A missionary in a city near you.

Yes I know the title sounds like a load of fun...kind of like the circus is coming to town. Perhaps I'm not unlike a circus or at least a makeup wearing employee of the circus.

Well, my first year in Ecuador and my time with Youth World is officially up. I had a wonderful summer working along side Chet and Katie Williams leading short term groups into the jungle with the Waorani. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Waorani. They are an indigenous tribe from Ecuador that gained a world renown in 1956 after killing five missionaries that attempted to make contact with them. Shortly after the martyrdom of these five missionaries, one of their relatives was able to move into a Waorani village and begin to Minister to them. Sixty years later I have the privilege of entering into their villages and into relationships with them.

It was an amazing blessing to be in the village of Ñuneno this summer during an evangelistic campaign put on by the organization Ecuador for Christ. The whole week was an incredible blessing but one particular situation and person really touched my heart. I want to tell you about a young 17 year old girl named Valeria. Valeria is the daughter of a Waorani woman who most likely worked as a prostitute in one of the nearby cities. Valeria's father is a non Waorani, likely a colonist that moved into the area from Quito or one of the other sierra cities.

In the Waorani village during that campaign, Valeria stood out like a sore thumb. She is a tall woman with very distinct (non Waorani) features. I first encountered Valeria when my friend Sixto (from Zancudo) and I were sitting next to her watching a soccer game. Sixto in his standard evangelistic fashion began to ask her questions about her life and her future. Valeria's answers were those of a hardened angry young woman who's goal and purpose in life is FUN. When Sixto stepped away for a little while I overheard Valeria say to one of her friends that she lives to drink, smoke and have sex. I didn't need to hear that to know it, her persona said it all.

I began to ask other Waorani about her and soon found out that Valeria had been living in the nearby city of Coca where she was rumored to be a part of an organ trafficking gang who kidnaps children who they then kill and exploit for organs to be sold on the black market. At this point my cynicism decided that this girl was beyond hope. I continued to talk to her and attempt to share with her but still always felt like I was speaking to a wall. Every encounter I had with her cemented my feeling that she was beyond hope.

I praise the Lord for the fact that there is no such thing as a hopeless person. The final night of the campaign I was sitting next to Chet during the service when he pointed out to me that Valeria looked to be crying. The following day after all of the other tribes had started their journey home I had a chance to speak to Valeria and much to my humbling joy found out that the Lord had been softening her heart that whole time. She admitted to being in tears that night and told me that she had no desire to go back to her life of sex, drugs and alcohol. She testified to the transformational power of the Holy Spirit and said that she was a new creation. I was able to request a Bible for Valeria and continue to pray for her as the Lord continues to work in her. I am humbled by my lack of faith and vision but glory in the the Lord's amazing love for his children.

Please join me in keeping Valeria in prayer. Her journey will not be an easy one. Please pray that the Lord's grace and mercy will be showered upon her every day and that she will come in contact with others of faith that can encourage and teach her as she journeys with her savior.

As for myself. I will be returning to the US on the 3rd of September. As you know I have decided to leave Youth World in order to join the Evangelical Covenant Church as a missionary. I will still be working in Ecuador and will continue to use Soccer as the platform for sharing the Lord's love with others. I will also likely have an opportunity to teach in a missionary training seminary that the Covenant has here in Ecuador.

So, I return to the US to re-visit the support raising process that so many of you have partnered in with me. I will be in Houston from the 3rd to the 9th of September after which I will be going to California until the 30th. My journey will then take me to Chicago for a few weeks and then to Utah and Colorado before returning to Chicago.

Please pray; 1. That I will be able to clearly share what the Lord is doing in Ecuador 2. That my support team will come together 3. For the people with whom I have been sharing here in Ecuador.

Stay tuned for more updates regarding my travels. I would love to see you if you are available.

Blessings from Quito.