CONSTRUCTION!! Day Four Photo Journal "CFC and Casa G Outreach"

 

Alejandro, one of the Casa G boys, has moved back home with his mother and nine year old sister. He lives in a poor neighborhood on the side of a large ravine. 

His mother proudly owns this tiny, cement brick house, but it needed repairs she didn't have the money or skill to complete. 

The tin roof had holes in it.  Every time it rained, there was standing water inside.

Chris helped us assess what was needed and how to make the repairs.

The kitchen windows were broken and partially covered with pieces of boards.  The guys planned to replace windows and the roof.  The girls would paint the outside of the house first, then the inside.  

 

 First we unloaded the fiberglass roof. 

Alejandro was excited about the plans and worked hard alongside the rest of the team.

Alejandro told Phil that his mom would like us to paint the house green. 

We painted the outside a beautiful green.

While repairing the roof, a lot of debris came into the house.  What is the saying?  It has to get worse before it gets better?  Inside the house it sounded like those on the roof might fall through as well!   Rachel said without any concern in her voice, "Well, if the roof falls in we will die."  I responded, "No, we will be fine...," but I silently and continually prayed for safety!

Unable to finish the roof the first day, we disguised the fiberglass roof pieces before we left with a plastic tarp and trash.  Otherwise, they would likely have been gone when we returned the next day.

As darkness fell we quickly drove to the juvenile jail for boys. I wish we were able to capture in photos the incredible time we had ministering to these precious boys, all of them wounded and many without hope for a future.  Yet, each are created in God's image with lives destined for purpose when committed to Him.

 

Juan Miguel led worship with his guitar. Carlos played the drum box. Josiah played the keyboard, one that Phil's mom gave us when they moved back to the U.S. Alejandro rapped. Corrina sang back up.  I felt heaven come down and fill the room with joy even as my heart broke with seeing such brokeness.  Even some of the boys in the jail performed raps or songs they knew. 

 

Then Corrina shared her story, one riddled with painful abuse. She told us about numbing herself with drugs and poor choices in relationships.  She started going to an after school program run by a woman from our home church. She spoke directly and clearly to the boys with Phil translating, "Granny Pam kept telling me that God loves me, but I thought, how can He love me, someone so dirty and ugly? Then last year, I chose to accept His love and forgiveness and His son Jesus into my life...and day by day He is changing me."   The boys listened attentively, one began to cry.  Juan Miguel and Carlos prayed powerful prayers over them.  We served cake, and then every boy thanked and hugged each of us goodbye.

 

Our day began and ended in construction...construction of a broken house, construction of a broken heart.  Neither are too difficult for Our God!

ENGLISH LESSONS!! Day Three Photo Journal "CFC and Casa G Outreach"

 

On day three we picked up our missionary friend from Germany, Miriam Weisbach to head to a poor neighborhood where she and her family faciliate a number of outreach services including an after school program.

Our job was to teach English and share Christ through acts of love and kindness.  Yes, the card Josiah is holding is not written in English.  Turned over it read in English, "You're welcome."

The morning gave us some practice since there was a smaller group of children.  Rachel didn't need practice, however!  She is an excellent teacher who teaches 5th grade in Columbia, MO.

The mall, located within just ten minutes of driving, was a stark contrast to where we had just been.

 

We bought lunch at the food court.  Nathan was worn out from his hard work playing animal charades with the kids to help them learn the animal names in English.

The team purchased school supplies for the after school program ministry and for the afternoon's lessons.  We planned to set up a store for the children to "purchase" school items and practice their English.  

They were each given $6.33 in fake change to use for their purchases.

The children came into the store in groups of three.  It was difficult for them to decide which items they wanted to purchase.  Nathan told us that night during our debrief that he was surprised at how excited they were at getting something so small as a pencil when kids in the states barely get excited over a something that might cost $50.00. 

The tiny room began to fill with more than 30 kids.  Even Superman showed up!

 

 We received many happy hugs when it was time to leave.

 

Spaghetti dinner and then sharing time at the Douce house -- team member Chris told his story of experiencing freedom and healing through forgiving himself and others after years of painful brokeness.  Then Jackson shared his story for the first time.  We were spellbound and astounded at God's sovereign rescue of this young man.  The evening ended with a somewhat rousing game of UNO.  The boys often enjoy playing UNO after a teaching or devotional when they come on Tuesdays for dinner. 

WORSHIP! Day Two Photo Journal "CFC and Casa G Outreach"

Worship doesn't require language;  all of us enjoyed communing in God's presence at the church located across the street from Casa G.  We are blessed to be part of this local body of believers.  

Our church called, "God is faithful" is very large, active and growing.

After church Phil bought empanadas from a local vendor to share before picking up lunch from the Douce house.  Chris and Josiah, both mechanical engineers, checked out some of the electrical and plumbing problems and unclogged the kitchen sink.  Julie, a social worker and action oriented problem solver, began to assess and make a list of basic items needed in the house.  Also pictured are Carmen, Dario and Jackson's aunt, and their niece Renata.

Corrina and Joel had already become friends and acted like an older sister and little brother.

After lunch, we took a gondola up to 13,000 feet plus for a bird's eye view of Quito and the surrounding mountains.

"Beam me up, Scotty!"  Six people people at a time were asked to stand on their yellow spot, then while the gondola is still moving, they were told to hop on.  Dario is number six in his group.

Carlos, Jackson and Jason rode in the gondola with Josiah, our awesome camera man.  For some reason, the gondolas stopped several times on the way up, rocking and swaying in the mountain wind.  I began to get claustrophobic, prayed for God's mercy, and stuck my face out the tiny window!

At this height the air was light, crisp and cold.  Clouds unfortunately covered any view.

Phil introduced Mikenya to a local llama.

Nathan, who is ten years old, braved an introduction to the llamas as well.  He blessed us the entire week with his enthusiasm and mature insight.

The evening ended with tea, thanksgiving for our day together, and preparations for the after school program we would facilitate the following day in partnership with our German missionary friends, Miriam and Rico Weisbach.  Worship didn't just happen in church that morning, it took place while we marveled at being on top of the mountain, through experiencing God's presence in relationship, and in the numerous ways seen and unseen God provided throughout the day.

GRATEFUL!! Photo Journal Day One "Outreach with CFC and Casa G"

A group of six friends from our home church and Casa G joined together for one week to build relationships and God's kingdom.  The team was diverse with varied ages (2 to 50+), three languages, different cultures, different walks of life, and different places in our journeys in Christ.  By the end of the week we had become family.  We served others and one another.  We told Jesus that first day, "We need you to come and meet with us."  God answered our prayers.

The first morning started with breakfast at the Douce house and an orientation to Youth World International and Ecuador.  We are privileged to work with a global organization that is passionate about reaching the oppressed and seeing God transform lives and communities.

Next stop was Casa Gabriel. Several of the boys joined us for our trip to visit Old Quito.

Johanna (on the right) talks with team member, Julie.  Johanna is from Norway.  She spent her final Saturday and Sunday with us before heading back to Norway. She was such a blessing to the boys and us during the past three months while she volunteered at Casa G.  

Close to where we got off the trolley...

Just days before the group arrived, a young mom and her two year old daughter came to live at the Douce house temporarily while trying to get on their feet.  Phil bought a toy from a street vendor to give to the two year old.  Yeah, we are pretty much "smitten" by little Mikenya who calls us "Pelipe" y "Gaby."

The streets were filled with sellers and buyers.

We walked past the presidential palace... 

and stopped for lunch at a small plaza.

Our trek continued up a long hill to a famous church called the Basilica.

Dario, Juan Miguel, Johanna, Carlos, Joel and Jackson

The view from the Basilica -- you can see the Panecillo where the guardian angel overlooks the city.

It was a long way down!

All of these photos were taken by Josiah (Thank you!!) who was part of the Christian Fellowship team and who happens to be in love with the girl in this picture, also part of the team.  She is Rachel Prevette, sister to our son-in-law to be, Nathan Prevette.  "She IS pretty adorable, Josiah!"

The view of the Basilica from outside a tienda where we bought ice cream, our next stop.

Dinner was at Casa G.  One of the boy's aunts fixed us delicious chicken and rice.  Our team ate a lot of chicken over the past week!  :)

Desi, Miguel and their sweet little Janoa joined us for dinner and an orientation of Casa Adalia. They shared about their jewelry project which provides friendship evangelism and employment training for girls rescued from the sex trade. 

The day ended with everyone sharing one word that described their day.  Our young teen mom said that her word was grateful.  She told us that she was grateful we would trust  her enough to take her into our home and treat her like she is our daughter.  Phil and I were so very grateful as well, grateful for God's sweet presence and His expression of grace.  He gives us faith to live life for Him.