Ecuador Mission
October 15,2003
Dear Pastor Gary & Pastor Faye,
We just returned from our trip to the country
of Ecuador. I would like to share with you the events of the
time we spent there. Without all of the spiritual support and
prayers of all those who stood in support of Rebirth International
Ministries, this mission would have been impossible. I thank God for all
of your help as you stood in the gap as a spiritual covering.
We encountered such a large need for funds and because that
need was met, our missionary team of 12 from the US was able
to bless every single child, every day, at every meeting. Not
one child was left behind. Toys were given to each one. Orphans
and widows received clothing.
In Ecuador, it is the norm for the Quichua Indians to send only
one child per family to school due to the inability to afford
school supplies. Your financial support made it possible for
our team to purchase thousands of school supplies, providing
every single child with the means to receive an education, for
as long as the supplies will last.
Your prayerful support also made it possible to meet the medical
needs of the Quichua Indian Ecuadorian people. We were able to
buy additional medicine there, as the need was greater than we
expected and for which we were prepared. Additionally, we were
able to feed hundreds on a daily basis. Both children and adults
were provided with daily nourishment by our team. We experienced
some of the indigenous culture of the area as we watched and
then imitated the women using broom sticks to mix food contained
in large cast iron pots.
Due to the lack of money, the Ecuadorian culture allows for
only one-room huts with straw roofs. The inhabitants sleep with
all of their animals in doors to prevent theft of this precious
asset. In between them and their animals, lies a rustic kitchen
and grain stores for livestock. Their sleeping arrangements consist
of a thin piece of wood board with straw laid on top. Whenever
the bus was unable to make it up the very steep slopes, and we
had to hike the mountains, we soon learned the day-to-day routine
of the Ecuadorians outside the home. They are mountain dwellers
and work plots of land for farming on steep slopes. We marveled
at their farming skills, as we struggled to keep our balance
just trying to walk up the slopes.
The trip centered around 3 women’s meetings, with a duration
of 2 days for each meeting. During each meeting, the men of our
group worked on the building of a church in the city of Chismaute,
Ecuador. Working at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the men accomplished
the establishment of 4 concrete walls. The locals will continue
the vision, completing the very first church in the area.
While the men worked and the women met for education, teaching
and the hearing of the gospel, the medical team worked non-stop
from 10am to 5pm attending to a long list of those needing attention.
When the children were not receiving medical attention, they
attended one school session in the morning and one in the afternoon,
learning Biblical stories, singing and making crafts. Once again,
because of your generous financial support, we blessed each child
with crayons and Christian coloring books.
The first women’s meeting took place in San Carlos de
Tipin, Chimborazo. Seven people experienced the baptism of the
Holy Spirit. Many more rededicated their lives to serve God.
The second women’s meeting, taking place in Illuchi, Cotopaxi,
was filled with the blessings of God. God ministered to the people’s
hearts in their own language. Through the tears of women, God’s
presence was visible. Some women reported seeing visions and
feeling the fire of God over their lives.
During the final meeting in Cachisagua, Bolivar, we were pleasantly
surprised to receive a triumphant entrance by the children who
stood in long parallel lines before the church. We were touched
by their demonstration of happiness at having us be among them.
Many people were saved during the last meeting. A large number
of teenagers responded to the call to receive Jesus Christ in
their lives. By the meeting’s end, the women stood ready
to spiritually fight for their country and for their faith.
When not ministering to the Ecuadorian people, our team experienced
the awesome beauty of God’s creation in the country’s
breathtaking nature. We hiked through the Amazon River,
explored the jungles, and swung on Tarzan vines. All the while,
we praised God for the opportunity to touch the lives of his
people across the globe that was only made possible by God’s
grace and by all those who supported Rebirth International Ministry.
Thank you for your support. The trip was a true blessing because
of you.
Your Missionary,
Brygitte Lusinski
|
