October has been such an interesting and challenging month. Challenging is always good, though, as God persistently makes us trust in Him. As in Psalm 46:10, I’ve been learning everyday to “be still” and know that He is Lord… He is over all.
We must wait
for God’s perfect timing. Even
though we had planned to have the orphanage up a few weeks ago, certain obstacles
have kept us from that plan. But
that’s also what is awesome… that nothing has happened outside of God’s
will! He spoke to me really clearly
that I am not in Ecuador to help people or point others to Him… but rather, to do His
will. And through His will He takes care of the rest. So in this, we wait for Him
to "make everything beautiful in its time" (Ecc 3:11). It’s His time.
That said, things are finally coming
together as Kayla and I moved into the orphanage this week! In God’s time, hopefully in the next
few weeks, we’ll have our kids moved out here and be ready to take in
more. This week was another
reminder of why we’re ready for more children as we ran into one of the mothers of
2 kids who were once in our care, Christian and Anna. She told us she doesn’t want her kids anymore…. Again. And long story short, she doesn’t need
to have them under her supervision.
So for these kids, along with Noah and Juanito (whose cases are hopefully
coming to a close soon), our hearts are expectant for God to bring hope into
their lives, whether that means through our ministry or another way.
Yet, even as we wait for God’s perfect
timing, many things are still charging at us, keeping us busy beyond belief. Last month our temporary visas were to expire before we could
obtain our missionary visas (due to foundation document problems). As we did all we could, it came to
be the time that the first group of us would become illegal. Well, on the VERY day, we were all
granted an extension for a few more weeks in order to get it all sorted
out. And since then we’ve been
able to officially apply… so this was a great reminder of God’s timing!
We also are in the final days of waiting
for our two 40-foot containers to arrive in Tena (they are in customs on the
coast of Ecuador now)!! Karissa
and volunteers in Florida worked incredibly hard 3 weeks ago to pack up
everything possible to bring to our orphanage… everything from cribs to
weed-wackers, diapers to random kitchen utensils, it seems that the answer to every
request we have is to wait because “we have one coming on the container” haha. And what a blessing that the mayor of
Tena has offered to help cover the expenses of bringing all this here! Although we’re currently working with
the national government to help us concerning a new law passed 2 weeks ago,
stating no clothing items are allowed to be imported to Ecuador (and
remembering ¼ of our container contents are clothes!!), we’re trusting God to
help us get past this obstacle…. Among many others!
So that’s just a little summary of what’s
going on. Kayla and I are so honored to finally be living in the orphanage! Although there’s a lot of cleaning and
organizing to do (and although Kayla kindly informed me 3 days after we moved
in that I had not be using the water filtration system correctly, and therefore
drinking lots of very dirty water… woops), there is such a peace and hope for this
place! Wow, I can’t describe
it. But I’m in love and elated to
be a small part in what God will do next.
Please keep praying for Noah, Juanito, Christian and Anna as I believe
the Lord will bring them back to us as His timing is beautiful.
Dios te bendiga! Hasta pronto,
Tanya
