On August 10-15, I will be joining Compassion International on a trip to Ecuador. I will be traveling with about 20 people, including pastors and their spouses, to two Child Development Centers in the Quito region during that time. I am especially excited to bring my son Justin (age 19) on this trip, as he hasn’t had any international experience on the missions field (outside of our time living in British Columbia).
Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. They have been a leader in the area of providing physical, economic, education, medical, and spiritual assistance to children around the world. And I am privileged and humbled to be asked to be on this trip.
According to their website, Compassion International’s work in Ecuador began in 1974. Currently, more than 50,500 children participate in 200 Child Development Centers. Compassion works with church partners to provide Ecuadorian children the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and become all God has created them to be. For more info on Ecuador and Compassion’s involvement with the children of this country, slam it here.
There is something life-changing about being involved in missions. Though we will not really be doing anything significant during this trip, we will be inserting ourselves into the lives of people who are economically and culturally very different from us. We have a tendency to become wrapped up in the smallness of the worlds we live in. For me personally, I know that the predominantly white, upper middle class world of El Dorado Hills is way too insulated from the rest of the real world. Being involved in international missions pushes us outside of our comfort zones in a way that forces us to rely on God and see Him and His world in a much bigger and broader way. It is a reminder that God loves all people, is involved in all corners of the world, and calls us to be a part of His redemptive purposes.
For those of you who have not participated in international missions, I would strongly recommend that you do so. God becomes more real and profound in times like these.
During the time we are away, I will be participating in a technology fast (no Facebook, internet, email, iPods, cell phones…or blog updates!), but I will update the blog as soon as I get back. Your prayers are appreciated, for me and especially for Justin.
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