Let's get started! Casa Adalia beginnings...

                                                             wordofmouthjournal.blogspot.com

Adalia in Hebrew means "God is my refuge."  What a beautiful and even Spanish sounding name for the home we have been dreaming and praying about for the past three years!  We are finally looking to open!  See the letter below for the full details!

He led them from darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains.  Let them praise the Lord for His great love and for all His wonderful deeds to them.  Psalm 107:14

CASA ADALIA VISION:  Provide hope, purpose and freedom for girls who have been rescued from the sex trade so they can experience emotional, physical and spiritual healing and discover their value and purpose as daughters of the King

CASA ADALIA MISSION:  Provide a “next step” home for girls who have completed the initial therapeutic process and recovery from being trafficked in the sex industry and who desire to pursue a new life in God through holistic and intentional training

Let’s Get Started!!

The process of Casa Adalia getting legal status to take underage girls has been delayed for a number of reasons, including waiting for the finalization of new government laws and how they will apply to private organizations such as Casa Adalia.  Our documents have been submitted for approval by our legal counsel.  However, receiving approval or denial will take at least another three months.

In the meantime, Casa Adalia team members have been approached for help by older teen girls who have completed the initial therapeutic process and recovery from being trafficked in the sex industry, but they are still at risk for being pulled back into the sex industry due to poverty and lack of education, resources and good options.  There are no services for these girls once they turn 18 because Ecuadorian law considers an 18 year to be an adult.  The good news is there are few government restrictions or laws for organizations providing aftercare for teens 18 years of age and older. 

Our God is mighty and full of mercy.  Until recently, we had only considered starting a house for underage girls.  God in His sovereign grace has expanded our vision and mission to include these older teen girls, many of them young moms, and provide services at a much deeper level than we are currently doing. 

 

This is NOT Plan B.  Rather, it is exactly what God is calling us to do in His plan to bring hope and freedom to these precious girls.  In faith, the team has prayerfully decided to start by opening a house for the older teens. The house will be dubbed “Casa Adalia 2”.  We continue to believe God will also open wide the doors for “Casa Adalia 1”.

Opportunity to Give:

Thank you to those who have been giving to the Casa Adalia ministry.  Money received from you is making it possible for us to get started!  However, we need to develop a consistent monthly base.  Besides living expenses, monthly costs will include an Ecuadorian live-in house mom, legal counsel, social worker, therapeutic counseling and education.  Our team will provide volunteer service in the areas of administration, training of staff, respite care, and relational ministry with the girls such as discipleship and mentoring.  

Will the girls at Casa Adalia 2 be able to help with costs?  Yes!  One of our goals is for the girls to learn effective independent living skills while finishing their education, the key to rising above poverty.  Girls over the age of 18 will be able to contribute to their personal living expenses as part of their training towards independence.   

Now is the time to consider giving on a monthly basis if you are not already.  In order to meet the needs of the girls and their children on a monthly basis, we are looking for 50 people to give $50 each month.  Help us reach the goal of equipping these girls to become resolute Christian women of God who have discovered and can experience living lives of self-sufficiency, freedom and purpose!  God in His sweet mercy and love says, “I choose her!  I want to pour my glory through her.  She is to be my treasure and the jewel in my crown.”

How do I give? 

·        Send checks to:  International Teams, 411 W. River RD, Elgin, IL 60123; Designate your gift as “End Slavery Ministries Ecuador -- Casa Adalia”

·        Online donations:  https://www.iteams.org/iteams/

Please let us know if you are committing to join the Casa Adalia monthly support team!  (casaadalia@gmail.com)

For His glory in Ecuador,

Debbie Douce,

International Teams

Casa Adalia Team Leader

No one is too broken for God

www.escondido.com

Phil and I love listening to music. We nearly always have music going and most often it is Christian contemporary.  Stateside I loved listening to Christian radio.  I enjoyed all of it, the music, the teaching, the talk shows, especially those winter days when I was a young mom home with four plus kids.  How I have missed this in Ecuador!  After our newest online discovery (spotify which we thoroughly enjoyed) stopped being an option, I discovered this week (yeah, I am a bit behind technically speaking, probably in general) that it is now super easy to find and play free Christian music online.

This morning while I got ready to head off to minister to the girls at the safe house, I clicked on K-Love.  The broadcaster gave an update about the search for the bombers in Boston.  I paused to listen. When I heard that the older brother had died in a gunfight last night and the younger brother was on the run, shocking sadness suddenly welled up inside.  One brother dead?  The other just 19 years old?  He is still a kid!  I mean that is our son, Tully's age.  What happened to bring him to such a desperate and horrible point in his life?  I expected to feel some relief to hear that the police had found the criminals who caused such destruction and even death.  Instead I experienced devastating sorrow. Tears streamed down my face as I prayed for God to rescue this young man from an eternity of hopeless anguish and separation from Him.  No one is too far gone, too sinful, too broken for God to rescue and redeem.  No one.

Water into sweet wine. Miraculous, powerful, intimate grace.

Dear friends and partners in ministry,

In the midst of the urgency of ministry and living life in Ecuador, we can feel disconnected and sometimes give little consideration to the headlines in the U.S.  Each time we send an update, we pray you would sense a connection to us and to what God is doing in Ecuador.  But, that feels pretty one-sided. 

This week’s tragedy at the Boston Marathon was a stark reminder of how we long to stay connected, not just with what is happening in our nation, but more important, with what is happening in the lives of people who are important to us.  You are important to us!  We care deeply about the joys and challenges in your life and grieve at the distance between us.  For now this distance will continue…so we focus on being grateful, grateful to be joined together in doing God’s work and grateful that distance on this side of heaven is temporal. 

Praying with you for those affected in Boston, and thanking God for you!

Phil and Debbie

Below is our latest praise and prayer update.  Thank you for your prayers!

A Mother’s Reflection April 2013 -- Water Turned into Wine

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim.  Then He told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”  They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine... the first of the signs through which Jesus revealed his glory.  And his disciples believed in Him.  John 2:7-11

Jesus continues to reveal His glory through the miracle of transformation. Tasteless water becomes priceless wine!  Astonishing, glorious change!  A revelation of God’s powerful and intimate love. 

Juan Miguel is in his final year of high school and is completing an internship at Casa Gabriel as the interim house leader.  We met Juan Miguel on his 16^th birthday.  He had chosen to leave the streets and was living in a tiny room working to pay for food and personal expen­­­ses by cleaning out dog cages for a veterinarian.  He told Phil, “I want more for my life, but I can’t do it on my own.” 

Juan Miguel gives a "thumbs up" after a successful return from his Mindo canopy experience -- see photo journal.

Initially quiet and serious, he became obnoxiously silly, a big boy with a little boy’s heart craving love and affection.  Jesus says, “Fill the empty spaces and replace the painful places in your heart with Me.”   Juan Miguel began to believe that the Almighty God truly loves him and had created him for a life of purpose and eternal destiny.  Healing hope began to replace pain and feelings of worthlessness.  Water turned into priceless wine.  His heart began to beat with a desire to express life and beauty and the depths of God’s love through a passion for music.  Today he is a gifted song writer and musician and worship leader in his church. 

Jesus told the servants to fill six jars with water, not a simple task.  Each jar held 20-30 gallons of water!  I wonder if in their hearts they questioned or doubted or even complained.  But they obeyed.  They filled the jars, not half-heartedly, but completely to the top.  And then they performed a risky act of obedience. They took some of the water out of the jar to give to the master of the banquet. 

There are times we are discouraged.  Some days the task of filling jars is exhausting.  We are tempted to doubt or question or complain.  God, I am so weary, are you sure about this?  That jar has such big cracks all the water just keeps leaking out.  But God in His grace gives us faith to obey.  Because the truth is, transformation is His work.  He not only changes the water to sweet wine, He heals the vessel that holds it.  And thankfully, He heals my cracks as well!

Juan Miguel prays with the Casa G boys for Johanna on one of her last Tuesday nights at our house before returning to Norway.

On March 27^th, we celebrated Juan Miguel’s 21^st birthday with breakfast and a special gift with our CFC team.  The following Tuesday we celebrated with cake and prayers and the Casa G boys in our home.  Juan Miguel told us, “I am so thankful for the past five years at Casa Gabriel and for the years of birthday prayers of blessing.  But I have been thinking a lot about this year’s birthday.  It may be the last birthday I will celebrate with my CG family.  For 5 years I have received on my birthday.  This year, instead of you praying for me, I have decided I would like to pray for each of you.”  He placed his hand on each person and prayed sweet prayers of blessing. When he placed his hand on my shoulder and prayed, I tasted the goodness of God’s glorious transformation.

From street kid to child of the King.  Water into sweet wine.  Miraculous, powerful, intimate Grace.  God’s revelation of glory!

Praise and prayer updates:

Casa Gabriel

1.      We are thankful for the initial response to helping with the much needed renovation project.  Please pray for full funding.

2.      Thank you to Christian Fellowship of Columbia for a great week of joint ministry!

3.      Praise God!  Juan Miguel was granted a visa to go to the U.S.  His purpose is twofold.  He has written a song to sing at our daughter Danelle and Nate Prevette’s wedding on May 25^th.  He also plans to visit a music school in Minnesota. 

4.      Please pray for Eric and Carla Ackerman and children.  They are taking a seven month furlough at the end of the school year.  We are so grateful for the past four years of building God’s kingdom together.

5.      Continued thanks to Education Equals Hope for helping make it possible for the boys at Casa G to complete their education training!

Casa Adalia

As I write this, my heart is heavy.  An 18 year old girl and her two year old daughter we had been ministering to went to the coast for a visit and didn’t return.  It appears she may have been manipulated into staying and is possibly at risk. Please pray with us!  If you are not receiving the monthly updates and would like them, please let us know.

Thanking you for joining us in prayer!

For His glory in Ecuador,

Debbie for all at Casa G

Final Reflections -- Photo Journal Day Seven -- "CFC and Casa G Outreach"

 

Breakfast was eggs and a delicious plantain ball. 

Lots of sunshine and pool time before we headed out to enjoy more adventures in the cloud forest. 

                                           Carlos, Ricardo Gustavo, Jesus and Jackson

 

Mama Desi and Janoa

Desi, Juan Miguel and Janoa...little Janoa loves her Casa G uncles!

 Phil stopped to purchase tickets for...

....Ziplining through the jungle canopy!!

Julie Heese -- no fear!

Desi asked the guys working at the zipline if anyone had ever died.  "Oh, never!" was their reply.

Josiah disappeared into the jungle canopy.

Phil, Miguel, Gustavo and I stayed back and relaxed with the babies.

Tio Ricardo Gustavo loves his niece Janoa!

Juan Miguel's descent back.

Josiah and Rachel -- we did it!

We drove next to the Tarabita, an open gondola that carries you across a large ravine.

Thankful for clear directions to important places!

The gondola takes you to the head of jungle trails leading to some beautiful falls.

Ready to start hiking down to the falls!

Seriously?!

Definitely worth the hike!

Back at the top, Desi and Miguel dance in the parking lot.

Last stop -- pizza in town

 

Juan Miguel entertained the cooks...and was given another pitcher of fresh lemonade!

Driving back up the mountain

     Near the top of the pass

The beautiful lights of Quito

Part of the group stopped at Desi and Miguel's house to purchase some of the jewelry created by girls rescued from the sex trade.

Home again at Casa G!

So how do I sum up our final day in reflection?  Maybe in the same way we started, by talking about fruit. 
 

And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last.  John 15:16

 

The mission experience is not what is most important.  It is what happens after the experience is over.  Both at the start of the week and at the end, Phil challenged each of us to prayerfully consider what fruit God wants to produce in us, fruit that lasts.   He asked, "What is God wanting to teach you from this week?  What fruit are you going to take with you?"

 

I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing. You should produce much fruit and show that you are my followers, which brings glory to my Father.  I loved you as the Father loved me. Now remain in my love.  I have obeyed my Father’s commands, and I remain in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love.

I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.   John 15:5, 8-11

JOY, joy to the full, now that is some sweet fruit I am taking with me from this past week.  Thanks, Christian Fellowship of Columbia!  Thanks, Casa G!  Thanks, Jesus!  To You be all the glory!

 

 

 

 

 

DIVERTIDO!! Day Six Photo Journal "CFC and Casa G Outreach"

 

Day six started early, but a number of delays pushed our schedule back more than an hour. No worries! This is Ecuador! But even in Ecuador, our car wasn't going to fit all of us. God provided a large van for our now group of twenty as a second vehicle from a partner ministry called Extreme Response.

 

 

 

First stop, the middle of the earth at the equatorial monument. 

And Phil's favorite place, an insectarium!

These rhinoceros beetles are pretty cool,...and a bit intimidating. 

Next stop was the bull ring...there were no live bulls, just the boys! 

Our view as we drove.  The Andes are ever picturesque!

The terrain changed quickly as we dropped in elevation. 

 

Another delay, road workers cleared a small landslide ahead.

Miguel Zova drove our car.  Chris braved driving in Quito before we met Miguel at the equator. 

(My driver's license needs to be renewed which has not been a simple process.)

We spent the rest of the day and night at Mindo Rio, a beautiful lodge in the mountain jungle.

We enjoyed God's beauty and continued to build relationship through play and relaxing together.

Miguel and Desi Zova's beautiful daughter and our first "granddaughter" Janoa.

Nathan found a way to avoid the afternoon rain shower.

The name for this region is aptly called cloud forest.

Dinner - delicious tilapia!  Or you could choose chicken...

Juan Miguel led us in worship on the veranda.  Alejandro and Jesus rapped.  Corrina shared her story in the safety of God's family and those who understand the deep pain of life.  All of us were impacted with the beauty of God's story being worked in her through His redeeming power and love.  Miguel immediately said when she finished, "I have three things I want to say to you, but first I just want to give you a hug."  Her "little brother" Joel spoke up next with words of encouragement.  Then we surrounded her with arms of love and prayers.  My heart filled to overflowing with the powerful and encouraging prayers of our Casa G boys.  When much grace is received, much grace is given. 

Thank you, King of my heart!