Sarah Bethea

1) That God would be glorified on this trip and that I would trust God and fully rely on His strength

2) That I be single minded on Christ and be bold in sharing my faith and the gospel

3) That I would be open and have a teachable heart/spirit to what God teaches me and that God would deepen my passion for Him and for caring for His orphans

4) That God would keep me healthy and safe

5) That God would give me peace while flying. I really don’t like to ride in planes. And that God would help me while traveling. I get really carsick easily.

Julie told me she had found an orphanage in Ecuador and was going to plan a mission trip to go there. My heart instantly broke for these precious little orphans. I began to pray and seek the Lord if He wanted me to go on this trip. As time went on, I felt God was calling me to go care for the orphans in Ecuador and to share the gospel. However, I didn’t think I would be able to take time off from my summer internship job because my boss told me she couldn’t provide me time off. So I said, “Ok Lord I trust you; if you want me to go provide the way.” Then I sent an email to my boss. Her response was “No problem, have fun in Ecuador.” I knew this was the Lord making a way for me to go. So I said, “Yes Lord I will go.”

Thank you so much to all of you who have supported our team financially and with all your prayers. I am so excited to see what amazing things our Awesome God is going to do on this trip….can’t wait to share it with you all!

In Christ’s Amazing, Unfailing Love,

Sarah Bethea :-)

Jared Murphy

1) pray that i wont be worried about problems and stress here at home so i can be focused and as useful to God as possible while i am there.
2) pray that i wont get sick on the trip and i will remain healty during and after the trip

I feel like God is calling me to go because when I went to guatemala I saw how much the kids loved the attention and how much they wanted to be loved even if they couldnt communicate with us. Another reason is I love children and I feel like this is a good way to serve.

Jordan Fischer

1) Pray that we will be open to God’s will in how he wants to use each of us on this mission.

2) Pray that our interactions with each other, and every person we have contact with, will be bring honor and glory to God.

3) Pray for the health and safety of our team, especially those members who have sensitive health issues.


When I was initially confronted about being a part of the Ecuador mission team, the first thoughts that crossed my mind were doubtful. At the time, I was in the midst of applying to the Air Force Academy and knew that if selected, my summer plans would be very… regimented. I had thoroughly enjoyed my experience in Guatemala, and I knew that the Ecuador trip would be very similar. However, I also knew that God’s plan ultimately would prevail. The only detail that remained is where my future plane ticket would take me; Colorado Springs or Riobamba. I soon discovered that God’s plan for me did not include the academy. The decision from that point on was quite simple. Right now, I am blessed with the ability to be able to pick up and leave the country at almost any time without worrying about responsibilities to a job or family. I have a strong desire to follow God’s lead, wherever it takes me. Therefore, I know that it is God’s will to send me as a part of this team.

Hannah Beaty

1) That God would protect my health.

2) That I would be able to stay focused on God.

3) That God would continue to bring in funding.

When I first heard about this trip I wanted to go, but after much consideration I concluded that me going on the trip would be unpractical. I was averaging about thirty-five hours a week at work, and I had been trying to put at least twenty hours a week on my online classes. I didn’t have the time or the money to go. However, God slowly changed my mind. He kept prodding me, and I finally decided to be apart of this mission’s team.

Chad Elam

1) Pray for smooth travels

2) Pray that we communicate even with the language barrier

I'm going because I have never been on a missions trip. I have always heard people tell about how close to God they got on one, so I wanted in on that. And I enjoy children and interacting with them so I thought this would be a good trip for me.

Heather Snyder

1) I would have peace while traveling. I'm leaving Addilece for the first time and I'm not going to be able to check on her or talk to her like I normally would be able too.

2) I would have patience when dealing with schedules, and others, and the regular stress that comes from a trip like this.

3) My heart would be open to what God may show me and that he would not only speak His truths in my own life but also my family's lives.

Since high school God has been growing a deep passion and love for orphans in my heart. I've always had a desire to visit an orphanage oversees. However, my last two mission trips did not allow me that opportunity. Soon life got in the way of going oversees. However, when Julie presented this trip the pieces quickly fell into place. I realized that all the other "stuff" getting in the way wasn't there. God had completely cleared the way.

I'm excited to see what God is going to do in my life. However, I'm rather nervous also. Holding children who are fatherless that are the same age as my daughter is going to tear at my heart. I'm hoping that I come out of this knowing what God would have me do for orphans in Ecuador and around the world. I know He wants me to do more but I am not sure what that more is yet. I'm praying that He will give me a clear vision and heart that sees what He sees.

Brian Klein

1) We have a pretty young group, so please pray for wisdom for our leaders and maturity all around. 

2) Pray for the family that runs the orphanage, that they would be encouraged and refreshed by our visit, and not burdened. Pray also for the success of their mission, and of course for the children they minister to every day. 

3) Also, please pray for the health and safety of our group.

 

My first thoughts about the trip revolved around how much fun it would be to hang out with the children. Playing with the kids and teaching them about the Bible—kids who don't get the attention they deserve—sounded like a good time. When I thought more seriously about going on the trip, I realized I had taken off the first week of August for vacation, and didn't have any plans to fill it. I had asked for it off, randomly, months before. I took it as providential that it fell on the same week as the trip. Surely God wants me to go, I thought, no matter how insignificant my purpose may be. At that point, I made up my mind to go. 

John and Brenda Dean

1) Pray for strength and health for all going to Ecuador.

2) Pray that the people at the orphanage will be open to God's Word.

3) Pray that we will show God's love to all we interact with through both our words and actions.

4) Pray that God will remove any stresses to prepare our hearts and minds for what He has in store for us.

Why we are going to Ecuador:
Brenda and I have been talking about going on a mission trip for quite awhile. We have enjoyed seeing our kids participate in different short term mission trips and felt God calling us to go. I was unsure about this trip at first because the dates coincide with our 25th wedding anniversary, but we talked about it and decided what better way to celebrate than by doing God's work. We have seen several roadblocks get in the way since we made the decision to go, but we know that God is in charge and will clear the way if He wants us to go. We are just trusting God in all things...because we know whatever happens, He is in control!

Abbey Graeber

1) That God would deepen my relationship with him

2) That He would give me a greater passion for actively pursuing him

3) Give me a better awareness of his "widows and orphans"

As soon as Julie first told me about this trip I instantly knew I was going to end up going. I have never been on a missions trip and this one just fit me, the people who were going, the very structure of it! I feel like God has plans for me there, I'm not sure what but I know he does. I am very excited to be going on this trip and pray our team will accomplish God purpose for us there.


Abbey Graeber

Aaron Zapata

1) Please pray for our travels. I hate flying and am already nervous about the airports/planes.

2) Please pray for my fear of inadequate language skills. I feel as though I should have learned more Spanish through out my life and now would have been an AMAZING time to put it into practice.

3) Please pray for my health. I really can't afford to get sick in Ecuador or when I return.

4) Please pray for my finances. I am having to take off from work unpaid while I am in Ecuador and am not able to receive funds for bills I need to pay when I return!

So my story about how I ended up on this trip is pretty funny. I remember getting an email from Julie about Ecuador while I was on a missions trip in Montana. I read it and felt God saying I should go on this trip (something that should be noted is I had only been attending Grace for three or four Sundays!) I was too busy in Montana to respond to her email and when I returned to Lincoln I had already forgotten to reply. Julie messaged me about two weeks later wanting to know if I had decided to go or not and after a while of debating with myself (and not God) I decided that I did not have the time/money to do such an extensive missions trip so I replied with a simple "sorry. I can't go, but I will be praying for you all who can go!"

Instantly there was a turning in my stomach and an invisible red handprint across my face. My heart began to race and I had no idea why, withing literally 45 seconds I replied again to Julie's email saying "scratch the last email, I will be going to Ecuador...sign me up!" God really spoke to me in that moment and he clearly showed me that I was meant for this missions trip! :) If you ask Julie there are even more crazy ways that God revealed to her that I needed to be apart of this! Anyhow, I'm apart of this team and wouldn't trade any of it for the world! I can't wait to see how God works with our hands through are hearts and in our lives and the lives of the children and workers of this orphanage!

Until the Whole World Hears,

Aaron Zapata

Two weeks from today!

I cannot believe that in two weeks we will be in Ecuador! I am very excited to see what God has planned for us! I know He has already been doing a lot in the lives of the team members and I am sure He will be doing a lot more in and through us in the following weeks.

Over the next 13 days I am going to be posting prayer requests for the team members. The first twelve days (starting tomorrow the 21st) I will post prayer requests for a different team member each day and it will also include a paragraph saying how God called them to go on this trip. We would appreciate it if you got on every day to read our prayer requests and pray for us. On the 13th day I will put up a blog with prayer requests for our whole trip including travel safety seeing as how the next day will be our travel day. We would definitely appreciate prayers that our travels would be safe and smooth.

While we are in Ecuador we will be updating the blog everyday, hopefully! I am not sure if we will be able to update it on the 3rd or the 13th because of traveling, but we will try to get something on the blog every day so you can keep up with what we are doing.

Thank you everyone who has supported us financially and through prayers. We love and appreciate all of you and we can't wait to share this amazing experience that God has given us with you!

In Christ's Awesome Love,

-The Ecuador Team-