Hope in the City

So to give you an idea of what I've been up to, here's some pictures of the beautiful scenery and the beautiful people I had the opportunity to pour into. 

This team was from Provence 4 Episcopal.  

Proverbs 16:9 "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps."

This verse soaked into me richly with this team. Sometimes, we get so caught up in what we want to do and how we want to become successful that we forget what God wants. Ultimately, God's direction leads us to eternity, and living for Him will bring more peace and prosperity than anything.

The ministry site we went to was Buen Pastor in the south of Quito.  We painted, plastered, had a VBS,  and built a wall.  Although we did a lot of work, we didn't forget the most important reason why we were there. We made a family, relationships that will last..even though we may be far, they are still in our hearts.

The last team I hosted was from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The ministry sites we worked at was Argelia Alta: Remanso De Amor, and La Roca, the skate ministry. 

So this team, I intentionally worked on seeing people as a blank canvas.  We all judge one another whether we realize it or not.  If we start to see people as a blank canvas, we are giving them the opportunity to paint who they are, and I've realized that they become more beautiful than my first impression.  I could compare denominations and the teams I've hosted, but if we give them the paint brush, they all become more beautiful in their own way.  God made us all so differently, and if we don't allow people to be who they are, the canvas is going to be one color. 

La Roca

Aaron and I worked together this block.  God brought us to Ecuador with Woodbury Lutheran 2 years ago at this exact same ministry site, and now we are hosting together!! It was definitely a different experience with this team because I was sick, but they just embraced me all the more.   

So many times we give up on ourselves, and I felt like that because I was sick, but God's love never fails, and this team and the people we met were a beautiful example of that.  So who are we to give up on each other?

Galatians 5:22 says "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law."

As my time is coming to a close, I know that through the teams that have come to Ecuador, they have been a part of bringing hope to the city in Ecuador and back home.