May was a whirlwind.  We went from the Walk for Hope event to our 10-year ministry celebration to two weeks in Mexico.  Needless to say, just now we are getting around to putting things away.  As typically happens, when you plan a special event (especially for the glory of God) everything goes wrong!  For the 10 year celebration leaders planned their own in-person parties with kids and adults in their communities and then we all connected at a specific time for the virtual zoom party.  Obviously, we invited some of our friends over to our home for the celebration, planning to host the first half outside and then indoors for the zoom part.  2 days before the party, our landlord had a dump truck size of compost (aka manure) delivered to the property.  Then the pipe in our kitchen sink burst.  My cell phone battery died.  The computer we planned to use for the zoom call didn't have audio working.  The night before the party we spent hours trying to correctly pair devices to the TV.  One of the leaders who was supposed to be leading the zoom party was ill....as they say, when it rains it pours.  I sent out an SOS text to some of the prayer warriors in our life as it felt like we were receiving opposition from all sides.  Everyone needs people in their life they can call when there is manure in your life (literally and figuratively).  

Praise the Lord, the party happened and was a blessing!  A few hours later we quickly cleaned the house and packed our bags to leave for Mexico in the early morning hours.  The original plan was for Ivan and several of our our key leaders here in Ecuador to attend a training in Mexico for one week.  Unfortunately, a new restriction on travel requires Ecuadorians to have a visa to enter Mexico and we were unable to get appointments for visas in time.  So, I was invited to join Ivan (and we ended up taking Benji with us as well).  The first night at the training, a club talk was given about how God had something for each of us this week.  We broke into small groups and were supposed to discuss "Why are you here?"  This first talk really challenged me because I felt like I wasn't really "supposed" to be there, I was kind of there by default.  But I was reminded that God does not do things by mistake and He had something for me that week, if I was willing to keep my eyes and ears open to it.  

We were able to see a training for national leaders, modeled for us by the YL Mexico.  We were able to have some really good conversations with others and also talk with some of the Colombian team, who also attended and think through how does what we are seeing and hearing apply to our countries and our region.  We had the added bonus of seeing old friends and making lots of new ones.  We took a week as a family after the training to explore different parts of Mexico.  I couldn't help myself, when I saw they have Walmart in Mexico, we of course had to put that on our itinerary!  

The sunsets in Mexico were so beautiful.  What an honor to enjoy God's creation.  What a gift to be reminded that God pays attention to detail.  What a joy to look back over the last 10 years of YL ministry in Ecuador and look at pictures and be reminded of each story, each life that we have been a part of.  We don't know what the future holds.  But we can rest in the knowledge that where we are right now is God's place for us.  

1 Corinthians 7:23-24 (MSG)  "Friends, stay where you were called to be.  God is there.  Hold the high ground with him at your side."

Amazing group of people - making a difference in their communities!

Ivan giving a talk in Mexico

Benji - the luchador

This is Caro, our new admin for YL Ecuador.  She exudes this kind of joy all the time.  We are so happy to have her join our team!  Pray for her as she continues to learn how to do her role.