Just one day

Phil and I on a "not-so-typical" day spent with our son
Jordan and his wife Viole last labor day in Chicago

I have been asked by people interested in such details, "What does one typical day look like for you?" Like most of us, my days are filled with the ordinary and seemingly mundane stuff of life.  It is when I look through God's lenses, the ordinary suddenly becomes God's extraordinary.  I don't like to think of how many times I viewed situations with natural eyes and missed witnessing God's extraordinary.  

Here is one day, in fact, this was last Friday as rehearsed from my (Debbie's) perspective.    

7:30 AM Phil and I had breakfast with friends who arrived late the night before with a college team they are leading this week at an orphanage ministry site.

8:50 AM I walked to the school, Alliance Academy International to buy 12 glue sticks from the book store for the craft we were doing that morning with the girls.  Phil headed home to find a cooler for the team to take with them.

9:00 AM I met up with our team for the drive out to the safe house where we volunteer.  On the way we enjoyed laughter and conversation, reviewed what we were going to do that morning, and discussed (again) how we might share with integrity and sensitivity the Gospel to girls who are in such varied places in their spiritual journey.

9:50 AM Prayer together outside the safe house for girls who have been rescued from the sex trade.

10:00 - 12:15 PM Trust building games (my group really squealed with laughter and concern when I fell to the floor), Bible lesson on God's promises, craft, opening God's word together...and being a bit overwhelmed at the huge need in the girls in many areas including educationally. Many sweet moments, then hugs and "besitos" once, sometimes twice with 20 plus girls.

12:20 Back in the car we thanked God together for our time that morning and prayed for His work to continue in the girls.  At the main road I left our group to walk to a coffee shop to wait for a ride to my Friday afternoon Bible study in the same town where the safe house is.

12:30 I had a surprise encounter with Doris and Washo, friends and partners in building God's kingdom. I visited their business, a shop for making and selling curtains and other items such as bathroom accessories.  Doris was so excited because she had been wanting to give me one of the bathroom sets but didn't know which color to give me.  I was asked to choose between the turquoise blue or hot pink bathroom set, not exactly what my North American taste might choose, but a very beautiful accessory in this country. I chose blue and respectfully expressed my gratitude.

1:00 to 3:45 Beth Moore Bible study with a number of precious missionary women on the book of James (over a period of 8 weeks) - I recommend it!

4:00 The drive home -- thankfully, one of the ladies needed to go to the grocery store in Quito and took me part way. (I normally catch a ride with another friend who lives in Quito, but she was absent last week.)  We immediately jumped into deep conversation, excited to have some "girl chat" time.

4:30 Knowing Phil and I were supposed to meet a couple visiting from our home town at 5:00, I took a taxi instead of the trolley straight to Casa G... and got out a block early because the meter indicated that I didn't have enough change to make it all the way there.

5:30 Neither Phil nor the couple were at the house...it was a strong reminder that I really needed to get a new cell phone! I accidentally left mine in a taxi some weeks ago.  I walked home with trudging feet carrying the bulging craft bag, my Bible and study book and the bathroom set because I didn't know what else to do, and I was out of money for taxi.

6:00 Phil arrived home with a headache that had started in the morning but increased while stuck in traffic the past hour...his typical day is quite different from mine.  I wish I could say I didn't get frustrated that I didn't know where Phil was or about the change of plans.  We determined I would definitely get a cell phone asap...funny how today that is no longer a priority. After I "got over myself," I showed him our bathroom gift. Phil surprised me by immediately trying it out in the guest bathroom, and we smiled together over its "brilliance." Phil soon discovered however, that it wasn't very functional. The toilet seat refused to stay up when lifted...

6:30 - 8:00 Via email we rescheduled our meeting for 8:45 PM because we couldn't reach them by phone. We ate leftovers -- the advantage and disadvantage of now cooking for two means we don't cook as much as we used to; did some email/ Facebook, tried to call our kids, and basically "vegged."

8:00 After looking up the hotel on google to get an address, we left in a rush because we didn't give ourselves enough time. Upon arrival we drove around the block a few times to find secure parking. We noticed three young prostitutes working on the corner and felt that familiar tug of compassion and pain.

8:30 - 11:00 We enjoyed a delightful conversation in a nearby cafe with a young couple who had been visiting Ecuador the past week.  Mutual friends had connected us. We were blessed by their stories of how Jesus had captured their hearts and given them purpose.  Back at the hotel lobby Phil prayed over them before we said goodbye.  As we stood close together with heads bowed in thanks I marveled at God's goodness for introducing us to more of His amazing family.

11:30 To bed...the next morning would start early because the Casa G boys were playing in an all day soccer tournament and Phil was their coach.

So there is your answer to what one typical day might look like for me.  Or maybe it was not so typical after all.  In fact, if I look beyond the ordinary, I might find there are none. 

Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something.  If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely. 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 (MSG)

Where was God when...?

Warning: reading my attempt to express in words this journey I am on may stir in you emotions or realities you don't want to deal with or think about. God extends His hand to give strength and grace. Allow God's mercy and truth to triumph with each step upward and every stumble backward. You are not alone in your journey.

                                                                                                                                                         
Each week the Casa Adalia team volunteers at a safe house for girls who have been rescued from the sex trade -- girls as young as 11 years old.  I am often astounded at the desire of many of the girls to read God's word and to know Him and His son Jesus.  What if I had been beaten multiple times, manipulated and then sold for sex by someone who was my "boyfriend" and said they loved me?  What if I had been sold for sex by my own mother?  What if my own father was the biological father of my baby?  What if I had been rescued, trusted God to be my protector and then "it" happened again?  Would I want to know God or would I blame God?

I have known Jesus personally since I was six years old.  So why am I now struggling to make sense of the basic question, "Why does God let bad things happen?"  Where was God when these little girls were being raped?  God who is good and compassionate and powerful and loving and full of justice and mercy could have stopped the man who beat and manipulated and sold his 11 year old daughter.  Couldn't He?  Shouldn't He?

...Why didn't He?

 

Through this blog entry I am inviting you to share in my journey of seeking for real, loving, and Biblical answers, a journey that at times has left me in tears.  I cannot avoid the questions in my heart and sometimes directly from the girls, "Where was God?  Why didn't He protect me?  Why didn't He answer my cries for help?"  These questions are literally "in my face" week after week as I look into the eyes of these young girls who have experienced unspeakable and undeserved pain.

I won't pretend to have found the perfect answers.  In fact, I am quite certain I will never fully understand why He doesn't just end every bit of evil right now.  I long for the day God takes me into His never-ending glory land.  I imagine that the overwhelming joy of being in My King's presence will instantly dissolve every doubt and question.  BUT, for today, He has given me confidence of some things.  I know the One in whom I believe and I am convinced He alone is God.  I know that He loves me and that He is good.  I know I can trust Him because He is trustworthy. 

I am trusting God to dive deep with me into the ocean of His love to help me discover practical wisdom on how to express His immense love to others in a way that it makes sense, so that His truth will break forever lies the girls believe about themselves or God because of what happened to them, truth that brings hope for new life.

In the midst of my search, I have been enjoying a study of the book of James with some precious missionary women.  Last week we discussed this very concept.  The author of the study states, "Every gap in your life makes room for the Lover of your soul.  God uses time to unwrap presents that appear as curses."  Yes, I absolutely agree.  But, I asked, "Is the author saying that God allows or even orchestrates horrible things to happen so they can later become a gift?!" 

In my struggle for answers, I think I was beginning to believe a lie, that our loving God who sees and knows all things chose to withhold His love when that little girl was being raped.  Hmm...the same enemy who hopes to trap these girls in his lies wants to do the same to me. 

Today I set aside some time to write out several truths I have taken from the past week of study:

1. God gives and the flesh takes away.  God bestows.  The flesh bereaves.
2. God's gifts (James 1:17) are intentional and personal.  They are perfect because they are perfecting.  They are not only a gift for today.  They give toward every tomorrow.
3. If it was good, then it was God.  If it was perfect, then its goal was precise.
4. All rebellion is the attempt to take NOW what God says either we are not yet ready for or it is not His good and perfect gift for us.
5. At the same moment evil was being poured out on us, God was pouring down gifts that would sustain and lift us up.  (I am still reflecting on and trying to understand this one.)

Also, I recently discovered a helpful book called, Hope and Healing for Teens:  A Safe Place - A guide for living beyond sexual abuse.  It is written by someone who experienced the atrocities of sexual abuse as a child and then found freedom and healing in Jesus.  The girls we are ministering to have suffered manipulation and abuse at a far deeper level than those who have experienced sexual abuse, but the premise for finding freedom is the same. 

Healing and hope can only be experienced by identifying lies we have believed and replacing them with the truth of Jesus. 

Here are a few truths that resonated with me:

1. God is the Truth Teller who created you as a unique and special person.  He knows the real truth about who you are and wants to share that truth with you.
2. How you feel about what happened to you has affected how you feel about yourself -- and that has affected all your relationships. 
3. The guilt for sexual abuse always and only belongs to the abuser.
4. Shame goes beyond not allowing you to reveal yourself to others.  It hides the real, true, inside you from everyone -- especially yourself!
5. There is only one way to escape sexual abuse.  That is to use the truth to confront the lies that abuse tells us about ourselves, others, and God.

If I could sum up in one statement what I have concluded on my quest, it would be this: 

God is never, ever responsible for evil.  These girls bear the horrible consequences of someone's choice to sin. 

Yesterday I wrote in my journal some thoughts about how I might share God's story of hope to a girl who asks me, "Where was God when....?"  God is still writing the story in me...

Your story and mine starts with the very beginning of time.  There was a King, and this King was and is God.  The King created a beautiful garden kingdom and placed in it His best creation of all, the very first man and woman.  The King and the man and the woman laughed and talked and played and loved spending time together.  Everything was perfect, and the man and the woman were blissfully happy.  

The King gave the man and the woman some rules to follow that were good and would keep them safe and happy.  Because of His great love He didn't force them to obey His rules.  He even warned them what would happen if they disobeyed.  He gave them the choice to obey Him because He loved them and desired their love in return.  Loving and following the King would give them a joyful and never-ending life together in His presence in the beautiful garden kingdom.  

But the man and the woman chose to disobey the King and were sent away from their perfect kingdom garden and the King's presence.  Evil entered their hearts and their beautiful world. 

Today this very same King continues to give freedom for every person to choose how to live.  The one thing He asks us to do is to love Him and to love others. Every person must choose whether they will love the King and love others or whether they will hate the King and hurt others.  Everyone chooses...you, me, and the ones who hurt you. 

Sweet daughter, I cannot express how incredibly sorry I am for the hurtful things done to you.  But I promise you this.  People chose to hurt you, the King didn't. He never, ever wanted bad things to happen to you.  He wanted you be loved and protected and cherished.  He has never stopped loving you.  He loves you so much He has given a way through His son, Prince Jesus, for you to be able to live forever as His adopted princess daughter. 

This King wants to be your father, a father who has a perfect and forever love for His children.  He wants to take all the things that hurt you and work them out for good in your life.  He promises He will never abandon you.  When your father and mother or friends abandon you, either physically or emotionally, He will gather you to Himself.  When you know Him as your father and king you will experience peace even when there are not enough answers.  And someday, He will take you and all of His prince and princess children to live with Him forever in a glorious and never-ending kingdom filled with joy and peace. 

Jesus, King of my heart,

Work your truth deep into my soul.  

Forgive me for believing the lie --

That you would ever withhold Your love from your daughters. 

Do Your perfect work in me,

That I may be your minister of healing reconcilation

For the hurting, the wounded, and the dicarded. 

I want to represent You, My King,

With Your power and truth and love. 

The kind of powerful love that brings good news to the poor

That binds up the brokenhearted and

Sets free the captives.

A love that swings wide open the prison doors.

A love that proclaims the favor of the LORD and vengeance of our God,

That comforts ALL who mourn and grants them

Beauty instead of ashes,

Oil of gladness instead of mourning,

The garment of praise instead of a faint spirit,

That they may be called oaks of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD

That He may be glorified.

-- Amen and Amen

 

 

 

 

 

Mission to Chuwitayo -- A Photo Journal

                                                

                                First stop -- lunch in Pelileo.  Well, actually this   was our second stop.  The first stop happened just minutes after we started

our trip when we encountered a young blind man walking down the

middle of the overpass.  (See blog "Faith Without Sight")

                                      

None of us ordered the famous "cuy" or guinea pig...

Pelileo is home to the native American tribe

called the Salasacas, orginally from Bolivia.

     One of the many mountainous curves driving to Banos.

                          Traffic was so congested, Johanna, a Christian sister and volunteer from Norway,

                                        and several of the boys decided to get out and jog.

Banos is famous for pulled taffy and sugar cane juice.

 

 Time for set up -- in the jungle rain.   

 

We were so thankful the town gave us their daycare with

a covered court to use for sleeping and eating.

 

The following morning began with children's worship and

                  teaching for all ages.  The pavilion was filled before we even arrived.

Phil was surprised to hear he was expected to give a message to the adults.  He told the boys that he wasn't ready.  They exhorted him with what he has so often told them, "The Holy Spirit is ready, and He is in you.  So actually, you are ready."  God blessed this time in a profound way.

 

 The youngest group colored pictures of their Bible story.

 

 

 We brought twelve carnival games from a partner ministry

called Extreme Response.  The Casa G boys facilitated the games. 

Let the party begin!!

 

The ten year old girl tossing the bean bag is Priscilla.  Her first question when she saw me was, "And Tully?  Did he come?"  Tully, our now 19 year old son who is a freshman in college, started a special friendship with Priscilla when she was seven years old.  Tully was in charge of her group the summer we provided a four day Bible camp.  He told us that he continues to pray for her.  I was starkly reminded of how much I miss having our kids do ministry with us.  Always, the first question I am asked when we arrive is if our kids came. 

 

The Casa G boys are amazing to do ministry with.

Our team in Chuwitayo included Dani, the former housedad of Casa G

(resigned in December to get married) and several of his family

members and teens from their church.

 

 From the smallest to the oldest, everyone played.

Leading this game was Dani, our former housedad.

 

 

 Phil livened up the competition!

 

Natalie, Dani's 16 year old sister.

Susanna and her 8 month old daughter.  She and her younger sister, former practicers of witchcraft from another Shuar village, were part of our group.  Their father, former witch doctor of their village, is now a Christian pastor of their Shuar community.

 

 

Hitting "insects" with bean bags seemed pretty applicable in a place where bugs abound.

Everyone received some of the used clothing Dani and his group brought.

 

 

And have I mentioned that Carnival in Ecuador means lots of water fights and squirting of foam?

Even the babies got into the action.

 

Alejandro is looking for and ready to target Phil.

 

Did I also mention that Phil would likely be in the center of the action?!

 

 The afternoon concluded with a trip to the river to play and get cleaned up.

 

 

 We were invited to join the evening celebration.  Alejandro

and Ricardo accompanied last year's queen, Jessica.

 

Phil was surprised to hear his name announced over the speaker.  He had been elected as one of the town judges to elect a new Carnival queen.

 Carnival festivities continued throughout the evening!

 

 Dario in disguise!

 

 

 Don Washo, Dani's father and our respite Casa G house dad on weekends.

 

Don Washo with queen contestant and last year's queen.  We have developed a relationship

with these precious Shuar sisters whose mother was murdered and beheaded about four years ago.

  

 

 Carmen, three year old daughter of Carla.

 

 Dani's little brother Mateo and friend, Andy.

 

After breakfast together, we headed back towards Quito.  We spent the next two nights at El Monte, a retreat center in the Rio Verde area.  There were a number of important facets of this trip - doing ministry, serving and playing together, providing a much needed break and respite for the boys, and returning to Chuwitayo to continue to build relationship and encourage the people.  "When will you be back?" is always their final question.

 

The place can sleep more than 40 because of all the three-tiered bunk beds!!

The view is spectacular!

 Thank you, Don Wolfram, for allowing us to stay in your place!

 

After a day of play together it was time to pack up and head home.  Our battery in the camera needed recharging. Johanna took pictures I can add later.

Ricardo Gustavo finished up the last touches of cleaning.

 

 

We thank God for His provision.  We thank Him for the joy of relationship.  We thank Him most of all for the fruit we see in Chuwitayo.  One of the men who stood "on the outside" and listened to our messages of the Gospel of hope and salvation over the past three years accepted Jesus as His Lord and Savior six months ago.  He and a group of thirty from the village now gather twice a week to study God's word and pray.  He has asked to be further trained and discipled.  Phil is placing him in contact with a Bible school and pastors in the area.