Brad and Sandi are serving with Youth World, an arm of International Teams. Brad oversees the organization that has five branch ministries. Each of these have different yet powerful emphasis on reaching people for Christ. Day 4, we went to a place that focuses on getting boys off of the streets, leading them to Christ and helping develop in them a lifestyle of love, respect, integrity and servant leadership. During our orientation, the director explained that the home (Casa Gabriel) was not a boys home but a 24 hour, 7 day a week leadership training program. The high school aged boys going through the program just happen to live on site.
In the main dining room, 6 or 7 guys were crouched over their homework as a tutor helped them with the basics. A few other guys were in the kitchen doing the morning dishes as part of their every ‘serving list’. They looked up at us and smiled, waved, shot a few thumbs up as we returned the greetings. These guys were great. Rough and street worn, they carried with them stories of abuse, gang involvement and a drug lifestyle. But they had a love for the Lord and an authenticity that captured our hearts.
The director said that they were unashamed of their faith in Christ. They shared that faith with everyone. Literally! One of the boys was given the opportunity to have dinner with the new President of Ecuador. He shared the truth that Jesus Christ died for even him and that by believing, the President could have eternal life. When the boy asked if the President would like to receive Christ as his Savior, the President politely mentioned that he went to the Catholic church.
We shared Makenzie’s story. They shared Bible verses with us that were encouraging and loving. Before we arrived last week, Brad sent a list of the boys with their shoe preference. Nathan and I spent a morning buying them and yesterday, we handed them out. They were so excited. Many of them had never had a new pair of shoes before.
But the power of our visit was not in the matching the style and size of the shoes to the boys at Casa G. The power of today was not in seeing that the boys had responsibilities in the house and that they loved on each other. The power of 
the experience was hearing our stories; ours about Makenzie and theirs about themselves. Both our family and their “family” understood that whether we are in the states speaking English or here in Ecuador speaking Spanish, that God was the one who moved and breathed in our very lives. God was the one who, for whatever reason, allows tragedy, desperation and loss to be woven into the pattern of our life’s tapestry.
Hearing Jose Luis’s faith story of living on the streets and God’s presence and provision during that time left us in stunned silence. Hearing how the staff is sold out to following Jesus in teaching servant leadership to this group of boys who have never been mentored by anyone was awe inspiring.
Our day ended by visiting Youth World’s camp called El Refugio. “The Refuge” is a place where people can get away from the city and spend time with the Lord at this sprawling, 300 acre forest retreat center. Programming for groups and kids, challenge
courses and a wonderful tree-house give glory and honor to the Lord through this outdoor ministry.
During past mission trips, it was about this day, day 4, that I was broken enough to want to go back to the states, sell everything I had and join whatever God was doing wherever that may be. This trip, I sense a different “calling” if one were to use that term. A call to partnership. A call to foundational involvement. Is it financial? I ain’t got much. Prayer? That’s sort of a given. I’m not sure what but I’ll keep watching for those subtle whispers in which God takes such delight and calls me into tomorrow.
Peace
todd
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Life Changing Links …
- Makenzie’s Celebration Service Online – Click Here
- Tribute Video played at her celebration service
- “I Dance For You My King” (Video: Makenzie’s song by Anthony Celia)
- “Image of Grace” (Video: Song written and played by Nathan Stocker)
- “Makenzie Memories” (a blog by one of her best friends, Katie Davis)
Todd Stocker 