...all the children of the world...

Oh Ecuador... I love it so.
This year's International World Changers project in Ecuador was amazing, and God moved in the lives of the participants as well as the people we ministered to.

Here's the entire group which includes 32 IWC participants, 8 Ecuadorian participants, staff, and translators. I think we are pretty lovely!
One aspect about this project that was better than last year was that Caleb got to come with me! Here we are with the rest of the staff on the equator.

One of the fun things you can try to do on the equator is balance an egg on a nail. If you succeed, they give you an "Egg Master" diploma.
I am an Egg Master
Caleb is not.

Here is trying to psyche out one of the girls while she tried to balance the egg:

Some landscape shots.... all travelers have to bore their audience with at least a few landscape pics, haha. This area would be considered pretty nice.

Contrast that with this next shot of one of our ministry sites, Las Marias. This is a squatter community and it is just a really desperate place.

I would like to share something, if you are still reading. I hope it encourages you!

Two summers ago, an IWC participant witnessed to a man who sells homemade guitars. He accepted Christ and immediately told his wife about the Lord. Her name is Inez, and with help from local missionaries, they began to use their home in a village called Cumbaya for a church plant.

Last summer, I was able to meet Inez, and we put on a VBS at their home. I say home, but please picture in your mind 50 precious children piled into a shelter like what you see in the last picture. Inez's daughter, Cristina, decided to start spending her Saturdays working with kids in Las Marias.

So now this summer, a team of 19 people helped Cristina for a week by encouraging her, putting on a VBS, and offering free family portraits (these families have never had that before!... I of course LOVED doing this).

A woman from the community was so touched by all she saw this week, that she is offering her home for a new church plant in the Las Marias area.

Isn't it amazing to look back and see how God orchestrated all this?????

Two summers ago: a father accepts Christ and a family is transformed. A new church gathers.
Last summer: their house is used as a VBS in which 50 kids heard the gospel everyday
This week: their daughter's sacrificial work is honored by God and a new church begins.

Such precious faces.

Sometimes, I like hanging out with the translators more than the IWC kids. They are so great! They are right there to help you when you get stuck in your spanish, but they are also just so fun to hang out with. Here is me with Filipe, mi pequeno hermano.

And I'll leave you with a shot of our dinner one night... before their hair was burned off and they were cooked to a crisp. Yes, friends... guinea pig:)

(they taste like chicken that is too chewy and a little slimy)