Ecuador Trip
My family just returned from Ecuador with Compassion International. This picture shows us in Guayaquil-Isla Trinitaria with several children living in extreme poverty. We’d just visited a family of 7 that lives off about $30 a month. Their home backs up to the river which is filled with waste. The smell was almost unbearable.
The picture below shows my thirteen year old daughter receiving a hand-made dress valued at about one month’s income. Everyone in the room was crying at the people’s generosity. As Compassion’s CEO, Wes Stafford said, “You can’t out-give the poor.”
The third picture shows me with the pastor of the church in Huaycopungo. Under strong persecution, his church had about 15 people. Today he and one other pastor ministers to about 1200 people and 85% of his village knows Christ. He may be small in stature but he is a giant in the Kingdom.
In the final picture, our family met one of the children we sponsor. She is 8 year old Liseth and is the girl in my wife’s arms. I didn’t even try to hold back the tears.
Visit 
You can’t outgive the poor…so true..
Isn’t it wierd Craig…
I have learned more from those poor in the remote places of the Earth, than they have from me…
Everytime I go, for their encouragement… they help me..
Oh so true - ditto on Avery’s comments!
How true it is that we seem to receive more blessings from a mission trip.
Not holding back the tears looking at the pics of your trip!
Very cool.
I recently heard our pastor say “These people have nothing, and yet they are happy. If you give them a gift, they share it with everyone.” I think we have a lot to learn from these people we consider “poor.” Because in a lot of ways they’re richer than we are.
[...] to recap the trip. I was mostly interested in the picture of Craig with the local pastor. Go here and check it out. [...]
Prayed for you guys a lot! I believe it was life-changing in ways you aren’t even aware of yet. Can’t wait to see how God uses your trip to expand His Kingdom. :)
Craig, it is so amazing to see you and your family taking the time to do this. Thank you for being an amazing man of God and having a heart to give so much.
Ditto, thank you for being the real deal, a man of actions with his word.
Thanks for sharing that Craig. That is the way I would like my family to spend our holidays.
That looks like a Christmas Eve ‘blog of the day’ to me! Awesome stuff indeed!
Amazing! What a BLESSING!
Great post Craig. Thanks for the authenticity.
Thanks Craig. Thanks for giving your influence to things this important. It is good to hear about these small village churches making a HUGE impact for the Kingdom of God. Thanks for showing that impacting the Kingdom does not mean having a mega church.
Thanks. Malcolm
http://christfollowingheretics.blogspot.com/
Thank you for sharing this experience Craig (and Amy). I’d love to see more churches join with Compassion for missions and take trips to see their sponsored kids. We have one in Guatemala. I don’t think we would look at life the same once we’ve been down there.
That is so awesome Craig. 85% of his village!?!
Have a Great Christmas.
Mike
I spent a year in Ecuador doing some missions work. Started a youth ministry until handing it over to a ‘national’ and I agree with Avery - “I have learned more from those poor in the remote places of the Earth, than they have from me…” I went to serve and to teach, but in the end, I was the one learning
Thanks Craig for re-earthing lessons learned.
Awesome…simply awesome! That pastor in Huaycopungo is amazing…God bless him! Talk about preaching in not only physically unbearable, but I’m SURE emotionally draining environments! God bless him!
Wow! What a blessing!!
Thank you!
Awesome! My 18yr old daughter is going to Ecuador in Feb with a group of 20 somethings to run a soccer camp and also help with some building projecst and other ministry efforts. Bless you!
Craig,
Just got back in the office from the Christmas Break and saw this post. How amazing it must have been to share this experience with your entire family. What a blessing for your daughter to receive such a generous gift. Thanks for sharing with us.
Just got into the office and read this. What an amazing opportunity for you and the family! I am looking to sponsor a kid myself. Would you suggest Compassion International? Are they a good organization to go with? I am open to any suggestions.
No words.
Awesome
I cried too. How amazing. We have sponsored probably 6 different children in the 24 years we’ve been Compassion sponsors and I hope to one day meet our present child, who is in the Dominican Republic.
God is drawing my heart to people such as these as well and we’ll be going to Guatemala in June. While I pray we minister to others, I know that in truth it will be MY heart that will be most changed.