A final letter of thanksgiving

Dear friends,

I have been gratefully overwhelmed by the abundance of love and knowledge that has been poured out on me this summer.  I have lived in a community with thirteen other brothers and sisters, and we have grown, served, and prayed together for the past two months.  No amount of my own preparation would have prepared me for this experience; it was only by the provision of the Holy Spirit that I was able to complete this journey.  I have experienced growth in so many areas, and have learned several important lessons that have changed my life:

The only way to a full life is full surrender.  God's ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).  

Jesus is both my Teacher and Lord.  At the end of the day, I can walk away from my teacher, but I cannot walk away from my Lord.  If there is no Lordship, there can be no true discipleship.  

Discipleship is essential.  It is essential that we understand the importance of being a disciple, of having community groups, accountability, and challenging one another to be firmly rooted in the Word and to share the Gospel with the world. 

I have heart for the nations.  From the Old Testament to the New, we see the big story of how God is redeeming His creation to restore it to Himself.  He chose us, as unqualified as we think we are, to carry out His plan.  "And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" Mark 16:15.  We should pray that God will show us where He wants us to serve, how He wants us to serve, and when He wants us to serve.  Going to Ecuador has opened my eyes and filled my heart to the fullest measure, making me feel alive and in the presence of God.  To see God moving and planting His church there is one of the greatest privileges of my life.  I don’t yet know where God will send me or who I will serve, but he is replacing fear with excitement, knowing that, in some capacity, He has called me to the nations.

 God has blessed me with genuine desire.  The most exhilarating thing that has happened to me this summer is that the “I should” and “I ought to” mentality is being transformed into the genuine desire of “I want to” and “I delight in” drawing nearer to the Lord.  I know that I am not who I can be, but I am not who I was.  He has grown me so much, and I pray for continual transformation into the likeness of Jesus.

God delighted in teaching and revealing Himself to me this summer; these are lessons and revelations that I do not want to forget, but that I want to internalize.  Steve Thompson, the missionary with whom we worked in Ecuador, exhorted me with the following three components for living what I have learned and discerning God’s will in all things: always be in prayer, be continually in the Word, be an active member of the church.  To take these lessons and this passion from this summer back to my home and my campus, I ask God to give me the grace to see every day as an opportunity to make a positive impact for the kingdom. 

This summer our team helped with a very unique Bible School.  We remodeled a college room at the church.  We ministered at the fair.  We were Upward basketball coaches.  We served and studied the Bible at the Open Door of Hope men's shelter.  We served lunch at Victory Baptist.  We attended a missions conference.  We served and beheld the glory of creation in the jungles and in the

mountains of Ecuador.  I have learned a lot about living with others this summer, and the joys and challenges that it brings.  I know that this experience has made me a better team player, a better leader, a better listener, and has grown me in patience and in love.  I pray that I am a more mature disciple.  It is so sweet to be able to live in fellowship with my brothers and sisters, to daily be challenged, and to daily grow deeper in my relationship with Christ.  I have been changed and have grown in so many ways, and I know that I will forever remember this summer that was a member of the Acts 1:8 Leadership experience.  This is an experience that I wish each and every follower of Christ could have: to be discipled, to serve, to see the world and glorify God for what He has made, to live in community, to share the Gospel, and to be filled to with the fullness of Christ. 

This experience is unlike any other, and I am so humbled and thankful to have been a member of the Acts 1:8 East Team.  Thank you so much for your prayer and support; I am exceedingly grateful for your faithfulness.  I pray that God blesses you for your generosity and kindness in the same way that He lavished His blessings on me and my team. 

In Christ,

Sara

I'm home!!!!!

I can't believe it is really over.  It seems like just a short while ago that I was packing up to leave for the summer, and now I am already home.  Words alone cannot describe what this summer meant to me.  The Acts 1:8 experience more than surpassed every expectation that I had, and it is going to take a while to process everything that I have seen, everything that I have heard, everything that I have experienced.  Thank you so much to everyone who supported me and the rest of the East team through prayer and donations.  I pray that God blesses you for your generosity and kindness in the same way that He lavished His blessings on me and my team.

For my last update, to tell about the rest of our time in Ecuador...

Day 6: Today we divided into teams and went to Gamboa and Artesón to paint murals at two little schools.  We painted in the morning, had lunch at the camp, and returned to paint in the afternoon.  After dinner we bundled up (I put on pretty much everything I owned) to go to church in a small town high in the mountains, Poátug.  It was very cold, but I was warm!  The church was so beautiful, sweet, and kind to us.  I was especially blessed to be able to understand most of the message that Pastor Angel preached!  I was so overjoyed and thankful to understand his message in Spanish :)

The view from the school.  Breathtaking!

At the church in Poátug

Day 7:  Today we continued painting murals, and Mauricio and I finished ours.  After lunch at the camp we went to a church in Ambato for VBS, where we divided into teams for skits, games, and crafts.  We sang songs in Spanish with the kids, and even though we looked very silly, it was so much fun.  We went back to the camp for dinner, and then shopped at an Indian market.  Steve had arranged for the craftspeople to come to us and our team bought a lot of our gifts from these people, to whom the missionary team is witnessing. 

Adrian and Brian live in Artesón and go to this school.  They were with us all morning and Brian helped paint on the mural.

The finished product

Day 8: Today I moved from Artesón to Gamboa where we finished painting the murals.  After lunch we went to VBS again in Ambato.  It was a good day, and we had some free time after dinner.

One of our murals at the school in Gamboa

Mr. Paint!  He is crazy (in a good way!)!  It's ok to say that; he told me that himself :)

The painting crews and a few residents of Gamboa.  They offered us a midday snack every day, and were so kind to us in every way!

Day 9: Today was a rainy Saturday.  We went to Patate for a morning Bible Club where we sang songs, acted out skits, played games, and made crafts.  We went back to the camp for lunch, and a few of us ended up helping in the kitchen.  It was a good experience to be able to help prepare such a large meal (we were cooking for 400!).  I helped Lydia mash potatoes the old fashioned way, and I must say that I have a new appreciation for appliances at home and the cooks at the camp!  We helped serve lunch to the youth at the camp, which was an adventure in itself.  There were not enough dishes for everyone, so we were washing them as soon as the kids finished with them, and several times had to stop and wait for clean dishes to be brought out. It was hectic, but we made it  fun.  After washing and putting away all the dishes, we had a short rest before time to serve dinner!  We were worn out by the end of the day, but it was so good to work with the wonderful ladies in the kitchen!  Later that evening, we finished the day by attending a concert/worship service for the youth camp.

Making espejos (mirrors) at Bible Club in Patate

My friends in the kitchen at Camp Chacauco

Day 10:  Today we packed up to leave the camp and traveled to Latacunga for church.  The building was so nice and the people were sweet.  They baptized two people and took up an offering to send their hard-working pastor on vacation.  After a quick lunch at the church we visited a beautiful hacienda near Mt. Cotopaxi where we had hot chocolate and heard a live indigenous band play traditional music.  Next we went to Quito where we visited the Equator monument and did some quick shopping.  We ran out of daylight, and had just enough time to grab a bite to eat at KFC before going to the airport.  We boarded the 11:30 overnight flight to Atlanta, and made it back to Kentucky by 10 the next day.

Steve, Carol, and Me at the church in Latacunga

Mt. Cotopaxi, the world's tallest active volcano

Two hemispheres at once!

Me Amo Ecuador!

I love this place!  I am so overwhelmed by the beauty of God's creation and his beautiful people.  There is so much that I have learned and so much that I would love to share, but for now, I will just do a recap of the first five days of our trip.

Day 1: We arrived in Quito, stayed the night at a hotel, and then made our way to the jungle.  I am very thankful for our wonderful bus driver, because these are very crazy roads!  We stopped at a natural hot springs to swim and have lunch, and then continued on to the jungle camp in Tena.

The dining/meeting area at camp UNPES

Our view of the Jungle :)

Day 2:  We traveled from Tena to Misahualli in the back of a produce truck!  We got into canoes and traveled two hours down the Napo river to the small community of Santa Rosa.  We visited the church there, and then moved on to a church deeper in the jungle.  They graciously prepared a traditional Ecuadorian lunch for us, which was very different but very delicious.  After some time of fellowship, we eventually made our way back to camp.

On the back of the produce truck, riding through the jungle

The Napo River

Volcano 

Day 3: Today we divided into two groups and visited two churches in Tena.  The service and worship were in Spanish, but we had a translator for some of it, and two guys from our team had the opportunity to preach.  After church we moved our stuff from camp UNPES to a hostel in Tena, Los Yutzos.  We spent the rest of the day with the kids who had moved into the camp, and "sang" some VBS songs with them (in Spanish). :)

Day 4: We traveled from the jungle city of Tena to the mountain camp of Chacauco, but made several stops along the way.  We stopped in Shell to visit the Nate Saint house, one of five missionaries martyred in 1956 by the Waodani Indians.  Next we had a picnic lunch at a waterfall, and rode a "swinging basket" over the gorge.  Once we arrived in Chacauco our missionary host, Steve Thompson, showed us around the camp.

The Saint House in Shell

Camp Chacauco 

Our view from the Camp.  That is Mount Tungurahua, an active volcano.

Day 5: Today we toured the camp and the seminary that is under construction.  We visited Ambato, a town in the mountains, and some of the Baptist church plants there.  We will be having camp in Ambato for the rest of the week.  Next we went to a indian village high in the mountains.  Apatug has about 700 families, but only one percent of the village knows Christ.  The church has experienced physical persecution and is still experiencing other forms of persecution.  It was humbling to see their way of life and their love for Christ.

Apatug

The first church in Apatug.

Inside their worship building.  Our friend Mauricio, who is from Ambato has been helping us get to know Ecuador. 

Believers in Apatug.

The beautiful mountains :)

It is hard to believe that we are already halfway through.  Please continue to pray for our team and the whole camp.  We will be doing some construction and VBS for the rest of the week.  I can't wait to share more about our time in Ecuador and everything that God is teaching us, and all the ways He is blessing our hearts.

Time to move on to the next stop...

Oh my, oh my, oh my.

This is my last night in Shelbyville.  I cannot believe that six weeks passed so quickly.

I have a new family, a new home, a new community; I have learned so much; I have been challenged in so many ways.

I have been discipled.  I have learned about who God is and who He says I am. I have learned some of my strengths and some areas in which I need growth.  I have "learned" how to cook. I have learned new truths through the study of the Word.   I have learned the importance of discipleship.  I have seen the big picture of the Bible and gained a new understanding of the Old Testament.  I have been reminded of the urgency to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

I have helped with a very unique Bible School.  I have remodeled a college room at the church.  I have ministered at the fair.  I have been an Upward basketball coach.  I have served and studied the Bible at the Open Door of Hope men's shelter.  I have served lunch at Victory Baptist.

I have been encouraged, disciplined, held accountable, loved, and poured into.  I, in turn, hope that I have done all of these things.

I have done all of these things--and so much more--with 13 brothers and sisters in Christ.

Tomorrow (or today rather), we begin the last part of our journey: Ecuador.  So come, Holy Spirit; fill us up and send us out, that the Gospel may be preached to the ends of the earth.

Here we go... :)

An Overflowing Heart

I have been so filled this week!  I am so humbled and encouraged by one particular family that has cared for us while we have been living at this church.  The Whites are an extraordinary family, whose love for and dedication to the Lord overflows in everything that they do.  Kris has cooked for us throughout the summer, and both Kris and Jwain have led our Sunday night Bible study.  Their lessons are called "Beyond Compare" and during these past five weeks, they have challenged us to let go of the ways that we compare ourselves to others--even to former versions of ourselves--and to ask God what He says about us.  When we let go of our petty comparisons, and when we inquire of God, we are able to more fully understand who He wants us to be, and to understand how uniquely precious that we are to Him.

Last Sunday night, the Whites did a remarkable thing for our team.  After the lesson, they asked us to write down all the comparisons that hold us back; then we ripped them up and threw them in a trashcan to be discarded.  This symbolized acknowledging that these things hold us back, giving them to God, and moving on.  Next, they gave each of us a card.  On the inside, they had written a new name for us and some verses of Scripture.  These weren't just random names.  They had individually and specifically prayed for each one of us, asking God to reveal a new name and Scripture.  My card read, "Mother of many hearts" and led me five verses, one of them being James 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  I was overwhelmed by this kindness, knowing that they had taken the time to specifically pray over me, for me.

But that wasn't all.  As they gave each of us our card, they stooped down, taking the role of a servant, and washed our feet.  Their youngest daughter came over to me and washed my feet.  I could do nothing but quietly sob tears of joy and humility as this young girl washed my dirty feet.  The only words that kept repeating over and over again in my thoughts were, my heart is overflowing, my heart is overflowing. 

This family has impacted my life so much in such a short time.  They have given all 14 of us a beautiful example of a God-centered family.  Praise God for such encouragement and blessing.

Thankful

Last Sunday was family day!  It was so good to be able to spend some time with my dad, mom, brother, and boyfriend.  We didn't do a lot, but we had a great day of conversation, and I got to give them a tour of the church and our home away from home, Shelbyville.

At Cracker Barrel!

Visiting FBC Shelbyville

Walking around downtown Shelbyville

I received a beautiful necklace from my mom and dad.  I wear one half, my mom wears the other.

This week we have been spending our evenings at Open Door of Hope, the men's shelter in Shelbyville.  We have heard some powerful stories of how God's grace and mercy have lifted these men out desperation and given them a new hope.  They are so full of joy and grateful for our team; likewise, we are thankful for them too.  Since we spent the whole week there, we did a Bible study on the book of Jonah.  It was really neat to be able to do a study on a complete book, to see the entire picture and relate it to our lives and to the life of Christ.  One of the ways that we have tried to give the men a special treat was to cook "gourmet" meals.  We also took up an offering from among ourselves so that we could make them filet mignon on Friday.  Check out their website, Open Door of Hope Kentucky.

Sweet Reminders of God's Goodness

Life here in Shelbyville is going very well!  We finished a week of Upward basketball camp last week, and it was really fun to work with the kids, teaching them not only about basketball (because we are all pros) but about Jesus.  Our memory verse for the week was "show proper respect for everyone" (1 Peter 2:17), so we encouraged the campers to play fair and to treat others respectfully.  The great thing about Upward is that "every kid is a winner" and our focus for the week was to build them up by words and deeds of affirmation, with proper instruction and discipline.  This method worked, as many kids showed improvement over the week.

This past week contained a wonderful surprise.  On Tuesday during camp, one of the church secretaries brought a package into the gym for me.  I thought it was a book that I had ordered, but it looked too small.  When I opened it, I found a beautiful new Bible; but I was very confused, since I had not ordered it.  It didn't take long for me to put the pieces together to know who sent it.  During the fair ministry, I had given away my favorite Bible: it was a pink ESV pocket Bible.  I had told my boyfriend, Matt, about it, and said that I was going to start looking for a new one.  But he immediately--and secretly--ordered it from Amazon and had it expressly shipped to the church.  He didn't know it, but it was the EXACT same Bible that I had given away, except that it was bigger and better because it was larger, it had maps, and it had the words of Christ in red.  

I was so excited and overwhelmed that he had been so kind to do that for me.  Later, as I was thinking, I realized that our Heavenly Father does the same thing for His children: when we surrender what we have to Him, no matter how beautiful or treasured we think it is, He will bless us with something bigger, better, and far greater than the thing we gave up.  Our lives are so much fuller, enjoyable, meaningful, and peaceful when we surrender ourselves--our ideas of who we are or what we should be and do--to His version of who He made us to be and what he has planned for us to do.  But we do not surrender in order to get good gifts, we surrender because we love Him and He is our source of life.  God is so good, and He delights in His children.  

His extravagant love is overwhelming.