Do what reminds you just how present God is. Because maybe the best way to fill your wandering mind is to get absolutely lost in this present moment with Jesus, so He can remind you that here, right now, He is everything you need. -Morgan Harper Nichols

He whispers into my soul, For I know the plans I have for you. Won’t you open up your heart and watch my grace abound.”

Driving down these Ecuadorian roads, I gaze out over the Pacific Ocean as the pinks of the sunset are settling in on the horizon and I can’t help but feel my heart being torn into a million little pieces in the leaving. The part we hate the most.

These long rides give me time to reflect, think, and be still after weeks of pure and priceless pouring in and pouring out. A slow down in the seeking.

Staring into the eyes of the precious people that we pass and being reminded that there is not a single set of eyes that I look into that God doesn’t love unconditionally. Looking into the doors of homes where lives are broken and mended. Watching smiles of the people that come through tears that aren’t so obvious to the eyes. Observing the absolute true joy of the children playing on the streets with a flat ball and half of a flip flop to stand on and not a care in the world.

There are so many things that I don’t ever want to leave about this place. So many things that I cherish about everything that consumes me here- mind and body. The simplest of things do they teach me. Lessons that I don’t feel worthy of. Hugs that I don’t deserve to be engulfed in. True smiles that I don’t feel should be mine. True joys that I lived a lot of my life without, focused on such meaningless things.

Where there is so much brokenness, there is also an enormous amount of faith. A generous amount of hope where most couldn’t find even a glimpse.

A mother and father that can’t supply medical care for their eight month old with pneumonia, but hugs us like there is no sorrow inside of her.

Parents who lost a precious child but still manage to smile and love you as if they hadn’t lost anything at all.

A single mother raising eight children who doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from but will be the first to invite you in and offer you all the love that she has.

The sweet sound being whispered in my soul is “Amazing grace how sweet the sound… who saved a wretch like me.”

John and I still question so many moments in a single day… why us? Why has He blessed us with an opportunity to be able to love and go be love.

That answer I still haven’t quite figured out and I know it’s not for us to figure out. I’ve had to abandon my addiction to the certainties of life. But one thing that I am certain of is how faithful He is in the process and in the calling. In the desires and in the release. He has been there every step of the way and hasn’t left us. And in moments where we don’t know how, He does. In moments where we don’t know how it’s all going to work, He promises prosperity. In moments where we begin to worry, He sends something to quietly ease those fears. On time, every time. So, we keep saying yes and being faithful in the fact that He will work out the rest.

Being where we are today is more of a dream come true than anything I could have possibly imagined for our lives. More than anything I’ve ever prayed for. Even in the midst of the trials today and to come. And it comes with such a reality that all things do work together for His good. That His plans are greater than ours. That we pray and plead for small, and He blesses with the great and the unimaginable. That He prepares us for what He’s prepared us for. Be still my heart.

We will see you again very soon sweet villages of Ecuador.