CREATIVITY AT WORK
from sketches to masterpieces
Untethered Pilgrims
Admittedly, it has been months since I have been able to write. Freedom and I have been feeling like there’s a new season on the horizon since we sold our home in the States. I think there was something quite final about that. Over the years, we have moved many times. We realize that in the midst of so many changes, we lose things and give things away. Things with history, objects that lived with us, stop telling the story of our lives. We have a few keepsakes but no real heirlooms. And while we know that God has called us to be missionaries, it doesn’t take away the pain we sometimes feel as untethered pilgrims, with temporary “tents,” so to speak.
We have been blessed to continue the work we do with kids, teens, and young adults. Freedom was able to publish our latest Revelations of the Artist book in March. Meetings in our home have continued to be a blessing, and we had the pleasure of joining a new home church in Quito Ecuador, called Ekballo Church.
All the while, we have felt a sort of incubation in the Spirit—a type of silence and seeking after Him.
The completion of our fifth year here will come in September, and has shown that we have accomplished what we have set out to do in that time. We felt that we should ask the Lord to show us what the next five years will look like. Interestingly, this is around the time our daughter, Kayla, said she would want to go back home. But she has made Ecuador her home, Quito is the city she loves, and her small group of friends has become a light of belonging that we have prayed for. She is not ready to leave this calling and this place. And neither are we.
So we ask daily, “Lord, show us how our work should change? Should we continue to work in the same way?” There arose a longing for a space of our own. When we look back, we see that a plan for a creative center was always in our hearts, as expressed in our first book. And so, we find ourselves in a huge city, wondering where God would place an art center for ministry, and how it would be possible?
For starters, we do feel equipped for it. We feel trained for this work, and that is a gift from the Lord. We only need to find the place and the community of faith that will be built from it.
We know God is faithful. We can trust Him. Change is something very common to the missionary. We listen, we go, we sow seeds, we water, and then we listen and go again, as He leads.
February and March brought us a season of retreats. Two in which we both served separately, one in which we served together, and one in which I went as a participant. There were definitely some highlights as we saw lives changed and hearts brought closer to the Lord.
KIDS CAMP
During a kids' camp, little girls talked about the names they have been called by their parents, family members, and their peers. Through tears and prayers, we could see God healing them and comforting these painful places in their lives. Some of the girls said these hurtful names out loud.
“Useless.” “Stupid.”
Two girls cried because their moms are gone, one in jail, the other left to the United States. Dads are not even mentioned sometimes.
When we served with the homeschoolers’ retreat, we listened to two young men share about their struggles with loss. As ministry/missionary kids, they have experienced extreme change and loss many times. It’s a reminder that if we are challenged by these things, the kids also feel the effects of it in ways that are probably more difficult.
Teen Retreat
One of our teens said, “I’m losing my friends, and my cousins are also moving back to the States; I just don’t feel I am doing anything important here.”
Another teen said, “I am leaving my life here in Ecuador, my dad is stressed out, and he takes out his frustrations on me sometimes. I just feel like I’m not good enough.”
Still another said, “It’s been a long time since I’ve heard the Lord, thank you for speaking to us.”
We heard several teens talk about loneliness; some made a commitment to the Lord and to each other.
We’ve had some wonderful times in ministry. There are stories that we treasure in our hearts. We are grateful. Even though we don’t have many answers right now, we know God has called us to this beautiful country and its people. My people.
For us, building a “home” means having a place in which to cultivate hearts that love Him. It means that He is our heirloom, our treasure in the pots of clay that we are.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers, and thank you for your continued support. If you would like to support our efforts in opening an art ministry center, you can do so in two ways:
With gratitude,
2025 Reflection
Teen Retreat 2025
As the year comes to an end, we reflect on the blessings we have had. Honestly, as missionaries, we measure our success by how much we were able to pour into the relationships around us. We have said goodbye to some of our youth who have graduated high school, but we have also welcomed new friends and young adults who tell us they are thankful to have a home to come to for encouragement. We have done workshops and outreach to two new communities, all the while, sharing the Good News of Jesus while creating a space of rest and creativity. In November, Freedom was able to lead three teaching sessions at a teen retreat while I led the creative sessions. I have been weekly pioneering art sessions in a site that we previously only saw once a year.
It hasn’t all been output. The Lord led us to a time of rest as well since we haven’t taken time for furlough these four and a half years. While furlough for missionaries usually means meetings, training, speaking, and fundraising; we actually took time to rest at home and focused on some devotional time as a family. Our daughter Kayla was going through sadness, having said goodbye to most of her friends who were all older than her. There are also new connections and friends for Kayla that came out of the teen retreat. We are grateful for this comfort for our daughter and look forward to some new experiences for her. One of our ministry sites remained closed in September and October, so we found that the fall was a much needed time for tender loving care for our family.
Some of the teens we serve — Kayla is second from the right and Nancy and I are second and third from the left. We are partnered with the Bormans (Father & Daughter Team) first on the left and right.
The month of December brought us many new experiences connecting with several groups like End Slavery Ecuador, the Carmen Bajo women’s ministry, and a remote public school in an indigenous community. This group of kids live about four hours from Quito. The small school had only four rooms. We belive the Lord will lead us back there to support and partner with a local youth leader named Sarita.
What we have ahead of us seems, at times, insurmountable and yet we know that God is able to give us the strength we need. We will be going to the States for a couple of weeks on New Year’s Eve to empty out our house in Georgia. We are in the process of selling it as we cannot continue to maintain it without a huge financial toll. We look forward to reconnecting with our sending church and, for Kayla and I, it will also feel comforting since we haven’t been back in about two years. Freedom’s mom, Carmen or Mama Llama, has undergone an intense treatment in her fight with cancer and now suffers from after effects. It will be an important time to visit with her and see how we can help her situation.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for partnering with us financially and in prayer. We would not be here without you. One of the greatest highlights this year has been how much hosting we have done out of our home in Quito. We have invited so many people to come and break bread and have Bible study with us. It seems incredible that we are able to serve so many communities from such a variety of backgrounds. How can we be in connection with over 400+ children and young adults, with seven ministry sites from a variety of backgrounds. It can only be because we are not alone. We are empowered by the Lord and we have you, our partners in this ministry. As the year comes to an end, please consider an end of year donation. Tell your church or small group about our work. We would love to share about our passion to reach the children, teens, and young adults in Ecuador.
Gather
Teen Retreat 2025: Going into the Unknown
Does it seem to you that time is going by so fast? I can’t believe we’re arriving at the holiday season. Yet, we can only be in the moment in which we find ourselves. God is so wise to allow us to use our feet to help us meet our most basic needs. Even though we drive, fly, or multitask and accomplish so much sometimes with a click of a finger, we still need to take steps in order to wash our face, prepare our meals, and go to work. Let us savor our small, seemingly insignificant, steps because they are the mode by which we are able to keep in step with the Spirit.
The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up. Exodus 19:20
Sometimes I read verses like this and think of how quickly I can read it, but for Moses it took breathing, thinking, praying, and laborious stepping up to meet with God on behalf of the people. He ascended the mountain about eight times!
There are days when the six blocks uphill from the supermarket here in Quito, one of the highest cities on Earth, just seem like too much. Dramatically, I say to our daughter Kayla, “Save yourself and leave me here.” We chuckle because she makes strides that appear effortless, while I sometimes struggle to take tiny incremental steps and, after all this time, seem to still be acclimating to this hill. She pulls my arm, doesn’t let me go, and says, “Come on Mother. We’re almost home.”
Both she and I arrive home by each step that we have taken together. How different your walk can be from the person right next to you! How easily you might trod while the other feels pain and exhaustion. This season, let us remember to be gentle. To be slow and kind. To be aware that while the hill isn’t very high, only over 9,000 feet of elevation, we might need to pull someone along with us. That is, to share our strength, to gather a fellow traveler with us. The goal is Home with Christ, but we are not meant to be traveling alone. Those around us may need our support, we may need theirs. And pretty soon we will be gathered together and we will rest.
~Nancy
Thomas has a Question
It had been a wild week. Freedom was traveling for several weeks, and I was determined to host the Y’ALL (Young Adult Life & Leadership) group at our house. It had been a rough week, and yet I knew that I didn’t want more time to pass between meetings. Y’ALL is our monthly gathering for older teens and early 20s, which meets at our house. Hosting it is no small feat. We usually think there will be about 7 people coming, and end up with about 12 to 15. The meeting is pretty long, as some kids come from the outskirts of Quito, and it includes a meal. The idea is that it is long enough for it to be worth the travel, and it should have a meal because it is so long.
I had spent the previous day cleaning with Kayla’s help and several days planning the lesson, putting the worship songs in order, and the only thing left was cooking. However, it is easier said than done. I was still wrapping things up right up to the last minute, and, thankfully, the food turned out decent. This group is mostly bilingual, and the lesson is given in English, with some translation. To be very honest, I am always nervous. It just doesn’t get easier. I have heard it said that pastors and speakers do get stage fright, and that is a comfort. This is just a home group, after all. Let me share a little bit more about myself. My 8-year-old self (yes, even my teen self) would hide in my room whenever, in rare moments, my mother had any guests. You could say I had social anxiety. With Freedom gone, I felt it even more.
I ran an ice breaker and was pleased to see that the kids just wanted a reason to converse. By now, I know these precious souls well. I know that about half of them also suffer from social angst and timidity. After the meal, I mustered up the courage to break up the Uno games and bring everyone to the living room. That night, the living room was full and all eyes were on me. As nervous as I had been, the topic was so dear to my heart, and I forgot about myself. We spoke of Thomas, the one who doubted. We talked about the desire to know, to really know that God is there. We talked about the invitation Thomas received, and what an honor.
“Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27
“Have you ever thought about it?” I asked. “Thomas was invited to enter his wounds.”
It was palpable, the desire to know God more. We often see Thomas’ questions as a negative thing. And yet the Son of God saw this as an invitation for more intimacy and growth for Thomas. He called him out, not to humiliate him, but to say, “Here I Am, Thomas. I am not surprised by your questions. And I want you to see and believe.”
We eventually talked about getting scrapes, cuts, and scars, and did a little Scar Show and Tell, which brought some laughter. I happen to have a huge scar on my forehead!
When the lesson came to a close, the question arose, “When you enter into the wounds of Christ, it means you enter into an intimate place. Would you now allow the Lord to enter into your deepest wound?” It was as if a mic dropped. This was nowhere in my notes, and it seemed that it was a question from the Holy Spirit. There was a weighty silence. I felt it was a precious moment. With the question lingering in the air, I knew that we didn’t need to answer out loud; it was time to talk to God. We started our worship time, where we could ponder these things.
After the night was over, I kept thinking about it. How close to His own heart are our broken hearts? Even our doubts don’t push him away or draw us farther from His reach. I was marveling at the faithfulness of Christ when a friend started texting me. She had recently survived a bicycle crash in which she needed plastic surgery to reconstruct her nose; this happened in the same month that she lost her father. I decided to encourage her with the same words from our small group. And it was a full circle, we enter his wounds and are healed because we find out that he was willing to enter our wounds, doubts, and fears, to answer our deepest need.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
As always, we are grateful for your support and prayers,
Delivery!
We did something genius this summer. We invited groups of friends to help us pack our SmartBoxes and write encouraging notes to each child. Sure, we did this last year with our visiting team, but with 250 boxes (woohoo!) to prepare before September 1st, we knew we had to expand the packing sessions to more people. We invited young adults and had packing nights, a visiting team that had several hours to spare asked to help out, and finally, we asked the staff from one of our sites to come over and help us. The latter proved to be extra heartfelt. We were able to get the boxes done pretty well with other groups, and truthfully, we couldn’t get it done without everyone that helped out, but we did notice that the staff from Carmen Bajo expressed pride and honor to be able to help out because they had a relationship with each child. When it came time to write notes, they spent so much time carefully writing to each child and decorating each card. One of the moms came to help out, and when she wrote her card to her son, she did it with so much love and enthusiasm. We realized that the staff needed this, a set aside time to gift-give and encourage the kids they serve day to day.
We feel very safe when visiting our sites, but we must always remember that the shelter of the ministries and churches where we serve is a haven from some really harsh realities. There is a pattern of domestic violence in the homes, often coming from the mothers; the streets offer really bad options, and neglect is common.
Recently, at one of our “packing parties,” I had the opportunity to sit with a young girl from one of the centers. She wasn’t supposed to be there, but she had run away from home and found herself at a SMartBox boxing session. We have known her since she was twelve, and she is now sixteen. Always with a boy at her side, a different one each year, it seemed. We have always tried to connect with her. Nothing seemed to work. She barely said hello and rarely responded to our efforts.
Something changed that day as we sat on the steps to our house. I sat and listened to her reasons for running away. I asked questions about her plans. And I told her that I was glad she was there and that she trusted me enough to share her story. I prayed for her, and then the group left. A couple of weeks went by, and then it was time to deliver the boxes to Carmen Bajo, where she had gone for years.
Something was different. She practically ran over to me and gave me a true hug, not one I initiated. And her smile told me something. “I am happy you are here, thank you for loving me.”
She hugged me several times that day, sharing more about her grief. About her cousin, who is possibly going to jail for stabbing someone, resulting in a fatality; the boy is seventeen!
When I shared the Word of God yesterday, she made sure everyone around her was listening, which is something new and encouraging.
And finally, though she is home now, her mother refused to help her with some school expenses. Another blow. So, as I wrap up this story, I am getting ready to go buy articles for her uniform. It seems like something I can do for her, give her a proverbial cup of water and prove to her once again that God loves her and we do too.
If you gave towards SmartBox this year, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. You are making a difference. You are helping us create a space so that the Word of God can go just a little further into the soils of hearts softened by a simple gift.
With gratitude,
Eyes to see and ears to hear…
We have been teaching teens and young adults about having spiritual senses. During a recent bible study, I shared about spiritual insight, discernment, and having “eyes to see.” My primary reference was Matthew 13, where Jesus taught the crowds through parables. After the parable of the sower, the disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” To which Jesus replied,
“Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them."
My question was, why would the Lord give to some and not others? The answer is reasonably simple yet profound. God gives to everyone, and abundantly so. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son...," For an earthly king, the kingdom is everything. It's his world. And the king's son is the hope and glory of that kingdom. So, how much more did God give when he gave Jesus to us? Jesus is God's ultimate personal gift to mankind. But what we do with that gift will determine our experience with the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. When Jesus said that "the knowledge of the secrets" was given, he was referring to the revelation of who he is to the people of his kingdom. This is huge! Many attend church for many reasons. Yet if it's not to partake in the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, the gift of Jesus will not be received fully. In other words, Jesus is partly taken and not partaken. When the Lord gives us knowledge of himself, it must be eagerly absorbed and consumed, empowering us for abundant living. His disciples followed him closely, surrounding him with their devotion, serving and partaking not just of his teachings but of the essence of his life. He is our source and sustenance. We know we have life abundantly when we are overflowing with his life and his gifts. And to those who have eyes to see will see beyond the gift to the giver of the gift, and for those who have ears to hear will hear not only the words of God being preached but the voice of God in the Spirit. And those who have the heart to understand will not only understand but also overcome the world and will also inherit all things of the kingdom of God.
Read 1 John 5:4-5; Revelation 21:7
In conclusion, what does this mean for us as believers and followers of our King, Jesus? It means that we are citizens of heaven and ought to be identified with heavenly things and the fruits of the Spirit. It means we are ambassadors under his authority, to represent him and his kingdom. It's not only about following principles and precepts. We have the blessed honor of glorifying the Lord and his kingdom.
I have so much more to share on this, but I will leave you with Paul's prayer in Ephesians, "...that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance." Ephesians 1:18
Entering In.
I was listening to the song “Most Beautiful” sung by Maverick City for my devotional time this morning. At some point, the song refers to the gaze of Jesus whilst on the Cross. It really hit me. His “yes” came at a heavy price. This is one way we know that joy and happiness are two distinct things. Happiness may have joy in it, but joy goes deeper. Joy suffers well. Joy digs deep. Joy looks forward, calling things that are not as though they were, and then waiting for them with unrelenting faith. The joy of Jesus saw your face at Calvary. I don’t know how else to express it, but mothers know, it’s the satisfaction of enduring love, so you can one day gaze into your child’s eyes. The expectant mother must “see” her child and imagine her or him in her arms. Joy from the womb, one may say, awaits and prepares for the greater joy of the tangible and carnate child. Beholding turns into holding.
I believe the Joy of Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit is still waiting to hold you, tangibly, at His table where the place is set for you, by name. We can enter it, past the veil that was torn, which is Jesus' body, into an intimate place with the God of the Universe. It’s a beautiful thing. Why stay afar? Why only touch the hem of his robe? Why not lean on his breast like John (I’m so jealous of him), and listen to the heartbeat of your Maker?
Imagine yourself entering in. The barefoot steps each have a name. Like grass beneath your feet, or sand, breathe in, breathe out. Prayer, Forgiveness, Faith, Acceptance, Love, Desire, Sacrifice…
I don’t know what your steps are. The essentials, I think, are forgiveness and faith. But the point is, enter in. Enter in.
One day, corruptible will be replaced with incorruptible, and he promises a new way to be with Him. Face to face. Beheld, beloved, eyes wide open. Will there be steps to enter in, at that point? Because I think I will rather stay there and never leave. I love the fact that the resurrected Christ ate food, had scars, lingered, taught, and invited Thomas to touch his wounds.
What joy was fulfilled! And yet, He still waits for more guests to come. He is still growing His family. The names are waiting to be written at His table. He said, “Yes.” Won’t you also say “yes”? It cost Him more than we can know. But in just one breath, you can enter deeper still into His love.
Oh, the riches of knowing Him!
Verses that inspired this post:
The veil and the body of Jesus: Hebrews 10:20
John resting on Jesus: John 13:23
Corruptible and Incorruptible: 1 Corinthians 15:53-55
Heavenly Feast: Revelation 19:9
Thomas sees and touches Jesus’ wounds: John 20:27-31
Enduring Joy: Isaiah 51:11; John 15:11; Romans 15:13
Hosting
Papa Wilson (El Maestro) working on the guest room floor.
As I write, we are in the process of helping a fellow missionary named Grace. She is originally from the jungle, and her sister, Ruth, needs a safe place to stay while she starts her college journey. With their budget being only $130 per month, you could imagine that most places within that range are sketchy at best, and dangerous at worst. Our landlord allowed us to use an extra room for storage (Freedom’s woodworking man cave), so we are now working with the family (Ruth’s dad, Wilson) to turn it into a usable bedroom. What a blessing to provide a room for a college student. We know firsthand how it feels to be looking for something good and affordable for our adult sons, and we are eager to serve this way.
Although we are taking a small break this month, we have still been very busy hosting a missionary couple from the jungle for a couple of days, and an intern from the Quito House of Prayer for a month. I remember us offering our space to the Lord and I think that is a prayer He loves to answer.
Beach Retreat: The theme was Holy.
Our team: The Yellow-Spotted Lizards, from the book/movie Holes.
This past weekend, Freedom and I spent 4 days with homeschooled teens at the coast, about 6 hours away. It was an amazing time! We connected with the teens, and some of them dedicated their hearts to Christ, and our relationship with them deepened. Freedom and I were co-leaders for our team of 10 kids (there were 40 kids in total, each team had two leaders). A few of us on our team ended the time in tears because of the love we felt from each other. I know that not all of them truly comprehend yet what their relationship with God is supposed to be, but they surely felt agape love within the group. I would call this time with the homeschoolers a very joyful time in ministry, a sort of mountaintop experience, sharing with them something so precious. We read over the story of the Prodigal Son. When he returned to the Father, he found that he was still a son. His position and what his father called him had not changed. We prayed fervently that the kids would understand what it means to abide, truly abide with Christ. One of the girls who was on my team last year was baptized on the beach and she read her testimony to us. I had no idea that she was in an intense spiritual battle in last year’s retreat. I only felt the battle through extreme anxiety, trials, and emotional ups and downs, and eventually, a couple of us joined in intense prayer over this situation. It turns out that she wanted to kill herself during that retreat. But Jesus… Instead, she died to herself and made Christ her Lord and came back this year to publicly declare that she is a Christian. She credits her team’s extreme love and the patience of the leaders who finally broke through her walls and gave her a reason to desire Christ.
Please pray for Samantha’s walk with Jesus.
Samantha was baptized at the beach.
Ministry Site News
Entrance mural at Carmen Bajo “Regalo de Dios.”
As this is the season for short-term teams, we have been able to help out with some visiting teams at one of our sites. Freedom designed a mural that we accomplished within 5 hours at the Carmen Bajo Center. The Pastor, Fabian, was thankful because he realized that it makes a difference when you have beauty all around you.
Miller working on structure.
We were also invited to join in a home visit that was so sweet, and yet broke our hearts. It was the house (it was just a room, really) of Miller and his mom, plus 3 siblings. We hadn’t seen Miller in several months but did learn that his father had left them to fend for themselves. To survive, the mom told us how she is now a recycler. As she nursed her baby, she said that the kids have to come to work with her. They take turns holding the baby and finding recyclables, and 9-year-old Miller simply must go to work before going to school each day. Miller is a very intelligent boy, who loved coming to art class and church. Last year Miller was using his hands to build a toothpick structure and this year he is picking through trash. The most they can look forward to making on a good day is $10. All we could do was pray and tell him to do his best, that we love him, and that we pray for him by name.
Please pray for Miller and his family.
Jeremiah and Freedom arm wrestling.
There have been many sad things happening as well since January. There have been a couple of robberies in our neighborhood recently and we continue to ask for prayers for safety. Thankfully, most people come and go without a problem. One of the dear ladies from one of our sites was looking for an opportunity to further her studies. She found herself in a bad part of town and was robbed and assaulted. In our furthest site, Gualsaqui, the pastor’s son, lost his girlfriend to a bus accident. And finally, one of the longtime missionaries that we work with, Ron Borman, lost his brother, Randy, to cancer. Randy Borman believed so strongly in the rights of the Cofan tribe and served for decades with them. He even became one of the chiefs when he started his own Cofan community. He is well known for his TED talk about the Cofan people and culture. Pray for his family and especially for his adopted son, a Cofan teen named Jeremiah, who is in a rebellious stage and grieving the loss of his dad. Freedom had a chance to challenge Jeremiah’s jungle strength in an arm wrestling match that he barely won and also spent some time with him.
Be a Night Light.
The screams were heard from our friend’s bagel shop. Our friend, the owner of the shop, went to investigate. He called me over to translate. I hesitated, but then I realized perhaps it was someone who needed a doctor or an ambulance. When I reached the figure slumped on some stairs, I could hear him mumbling. His face had tattoos, and his tattered look showed a rough lifestyle. He was in pain and mentioned someone giving him something - drugs? I couldn’t understand what.
“How can we help? Water? Hospital?” I said.
Then he said, “I’m just going to take my life.”
Almost before I could process, out of my mouth came, “No. In the name of Jesus, you still have life and purpose.”
The mumbling continued but with restraint, trying to hold back rage, until he began to curse God. Calling him a bad Father. He cursed the Holy Spirit, saying that would ensure his damnation because that is the unforgivable sin.
“So, he knows something about scripture,” I thought. An unanchored fragment that brought him little hope and even more determination to pull away from a new beginning.
He said other things toward God that I shouldn’t repeat, and by this time, Freedom came and stood with me. If soundwaves can be felt and seen, I felt and saw them flowing from his mouth. Yet all I could do was remain still and smile. I smiled at the boy within the man—the boy who was abandoned and taken advantage of, all the while he blamed God for all the evil done to him. He walked away.
There was no fear, only compassion. It was surprising. Have you ever felt surprised by the amount of compassion you have felt over a situation? When all reason would tell you to back away, to give up on someone, to save yourself. Yet you keep on believing, hoping, and loving. Perhaps this is what these verses are talking about:
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:6-7
I think it is the life and light of Jesus that abides in us, causing us to feel the heartbeat of a loving and good God. He is still becoming flesh in this world through his people. May we allow his love to overcome fear and let us be a night light for those who are wrestling and groping around in darkness.
Ministry News
Thankfully we are getting all the rain needed and the reservoirs are at capacity with the electricity back to normal.
Ecuador recently had elections and although there was not a definitive decision made, and voting takes place again in April, everything was peaceful. Being an Ecuadorian citizen, I had to travel to the South of Quito where my family used to live and vote there. It was quite an experience. The streets were filled with the smells of food, and entire roasted pigs were on display for the people in the neighborhood who came out to vote, early in the morning.
Since late September, Freedom and I have been traveling to three ministry sites each week to teach Art and English classes. We also have been assisting with the teens on Fridays and Sundays. We have also had the opportunity to bless missionaries in our home. We recently hosted a baby shower for a fellow missionary, with about 40 guests! We were also able to host the staff of End Slavery with a Sabbath time of pottery making.
As we near Spring, Freedom and I are realizing that, thanks to the Lord, SmartBox is growing. Each year I remind our recipient sites that we are only able to provide our educational kits as the Lord provides. And the Lord has provided! This is in large part due to a campaign called Spend Less to Give More, from our sending church, Cumberland Community Church, that runs each November and through the holiday season.
Starting in April, we will be scaling back from visiting sites to start initiating Project SmartBox effectively. We see something interesting happening. Our calendar year is naturally being split in half with about 6 months of visiting sites weekly and 6 months prepping SmartBox hosting events and missionaries. We think this is great. It gives us a connection to our sites but also allows us to serve them in other ways, like murals, art events with visiting teams, and SmartBox distribution.
Ministry Site Updates
Hugs! Hugs! Hugs!
I think by now the kids at our sites know that we are there to love and encourage them. It is very common for kids to run to us and fling themselves into the air to hug us. Thankfully, the ones that do this are small and easily caught! But even the older kids are starting to come for a hug. We have even noticed some teenagers lingering after classes just to talk. We know that our time is limited. Summer is quickly approaching and we don’t shy away from sharing the Gospel and scripture each time we are with our groups. There have been several people we know this year who have lost loved ones. How meaningful are the final words and actions of an eternal soul? We want to take every opportunity to share eternal truths and be very diligent in showcasing the love of God with urgency because time is so very short and precious.
Praise
In January, Freedom was able to travel to the States to take care of our house in Georgia and visit with our sons.
We have been kept safe in all our travels throughout Quito.
We have had some great connections with kids, teens, and staff at our sites.
SmartBox funding has grown and we can serve more kids this summer.
In addition to Spend Less to Give More, we have received generous financial support from the Larson Foundation and The Stonehaven School.
Prayer
It seems that the sale of our house is on pause for now as we look to move Freedom’s mother into our basement apartment. Pray for a blessed transition and that God will continue to provide for us to be able to keep the house.
Our son, Jonathan, decided to stay in Kentucky and continue working for now. He has applied to the University of Cincinnati and we are hoping that he gets into the Fashion program. Please pray that he will feel encouragement and peace in this waiting season.
Our son Joshua is working hard and maintaining himself amidst such a high cost of living. Please pray for safety and continued provision.
Kayla is surrounded by English speakers. We are very thankful for her group of friends but would like for her to learn a little more Spanish. Please pray that she will branch out to make connections when we are at the sites, as those are great opportunities for her. In short, we pray for Spanish-speaking friends for Kayla.
Imago Dei: Freedom is called to do street painting. He would like to sit with people in the street and paint their portraits. We have labored in prayer over this for years and we continue to do so, waiting on the Holy Spirit to put the pieces of this initiative together.
Meet Alice Nyaromo
This interview is especially important if you support or would like to make a positive difference through Project SmartBox Uganda:
My name is Nyaromo Alice. I am a 32-year-old Ugandan woman. I am a passionate educator who holds a bachelor’s degree in Education with Arts. I am a born-again Christian who loves Jesus Christ. I love music, travel, and adventure. I am a strong believer in transformational leadership and desire to cause change in the community in which I live. I am a product of charity. A long time ago, an American by the name of Mr. Wayne Walker left the comfort of his home in America and came to Uganda, where he started an orphanage where a number of us lived and were given a chance to attain quality education and were practically shown and taught the love of Jesus Christ!
I, having come from northern Uganda at the time of the civil war that lasted over 20 years, know that God had hand-picked me for a reason. As a result of Mr Wayne’s obedience to God, a seed was planted in my heart, and today, I’m so passionate about helping other people to achieve their Dreams through education in all ways that I can!
WHAT IS THE GENERAL CONDITION OF EDUCATION IN UGANDA?
Generally, education in Uganda comes in many forms. We have government-aided, private mediocre, and very high-end private schools. Private schools are very expensive, and while government-aided primary and secondary education are supposedly free, there are still associated costs that households must cover, including uniforms, school supplies, and school lunches, among many others. Also, the products they bake most times leave a lot to be desired. Most parents who have a little more money opt for affordable private schools as a middle ground. While all these schools charge fees, they also solicit lists of compulsory requirements.
WHEN DOES IT GET VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET OR CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION?
Learners drop out of school at different points and for many reasons. It’s very difficult for most young people to get into or continue during secondary school. Most young people from impoverished backgrounds or families will struggle to at least finish primary education, which is for seven years, but joining the secondary level most times is a bigger challenge. The secondary schools are fewer and far apart. Also, the requirements are much more owing to more subjects to cover. Most learners, especially in rural Uganda, don't go beyond the ordinary level.
WHO ARE THE MOST AFFECTED BY LACK OF EDUCATION, OR WHO ARE THE LEAST HELPED?
Both girls and boys are affected by lack of education however, young girls are the most affected. Away from marriage, fewer options exist for uneducated girls
In most communities, most parents consider it a waste of resources to educate a girl child as they are soon married off! However, in reality, this is not true; instead, to educate a girl is to educate a nation! Through education, future mothers are empowered to take care of themselves and their families.
However, personally as an educator, both boys and girls need assistance to remain in school and achieve their dreams to have a society where each and everyone is carrying out their roles and responsibilities respectively. Therefore, assistance is vital to anyone willing to remain in school and attain their dreams.
HOW CAN ASSISTANCE WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND OTHER ITEMS HELP?
The assistance with school supplies and other items will help improve the wellness of the individuals in different ways. In cases where an individual was not able to access study materials like books and pens, then one would consider this as a problem solved through the assistance given and can now concentrate on achieving their academic goals. The assistance will help reduce school dropouts or reduce school absenteeism. For instance, it’s on record that many teen girls miss school monthly during their menstrual periods due to a lack of sanitary towels or pads. Emotionally, an individual will be more settled and happier with not having to worry about where the school supplies will come from!
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES THAT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE A GOOD PICTURE OF THE CONDITION THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR?
Families with several children. Due to the high cost of paying school fees for several children at once, households prioritize which of their children should attend school. In most cases, boys’ education is prioritized over girls’ education. For instance, a mother once told me, One of my sons finished senior four and shouldn’t be home right now. He wanted to train as a driver. But we have to wait for another son who is doing vocational skills training to finish his course. We can’t afford to have both of them in school at the same time. However, when I asked about the daughter, she reluctantly said she was waiting for a good man to marry her off. Assistance given to such a family can help keep all the children in school.
Furthermore, In the event of the death of one or both parents, the surviving parent (in most cases the mother) is unable to fill the earning gap created by the death, increasing the likelihood that children would have to drop out of school. In these cases, assistance will help to keep the children of the deceased in school or help the surviving parent to keep his or her children in school.
The long period of conflict or civil war in northern Uganda resulted in impoverishment (stripping of assets, land, and livestock) and social/cultural changes weakened the extended social networks that cared for its vulnerable members as in the past. Now, in the absence of any government assistance, when immediate needs are barely (or not at all) met, it is nearly impossible for families to prioritize the education of their children
The loss of one or both parents, coming from a single-parent household and large family size. Having a large family makes it harder for households to afford to send all their children. In some cases, parents withdrew their children from school during part of the year until they secured enough money to enable them to attend again. For instance, Ms. Adong Jennifer is a widow with a family of six children - four of whom had been enrolled in school. However, by the time I interacted with them, they had all dropped out because their mother, a widow, was unable to afford their school fees. As one of the children explained: I stopped attending school in primary five in the second term because there was no money to pay the fees. We are six children in the household, but two are still young, and four of us were going to school. But right now, none of us are going to school because there is no money.
The children had dropped out of school to perform chores and agricultural work in support of their household. In some cases, young girls marry at an early age, while young boys take over the head of their households – becoming responsible for bringing in the household’s income.