This past week we served together once again in a Women’s Caravan in Unamuncho-Ambato, Ecuador. This is an area 2 and a half hours outside of the capital city of Quito. We worked in conjunction with the Covenant Women Ministries of Ecuador and a local Covenant church in Unamuncho-Ambato.
It was a pleasure to serve together once again in our pink coats, which have become a trademark of these caravans to show solidarity and unity in the care for women and young girls.
On the way there, four of us traveled together and about an hour out of Quito, the car broke down. Although this could have been a time for a lot of stress, frustration and other things, we all managed to work together and figure out a solution. We had some fun in the process as you can see in the photos when we were waiting for our tow truck.
During these caravans, we encounter many situations and we do our best to meet people where they are, scared, stressed, overwhelmed, etc. Two women in particular stand out to me during this caravan. One was a young women who is a newlywed. She has epilepsy and was having some issues which is why she came to us. Through the course of being seen, it was discovered she was pregnant. She was quit shocked, her mother as well. They didn’t know what to do and in all honesty, neither did we. We gave advice as best we could, but it was more of a situation where advice really outweighed the reality and weight of the situation. So, we prayed. We prayed for the young lady and her family, her husband and the reality of the place where they were. Sometimes we realize our abilities and training pale in comparison to what the mighty name of Jesus speaks among us.
Another mom that I saw came to be seen. She was exhausted and appeared very overwhelmed. Two of our team watched two of her children so that we could talk. Maybe it is because a lot of times I feel like an overwhelmed mom and can sense it in other moms. I soon realized that although I can prescribe vitamins and Tylenol for aches and pains and exhaustion, what I need to hear and what she needed to hear was that she wasn’t alone. She doesn’t have to be “super mom” or do it all. She needed to know it was OK to ask for help, even if just long enough to take a shower or nap. From a medical standpoint, a lot of times I feel useless, but I felt used by the Holy Spirit that day to be a fellow overwhelmed “mom” and not a health care provider.
We also continued with handing out Days for Girls kits reusable menstruation kits to young girls and women. This time we also were trying out a new model that a fellow Covenanter in Canada made for older women with incontinence. The two ladies that received them were SO grateful. We learned that although many women suffer from incontinence, having surgery or getting real long-term curative help is not likely. The incontinence kits seemed to be a real blessing to these ladies and they left with big smiles!
A big thank you to Annalea Egging who has developed and created these women’s caravans. She has served and cared for the women of Ecuador and we are so grateful for her presence. She will truly be missed.
If you are interested in helping in future Women’s Caravans, we have dates for April and October 2020. We would love to have your presence. No medical training needed! Just willing hearts and servant hands!
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ~Philippians 2: 1-4
The Santiago Partnership