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fter many years leading teams to Ecuador, you’d think Eddie and I would be getting tired of traveling to Quito, taking the 8-hour bus ride to Muisne, only to have to take the bus back to Quito and travel to the mountain area of Juan Montalvo the following week. The tourist spots, we’ve visited many times. Really, how many times can one get excited about visiting La Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) or take the boat ride on the lake at Cotacachi? How many souvenirs can one buy at Otavalo, the most famous open-air market in Ecuador? Granted, we’ve done all of these things many times; we even opt NOT to join the team when they visit these tourist spots. But there are things we do get excited about each year; and I guess that’s the reason we continue to lead teams to Ecuador to partner alongside Allen Graham and the churches in Muisne and Juan Montalvo.

Mitad del Mundo tourist spot

For many team members, this is their first experience traveling out of the country and doing mission work. Team members are able to see how God is working in other parts of the world, particularly a developing country, and this changes their perspective on life forever. Many have committed their lives to work full time in ministry; some have even committed their lives to become missionaries.

It’s a real joy to partner alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ from our church family along with those from other churches. This year we partnered with CIBC (Chinese Independent Bible Church) from Oakland, California. They sent ten people; we had ten from CGBC. When you are on a team working and serving alongside each other for a common purpose in ministering to others and Glorifying God, you develop a camaraderie that truly deepens your level of friendship.

shopping at Otavalo

boat ride at Cotacachi

We’ve been blessed to have experienced and seen many team members step out of their comfort zone to do God’s work. We’ve seen team members preach, teach, share their testimony, do drama, sing songs, share the gospel message in broken Spanish, give a hug to kids that have dirty faces and runny noses, tie rebar and dig trenches, and stay in homes that have no running water and only outside toilets. Team members have allowed themselves to be used by God and to show God’s love through their actions, service and love to the Ecuadorians.

We’ve also been blessed to see many local Ecuadorians grow in their faith year after year and to see how they continue to serve Him. Tatiana is a lady Linda Chan and I met in 2012. She asked that we pray for her family, specifically for her husband and children’s salvation. She took Linda’s message on Esther to heart and fasted and prayed to God regarding her marriage. This year, two years later, her husband, Pablo, came to our men’s ministry sessions and the farewell service that was held on our last night in Muisne. What an answer to prayer! How faithful Tatiana has been to pray to God for her family. How exciting to see how God has answered Tatiana’s prayers! What a blessing to see that Pablo is open and receptive to the Gospel message.

Jannie and Tatiana

Many of the Ecuadorians live a hard life. For many of them, they have no real future; no opportunities to move to a better community where they would be able to work and have a more meaningful life and ministry. We’ve had the opportunity to spearhead business opportunities for several women through economic development (chicken farming), and even to provide funds to enable young people to further their education. What a blessing it is to see many of the Ecuadorians continue to worship and serve God in their community no matter how hard a life they have. So many of the families have opened their homes and hearts to us every year. They are definitely part of our family in Christ; we can’t help but to love them all!!

living a hard life….

people we’ve come to learn to love