A Mother's Reflection -- Build your house on the Rock!

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  Matthew 7:24, 25

 

Recently, we took the Casa G boys camping at the beach.  Besides having fun together, there were three important goals – to put into practice what we have been learning outside our normal context, to build deeper relationships with one another, and to build a closer relationship with God.  These were met beyond our expectations.  I don’t remember a more peaceful trip with the boys that so readily demonstrated the discipleship training principles of Casa G -- love, respect, and service. 

Three little brothers, between the ages of 12 and 13, came with us.  Dario and Jackson’s brother, Jason and Jesús’ brother, Joel, we know well because they often spend the weekend at Casa G.  But none of us had spent much time with Anthony’s little brother Mateo.  He left four messages on Phil’s cell phone asking if he could come.  He always finished with, “And God bless you!”  Phil presented the question to the boys knowing that adding him could change the dynamics.  They all were in favor and responded unselfishly, “I think it would be good for Mateo.

Several delays leaving Quito meant that we arrived in the dark to set up camp.   Although we finally ate dinner around 11:00 PM there were no complaints.  Jackson said that arriving in the dark added to the challenge.  In fact, I didn’t hear one complaint the entire week.  Two of our recent graduates, Juan Miguel and Ricardo Gustavo were not able to come, but Jesús stepped it up as the big brother and leader of the house, giving instruction and encouragement not only to his little brother Joel, but to the rest of the boys. 

 I loved seeing the interaction of the three brothers, Jackson, Dario and Jason.  All of them have quiet personalities, but I heard them laughing frequently, and the older brothers always included little brother in every activity.  Once during a quiet time, we heard Jackson read his Bible aloud to Jason and Joel who couldn’t find theirs.  Mateo, our “wild card” was respectful, happy, and thankful.  At every meal he told me, “God repay you.”  Funny.  I just smiled and said, “You are welcome.”

After we returned from camping, all of the boys took time to visit family.  Jesús , who has just returned, shared at lunch yesterday  about how incredible his visit was .  This is the first time we have heard him talk so positively about visiting his family.  He told us that his mom was joyful, and he really enjoyed that she read the Bible to the family every night.  He said that he and his stepdad got along much better.   

The transformation God has done in Jesús and his willingness to forgive and give grace has been the catalyst for reconciliation.  Jesús went on to share about the pastor’s message at church regarding building your house on the rock.   He said, “Our house is going to be tested to see if we have built it on Jesus Christ.  You need a good roof, the right materials, and a strong foundation  for the trials that come.”   

We have been so encouraged by the spiritual growth of this young man who has put into practice God’s truth and is choosing to build his house on the Rock.

Over the past few weeks the winds, rain and floods have been beating against the Douce house.  Friday night, three armed men came into our house with intentions to rob or do harm.  God used our boxer (and Phil) to scare them out of the house.  Phil looked at me and said, “Someone was praying for us tonight.”  Indeed!  We found out that our sending church, Christian Fellowship of Columbia, MO had prayed for us during a corporate prayer meeting that evening. 

 

Three weeks ago the front tire of our car fell off and we skidded down a busy street in Quito on the axle.  We were so thankful it didn’t happen the following week when we were driving along mountainous curves to the beach with a car full of people and pulling a packed trailer.  Last week Phil had his briefcase stolen out of the car and was in another car accident which put a hole in the radiator.  Phil and I (and even some of our kids) have been hit with a number of physical ailments, some still lingering.  

In every situation we have seen God’s hand of protection and provision.  Each time we were given another opportunity to bless the Name of the Lord and put into practice the truth that our confidence is in Christ.  He is our hope and our anchor in the storm.   And when we trust Him, standing firm in the mighty strength of God, our house built upon the Rock will stand. 

www.etsy.com

There is a song I remember singing as a child about the wise man building his house on the rock and the foolish man building his house on the sand.  The third verse says, “So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ, and the blessings will come down.”  According to Matthew 7:25 what “blessings” are we promised if we are obedient and put into practice the Word of God?   When the rain and the winds and the floods come, our house will not fall.  I definitely want that blessing, don’t you?

 

Please pray we would be faithful to live out the reality and power of the Gospel, intentionally building God’s Kingdom with Jesus Christ as the foundation.  (Ephesians 6:18)  We are so thankful to be joined together with you!

CASA ADALIA -- Be strong in the Lord!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:10-12

 

Last Thursday, during an extended Casa Adalia meeting, we were informed that there are currently  53 girls under the age of 18 who have been rescued from the sex trade and have been placed in a juvenile jail, not for any crime they committed, but because there is nowhere to send them.  These girls are caught in a seeming political conflict that is not likely to be resolved anytime soon.

Desi said quietly to me, “I know we said we will only take six girls to start with, but I think we should take more. “

I understood the reason behind her comment.  The tremendous need of these girls weighed heavy on me.  And as I listened to the people gathered in the circle debate about how we might best work together to open a house for the girls, the weight of responsibility as team leader, the complexity of legalities, and the amount of work still ahead overwhelmed me.  I thought to myself, “I can’t do this.“  I felt like Moses who told God, “O Lord, please send someone else.”

Well, it is true.  I can’t.  We can’t.  YET, GOD CAN!  He graciously reminds me that He is able and mighty.  He continues to give me and our team faith to press forward.  Although the enemy tries to discourage us, we are standing firm in God’s power and grace.

God is building a formidable team equipped and ready to take on the challenges that will come with providing an aftercare home for these precious girls.  We have added two new team members who are dynamite additions.  Neila Roman is an Ecuadorian Christian counselor with a passion for sharing Jesus and reaching the marginalized.  She is joining our team fulltime the end of this month.  Kathryn Kieft is a fulltime missionary with Youth World International.  She has been serving as administrator for Youth World’s short-term team department and is excited that God has opened the door to also join the Casa Adalia team and serve in an area of her heart’s passion. 

Two other Ecuadorian women, one a Christian social worker and the other a lawyer, are in the process of figuring out logistical details for how they can work with our team through their foundation.  They also bring professional expertise and personal experience in working with girls who have been trafficked in the sex trade.  Please pray for wisdom in this process and for our growing team to quickly develop in relationship and working well together.

Over the past few weeks we have been experiencing a spiritual battle as we press on with opening a house for the girls.  But where there is a battle, there is victory.  Please pray we would be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Pray that we would be diligent to put on the full armor of God and stand firm.  Thank you so much for rallying with us in prayer!

For His glory in Ecuador,
Debbie Douce
Team Leader ESME – Casa Adalia

Due to security reasons, we cannot show pictures of the girls' faces.  This shot gives you a glimpse, however, of some of the girls we have ministered to.  God who created each one for His glory sees each face. 

Grief mixed with joy

We can deal with the ambulance if God is in it.  We can stomach the ICU if God is in it.  We can face the empty house if God is in it.  He is.  (Max Lucado)

 

When I arrived at the girls' safe house Tuesday morning, we were met with several shouts of "Awesome!"  Two weeks ago I taught them the word and its significance in Spanish when we played the "Awesome Game."  I told them several times over that they were AWESOME.  And they are.  They have overcome the unspeakable.  Thirteen girls.  One girl, who was never given the opportunity to learn to read or write, dictated during our journal expression, "I don't want to be here.  I want to go home."  Most of these girls have no idea how long they are staying at the safe house or what will happen next in their process.  They are waiting without seeming direction.  I was told they are waiting to testify.  Many times we enjoy their smiles and laughter.  Other times they look at us without expression, or maybe with a sadness so deep there is no expression.

Two nights ago Phil and I mourned the loss of Ronan, God's precious gift to our nephew and his wife who carried him for just 23 weeks in her womb and later held him for a few precious hours upon her chest until he entered eternity.  His father said, "I don't understand it.  But even as I am filled with sadness God has given me joy.  Joy to know our tiny son is with my mom in heaven.  Joy because I sense God's love and provision through the staff at the hospital and through people who have encouraged us.  More than anything, I want Ronan's older brothers and sister to learn that there is no fear in death."  Tears rolled down my face as I listened.  He told us that a family in the same hospital experienced the opposite.  Their baby lived, grew strong and went home with his family, on the very same day Ronan struggled and breathed his last on this earth.  And yet, knowing this, our nephew experienced the miracle of joy and gratefulness even as he grieved.

Today my beautiful niece and her husband have returned to another continent to visit their two adopted daughters, daughters who because of failed process outside of their control, were never allowed to leave their birth country and experience a new life with their parents.  I can hardly fathom the depth of love which would return these parents to hold their girls, knowing fully that they will experience the deep loss and pain of saying goodbye, again... 

Like my nephew, my niece, and the girls, I have found that God miraculously allows me to hold both grief and joy in my heart, even in the same moment.  Because He dwells in me.  He who endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him.

God has kicked open wide a new door!

Open doors are often an indication of God’s leading.  And sometimes the reverse is true.  A closed door may be an indication of God’s leading.  Over the past days, we have watched God miraculously open a door when another one closed. 

June 21^st was our last day to volunteer at the safe house.  Their doors officially closed last week.  We were told we could provide a goodbye party but we couldn’t actually tell them goodbye. This request was not a surprise since we saw many girls leave without knowing ahead that they were leaving.  My heart felt heavy with sadness. 

I shared Proverbs 3:5-6 repeating it for added emphasis.  I asked them what they thought it meant.  I was grateful to see each girl engaged and listening.  I struggled to express how incredibly important it was to not lean on our own understanding but on God alone.  God who loves them.  God who will never leave them.  God in whom they can trust.  And then I read Ephesians 3:14-21 as a prayer.  In my heart I cried, “Jesus, please take care of them.  Let them know Your deep and immeasurable love!”

We painted picture frames, empty ones because we were told (for security reasons) we could not leave a picture for them to remember us by.  I asked them to sign the matte of my frame so I could see their names in their own handwriting and pray for them:  Ruth, Mady, Mari, Juli, Sherl, Caro, Vivi, Kari...names that symbolize the many girls I have hugged and looked upon with such deep affection.  In so many ways, just little girls.  Many more faces flash through my memories as I write.

We ended our time by sharing ice cream sundaes.  We had lugged a cooler with ice cream, bananas and lots of toppings on the forty-five minute journey by feet and bus.  The sundaes were a hit and for most, a first time experience!  They ate them slowly and with great relish.  In the end, one of the staff announced to the girls that this would be our last time.  She thanked us for coming faithfully and allowed time for the girls and the rest of us to share.  Inside I rejoiced that God had provided such a healing closure.

When one door closes, God opens another!

 (picture from reflectionsintheword.org)

While we were at the safe house, one of the Casa Adalia team members received a phone call from another girl’s foundation asking if we would be interested in volunteering.  The director told her that one of the girls we knew previously from the safe house was placed there and recommended us. 

Last week we met with the director of the foundation, a similar but much smaller safe house.  As we walked into the outside patio, we were stunned to see a huge smile of surprise from Mari.  We had just hugged her goodbye the Friday before having no idea if we would ever see her again.  It was also such a joy to see Lori, another girl we had known previously.  As we hugged and talked briefly with the other girls, they felt so familiar, so much like the ones we had just said goodbye to.  I felt the hope of God rise up within me.  Yes, Emanuel God was with us.  He was with them.  He would continue to be with us. 

 The director told us, “These girls need to laugh and jump and yell and be girls.  You have freedom to share with them about God, to read the Bible, to teach them.”  Glory!!  God didn’t just open a new door.  He kicked it open wide!

Please, please pray with us!  Pray as we begin ministering to the girls in the new foundation each Tuesday morning.  Please pray as we continue to hunt for an apartment to rent for the 18 year old girls.  Please pray for God to provide the right house mom.  Please pray for wisdom as we collaborate with other organizations who have a similar passion.  Prayer is the wind of God behind us, giving us courage and strength.  Prayer is the mighty wind of God before us, opening the way for Him to enter in. 

For His glory in Ecuador,

Debbie Douce

Team Leader ESME – Casa Adalia 

 

Praise and Prayer Updates -- June 2013

Dear Friends,

We landed back in Quito on June 5th after the joyful celebration of our daughter's wedding.  Truth?  It was really hard to come back.  We wanted to stay.  We love our house in the country.  We wanted a few more quiet mornings to sip coffee on our back deck at the edge of a beautiful forest.  We love, love being with our kids.  We love our home church.  We love our friends and family.  We were reminded how much we miss it all!

But God is forever gracious and faithful.  He quickly and immediately reminded us why we are here.  Phil was reminded of how much he loves the Casa G boys.  He often says to me, "I just really love them!"  On Father's Day our table was filled with boys, some whom we hardly see now but who wanted to come and tell Phil, "Feliz Dia, Daddy!"

I was reminded that there are girls who desperately need to know the healing love of Jesus.  They need the safety and hope of Casa Adalia.  We love our friends here.  We love the country of Ecuador.  We are certain that God has called us to His purpose here, in this corner of the earth,...and for however long He tells us, we will remain here through His strength and faithfulness. 

Praise and Prayer Updates:


Casa Gabriel

1.      Praise God with us!  We are three quarters on our way to obtaining the funds needed to pay for the renovation of Casa Gabriel.  Plans are being made to start this August.

2.    Thank you for your prayers for the Ackerman family.  God has called them to leave Ecuador, not for one semester as we stated in the last update, but long term, to live and serve in Canada.  On June 16^th, we had a wonderful time celebrating with the Casa G family and missionary community their years of service at Casa G and in Ecuador.  They will be missed!

3.     Please pray for Sonnet Medrano who is currently in language training in Costa Rica and will head to Ecuador when finished.  We praise God for adding her to our team in the much needed role as office administrator.

4.      We thank God for bringing Edgar to fill in as respite house dad when needed.  

5.      Please pray for the boys to finish well their academic year.

6.     Please pray for summer activities at Casa G:  visits to families, renovation project, camping trip on the beach, Quito Quest (summer short term team ministries with our mission) team outreaches and relationship building. 

Casa Adalia

1.     Thank you for praying for the 18 year old girl I mentioned in the April 2013 Mother’s Reflection.  She returned from the coast for a visit.  It was so good to see her and her little girl and hear that they are doing ok. 

2.     We are in the midst of the many logistical details for setting up an apartment to begin providing training, safety and hope for healing for girls 18 years of age.  Every day I thank God for His grace and faith to accomplish such an enormous task.  God is mighty and able.   “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified:  do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9  

3.     Please reply to casaadalia@gmail.com  if you would like more information or to receive the praise and prayer updates. 

For His glory in Ecuador,

Debbie for all at Casa G (and Casa Adalia)

Casa Gabriel and Casa Adalia are part of International Teams, a global organization committed to helping the oppressed and seeing lives and communities transformed by the power of God.  ” Follow this link for an easy way to give:  https://wwws.iteams.org/iteams/  Designate your contribution to “Casa Gabriel-Ecuador” or “End Slavery Ministries – Ecuador, Casa Adalia” 

 

 

Unexpected Blessings -- No Chance for Rain!

The past weeks have been packed with family times filled with laughter and the labor of love and conversations and goodnight prayers and real life and the expected stressors related to the amazing celebration of our daughter, Danelle's wedding.  Overriding and resonating through all of it was God’s incredible grace and presence....I am sharing a few of the unexpected blessings.

I was met by our 22 year old daughter with a huge hug and the words, "I am getting married in just 28 days!"  I had flown ahead to be with Danelle and help in any way I could.  Almost every morning she greeted me with, "Just....days until I am married!"  Each time my heart sped up.  First, because our little girl was getting married, and second, because there was so much to do.  Phil who was still in Quito asked me, "Will I be overwhelmed when I come?"  Just coming to the states can feel overwhelming.  I gave him a definite, "Yes."
 
An outdoor wedding on our land in Missouri sounded incredibly special and romantic.  In reality, an outdoor wedding meant "special and romantic" plus lots of labor of love. 

It is flower time!!  Nate's family, the Prevettes arrived in time
to help cut all the rose stems...under water of course!

Tuesday night wedding crews facilitated by sister Chelsea
began and ended in prayer.  Here Aunt Gracie is sewing the burlap table runners. 
She and Aunt Janie, Phil's sisters, baked and decorated the beautiful wedding cake.

The wedding would not have been the same without all the hard work done by Danelle, Nate, Chelsea, and the weekly Tuesday night wedding crew; then by family and friends leading up to the wedding day.  At one point our niece, Beth looked at me and said, "No wonder people spend thousands of dollars on their wedding.  They didn't have a family that could help them do everything." 

Due to how busy we were, we have very few "before" pictures.
Danelle's brothers took a moment for a bit of fun!

Nate is working on the burlap bows for the chairs. 
Many hands labored in love to make the bows 

Some of the Thursday work crew:  Uncle Tim, Jordan Douce,

Cousin Joe, Chelsea Douce, Cousin Becky, Violeta Douce

Family and friends came from Missouri, Texas, Canada, Chicago, Michigan, W. Virginia, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio.  They pitched in wherever it was needed in a variety of tasks from lending their gators and trucks to putting mulch down, hanging signs, parking cars, setting up for the reception, moving 240 chairs down to the ceremony meadow and back up to the reception meadow, shuttling guests to the ceremony and reception, replacing the front door on our house, moving and setting up a sound system, setting up a stage, helping the porta-potty truck get unstuck, washing strawberries, making desserts, cutting and prepping the hundreds of flowers that had been brought from Ecuador, initiating and figuring out how to make do when the original plan wouldn't work.  I could keep going.  

The love and service poured out was overwhelming!

 

The beautiful roses from Ecuador deserve their own miracle
story.  I love Our God who cared about the roses!

An outdoor wedding also meant lots of prayers for good weather.  It was  kind of hard not to worry, especially in a place like Missouri where the weather is so unpredictable.  It seemed like everyone was checking the weather forecast on a regular and sometimes daily basis. 

Initial predictions were reassuring, "Little chance of rain."  As the wedding approached however, the chance of rain increased every day.  Danelle and Nate truly would have been happy getting married in the mud and rain, but the rest of us weren't so sure everyone else would enjoy it.   

Even more, I wanted everyone to enjoy Nate's pavilion of lights he had worked so hard to set up for the reception.


Nate gave us a preview of his beautiful pavilion of lights. 
It was magical!

Phil worked like a crazy man, or is it a crazy father, from the moment he arrived two weeks before the wedding until it started.  His greatest concerns were ticks, mosquitos, rain and mud.  He was the wind behind the outdoor details and transformed our country home into what looked like a beautiful estate in the middle of a national forest.  The mulch trail leading behind our house to the ceremony meadow was stunning.  Every day our son Tully worked at his summer job mowing a local cemetery and then came home and mowed on our land until dark. 

But it just seemed there wasn't a good solution for the ground where the ceremony would take place if it rained.  The chairs literally sunk completely into the ground when it was wet, and there was a large puddle in front of the trellis where Danelle and Nate would stand to say their vows.

Friday was beautiful and sunny and perfect for the rehearsal and dinner.  We were hopeful and thankful!

Nate's parents, Todd and Zoe Prevette provided
a beautiful rehearsal dinner at the reception site.

On the day of the wedding I awoke early to the sound of thunder.  And then I heard the rain start.  There was a lot, and it was coming down hard!  Whispering under my breath, “Jesus, have mercy!” I walked into the kitchen to start some coffee.  I could hear Danelle and Chelsea laughing and talking upstairs, with seeming unconcern.  They heard me grinding coffee beans and called me to come upstairs. 

“I am getting married!” exclaimed Danelle.  “You’re getting married!” exclaimed Chelsea and I.  And as the thunder rolled and the rain hit against their window pane, I joined them as they began to sing the Revelation Song they would later sing while descending the hill during the wedding procession. 

Phil, his boys, nephews, cousins and the many family and friends began working outside early that morning to finish many of the outside details.  Phil went to town to buy more mulch.  He was definitely worried about the rain pouring down.  I have no idea how many dump loads and bags of mulch he purchased those two weeks.  This final morning God gave him his answer to the problem he had been worrying over.  Next to a dumpster he spotted carpet thrown out, a lot of carpet.  He was told he could take it for free.  With his cousin Allen, they put all of it into his truck, and with some mulch sprinkled on top, it became the perfect solution for the chairs to keep from sinking into the wet ground.

By mid-morning the rain had stopped.  By noon, the sun began to peek out and dry up the rain.  God had answered our prayers.  A friend later told me that she checked the forecast right as the ceremony began.  It said, “No chance of rain.”

From "Life by Lydia"  -- our amazing friend and wedding photographer

In the end it was a storybook wedding, a tiny glimpse of the heavenly wedding to come

on that glorious someday in that never-ending celebration land.

Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away with me,

for the winter is past; the rain is over and gone...

the time for singing has come.  Song of Songs 2:10-12

Thank You, thank You, Jesus, King of my heart,
King over everything!

 

Unexpected Blessings -- Former Street Kid, Serious?

The past weeks have been packed with family times filled with laughter and the labor of love and deep conversations and goodnight prayers and real life and the expected stressors related to the amazing celebration of our daughter, Danelle’s wedding.  Overriding and resonating through all of it was God’s incredible grace and presence....I would like to share some of the unexpected blessings.

If you have been reading this blog, you might remember reading about Juan Miguel, one of the leaders at Casa Gabriel in Quito, Ecuador.  You can find part of his story on the blog entry April 18, 2013 called, "Water into sweet wine.  Miraculous, powerful, intimate grace."

The first unexpected blessing was the fact that Juan Miguel was given both a ticket (thanks, Brad and Sindy Keller!) and a visa to come to the U.S.  

Juan Miguel flew in with Phil's parents, who had been on a mission outreach in Ecuador, to Chicago the Monday before the wedding.  Our son and his wife, Jordan and Violeta, (also from Quito, Ecuador) enjoyed orienting him to Chicago and treated him twice to his favorite food in the United States, Chipotle.  Together they drove to Columbia, MO on Wednesday.  They arrived to a flurry of pre-wedding activities and little personal attention from us. 

 

Friends of our family, Lydia and Ryan Hunt, hosted Juan Miguel during his time in Columbia.  Lydia, who was an intern missionary with our mission several years ago, and her husband Ryan from Australia ,made the perfect hosts.  I am not sure how many times Juan Miguel ate ice cream and Chipotle!

Our kids embrace the boys at Casa Gabriel as family and brothers.  Juan Miguel brought a huge wedding card created by the boys with special notes of blessing.  His personal gift was a beautiful song he had written and composed for their wedding.  I can’t think of a more special gift!

The night before Phil and Juan Miguel left for Minnesota, we celebrated our son, Tully's birthday. 
Everyone gave one word to describe Tully.  Juan Miguel's word was "brother."

Juan Miguel’s passion and gifting for music surprised everyone.  He sang spontaneously at a local radio station and in some restaurants in downtown Columbia while visiting with Corrina, a girl who had been on the CFC- Casa G mission outreach in April.  He was invited by our friend, Russ Duker, to share his testimony at a Columbia rotary club.  And he “wowed” the admissions staff and music professors at McNally Smith and Concordia in St. Paul, MN during his visit the week after the wedding.   

As Phil and Juan Miguel reflected and debriefed during their return drive to Chicago, it was evident Juan Miguel has a strong desire to study music production.  His ability and zeal to do so was confirmed during the visits at the universities.  However, an even greater confirmation was that his sights are set first on Jesus Christ and His eternal purpose and plan.