Hola from Ecuador! My team and I arrived in Ecuador a week ago, and I am loving our new placement. We are living in the capital city of Quito this month and staying with the sweetest Ecuadorian couple that has welcomed us into their home. The organization that they work for, and that we are living with, is called Inca Link, and they serve as a hub to connect all three teams of my squad to the different ministry organizations that we are partnered with for the month.
This month, the organization that we are working with is called Cru. If this name sounds familiar, it’s because this organization exists on 900 college campuses in the United States and is a ministry with the goal of building up college students and sending them out as disciples. Working with them this month encompasses working in high schools and on college campuses. For two of the weeks, we will be partnering with a high school, teaching English to the students, while also helping out with the Christian after school club and getting to meet/know students throughout the day. For the rest of the time in Ecuador, we are partnering with a group of American Cru interns that work to mobilize the Christians on college campuses in Quito to start their own chapters of Cru. We will be working with them, meeting with the students of these campuses, and helping to put on mobilization and community-building events for the students.
In the first week of living here, I have been working on a high school campus and I have been helping teach English classes. I have loved getting to work with the high school students and to have the opportunity to know them personally while they have practiced their English through conversations with me. They have a genuine curiosity about the United States and my motivation for travelling the world. The school that we are working at is “founded on Christian values”, so the teachers have given me permission to tell students about my team’s goal of travelling the world to show Jesus’ love and living out Matthew 22:37-39, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and love your neighbor as yourself”. The students are so sweet, and I have loved working with them and getting to know them personally.
The teacher that I was partnered to work with this month is also a strong believer and I have absolutely loved getting to hear about her stories and where God has taken her in her life. Rosy moved to Bolivia for a few years to teach at a bible school. She used to run a school for disabled students, and now she and her husband run a church in a part of town where many people cannot afford food/ housing, and she ministers to them, feeds them, and helps them get back on their feet. I have been able to learn a lot already from Rosy even though I am supposed to be the one helping in her classroom!
I would love prayers for the Christians on the college/high school campuses to form community and work together to start Cru organizations on their campuses. Also prayers for Rosy’s church and that her humble heart would be filled up as she loves and cares for the people in Ecuador that need extra help in this time.
Thank you for your love, support, and prayers!
Love,
Claire
Hi Clair, it’s so nice to see how happy you are and how much you love to share Gods message. What a wonderful experience you are having. Keep up the good work. Stay safe and you will be in my prayers. Hugs to you, Mary
Claire
What a beautiful area you are in and helping the kids at the high school is super cool ! Rosy seems to be a great role model for you to spend time with. Enjoy your time in Quito and each day that you are there. May the Lord guide you as you serve the people in Ecuador. Praying for you and your team.
Mike Adamson
It sounds like you were in your element at this ministry!