Earlier this year I shared a prayer request for people facing flooding here in Ecuador because of the heavy rainy season, and certainly you have been praying for all of them. I am convinced that the hand of God was with them — and your prayers were answered. Praise be to God!
One day, as usual, we were in our family prayer moment and the Lord spoke to me about those affected in the flood through this word from Deuteronomy 15:7 — “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.” I began to reflect on the meaning of that word and what God wanted me to do. Where are the poor?
At the office the next day, we received notice that a family of six from Colorado would be visiting Ecuador in a week to learn about the work that Paz y Esperanza (Peace and Hope) is doing, and they requested the opportunity to do a site visit. We called some of our clients who live in a marginal zone to see if they would be willing to accept a visit from this family. They agreed and opened their doors.
When the Colorado family arrived in Guayaquil, I was the one who accompanied them for the site visit because of the spiritual approach that I have with these clients and also the need for translation. Traveling from our office toward the marginal zone, Guayaquil city was so beautiful and it amazed our visitors to see the kind of progress that the country is making. But entering the marginal zone was a different story… [It was] a shock to see the tremendous poverty people are living with, and our guests changed their point of view of praising the beauty of Ecuador and began to see how the majority are suffering and living under poverty. We visited two families who are clients of Paz y Esperanza because of a history of abuse within the family. After completing our visit we returned to the office for feedback and dialogue.
From the perspective of this visit, I understood that God was preparing me to see what is happening in this community. I was challenged to do what was right and to think about some actions of practical response to the needs of this community. First John 3:17-18 says, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
We took the decision at Paz y Esperanza to begin with ourselves, bringing any extra clothes, food or other items that could be given away to help others. We engaged other organizations that collaborate with Paz y Esperanza to do the same, and a month later we were able to collect clothes, food, kitchen materials, etc., and give them to this community that was totally desperate and revive their hope that through God everything is possible. It was a good moment to share the faith that is in Jesus through his resurrection.
Please join us in prayer for those affected by recent flooding in our area; and if God is touching your heart in this way, gifts may also be sent to WMPL and designated for “Ecuador flooding” under our ministry fund. May the Lord bless you!