Nate and I will be flying to West Africa in three and a half months and my heart beats faster just thinking about it! Many times I have cried while watching videos about the beautiful African people because my desire was to be on the other side of the screen with them. But as the excitment about being in Africa increases, there are also feelings of sadness about being far away from family and friends. I have always wished that visiting my family in Ecuador was as easy as taking a bus and going away for the weekend.
In the last weeks, I've had an increasing desire to visit my home country one last time before our two year service with Mercy Ships. And after praying about it with Nate, we remembered that a check from his past job had not been deposited and was being reissued. The amount in the check was almost the exact amount of the price to buy two round trip plane tickets to Ecuador.
Can you guess where am I going with this? Yes, we are going to Ecuador!
King David was right when he wrote "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). God is good!
There is one more desire in my heart regarding my connection with Ecuador. Let me tell you about Dulce Refugio:
"Dulce Refugio" means Sweet Refuge, and it is the name of my home church in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. I love being at Dulce Refugio, especially the days when 270 children (ages 3 to 18) come to spend time with their "Aunts and Uncles" who help them with their school work, prepare lunch for them, play with them, heal their wounds, and teach them about the Bible and God's love for them. I admire those serving the children. They love them so much: in word and deed. And the children are such a joy.
Here is a video we made in 2009 about Dulce Refugio inviting people to come with us last July. We went with a group of seven took 13 suitcases full of school supplies, medicines, clothing, and Bibles and 9 laptopts. Praise the Lord! It was a wonderful experience.
People say that an image says more than a thousand words and I hope you noticed the condition of the facilities where the children come to be loved and helped. They are not in good condition and they are too small. Currently, Dulce Refugio is constructing a four story building with classrooms, a clinic, a computer lab, a kitchen, a church sanctuary and even a play ground on the terrace. The dream is to serve 500 children and even have an "Integral Development Center" where the kids come to school and receive help in areas including physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Can you guess how much money a project like this would cost?
In the U.S. probably over 1,000,000 dollars... In Ecuador, only 1/10th of that...
My desire is to see Dulce Refugio finish this project in 2010, and I found out today that people at the church have been praying about the same, by faith. I have seen their hard work and love. They do not give up. I also know raising 100,000 dollars in Ecuador is very difficult and without God's intervention, the building will be under construction forever.
Please join us in praying for provision for this specific financial need. This is something that God has put in my heart. Please pray also about how you can help, whether by donating financially or by sharing about this need with your friends and church. We welcome anyone who would like to come to Ecuador and visit Dulce Refugio with the desire to help. We will be there from May 4 to 18. Call me at 607-342-5038 for more information.
May God bless you abundantly in all you do and may you be a blessing to many.
-Cecilia
"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O Lord our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you."
1 Chronicles 29:14-18
In the last weeks, I've had an increasing desire to visit my home country one last time before our two year service with Mercy Ships. And after praying about it with Nate, we remembered that a check from his past job had not been deposited and was being reissued. The amount in the check was almost the exact amount of the price to buy two round trip plane tickets to Ecuador.
Can you guess where am I going with this? Yes, we are going to Ecuador!
King David was right when he wrote "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). God is good!
There is one more desire in my heart regarding my connection with Ecuador. Let me tell you about Dulce Refugio:
"Dulce Refugio" means Sweet Refuge, and it is the name of my home church in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. I love being at Dulce Refugio, especially the days when 270 children (ages 3 to 18) come to spend time with their "Aunts and Uncles" who help them with their school work, prepare lunch for them, play with them, heal their wounds, and teach them about the Bible and God's love for them. I admire those serving the children. They love them so much: in word and deed. And the children are such a joy.
Dulce Refugio at lunch time
Nate playing tug-of-war with Dulce Refugio kids
Here is a video we made in 2009 about Dulce Refugio inviting people to come with us last July. We went with a group of seven took 13 suitcases full of school supplies, medicines, clothing, and Bibles and 9 laptopts. Praise the Lord! It was a wonderful experience.
People say that an image says more than a thousand words and I hope you noticed the condition of the facilities where the children come to be loved and helped. They are not in good condition and they are too small. Currently, Dulce Refugio is constructing a four story building with classrooms, a clinic, a computer lab, a kitchen, a church sanctuary and even a play ground on the terrace. The dream is to serve 500 children and even have an "Integral Development Center" where the kids come to school and receive help in areas including physical, emotional, and spiritual.
3-D Representation of new building
Can you guess how much money a project like this would cost?
In the U.S. probably over 1,000,000 dollars... In Ecuador, only 1/10th of that...
My desire is to see Dulce Refugio finish this project in 2010, and I found out today that people at the church have been praying about the same, by faith. I have seen their hard work and love. They do not give up. I also know raising 100,000 dollars in Ecuador is very difficult and without God's intervention, the building will be under construction forever.
Please join us in praying for provision for this specific financial need. This is something that God has put in my heart. Please pray also about how you can help, whether by donating financially or by sharing about this need with your friends and church. We welcome anyone who would like to come to Ecuador and visit Dulce Refugio with the desire to help. We will be there from May 4 to 18. Call me at 607-342-5038 for more information.
May God bless you abundantly in all you do and may you be a blessing to many.
-Cecilia
"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O Lord our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you."
1 Chronicles 29:14-18