Currently I am sitting at my friend’s dining room
table in Quito. I have a feeling the next couple of weeks will be pretty crazy,
so I wanted to give you an update on life lately.
It’s officially been 6 months since I left home-hard
for me to believe. As I look back, a lot has happened, and it’s hard to pen words
to what God has taught me. First, I will catch up on a few stories in life, and then
I will get back to this thought.
I officially finished my first cycle of teaching! I was pretty excited last Saturday night to
send in all of my grades and be done! I don’t go back until January 7th,
so I am looking forward to the break. In the area of teaching, well I must say
that’s been an adjustment too. My first two years of teaching I was able to
pray and talk about spiritual applications all the time. I miss that. However,
this way of teaching provides opportunities of different kinds. Although not
many of my students have come to church, here and there God provides small ways
to share the Gospel , for which I am thankful. Still, I miss the discipleship and
ministry of teaching, and to be honest I am not sure what that means. I am
trying to note and observe what God is showing me, but I am not always sure how
to piece things together.
On a practical note, I have to move again. I have been
living with a couple from church the last few months, and they have been very
gracious to let me stay with them. A little bit ago they decided to move to a
smaller place to simplify life, and I completely understand that. I started
looking a little while ago, and at first I only got closed doors. Yet, God
pointed me to an apartment, and I am thankful for His direction. For now, I
will be living by myself, but I am praying for a roommate if that would please
the Lord. God knows the details, and I can trust that He will do what is best.
I have mentioned a few times a girl named Mercy. I
have been praying for her, although not as faithfully as I should be. By God’s
grace conversations have increased and she told me she would do my Dad’s Bible
study with me. She even asked me where she could buy a Bible¡ I gladly went out
and bought her a Bible, and last Thursday we did the first study. I can see God’s
Spirit moving in her heart, and I am thrilled to see what’s going to happen. It’s
nothing of my abilities to be sure, and I was definitely nervous doing
everything in Spanish, but God was faithful. As we were doing the study, the
Spirit guided and encouraged and reminded me THIS is why I am here. I am not
technically a missionary, but my dad taught me the heart of being a missionary.
There’s a joy in truly sharing the Gospel with someone who is hungry for truth…a
joy I can’t compare to anything else. I understand now why my dad is out almost
every night sharing and sowing seeds.
On the topic of my dad, the Lord reminded me of a few
other things through his example. Right now I am visiting a dear couple in
Quito, George and Cris, and George use to go to my dad’s church in Cuenca.
George is now in charge of the youth group at his church in Quito, and last
night he put on a big event. He created an Oscar themed event where the teens
could dress up, walk on a red carpet, and then receive nominations and awards
from things over the years. As I watched the event unfold, I saw the fruits of
my dad’s labor. My dad may be back in the States now, but his ministry still
continues in Ecuador. Why? Because he made disciples. That’s what I hope can be
said of me, however long God has me on this earth, that I made disciples for
Christ in a way that clearly points back to Him. I am not concerned if people
remember me or not, but I pray that I submit to Christ so that He can use my
life in such a way.
I guess that ties into what God has been teaching me
the past 6 months. I don’t think life every turns out exactly how we think or
plan in our heads, which is good because it helps us see the work of God in our
lives. Being as it’s been 6 months since
I have been gone, and I originally said I would be gone a year, the questions
of my future plans has been a frequent topic. To be completely frank with you,
I have no idea. My visa is good until May, but I would have to look into
renewing it in March if I want to stay longer. My prayer is that God gives me
clear reasons to stay or to go. Right now I just have a bunch of thoughts and
questions in my head. If I stay, would I stay with the same job? Would I look
for a different job? If I went home, what would I do? Would I try and do some
more studies? I get a little lost in all of those questions sometimes. But at the
end of the day, when God makes it clear to me what He wants, that I will do,
whether I fully understand it or not. Why? Because He is my Shepherd and
Protector. Those are two characteristics of God that I have come to know better
in the last 6 months. God has protected me and guided in countless days. He’s
provided places to live, sufficient money for what is needed, a church where I
can serve and be encouraged and challenged, godly friends who give biblical
counsel, and a lot more. These things push me to keep following what HE puts in
my path, knowing that He has thought and planned everything out already.
This is kind of a mezcla (mix) of thoughts. I wrote
that Spanish word without thinking about it, but then I figured I would
translate. I do a lot of Spanglish these days. My list of unknowns continues,
that is true; but they are only unknowns to me. God has it under control. What
I do know is that my sister and dear friend Rosina are on a plane right now to
come visit me! I am so thankful they are coming, and I want to enjoy the time
God has given me with them. God will show me what I need to know when He sees
fit.
I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined
to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1
