From Yancy:
Have I ever mentioned what amazing kids we have at Grace Chapel? Well let me say that if I didn’t that was a huge disservice on my part and I must humbly apologize. Our kids are simply awesome (just please don’t let them know you heard that from me or I will never hear the end of it)!
This weekend was the Foursquare Children’s Workers conference in Ecuador. Over two hundred school teachers, children’s ministry workers and leaders from all over Ecuador came to the Las Conchas hotel in Salinas over the weekend to attend.
Our kids had a job…to assist in serving meals and helping with preparations for the conference, ministering, and performing in some special events. It was very hard work, and by the time Sunday rolled around the kids were exhausted.
I must admit I was glad to be behind the safety of my camera for those three days. But watching through my viewfinder it was clear the kids were up to the task. They performed their jobs admirably and did so with great attitudes. I am very proud of these kids, and you should be too.
Of course my job of simply chronicling our mission team’s experiences became a bit more complicated when I was asked by Pastor Danny to present a special video for the leadership at the conference. He wanted to present an overview of the events at the conference and some well wishes and reflections from our team. I was honored to be asked and burned a little midnight oil Saturday night to complete the task.
But, ultimately at the end of the day all of the hard work and efforts from the whole team (from Warren and the cooking crew, to Bob managing clean up, and the ladies preparing dishes and cleaning) it was more than worth it. The thanks we received at the end of the conference was overwhelming. We were treated like royalty. Everyone wanted to thank us, have their picture taken with us, exchange email addresses, or just simply shake our hand or give us a hug.
Reflecting on this weekend’s events it really just struck me how often the Lord gently directs us along our course even when we are completely oblivious to what is going on around us (call it the Calvinist in me). Now, let me tell you all a little secret; for those that don’t know, I served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in the Republic of Panama for almost eight years…both of my children, Gabrielle (the oldest) and Kiersten were adopted in Panama…so I have experienced Latin America before, this is nothing new to me. Now for secret number two; just a couple of weeks ago I was not looking forward to going on this mission at all. I really didn’t know why I was going, or what exactly I was supposed to do.
But of course sometimes God has a way of slowly revealing his purpose to you in a way (at least in my case) that just make you sit back and say “Duh, why didn’t I see that before?” Or as Pastor Richard often says the Lord just knocks you on the head and says “Hello???” In my case it came together Thursday night.
We gathered as a team along with Mary and Pastor Leo to pray for the conference and for each other…it was a powerful time in the presence of the Lord. The Lord gave me a clear vision of the conference room ablaze with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and just like the movie Backdraft, as soon as the conference goers left the room the fire exploded out of the door and set the entire country of Ecuador on fire for Jesus.
We began to wrap up praying and Rae asked if anyone had heard anything. Well, the first to speak was Jennifer who had seen the conference goers walk into the main auditorium and as they gathered the room became consumed with the fire of the Holy Spirit. I was floored; the Lord had basically given me the sequel to her vision, so I quickly raised my hand and shared what I had seen. Well, as the night went on I could feel the Lord pressing me, that there was more…then He started to reveal more to me.
There was a reason for me living in Panama for nearly eight years, there was a reason I have two children from Latin America, and why I have a deep love and compassion for the children of this region. There was a reason He gave me the talents I have.
You know it’s funny, the other day we were again praying as a team and Dana had a word from the Lord for me that said that my camera and I were like the eye of the Lord, that we could show people the truth of what’s going on around us. Maybe that’s what I’m supposed to do…show the world the tremendous needs in this part of the world. Or maybe develop children’s Christian video curriculum for Latin America…I’m not sure.
But I do know this much, my purpose is here in Latin America…my heart is here.