Note from Ivan

I want to tell you the story about this picture.
It is 3 years from that day (May 10th, 2012), we haven’t repeated it but it was a great challenge. A great man named Dan and his friend, Scott, visited Shell where they heard rumors about a YL Club. We always had club on Fridays but Dan and Scott had to leave the country on Friday, so they asked me if there was a way to do club on Thursday, the truth is that any club director would not be open to a proposal like that for several reasons. It is a work day, the leaders and kids have class or work the following day, which is why we have club on Friday nights and everyone knows and is used to club on Friday. I could give more excuses but I never said them, honestly I was not sure if it was a good idea but I talked to the leadership team to organize and to be able to meet this challenge of doing club on Thursday. We left to do contact Wednesday night in the park of Shell, it was a beautiful night that I will never forget. We all left to do contact and I remember the games and the smiles, the shyness to get close to teens you don’t know. I think some, including myself, were not very encouraged that there would be a big result. I forgot to mention, Dan is the Vice President of YL for Latin America and Scott is the trainer for Latin America. These men have seen and lived YL en many countries and have a lot of experience in YL. So, this set the expectations pretty high. Thursday arrived quickly and this night I prayed a lot for the meeting and by God’s faithfulness around 50 kids showed up, about 12 leaders (thank you to all who were there that night). I still remember several details: Jonathan sang a song from the university, Ibet led a game of cake in the face, Gato gave the message. It was a very fun club. Dan gave us t-shirts from YL and that night we wore them, I remember with great joy this moment. I still have the shirt, although it is now sleeveless and a lot older. I want to thank all of my friends and leaders who invested their time in YL. It brings me great joy that now 3 years later many of those youth continue with the vision. David and Naty started club in Puyo. Later we began in Quito with David C. and Pablo. Also, in Cuenca with Dayana and Marcela YL began. Wow, I know this is the work of God, in His timing, and with God’s people. I am extremely thankful to be a part of this story in Ecuador.
-Ivan