This past summer, eight of the MNM staff had the heart-enlightening chance to spend a week in Súa, Ecuador where we reconnected with some old friends and met new ones.
We arrived in coastal town of Súa (about 4 hours from Quito) just several months after earthquakes had devastated the region. Bumping along rutted roads, the crumbled structures, broken bridges, and temporary tent dwellings could be seen everywhere. The quake not only destroyed homes and livelihoods, but their sense of wellbeing...especially for the children. The parents told us how the children were afraid to go to sleep at night because the quakes might come again. We were humbled by their gratitude for the diversion of the simple songs, crafts, balloons, and activities we brought.(and appreciative of their patience as we tried our best to commutate in Spanish!)
Out of the many countryside churches visited, our very favorite was the one actually in the town of Súa. It did not take long to think of this precious place and its leaders (a.k.a. our new best friends and kindred spirits) like a “Multi-National Ministries SOUTH.” We discovered that each of our ministries do much same thing in the same way: help children with school work, feed them, care for them, share kindness, and tell them about God’s love. Serving side by side, the MNM staff learned a lot from the Súa Church, as we hope they, also, picked up ideas from us. We hope to return next summer and continue this shared friendship and work relationship.
That week in Ecuador—a beautiful country with beautiful people—gave strong inspiration to MNM as we came back to the states to continue loving and caring for folks from around the world who are living in Memphis today.
(To find out more about the church in Súa, Ecuador, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/iglesia.esperanzavivadesua)
We arrived in coastal town of Súa (about 4 hours from Quito) just several months after earthquakes had devastated the region. Bumping along rutted roads, the crumbled structures, broken bridges, and temporary tent dwellings could be seen everywhere. The quake not only destroyed homes and livelihoods, but their sense of wellbeing...especially for the children. The parents told us how the children were afraid to go to sleep at night because the quakes might come again. We were humbled by their gratitude for the diversion of the simple songs, crafts, balloons, and activities we brought.(and appreciative of their patience as we tried our best to commutate in Spanish!)
Out of the many countryside churches visited, our very favorite was the one actually in the town of Súa. It did not take long to think of this precious place and its leaders (a.k.a. our new best friends and kindred spirits) like a “Multi-National Ministries SOUTH.” We discovered that each of our ministries do much same thing in the same way: help children with school work, feed them, care for them, share kindness, and tell them about God’s love. Serving side by side, the MNM staff learned a lot from the Súa Church, as we hope they, also, picked up ideas from us. We hope to return next summer and continue this shared friendship and work relationship.
That week in Ecuador—a beautiful country with beautiful people—gave strong inspiration to MNM as we came back to the states to continue loving and caring for folks from around the world who are living in Memphis today.
(To find out more about the church in Súa, Ecuador, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/iglesia.esperanzavivadesua)
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