Basically, the 8 members from FBC Camden met up with about 90 students 4,000 miles away in Ecuador’s capital to work in different areas doing VBSs, sports camps, conversational English, etc. In the airport, we met up with a super sweet girl named Sarah who was going to IWC by herself- instant adoption. Love ya, mean it Esther (like she reads this). Anyway, we stayed in a seminary and had everything we needed.
the team.
It was so cool working with the missionaries, translators, believers, participants, and children there. First, it was so incredible to see the kids run up to you and just love you, because they knew you were there to love them. Praise the Lord. Second, I absolutely loved my translator. Her name was Katherine; she’s 27 and a believer. We immediately hit it off, and it was such a blessing to work with her. Along the same lines, I was so encouraged by the pastor (and his family) of our house church. And last, the missionaries there were great to talk to, giving me a new perspective and desire for missions.
the kids at VBS.
Now to actual points. Through hearing the pastor’s testimony and talking to my translator, one thing I saw was their understanding of the importance/vitality of the Gospel. It is central. It is what unifies believers, brings understanding, and saves us. I saw their desire for others to know the hope that they have come to know, and I truly believe their simplicity and focus comes directly from their lack of obsession with materialistic or theological pursuits. Each of those has their place, but that place is only in support, not equality, of the Gospel. Praise God for teaching me through their examples.
sharing salvation bracelets at the block party.
Along the same lines, one day, Katherine and I decided to pray over a very lost boy we had just talked to. She prayed in Spanish; I did not understand. I prayed in English; she did. She's awesome. Anyway, another night in worship, one of the translators led worship and sang the last verse of a song in Spanish. These two small incidents reminded me of how people say that God is "Lord of the nations" and well, He is. However simple this may be, I tend to only think of God in English, and so this blew my mind. God can understand- and is bigger than- any language or any culture. He is so much bigger than the little American corner of the world that we call home. He is Lord of the nations, of all creation..
the pastor's kids.
And lastly, how productive it was to talk to some of the missionaries and learn about God's call on their lives, and how great it was to be exposed to international missions, finally. Let me just say that I love it. There is no doubt in my mind now that my job will be missions-related (yet another thing I could blog about). I learned about so many missions opportunities and was just extremely encouraged by people who had given their lives to share the Gospel. At least in Ecuador, people respected or were interested in you because you spoke English, which provided such great opportunities. I can't wait to continue seeing other cultures and how God is working in them. And if you think about it, pray for me as I seek what God has for me in this "mission-related" business.
the (fake) Equator on tourism day.
I feel like there are so many other things to convey, but God worked, and I'm ready to go back. I'll leave you with two beautiful pictures I ganked from a journeyman that's living in Ecuador.. Vaya con Dios.
Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved.
