Trip Testimonies

The following are testimonies given by some of the men who went on the trip. These testimonies were recorded at the Men's Testimony Breakfast.

Lightbulbs and Life Lessons

You know the look on someone's face when a light turns on in their head? You're trying to explain something to them, but they just have that deer-in-the-headlights look. All of a sudden, you say or explain something a certain way and their eyes snap into focus, and you can literally see a light turn on inside. God gave me the priviledge to see one of those moments when going through discipleship with a girl that I led to Christ on Tuesday. Her name is Dahlia, and we just happened to show up to her house on Tuesday. I say just happened, but I'm sure God planned it. We presented the Evangecube and she accepted Christ as her savior. The next day we stopped by her house in the afternoon to do discipleship with her, to more-or-less try to help strengthen her new faith in Christ. Using the Lesson 1 sheet we started going through what it meant to be saved, but based on what she was saying it was apparent that she had not understood that faith in Christ alone was required for salvation. We spent nearly 20 minutes trying to get her to understand what was needed, without telling her explicitely...we wanted her to figure it out, to have that 'ah-ha!' moment. All of a sudden she looked up from the paper, and we could tell that she got it. Before, she was saying she needed to do good things and go to church, to learn more about God to get to heaven. Once the light switched on in her head, she very clearly understood and told us frequently that it was faith in Jesus alone that was needed for salvation. At the end of our conversation, she was adamant about coming to our cell-group meeting, and that very night she showed up and had a wonderful time at the meeting.
I have a side story to tell as well; one that doesn't really concern me, but one that I was there to witness and thought I should pass along. Today was our last day with the people at our cell group. After a morning of follow-up in our village of Chaguana, the villagers threw us an incredible good-bye. The entire week I had watched one of our team members, Cameron, spend all of his energy playing with the children during the evening meetings. He picked them up, hugged them, played with them, spun them, and laughed with them until he was red in the face. They couldn't understand one another, but by mid week all of the children were yelling for Cameron's attention. At the end of our good-bye meeting today, all of the children came up to give us hugs. Not much time had gone by before I noticed wet cheeks and noses on some of the children. Looking around, I saw that they weren't the only one's crying. Cameron's eyes and face were as red as his shirt, and he was holding on to those children for dear life. I watched as he hugged each child, sometimes hugging them three and four times. And Cameron's situation was not unique. Every team member that had worked with the children had wet faces and shirts. I tell this story, not to steal a story from Cameron, but to point something out. If you spend your time loving the people that God wants you to love, you can't help but grow to love them. I saw first-hand the love that Cameron had for those children, and I would encourage you to be as genuine and diligent in your relationships as he was. You might be surprised how attached you become to people you never thought you'd end up loving.

Posted By: Brandon Overby

Day 3 (Wednesday)

Today we were to follow up with and disciple the people we witnessed to from day one and two. Some people were home, some were not. This morning we were able to lead one new person to know Christ other than the many people we have already lead to Christ. And this afternoon was mostly disciplship with new believers from day 1 and 2. I want to tell about a person that has just really touched my heart today. He is not a new believer; he told me that he had previously accepted Christ as his Savior many years ago. As I understand from Jenny (my translator) he was previously going to a church but the church members were not following God and what the bible teaches. This made him not want anything to do with going to church and fellowship with other Christian believers. Although he said he constantly reads his bible and prays often, I wanted him to understand that we should not distance ourselves from God because of other people's actions. We do not have control over other people's actions...we only have control over our relationship with God and how we grow closer to God. He was hesitant to accept the first invitation to the group meeting on day 2, but God moved his heart to go. So, today, day 3, he came to the group meeting again. At the end of the meeting, he went out of his way to approach me and he shook my hand and embraced me in a hug. I have shook many hands and have had many hugs, but the way he shook my hand and embraced me, I could feel that he was extremely sincere and thankful for the presentation of the Gospel and invitation to the group meetings. This is what he was waiting for...group of believers that want to grow closer and follow Jesus as the bible says. I pray that this new church serves God and encourages spiritual growth for all the people of this village as it has already begun to do.

Posted by Lori Overby

Latacunga Prison Visit

You would think that after all I have seen and experienced on the mission trips I have been on I would know God was going to do amazing things but I never learn I guess. This trip has had some great moments for me. On Monday I had the awesome privilege to work with Dr Ralph Carter the pastor from Brushy Creek and Jason Allison and wow what a great day I had. I should have know how great the day would be because as soon as we got to our site Jason and I walked up to 5 men and I shared my testimony and the cube with them and all 5 prayed to receive Christ Praise the Lord. The day only got better. I had several hours to talk and share with Bro Ralph and wow how I was blessed. What a awesome man of God and I thank God for giving me the honor to work with him. Today (Wed) I was allowed to go to the prison here in Latacunga with Dr Francis, Trena, Kristell, Roger, and our translators. Diego and I went out and purchased Laundry soap, tooth brush, tooth paste, a bowl, cup, spoons and a bar of soap. You may think they get all these things but here in Ecuador the only thing you get in prison is one meal a day. If you have no family to bring you supplies then you get nothing but a meal. We took 198 bags to the prison and gave each prisoner a bag and the Dr saw several prisoners who had severe cases the needed treatment but here is where I had my moment. We didn't really have a chance to talk to the inmates and I was a little sad. I went to the window and began to watch the prisoners each get their bag of goodies and God broke my heart. I reached in my packet and began passing out the evangetracts to the prisoners thru the bars on the windows. One after one after another came to the window and got the tracts and began to read them and smile and give me the thumbs up sign. I realized at that moment God was going to use those tracts to reach these men. I began to pray as I looked over the large crowd of men and as God to show them his grace and mercy and reveal to them the truth that only he offers. I was blessed to get to be a part of such a event but God had more in store for me. Diego told me and my translator Josue to come with him that we were going to the women's prison. We went into the prison for the women where they had 16 inmates and Diego shared with them and as I prayed and looked around as he led them in the sinners prayer several of the women began to cry. God moved in their hearts and several of the prayed. We began to pass out the bags to all of the inmates and I realized 5 of these women had 2,3 and 4 month old babies stay with them in prison. I cried at the thought of a mother in prison with a little baby and not even have a bowl or spoon to care for themselves or the baby. You never know how God is going to use you or money you give someone for missions so to all me family, friends and prayers partners today God used your resources in a might way. Praise God for His grace and mercy because with out that none of us would have hope in this life. Today God gave hope to 175 men and 16 women and children and I give Him all the honor and Glory

Three Generations

One our MD's, Kellie Flood, had a very unique opportunity. She and her translator, Daniel, were able to lead three generations to the Lord.
A young lady came into the clinic for some medicine. Later in the day, her mother came. By early afteroon, the grandmother came to the clinic. Kellie was able to minister to all of them both physically and spiritually.
To God be the glory...
posted by Sam Neugent

Day 3 Clinic Video

Day 1 on the mission field (Monday, June 15th)

DAY 1: Monday, June 15th, was our first full day on the mission field. The medical team was set up at the site where our team (Brandon, Tyler, and myself along with our translators) will plant a new church and begin our group meetings and children's ministry. Because many of the people from the village were receiving medical help, we began our ministry right there outside the clinic as people were finished seeing our medical team. Our team leaders were to give an example of how to present the Gospel and then once we were comfortable with presenting we were to go out on our own to present the Gospel as well. Well, when Brandon (our team leader) was about half way through the first presentation, our host pastor, Luis, walked up to me and asked me to present the Gospel to an elderly lady. At the moment, I was in "training mode" and didn't feel extremely prepared to present just yet. However, God had a better plan in mind than I did. God knew I needed to be just thrown into it and not have a lot of time to get nervous before presenting His message. God let me know that I could do this once the first couple words left my mouth. My hands were sweating and shaking, but the words were not my own...God took completely took over. It turned out that the very first person I witnessed to came to know Christ as her Savior. WHAT A RUSH! WOW! When she said she would like to accept Christ, I almost forgot what to do. So Jenny (my translator) and I lead her through a prayer. At this point, I could see a change in both myself and Jenny. This was a first for both of us. From then on throughout the day, we felt God with us as we presented the Gospel to others. We had more confidence to work as a team to bring people to know Jesus Christ. Through God's power and grace, we were able to lead six people to Christ today (Monday, June 15th)!! Praise God!!
Today we began the "cell group" and children's ministry as well. I worked in the children's ministry along with six other members of our group and there were about 15 children that came. I believe there were 17 adults that attended the group meeting. We told the children the story of God's creation, played games, and did crafts with them to go along with the story. This was a great start to the ministry here in this small village of Latacunga.
Family/Friends, please continue to pray for the people of these villages of Latacunga that we will be witnessing to and discipling throughout this week. God has blessed this mission tremendously and we know He will continue His work in Latacunga after we leave.

Post by Lori Overby