Medical Caravan in Cayambe with Iglesia Nazareno completed! We saw 236 children for their annual medical checkup over a three day period. Thank you for all your help from our volunteers.
Wednesday Meetings
Every Wednesday our project leadership team which consists of Rolando Escola, Project Coordinator, Jose Tuqueres, Pastor of Iglesia Emanuel (our partner church), and Kim and I, meet in Cayambe to discuss the project in great detail and make decisions about how to proceed and plan for the future. Rolando is our Project Coordinator so he has the final say but really all decisions are made through consensus of this group. Please pray for these weekly meetings as they are so important for our project going forward.
Categories: 501c3, Cayambe, Clinic, Family Fun, Ministry, Travel, Updates
Tags: 501c3, Cayambe, Churches, Clinic, Evangelical Covenant Church, Ministry, The Santiago Partnership, Travel, Trips, Updates
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In His Hands
I would like to ask you to close your eyes and imagine…however, I am acutely aware that if you do this, you won’t be able to read anymore. So, I guess imagine this story in your mind as I explain it here and develop a picture in your mind what this looks like.
Esther is almost one year old! Time seems to fly by so quickly at this stage. A recent experience with Esther recently reminded me of how God must look at me right now in my situation. A few weeks ago, we were all trying to get Esther to walk to us. Her little hands VERY TIGHTLY wrapped around my index fingers. She’s strong enough and even balanced enough to be able to take a few steps to Joel and Simeon, but she would just NOT let go of my fingers. There’s nothing magic about my fingers, she’d probably be even a little more balanced standing on her own to try and walk, but she just couldn’t let go, take those first steps on her own and trust that she can do it.
I like to think of myself as different than this picture I described above, but the bottom line is I am just like Esther in this sense in my relationship with God. I know I can trust Him, I have seen Him carry and guide and love me time and time again. So, why does it take so much for me to let go and let Him carry me and guide me? He has given me the strength to do it, it’s my own self that holds me back…
Let me explain…
I have had a dream since I was 10 years old of being a medical missionary. When we came back as long term missionaries, I FINALLY (after SO many years) started seeing this dream become a reality. I thought, “Finally God, all the hard work, tears and frustrations, TIME, PREPARATION, it’s all worth it, it’s finally come true!” YEAH!
On the other side of this, our lives were beginning to spin a little out of control as far as how busy we were. As much as we WANTED and LONGED for peace, calm and consistency in our lives, we just couldn’t find it. In reality we couldn’t find time to find it. As we began to evaluate our chaos, we realized something had to give. As we anticipated the medical clinic opening and my responsibilities increasing more in ministry as well as our 3rd child coming, we realized and sensed with urgency a change coming. In passing one day, Joel had mentioned the idea of me staying at home solely with the kids. In passing and we didn’t even talk more about it that day. As I thought (for literally a few seconds) about it I realized I was angry that he would even suggest it. So, from that point on, I basically put it out of my mind because I couldn’t bring myself to think about it, to think of letting go of that dream that I know God has given me. I didn’t want to face it. I didn’t want to let go of those fingers and trust that maybe there was something better God had at this time…
In April, I had planned to have a retreat guided by Velvet Ashes. On the way to meet up with a friend for this retreat, Joel and I talked in the car and this subject was once again brought up. For a while I didn’t say anything, but I could feel my heart welling up and then just blurted out “how could you even ask me to do this, I’ve been preparing for this since I was 10 years old!” Obviously not a great response, but after that, Joel said he wouldn’t ask me to do that. However, I really felt, even in the midst of the anger and, well just ANGER I felt, that if he brought it up again, that it is something I should evaluate and pray about, what better time than a retreat to do so! It was a pretty difficult retreat although I did really feel like the Holy Spirit was moving in my spirit. After that retreat, much to my surprise, I felt at peace making a decision to let go. I didn’t know exactly what that might look like, but after talking about it with Joel, we came to a compromise of me primarily staying at home with the kids, but still practicing in the clinic on Wednesdays like I do now and organizing volunteers and medical teams when they come down as well as other administrative tasks in the clinic.
A friend recently told me when I was talking with her about this decision, she said, sometimes God only gives us a glimpse, just enough, just a piece for this time of what He has for us. Nothing more because that’s all He gives. I TOTALLY get it and I feel that is what God has given me. He gave me just enough to make this decision, not more, not less, just peace enough for THIS time and THIS moment for what He has. I don’t think that God has closed the door on this dream He has given me for all these years and I don’t think I worked in vein to get to where I am. I do think that at this point it may be on hold for other opportunities and passions to come forth that I am not even aware of. I think this time if for raising kids and THAT is a huge ministry in itself.
Through this period of time, I have resorted back to this song many times to focus my heart and mind on God and his beauty and laying my motives and burdens at His feet.
“Beautiful”
Here before Your alter
I am letting go of all I’ve held
Of every motive, every burden
Everything that’s of myselfAnd I just wanna wait on You, my God
I just wanna dwell on who You areBeautiful, beautiful
Oh, I am lost for more to say
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh Lord You’re beautiful to meHere in Your presence
I am not afraid of brokenness
To wash Your feet with humble tears
I would be poured out till nothing’s leftAnd I just wanna wait on You, my God
I just wanna dwell on who You areBeautiful, beautiful
Oh, I am lost for more to say
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh Lord You’re beautiful to meBeautiful
You’re beautiful, oh You’re beautiful
Beautiful, beautifulHoly, holy, holy You are, You are
Holy, holy, holy You are, You are
Holy, holy, holy You are, You are
Holy, holy, holy You are, You areBeautiful, beautiful
Oh, I am lost for more to say
Beautiful, beautiful
Oh Lord You’re beautiful to meYou’re beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful
Categories: Anger, Esther, Family Fun, Ministry, Prayer Requests, Reflections, Uncategorized, Updates
Tags: Family Fun, Ministry, Reflections, Updates
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Final Version of Covenant VBS Curriculum Released
We wanted to let you know that the final version of the Covenant’s Ecuador VBS Curriculum has been released and you can download it here: http://www.covchurch.org/mission/projects/vbs-project/
Categories: 501c3, Clinic, Ministry, Updates
Tags: 501c3, Churches, Clinic, Ecuador, Evangelical Covenant Church, Ministry, The Santiago Partnership, Updates
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Samples Taken!
This week we conducted blood draws for almost 390 children in the city of Cayambe as well as the small village of Oyacachi. These samples were taken for an upcoming medical caravan. Thank you so much to Eric Brown, Cassidy Wagner, Colin McLaughlin and Chris Melby for volunteering to help make these events possible!
Categories: Cayambe, Clinic, Ministry, Travel, Updates
Tags: 501c3, Clinic, Ecuador, Evangelical Covenant Church, Ministry, The Santiago Partnership, Travel, Trips, Updates
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Welcome Colin!
We recently welcomed Colin McLaughlin to Quito to work with us and IPEE over the summer months. Colin is a pre-med student at Wheaton College and a member of Thornapple Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He wanted to volunteer as a missionary over these summer months and wanted to work in the area of medicine if at all possible, so we are glad and happy to have him wih us over the next few months. In addition to helping at the clinic in Cayambe, he will also be helping in various ministries of IPEE while he is here. Welcome to Quito Colin!!!
CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES…
… and you can help! We have recently resumed construction on our home for at risk children in Cayambe, Ecuador. After finishing the ceiling, we have begun putting the block up for the walls. Slowly but surely we are progressing toward our goal to have the home completed by the end of this year. You can help us reach this goal by donating to the Covenant’s FOWM project that goes toward funding the construction costs by clicking here: Covenant FOWM Project Ecuador
Categories: 501c3, Cayambe, Construction, Home, Ministry, Updates
Tags: 501c3, Churches, Ecuador, Evangelical Covenant Church, Ministry, Updates
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Santiago Partnership VBS Curriculum Released
We are pleased to announce that the Evangelical Covenant Church has created a VBS mission project curriculum about and in support our project in Cayambe, Ecuador. You can see the website for the curriculum here: Covenant VBS Website
However, as you can see on that site, the final version for the curriculum has not yet been created though you can download a temporary version here:
With this version all of the content is the same as that of the final version, just the final version will look a little bit nicer.
Here is what it says on the Covenant’s Website about the curriculum:
Each year, a new vacation Bible school (VBS) project is available as a learning and giving opportunity to increase awareness of the ministries among children in countries where Covenant World Mission has ministry partnerships. This project also offers children in the United States and Canada the opportunity to learn about international mission, other cultures, and the children their gifts will assist that year. Each project will remain available to use for up to three years. Your church can feel free to use any of the available projects that best suits your needs!
The Mission Moments for VBS 2015 will focus on children living in Ecuador and helping the Covenant Church of Ecuador to build a home and medical clinic for at-risk children. Through this project, children in your VBS program will learn to:
- Serve God and the children in Ecuador
- Foster a larger view of God’s kingdom
- Connect with children in Ecuador through their stories and video
- Learn what it is like to be a child in Ecuador
- Provide Ecuadorian children who are in need with a safe place to learn about God
These free enrichment materials are available to you to use as you plan for summer activities. Your children will make a difference in the lives of children as they grow in understanding of God’s love. For more information contact Covenant World Mission.
Categories: 501c3, Cayambe, Construction, Devotions, Home, Ministry, Updates
Tags: Cayambe, Ecuador, Evangelical Covenant Church, Ministry, The Santiago Partnership, Updates
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Update on the Medical Clinic
The construction of the clinic’s laboratory has been completed! Doesn’t it look nice??? Please continue to pray for the clinic’s opening as we are just awaiting the needed permits. Our goal is to open up to the public by June 1st of this year.
Categories: 501c3, Cayambe, Clinic, Construction, Ministry, Prayer, Updates
Tags: Cayambe, Clinic, Ecuador, Ministry, Prayer Requests, Updates
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Prayer Request for Visas
We just wanted to offer a prayer request for you all out there to pray for in the next few days. Joel has been working tirelessly on getting our Visas renewed. The great thing is, we are not trying to get the same type of Visa we have had that has to be renewed every 1-2 years. Since the birth of Esther and the fact that she is Ecuadorian, we are able to use her as our sponsor to what is called a Visa de Amparo. This basically means that we can get a permanent type Visa here in Ecuador because of Esther; it will not have to be renewed every 1-2 years. We will get a Cedula which is an official identification card here in Ecuador. Please pray that this process will go smoothly and quickly so that we are able to obtain this type of Visa. Thanks prayer warriors!
The Santiago Partnership