Gracias!

 Hello Family!

           I just wanted to thank you for your prayers and support throughout my adventure to Ecuador. I wish that each of you could see how the Lord used you while we were caring for the Shuar Indians right now, but I know that you will get to meet many of them on the other side of the cross. For now, here are some stories and pictures to serve as a reminder of just how good our God is and how blessed it is to pour out our lives before Him:
             This girl was 20 years old. Seven years ago a tree fell on her home killing two of her brothers and seriously injuring her arm. Her first surgery resulted in a large keloid that fused her arm together for the past seven years. Through the help of a gracious doctor, we were able to surgically correct her arm in an OR at the local Red Cross. With physical therapy, we expect her to recover full function of her arm!

Before Surgery



Our "OR"



Those would be recycled Gatorade bottles

Adrienne and I with our patient and her mom after surgery

During our second clinical day we were able to remove oral cancer from a man’s mouth. While handing out worming medications to the school children, I noticed a speck in one girl’s eye that looked abnormal. One of the most difficult moments of the trip was hearing that it was “melanoma until ruled out.” She was referred to a specialist and will hopefully receive the treatment she needs. Please continue to pray for her!



Medical station

Pastor Miller and the school children at the evangelism station

Some of the local kids - they loved having their picture taken

My first wound debridement - this little boy was hit by a truck. He was a trooper!

 It was amazing to see the Lord provide. We landed in Ecuador only to have the majority of our medications confiscated in the airport due to a miscommunication. We left that night wondering how we were going to do clinics with no antibiotics, no vitamins, no medications except for some antihistamines! There was a peace that I had never felt before, just waiting to see how God would provide. It turns out, most of the medicine was replaced from a closet in the mission house and we were able to purchase more adult antibiotics. We had medicine for the entire week of clinics! Our God is so good!

Outside of clinics, it was amazing to see the Lord moving in the hearts of my team members. On our last night, one of the guys from the team was hanging out with me and the only other student believers I know on our team. He had so many questions about what we believed, why we believed it, and why we lived the way we did. God is definitely moving in his heart.

Our pre-cable car expressions

A famous waterfall

Hiking back to the bus on clinical day 3

Why yes - I am holding the head of a boa constrictor and smiling

Incision and Drainage (I&D) of a breast abscess. Maybe that's an airplane blanket we "borrowed" from Delta.

One of many active volcanoes

The week was full of hard work, heartbreak, joy, peace and frustration, but it was also full of fun. We were able to see the Amazon river, go on a cable car ride, see plenty of volcanoes and work deep in the heart of the jungle.  I can’t tell you how thankful I am for you. I hope you know how much God used your prayers and your financial support for His glory this week.  Lives were changed. People crossed over from death to life in Jesus. The church grew in number and in strength. People were healed. 

Crossing the Amazon on a sketch bridge

The creepiest pig I've ever seen in a toy store in Macas

In the jungle, if the road isn't wide enough, you make it wider with your machete.

During the many bus rides, I spent some time in prayer. I wanted to know what my motivation was for wanting to work overseas, what my purpose was, and what kept nagging at me that I couldn't put a finger on. I realized that I had not been loving the Lord with all of my heart, all of my mind, and all of my strength. I was missing out on that abundant life, that intimacy with Jesus – I was tired of complacency. Two days later, I asked Brother Guillermo to share his testimony with me.  He spoke about a time in his life where he decided to love Jesus with everything. He said two things that struck me, having no idea what God had been teaching me that week. One I will leave with you, “The difference between traditional Christianity and having abundant life is accepting the invitation to go on a great adventure of faith with Jesus everyday.”  You have played a crucial role in this great adventure of faith in Ecuador. My prayer for us is that we would continue each day loving Jesus with everything, accepting His invitation of living a life of adventure in faith with Him.

There will be many more posts, with many more stories later.

<3 a