Whirlwind

Three months have passed, in a whirlwind of ministry and life so entwined I cannot separate them.  My children are growing up.  We are growing older.  The silver in my hair will soon cover a third of my head and I can only pray that wisdom accompanies it.

And so?

We laugh.  Attempting to navigate a new language and culture is humbling, even after a year and a half. Best to laugh at ourselves and move forward.  He is our joy and we try to focus on the gifts He has given us. We are making a specific effort to spend time as a family and have more fun. He is Good, is He not?

We struggle.  If we have deceived ourselves about our spiritual state, serving full time in Ecuador has broken down that facade. We become impatient, irritable and plain old tired.  We sweat, itch and complain like spoiled children.  Sometimes we want to give up, pack up, and head home.

We grow.  As our weaknesses are front and center we are confronted with choices.  Daily.  Moment by moment we choose how we will respond.  Will we give our frailty to God and exchange it for His strength?  Or will we allow our flesh to master us and refuse to grow more like Christ?  Our choices can bring us closer to Him each day.

We serve. We have had schedule changes and been blessed with consistent growth. While our class attendance varies weekly, we average serving over 40 people per week, not including the children at the school.

Amy teaches 3 days at the school in Shiripuno. During the week we have a baseball ministry, men’s Bible study, girls Bible study, childrens English Bible class, Adult English Bible class, Friday night youth and a Learn to Earn program.  We serve snacks or light meals at each meeting.  We share God’s Word and His Love. We shop and cook and clean up.

On the weekends there isn’t anything on the schedule, but still they come.  For water, a snack, the bathroom, or just to play. Sunday rolls around and Eric gets out his guitar to play on the porch while the people play soccer in the field across from us all day. There isn’t anything on the schedule, but still they come, for water, the bathroom, or just to hang out.  They are hungry for so many things..

When we are  exhausted and ready to quit, we want to try and justify quitting.

It’s a struggle and a choice has to be made.  We are cramming over 20 kids in a tiny room.  We need more space, more chairs, more supplies. It isn’t slowing down -and the kids are still coming –and we have to grow.or.we.are.going.to.pop!

We have learned that we are losing a supporter.  This one family has been meeting 1/4 of our monthly needs.  We need wisdom.  Do we really need a dryer?  Yes or no? What about a car?  In an emergency?  What about purchasing this building we are in? What about… How will we… When will it…

And sometimes we feel very alone out here.

And we end up with a choice.

I could type it all out and use big words and try to make it sound so very difficult and  complicated.  But it isn’t really complex.  We must choose faith.  We must choose to submit in order to grow closer to Him.  No matter if He plants us in a beautiful garden or a roadside ditch, the fertilizer that gets piled on is good for our spiritual growth!

We must remember that when we are exhausted and ready to quit and we want to try and justify ourselves. We can’t.  Only He can justify us. He can provide.

Because, it’s not really our ministry.  It’s His.

Thank you for serving with us as we struggle and grow.  Thank you for laughing with us as we share our lives with you.  Thank you for being a part of this ministry.

If you want to know more, ask.  If you want to help more, thank you. If you want to visit, welcome.