Our time in Ecuador has been incredible to say the least. Four years in the waiting and our hearts longed for it intensely. So much of the wait didn’t make sense, but we know God is in the details. The week was nothing less than I expected, and always more than I could imagine. And as always, I wouldn’t have enough ink or the ability to fulfill the words that are in my heart if I tried.

I’ve written daily updates to keep up with family and friends, but now I put pen to paper with my detailed heart and will post more pictures that touch me dearly.

The long bus ride to the city often gives me the space I need to begin to process what has transpired as we are pulling away from a town and a house that holds such a big piece of me. I’m so grateful for that. God always knows just what we need and when we need it.

We led a full team of 16 this week including the three of us, from 14 months to 44 years. It was our first time leading a team from beginning to end and from our very own church and what a privilege and honor that was to be able to do. We are so grateful for our team and for them trusting us on this huge adventure to a mission that they felt called to. They were a yes team and such a gift to not only us, but Ecuador as well! As leaders, we had obstacles to face, but God and the team met us graciously with every one of them. It’s precious when you can see the enemy in a moment, but be reminded of who God is forever.

It was also a pure gift to introduce our own son to a place that has our hearts. Many friends were anxiously awaiting meeting him. There were so many moments I looked at him, barefooted and in his element, as just another one of the village children. He’d run out the door with his friends, ready to explore the world there that was in front of him. I felt as if I was watching from the outside of a snow globe, smiling at his every little moment, thanking God for a view I never thought I would see.

Some moments ached tremendously here, as they always do, but that’s God breaking our hearts for what breaks His and God giving us glimpses into the love He has for the human race. It’s a feeling I say “hurts so good,” but is necessary to living out the great commission for the little time that we have here between two gardens.

I know for John and I, with the redemptive grace that God has shown us, we want to share with the world and it never seems to surprise us that each time we are here, we are called out to share our hope and our story. I watched one beautiful teenager fighting back tears as hard as she could as we shared and all I could think was, I was that girl. So whatever hurting may come with God’s will in our lives, we will heed to it if God’s plan is to use us to give one of His precious children hope.

My reminder for this trip that came with evident proof is- “God is in the details.” Because He is. Every plan. Every fear. Every change of plan. Every single millisecond of every single detail. He is in the details!

The last 4 years, God has been in the details. The waiting. The tears. The heartaches. The longing. The questions. The training. The breakthrough. The divine encounters. He is in it all.

As our last stretch of flight got cancelled. Rebooking for 19 was a large travel challenge, but hindsight, we saw what God did and why He did it. We don’t always get to see that, but in that moment, I was reminded yet again, that God is in the details. Life doesn’t often show us the “why,” it just asks for an unseen faith, but once in a while, it’s tangible and you look up and smile knowing exactly how loved we really are.

I’m a planner, but one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned over 20 years of missions is that you have to be flexible. Sometimes the human plan can cause us to miss the full miracle of what God had planned all along. Sometimes it’s us that gets in the way.

This week was full of absolute pure goodness. We came with plans and as He always does, He blew our expectations. Even in the midst of sickness or the enemy trying to have his hand, God was bigger. He added and took away. He changed our plans and tweaked our hearts. He took the American mindset off a schedule and transformed it into the openness to say yes in the waiting. He did what only He could do.

Sweet relationships were formed. Hearts were broken for what broke His, just as we prayed. Humbleness was gained. Worship in the late hour was sweet. Selflessness skyrocketed. Seeds were planted. Bedtimes were late. Wake ups were early but strength never failed. Lessons were learned. Comfort zones were broken. Boldness was felt. Chains were broken. Hearts exploded. Tears were many and laughter the same. But the greatest of all was seeing God in and through it all.

As we sat around the living room in the last night in the spirit of worship, we shared what we saw in each of our team and asked what they wanted to take from

This trip and the answers were life changing. We are so very proud of them. There were many tears at just how real God is in meeting us right where we are. For each specific person here, God was in the details. It filled my heart up to hear what they’ve gotten and how lives have been changed. That’s what’s ironic about stepping out on the mission field- we think we are helping them, but God is the one who is changing us through it all.

So here is where my heart settled in the awestruck mindset of it all. We saw so much fruit from this trip, but even if this entire trip was for just one soul and just one person, then it is all worth it. Every bit of preparation, every bit of financials, every bit of planning and stress. Every meeting. Every single thing was worth it for one soul. Because I know this side of Heaven, we may never see all of the fruit to the soils that God asks us to till, but all He asks is for us to say yes. That one could lead to 1000. That one man could change a whole generation line and that one woman could raise a family up to change it all for eternity. See that’s the thing, Only God knows. He never asked us to save the whole world, He just asks us to love the ones right in-front of us.

So for whoever may be reading this, the land is plentiful but the workers are few. If God has ever called you to a mission field, no matter where, never be scared to say yes. I promise, you won’t regret it. We are all called to some kind of mission field for Him, never be afraid to say yes.

We have but one candle in this life to burn and I want to burn mine with a reckless abandon for what and where God leads me. I think that’s what my heart beats for- Burning a light in some of the darkest places weather here or there. I believe that is one of the greatest commissions in life and I will continue to move in that with my whole heart.

We want to thank every person who prayed diligently for us because we know that we may never know the wars that you helped us to win. We thank the ones who sent supplies to help families in the deepest needs. We thank those who gave us wisdom and guidance because Lord knows we needed it. And we want to thank our team because you guys made this possible and changed lives forever. You are all on the mission field right where you are and we appreciate you more than you will ever know.