Celebrating 20 years of God's faithfulness of the Ecuador Hope House.
Vacation Bible School with the new church structure in the background.
“Set up signposts, make landmarks; set your heart toward the highway,
the way in which you went.” Jeremiah 31:21
One thing that over 25 years of working and living in the jungle in Ecuador has taught us is the importance of direction. Knowing where you have been is just as important as knowing where you are going. We always plan as much as we can, but we always submit those plans to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When he says “Stop,” we stop; when he says “Slow down,” we slow down; when he says “Speed up,” we speed up. Mainly because we see his presence in our lives as a guide, not simply as a backseat driver. This summer is no different than the dozens that have passed. In this season of life, the signposts point to seeds of the Gospel, the celebration of God’s faithfulness, and scaffolding for new expansion.
Over the summer, thousands of children from more than 80 villages will attend VBS (Vacation Bible School), and many will hear the Gospel for the first time. This is a time to watch the fields be planted, which will one day produce the promised harvest. All we have to do is open our eyes and see: the kids who once attended VBS are now the adults who run the program, the pastors and church leaders of each village that host it. Then there is the wonderful celebration of God’s faithful provision and hand that has been on the Ecuador Hope House for the last 20 years. So many times we look at the big picture of the hundreds of little girls who have walked through our doors in search of safety and love, but we cannot help but think of them by name. Many stayed with us for many years while they completed high school. Some stayed close while attending college. And we only have to open our eyes and see that many of the former graduates, like Ela, Sofia, Selina, and Daniella, have chosen to serve as members of our staff.
And finally, that scaffolding. This year we are earnestly working to complete the new church building for the Sucúa Christian Center, the mother church for all the churches we have planted and will plant in the future. We have been working on this project for over 5 years, and throughout that process the Holy Spirit has told us to “Slow down,” and we did, but now we feel that he has said “Speed up,” and we are putting all our weight into getting the roof on and the block walls completed. We know that this church will be the anchor for continued work in the jungle well after our days are done.
Would you take a minute to pray with us for the seeds being sown through VBS? Will you take another minute and thank God with us for his faithfulness and the lives that have been and continue to be impacted by the Ecuador Hope House? And finally, would you pray for the construction of the new church, and, if you feel inclined, consider making a special donation to this project so we can push it over the line?
We cannot express how grateful we are for your partnership in prayer and your faithful giving over the years. Thank you for keeping us afloat and allowing the light of the Gospel to go into the dark places.
Your Missionaries,
Joil and Leah Marbut
To find out more or to partner with us, visit us at junglemissionary.com