Ecuador Trip 2008

Dear Family and Friends,



Que Dios le bendiga! God bless you! Thank you for the monetary support and for the prayers while we were in Ecuador. The trip was incredible! I learned so much, did so much, saw so much, grew so much... it was amazing. I’m still excited about it!



Before you read this please pray to God and ask that you will read this letter with an open heart and that you will understand what He did and is doing in Ecuador.



If you want a glimpse of what our trip looked like before you read my letter, follow this link to view a slide show of photos taken by Daniel Colvin:

http://www.danielcolvinphotography.com/slideshows/Ecuador/



There is so much I want to tell you, so much I want to share with you. I wish my words could make you as excited as I am, but they can’t. So you’ll just have to go to Ecuador, too. Seriously, go to Ecuador.



We were told that we would probably have culture shock either while we were in Ecuador or when we got back to the States. However, I don’t think I had culture shock when I was there or when I got back home. Some things surprised me, but not greatly. The biggest challenge for me though was when I was contemplating what we as United States citizens do and are.



Much of Ecuador seemed to be in what we might call poverty. From the pictures, you can get an idea of what it was like. But even though they seemed poor, they were much richer than most people in the United States, in that they care about each other, they aren’t enslaved by schedules, and they take time to be with their families. It made me think of how we idolize our possessions, our jobs, our time, and how all of that is worthless and futile apart from God. So many of us need to learn to be content with what we have now, because if we aren’t, then we will never be content.



Steve (the missionary in charge of Camp Chacauco) kept telling us that you don’t fight darkness to get rid of it, you present the light. There’s no way to destroy darkness except to shine a light, and that light is Jesus. It solidified some things in my mind about how I will deal with the darkness in this world. I hope to love and be a light instead of attacking the religions of other people.



A lot of darkness is in Ecuador, due to the current political situation and the beliefs and practices of the Ecuadorian Catholic church. But our Lord is at work in Ecuador through the pastors and missionaries, praise God. Camp Chacauco is being used by God to shine a light in the darkness, and we were privileged to be part of it and to see and hear miraculous stories of God’s works. We got to help run two Vacation Bible Schools in the town of Sucre, help run a day camp for Ecuadorian teens to twenties, and we got to help out camp Chacauco with some construction work.



Through stories of his ministry, Steve taught us how we should have a “Yes, Lord” mentality. Not to ask questions and arrange everything first, but to drop everything when He calls you to do something and ask questions later. When you live like that, God does amazing things and you can really see the work of His hand. I’m getting all teary-eyed just thinking about it. Our God is an awesome God! I was able to live with a “Yes, Lord” mentality that week, and I pray I will continue to live my life that way.



I’m really going to miss the beauty of Ecuador: the people, the weather, the Christians, and the landscapes. Most of all, I will miss the Christians. I saw Jesus that week in the lives of the missionaries and Christians in Ecuador. I saw Him in the actions and attitudes and smiles and sincerity of the Christians. This trip increased my desire to be a witness to others by my actions, attitude, smiles, and my sincerity. I still tear up when I think of the Christians in Ecuador, God’s amazing love, and the things He revealed to me that week. God is good, and His works and love are amazing.



Thank you so much for your prayers. I know they helped and protected us. Thank you also for supporting us with money. I know that without your help God still would have provided the finances, but He chose you and you followed His will. I want to let you know that your money helped make amazing things happen. May God bless you and may you draw closer to Him!



Jesse Daniel