Clearly I am not very good at this updating thing: SO much has happened between time with family, travel and getting settled. I am going to do my best to summarize! I am hoping this can be an intimate, casual space, as if we are sitting together drinking coffee. I love you all so dearly and wish I could have that time with you! But for now this will have to do.
First and foremost, thank you thank you thank you to everyone who has been praying and supporting us with encouragement, thoughtful gifts, finances, and so much more. We have been so humbled by the love we have recieved from the body of Christ and no words will ever be adequate to describe how grateful we are. This ministry would not be possible without you.
The last few days in Phoenix were a blur. Packing, saying goodbyes, parties, tears, and an incredible community around us sending us. We felt so loved. To the people who went above and beyond helping us and feeding us and loving on us (you know who you are!), thank you so so much. You made our parting so much sweeter!
Before we officially flew out, we got to spend some incredible time with family. We had to make a run back to Phoenix for our friends' wedding and say some last goodbyes there as well. We started off in Thousand Oaks with the Angulo family and had so much fun salsa dancing, Cinco de Mayo, seeing friends, hiking, the beach, and most importantly, time with our dear family. Then off to Clovis to go spelunking, on walks with happy doggies, dinner parties, family time, and a beautiful prayer and worship night to cap it all off. Guys, if you were at the prayer night, SO MANY of those prayers have been answered. It makes me tearful thinking about God's faithfulness. Safe, smooth travel, no sickness, clarity on ministry, hearts open to recieve Christ, and already so much fruit from the gospel of Jesus. God is so mighty and so kind to answer our prayers.
We said our final goodbyes and flew a very long journey across the world with all our belongings in 6 suitcases: what fun! Landed safely in Cuenca and began with our first task: keeping 3 children alive. Our sweet friends who live in Cuenca were doing ministry in Portugal and asked us to watch their kids! It worked out amazing, giving us time to settle and acclimate in a fully functioning house considering we don't have a fork or spoon to our name! The kids were a delight and together we explored the city, looked for furniture, attended a lot of church meetings, and I (Claire) begin Spanish classes! I already had a fair base of spanish, so adding in grammar and vocabulary and Ecuadorian terms and slang was so exciting. I will not lie, I go to bed every day with a headache from focusing so hard to understand everyone around me! Praying that I catch on quickly!
I'd like to share 2 stories of the Lord's faithfulness during our first weeks here.
Firstly, if you know Rory, you know he loves sports. Sports ministry and sharing the gospel through sports has always been a passion of his and something he is so good at. We prayed to find people who didn't know the Lord for Rory to play basketball with. By the grace of God, a group of Venezualen men who happen to be incredible at basketball and also non-believers dropped right into Rory's path. Now they are all in a league together and Rory is right in the thick of it. Praise the Lord. One of the men named Franklin has been very unsure about his spirituality and Rory was able to share the gospel with him. The next day, poor Frankling got in a horrible motorcycle accident and messaged Rory in the middle of the night to pray for him and come see him. Rory has been going to the hospital frequently to continue loving on Franklin, bringing him clothes, praying for him and reading him scripture. We are believing that Franklin is going to know Christ so soon. Pray for him please!!
Secondly, I was feeling a bit discouraged at a worship night for young adults that our team coordinated because a woman was sitting next to me weeping and I could not communicate in Spanish what I felt on my heart to share with her. I kneeled with her and wept, feeling the weight of the language barrier so heavily. I prayed over her in English, and felt the Lord speak to me, "Claire, I am using you even now. I will still speak to this woman what I have to say. Continue to pray to me." So I continued to beg God to cover this woman in peace and to speak to her. As I asked the Lord for this, my friend on the other side of her began to pray over her in Spanish exactly what I had needed to say. I cried and cried, thanking the Lord for his goodness. He uses us at our weakest moments, where we think we are helpless and useless. When I felt like a failure, God humbled me and just asked me to pray. Sometimes that is all we can do, and God makes miracluous, beautiful things from it.
We love it here. The weather, the joyful people, rich culture, delicious food, and so many people wanting to know Christ. We are so excited to get settled. We are currently waiting for the house we will be renting to be ready. We are very ready to not be vagabonds and to get to have a place of our own here. Our Cuencan family has been so beyond generous with their time and homes and have treated us way too well! My parents are here for 2 weeks and we have been so happy sharing the city and people with them. Our first medical brigade is next week and we begin many other ministries then as well. Full throttle is coming so soon! Enjoying the rest (ish) and ready to begin our life here. We love you. Hopefully my next update will be more timely. Thank you all for your love and support and patience!
Hi Guys, just wanted to encourage you with my experience when I was a missionary in Mexico. Even though I am a spanish speaking person my Spanish wasn’t needed since I had gone to a Christian boarding school for deaf children. I did not know any sign language. I was discouraged for a very long time, I had even questioned myself and God if going there had been the right choice. For my first couple months it took a lot of me to try to try to keep doing what God had called of me to do.
I remember the day that I realized I could understand everything the girls were saying and my heart filled with joy and praise…
This update just warms my heart. I feel the Lord’s hand over your time as missionaries and His people. What a joy it is to walk in your purpose. Praying for you all always.