Coming Full Circle
- Roselands
- Jul 6
- 6 min read
We were able to visit both of the ministries where we used to work in Mexico and Ecuador in back-to-back trips and visit three of our kids and our grandson. We've also continued to experience such sweet stories, as God continues to touch each child's life in such unique and personal ways.
Visiting Ecuador
We had been wanting to visit Erick, Mayumi, and Judah, two of our kids and our grandson, for a while and it had been almost 4 years since Santi and Lani had seen them. On a random Tuesday night, we came across tickets that we couldn't pass up, so the next thing we knew, we were heading to Ecuador!
The day after we landed, we headed to It's About Kids in Quito, the ministry we served at from 2009-2016, to visit with Ron and Sharon (the founders) and see who might still be serving there that we knew. Santi and Lani barely remembered it, but did have faint memories of the playground and a few teachers we met along the way. That day was filled with tons of hugs, tears, and remembering beautiful memories of time well spent.
One of the most beautiful stories happened in a random classroom. Lani wanted to see if any of her friends were still there and she remembered Isabella from Pre-K. So we went to the classroom, where she was able to reunite with her. But the most rewarding part was the teacher that came out into the hallway and asked, "Are you Richard?" A little puzzled, I answered, "Yes?" because I didn't recognize her at all.
She shared that she started serving at It's About Kids the year after we left, but that she heard so many things about our family and she was able to benefit from a lot of the curriculum design and classrooom procedures that I had left in process. She shared that we truly had left behind a legacy! Now 10 years later, she is about to move on, but it was so sweet to be able to hear of the impact our time in Ecuador made.
Family Time
The next day, Erick, Mayumi, and Judah made it to Quito and we headed to Mindo for a weekend together. Mindo is a cloud-forest a few hours outside the capital city, so we were able to spend time relaxing in hammocks and watching the hummingbirds, catching up on life that has happened over the past few years. It was also where "Grandpa" (Richard) was able to catch up on some snuggles with Judah as well.
One of Richard's favorite moments was an afternoon with Judah. There was a small stream right in front of our Airbnb and it had just rained a few hours before. "Grandpa" picked up a few leaves and showed Judah how they could turn them into little boats. Soon he was picking flowers, sticks, and anything else he could lay his hands on to throw into the water. Then, they would race down the stream to watch it leave the property. Ah...the simple things in life!
We then headed over to Manta on the coast, where Erick and Mayumi live, to finish out our time in Ecuador. We were able to eat some of the food that Santi and Lani miss the most: Encebollado for Santi, which is a fish soup that's eaten for breakfast, and Ceviche for Leilani. As is usually the case with ministry waiting for us back in Memphis, we weren't able to visit all of the places we would have liked to or eat all of the food that we miss, but it was a beautiful time as a family.
Queretaro
Richard had one day to rest once we arrived back from Ecuador before heading to Mexico. He was leading the youth group from our church to the orphanage we used to work at, Esperanza Para Ti. We had just led another team back in October, so it was so beautiful to be back in June and see all of the work that had been done in such a short amount of time.
The students were absolutely amazing and such hard workers. It was incredible to see some of the teen girls carrying buckets filled with concrete on their shoulders! And the way that they connected with each one of the kids through soccer and a new hacky sack game that was invented was so beautiful to watch.
On the last day of the trip, we were able to move the two oldest groups of girls into the new dorm that we had been helping to build. As the door opened, the girls walked into the room and started to explore their new home. One of the girls walked over to the closet and found the door with her name on it. She opened it and slowly took in each detail, before she looked over at me. Our eyes met and immediately tears started to run down her cheeks. I started crying too!
Sometimes it is the smallest things in life that are huge. Having a closet space that is yours and a special room with beautiful details that point to your worth is something that is truly indescribable. God shows His love through the most intimate details like a closet and it is such an honor to be able to experience such sweet moments.
Apples and Bananas
As soon as we were back in Memphis, ministry here continued and one specific story stood out. A little three-year-old girl walked through the doors of the Isaiah 117 House, quiet and timid at first, but before long, she was settled in and exploring the house, pulling out train tracks and magnetic tiles. I sat down with her on the living room rug, and together we entered the wonderful world that only a three-year-old can create.
She was fascinated by the little plastic knife that could “cut” the fruit into pieces. Again and again, she carefully sliced apples, bananas, and other fruits in half before placing them in her tiny Target shopping basket and wandering around the living room as if she were grocery shopping. Every few minutes, she’d rediscover the joy of cutting the fruit all over again.
By the third or fourth round of fruit cutting, I decided to see if she knew the song “Apples and Bananas.” I wasn’t sure whether she’d ever heard it before, but it quickly became clear that she loved it. What made it even better was the way she sang it!
Throughout the morning, she alternated between two completely different voices: a sweet, high-pitched little-girl voice and an unexpectedly deep, gruff voice that sounded like it belonged to a grown man. I could hardly keep a straight face! We would sing together, “I like to eat, eat, eat, apples and…” and she would sweetly join in with her tiny voice. Then, without warning, she would dramatically finish with a deep, booming “…BANANAS!”
Every time, we broke down laughing. Even her caseworker couldn’t help but laugh as she listened to the performance. The morning became a cycle of songs, giggles, shopping trips around the living room, and countless pieces of toy fruit being cut apart and put back together. It was simple. It was ordinary. And it was incredibly beautiful!
For a few hours, this little girl had a place where she could simply be three years old. A place where she could laugh, sing silly songs, make funny voices, and delight in the smallest things. In the midst of circumstances no child should have to navigate, she was free to play, to be cared for, and to experience joy.
Moments like these continue to remind us why we are in the ministry we are in. God has been incredibly kind to provide us with the opportunity to come alongside children in some of the hardest moments of their lives to help them find safety, comfort, and even laughter. And on this particular morning, that laughter sounded a lot like a tiny girl joyfully singing about apples and bananas.
Needs, Prayer Requests, and Praises
Needs:
We currently need $400 of additional monthly support, specifically for our ministry expenses. At this point, we continue to use our family support bucket to cover those extra costs each month.
Ministry Expenses Support: CLICK HERE!
Family Support: CLICK HERE!
Prayer Requests:
Santiago: We really need prayers for Santi as he continues to study for his ACT/SAT. He is at a point of frustration in trying to get a higher score for specific scholarships, so any prayers would be appreciated!
Richard: He is training to do the Camino de Santiago (a 115 mile walk) with his Uncle Mark in September. He has currently worked up to walking around 8 miles a day. Walking is causing pain because of the neuropathy in his feet from the chemotherapy, so prayers would be appreciated!
Praises:
Gustavo: Richard was able to visit Gustavo while he was in Mexico. The praise is that he looked good and shared that he hasn't been doing drugs for the past 7 months. Included in that, please be praying for him to build a support network, including a church home, counselor, and friends.
Pepe: We have shared about Pepe in the past and his dream to become a pilot, which is unheard of for a child growing up in an orphanage in Mexico. Well, he has just one more hour of practice flight and his final test to become a pilot!!!
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