked with the underground church and pastors there about a year and a half ago. He shared how deeply moved he was at, get this, their extreme poverty and oppression. Many of us were moved to tears as we looked around at a group of extremely poor people who are overflowing with the love of Christ and want to share it with those who have less. It was a lovely way to end a wonderful day. Thanks for your prayers and your participation in changing Ecuador one child's life at a time.
Many Blessings,
Zoe Schlenker
Satellite view of San Sebastián del Coca
The Coca and Sardinas groups are scheduled to head out on Friday. As best as I can determine, the area they are first traveling to can be seen in the satellite view at the following link:
San Sebastián del Coca near El Coca, Ecuador
San Sebastián del Coca near El Coca, Ecuador
Note that the red and green markers on the image are not necessarily the location of Fundación Elohím in San Sebastián del Coca.
Several navigation tools are available at the link to explore the area. To pan in any direction, left click your mouse and drag the image. Zoom in or out using the "+" or "-" buttons in the upper left of the image. Turn on or off local photos using the button in the upper right of the image (click on photo icons to enlarge).
[DB]
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Long happy day
Hi folks,
We had a wonderful day with our Compassion kids today! We met them at the center of the world and had an official tour with them. It was really beautiful. The tour guides are indigenous to this area and give so much history and cultural insight. None of the Compassion children or their parent or even their accompanying tutors had seen it. What a nice exchange. We then took them to visit in the shaded area at the equator monument and we visited and played and loved on them for hours. After sharing a picnic lunch, we shared their gifts with them and then said an emotional goodbye. It is really impactful for them to have us come and see them each year. One of the older students, Luis, confided to our Compassion leader that the only reason that he stays at home and continues in the Compassion program is because we are faithful to him and he doesn't want to let us down. He has a very difficult situation at home. An alcoholic father who forced him to quit school to work to support his brothers and sisters. He at least can attend the Compassion program for teens on the weekends. He says that the only reason that he has not run away from is family is our support.
Zoe's group of ten arrived safely tonight. We now await the arrival of our dentist and his wife, Doug and Diane Cloud who will help with the dental clinic starting this weekend in El Coca and Sardinas. Please pray for them and for Perry Floyd who travels tomorrow.
I love you all!
Julia
We had a wonderful day with our Compassion kids today! We met them at the center of the world and had an official tour with them. It was really beautiful. The tour guides are indigenous to this area and give so much history and cultural insight. None of the Compassion children or their parent or even their accompanying tutors had seen it. What a nice exchange. We then took them to visit in the shaded area at the equator monument and we visited and played and loved on them for hours. After sharing a picnic lunch, we shared their gifts with them and then said an emotional goodbye. It is really impactful for them to have us come and see them each year. One of the older students, Luis, confided to our Compassion leader that the only reason that he stays at home and continues in the Compassion program is because we are faithful to him and he doesn't want to let us down. He has a very difficult situation at home. An alcoholic father who forced him to quit school to work to support his brothers and sisters. He at least can attend the Compassion program for teens on the weekends. He says that the only reason that he has not run away from is family is our support.
Zoe's group of ten arrived safely tonight. We now await the arrival of our dentist and his wife, Doug and Diane Cloud who will help with the dental clinic starting this weekend in El Coca and Sardinas. Please pray for them and for Perry Floyd who travels tomorrow.
I love you all!
Julia
On the flight to Dallas...
An encouraging reminder of God's timing in this text from Zoe S.:
"In Dallas with tight connection=) Awesome kids and having so much fun! On the Skybus now.
Fun...lots of laughter.
Prayed with Kathy and shared Christ.
She was my neighbor on plane and battling terminal cancer. Seneca told her her cancer story. Powerful...pray for her salvation.
Zoe"
[DB]
[DB]
Pictures of last group off to Ecuador
Elieto can't hide his excitement to go on God's mission to
Ecuador.
So proud of you!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Atlanta for the Delta group
We are talking and visiting about what to do about the fact that 7 of our Compassion kids' gifts are stuck in Albuquerque and will not be here on time for the Compassion child visit tomorrow. Please pray that we will be wise stewards and problem solvers. We had a very uneventful flight to Atlanta and would very much like an uneventful flight to Quito as well. God bless you all.
Delayed travelers
The final travel group of the day (Zoe S., Andrew C., George B., Sabrina A., Tyler A., Seneca A., Drew B., Stephani B. and Kelsey B.) had a flight delay in Albuquerque today that would have caused them to miss their later connections. Unfortunately this has forced them to delay leaving Albuquerque until Wednesday morning as no other flights could be arranged for them to travel today.
[DB]
[DB]
Monday, June 4, 2012
Very excited.
Leaving in about nine hours, please pray that all of our checked baggage will be accepted by the airlines and that all of us will make our connections. Thank you!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
June 2, 2012
Hi Everyone,
We will be heading out early Tuesday morning for Ecuador and could really use your prayer covering. We are on lots of different flights and have lots of baggage to manage.
Specific prayer needs:
-Healing for Mark Scales and Elie Boujaoude who have both had health issues that have interfered with their ability to go on the trip.
-Covering for Perry and Kasey Floyd and Robert Wright as they join us for different parts of the trip.
-Travel mercies for the team both in and out of country.
-Connections and Holy Spirit working through us.
Thanks for your prayers and support!
Julia
We will be heading out early Tuesday morning for Ecuador and could really use your prayer covering. We are on lots of different flights and have lots of baggage to manage.
Specific prayer needs:
-Healing for Mark Scales and Elie Boujaoude who have both had health issues that have interfered with their ability to go on the trip.
-Covering for Perry and Kasey Floyd and Robert Wright as they join us for different parts of the trip.
-Travel mercies for the team both in and out of country.
-Connections and Holy Spirit working through us.
Thanks for your prayers and support!
Julia
Friday, June 1, 2012
Welcome to our site!
Welcome to the Hope Christian School's Meager Rations blog site! We are a few days from departure to Ecuador with 42 students and 11 adult sponsors. We will be out of the country from June 5th through June 19th.
Please pray for the health of our team members and for all preparations and plans to be completed. We also appreciate your prayers for our hosts in Ecuador to be strengthened and to have great wisdom as they finalize plans for our arrival.
Philippians 1:9-11
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God."
Please pray for the health of our team members and for all preparations and plans to be completed. We also appreciate your prayers for our hosts in Ecuador to be strengthened and to have great wisdom as they finalize plans for our arrival.
Philippians 1:9-11
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God."
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