Messengers of hope...

Missionaries in Ecuador with International Teams and Youth World since 2002, parents of four children, and then some more children, directors of Casa Gabriel and now Casa Adalia, teacher and friend, but most importantly, redeemed by Jesus Christ and living out the ministry of reconciliation as messengers of hope. This is the story that God is writing through us.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Ministry of Reconciliation

Thank you for your interest in what God is doing in Ecuador. We continually trust Jesus to be at the center of our hearts and this ministry. He is our joy and strength and the reason for the journey. May He be yours as well!

From the middle of the earth,
Phil and Debbie

A Mother’s Reflection – February 2013

2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 
 
Casa Gabriel -- Reconciliation with the Casa G boys and their families is part of our mission of living out the Gospel.  These former street boys are applying the ministry of reconciliation within their families and communities.  We have the privilege of sharing in the joy of seeing and even participating firsthand in God’s supernatural work with the boys at Casa G and their families.
RG's story of reconciliation with his family is quite dramatic.  Today, this 21 year old senior in high school, working full-time and going to school full-time, is confident of his purpose and destiny.  His journey with Casa Gabriel began approximately seven years ago.  Soon after we met RG, we learned that he had been unexpectedly separated from his mother and brothers when he was a young boy living with his family in a border town in northern Ecuador.  The weight of this heartache in RG was constant, and often we prayed together that he would be reunited with his family.  The first step was obtaining legal papers so he could safely return to the border town to try and find his family.  The legal process was complicated and took nearly two years.    
Finally, Phil, RG, and another boy from Casa G drove the many hours to the town and began the search.  It was soon evident that the memories of a seven year old boy were hazy, the town was large and unfriendly, and success was as obtainable as “finding a needle in a haystack.”  So they continued to pray.  And a miracle happened.  They found his former school director who gave them information about where his aunt and grandmother lived.  The family was astounded to meet the little boy now grown into a teen, not dead as they had believed.  However, his aunt and grandmother were unable to locate RG’s brothers and mother.  It took another year and half before he finally was reunited with them.
Since then RG has been going to visit (they live many hours from Quito in two different parts of Ecuador) and talking over the phone with his mother and brothers.  The reflection of Christ in him is drawing them to knowing Jesus, the reason he is not only alive today but is living a life of purpose. 
Today RG was so proud to introduce his 16 year old brother who had come to visit for the weekend.  The two of them often punched each other in play and never seemed to stop smiling.  The resemblance between them was startling.  Phil told me that seeing them together brought deep joy to his heart.



Casa Adalia -- The Hands that Heal training facilitated by Kelsey Wilson from International Teams Australia in January was a wonderful success and help to our team and others in the community ministering to girls who have been rescued from the sex trade.

 
 
 
 

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