April 9 - Remanso de Amor

Today was an awesome day spent at the Remanso de Amor (Haven of Love) church and school located in southern Quito. This is another part of the Youth World ministry. The ministry is led by Ramiro and Jenny Maldonado and is multifaceted, it truly is an amazing place. The church houses a school with approximately 100 kids, a Compassion International center which feeds almost 200 children daily, social programs, educational training, women's ministry etc. etc. etc.

Our day was crazy as we helped put on a kids club for close to 200 kids (Chuck (Charles) Kenow), a teachers workshop for 25 (Pete and Barb Fleming), cooking and serving (and eating)lunch to the students and Compassion International kids alongside the locals, moving cement blocks and a parenting/women's ministry time. The Lord was at work in each of these areas in some incredible ways. We were all blown away by the love of the children, the movement of God, the opportunity to serve and the opportunity to be served.

One of the highlights was the women's ministry as the ladies shared about the joys and struggles of being a mother. It was amazing to see the common struggles that we all face as parents and spouses. They commented that during the hard times they turned to the Lord in prayer and look to those around them from the church for support.

Another highlight was working with the local children. This is a very poor area with limited resources for kids. Many children in Ecuador are forced to find work at a very young age and fore go their education. This church and school offers them a chance to receive an education as well getting to know Jesus. It truly was a joy to play with them, hug them, hold them and try to speak Spanish with them! Please keep these kids in your prayers!

Our day finished up at a small neighborhood restaurant that had amazing food and amazing atmosphere, a once in a lifetime experience with chicken foot to boot. One more thing a Happy Birthday to Pete Fleming, what a joy to spend it with him! (See our pics below, especially of Charles (Chuck) Kenow). God was and is at work in our lives and in this community, today we were privileged to see this first hand, praise Jesus!

(Remanso de Amor Church and school)

(some of the supplies donated by WLC members)

(one of the women of they church receiving a hand massage)

(Chuck (Charles) leading womens' ministry)

(the church is part of Operation Christmas Child)

(two of the great cooks and the wonderful meal)

(Amy working with kids on one of the crafts)

(Sally explaining another craft)

(Kandace with some of her new friends)

(the church playground)

(two of the school children with a project)

(more of the many great kids we met)

(Linda working with kids on a craft)

(Andrea passing out craft packages)

(Pete leading a class for teachers, with Dario as translator)

(Barb presenting her teachers' workshop, with Dario)

(teachers at the workshop)

(children listening to craft instructions)

(Rick and Kandace presenting the Easter Story)

(Tom with a new friend)

(the children wrote "Jesus Te Ama" on this craft - Jesus Loves You)