Ecuador:
Quito, Ecuador
Ministries: The team served in a variety of ways in Portoviejo.
Hospital: The earthquake that happened a few months ago destroyed different areas of downtown Portoviejo, including the hospital. The destruction caused all of the archives at the hospital to become displaced. So the team helped reorganized all the files so the hospital can keep track of their paperwork for the patients.
Slum Ministry: Percy and Hema (the ministry hosts) have been serving in the slums for 4 years now. They work specifically with the children there. They sing songs, play games, present a Bible story, pray, color/craft and provide a meal. This is a favorite ministry for the team–to love these families in the simplest of ways.
Small Groups: Each week the church meets in different small groups. There are around 15 people in each group. The group sings songs, plays a game, shares a testimony and teaches a message from the Bible.
-I had to share my testimony completely in Spanish–praise the Lord for a teammate who could help translate it for me!
Soccer Ministry: The most popular sport in Ecuador! The men and women fellowship with playing soccer each week. It is a great way to invite nonbelievers into a group that is uplifting and encouraging, a way to influence the community of young adults.
Church services: Incalink is strongly connected to the church body. I love how much they value gathering together to worship the Lord and to encourage each other. After the service, everyone hangs around talking to each other and hearing how everyone is doing. What a difference to the typical American church? We try to beat the crowds to make it to our favorite lunch spot… I think we have something to learn from these people!
I loved getting the chance to join in these ministries for my time in Ecuador. Another amazing gift on my trip was the amazing family of our ministry hosts. They fixed all of our meals and showered us with so much love (in food, in laughter, in stories).
The team was an amazing encouragement to my heart. They challenged me to join in the uncomfortable things. To grasp the heaviness of seeing the destruction of the earthquakes. To love the lowest and least with His kind of love.
The team encouraged me to find different ways to serve in the community–praying for patients as we filed the folders that seemed so fruitless. To pray for the patients in the waiting rooms as we waited for ministry to start. To pray walking down the street as we pass strangers.
They also taught me to remember to have fun because He loves to give us His joy. To walk in confidence in who He made me to be. To value my time with the Father. To rest with the Father so that I can serve and love in the capacities that He has for me in each day.
Prayers for Team Ecuadorable:
1. Teachable spirits
2. Health and rest
3. Obedience to the Father’s call
Team members: Mark, Sydney, Bri, Tina, Rebecca, Ben, Jeremy
Host names: Percy, Hema, and Mila (their two year old daughter)
Thank you for all of those who have financially supported me for opportunities like this. Your prayers and financial support made this incredibly challenging and amazing week happen! You support the journey the Lord has for me, and I am incredibly humbled to be given the opportunity to walk in His blessings because of your obedience!
If you are interested in supporting me in the new fundraising year, feel free to donate! The donate button at the top of my blog is an easy access to making a donation online!
Hi Beth. It sounds like your week was most successful. I love that they stay at church to support each other too. We all are always so eager to get out and do our own thing. We should be praying and caring about each other. Our preacher is usually in a hurry too.
I hope you are doing well. Take care and continue doing God’s work.
Love,
Aunt Carolyn