Some often ask how our families are involved in the work here in Ecuador and how do they feel about what we’re doing. Many missionaries have many different answers for that and I suppose we are no different. Our families are involved in different ways and on different levels. However, I think most missionaries will tell you that having visits from your family to see what you do on the ground and living the day in day out life with you is encouraging and uplifting and just brings something more to you when family is willing to do that.
We had this experience recently when our niece, Brianne (Joel’s sister’s daughter) and her husband Colton came down to volunteer and be with us for a week. It is the first time that either of them had been here and ALL of us were SO excited to have them!
Brianne is going in to her last 2 years of pharmacy school at Cedarville University and Colton recently finished his MDIV at Cedarville as well. We put both of them to work and Brianne was able to use this time towards her international credits as well. Colton preaching at our partner church Iglesia Emanuel and doing home visits with our chaplain and care worker staff for the Home for At Risk children. He was able to visit families and children who had been reunited as well as families in the process currently. They prayed with families and counseled them. They also both got to know the children in the Home, playing UNO together, soccer games, pushing them on swings and just having fun as kids should. Brianne helped in our clinic. We soon realized she was “la experta” (the expert) in pill counting and we had her be in charge of helping with inventory of medications. She also helped review all the inventory of the clinic and storage areas, order medications and go through medications for expiration and other needs. We also did some fun sight seeing and relaxing too at the natural hot springs in Papallacta.
It was so wonderful to spend time with them and to get to know Colton better as well. We see why Bri loves him so much! We do too! It was such an encouragement to see how God has gifted them both in their own areas of service and profession but woven their lives together. We are excited to see what their future holds!
We are SO thankful they were able to come and experience life with us and see what life in Ecuador is like!
Here are some pictures from our time together.
The Santiago Partnership