Have you ever noticed that God has a way of directing your life and weaving the scripture, people, circumstances etc. into your life that will bring about a change, that will stretch you.....something that He will be able to use in the future for His purpose and for His glory?

I am humbled by this.  As we began to ascend in the airplane, toward Atlanta, I was literally blown away by how small I am. HE is GOD. HE is the great I AM. Yet, He loves me and is personally working in and around me every minute of every day. God has the same love and persistence with each person He created. 

From the time my daughter and I committed to this trip, I began preparing, mostly through prayer. I asked God to prepare us personally, as a team. I asked God to prepare every individual and every circumstance for His purpose and for His glory. I asked God to give us hearts, minds, ears and eyes open to His calling. I prayed that we would "not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ" and that we would be "ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us".

I claimed and held onto the verses, Philippians 4:6-7, Do not be anxious about ANYTHING, but in EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE of GOD, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

God answered every prayer. His hand was evident every moment of every day. In the airplane to Atlanta, I sat next to "Andrew". He was very open to spiritual questions and a conversation that centered on salvation based on Christ alone. God took care of getting our team members through every check point and He made a safe place for Pastor Greg's guitar so that it would not be damaged. God gave us several opportunities on the flight to Ecuador to connect with Ecuadorian people. God protected Miriam's painting at the hotel, so that it would be used by God throughout the week at the church. God provided bathroom stops at just the needed moment. God quickly developed love and unity on our team as we traveled.

In Ecuador, God used every person on the team for His glory....and I don't just mean the team from Wausau Alliance. God used every person from the smallest and youngest to the oldest. If we had come to Ecuador and not joined our brothers and sisters there, we would not have accomplished nearly as much. There was a man from the church that was older than any and yet he worked SO hard! The women worked tirelessly to prepare good food for us. Through many of the children we were able to connect with parents or siblings. One of the most exciting examples of God's provision came through Nancy. In the weeks before we left for Ecuador, God gave me the idea to make wire necklaces that had the colored beads-the salvation story on it like the ones we used with the children's bracelets. I didn't have time to make them before we left. A team member suggested the night before we left that I pack it all up and bring it with us for the women to make themselves. I wasn't sure if I had enough of everything and there were questions I couldn't answer. Would there be time to make the bracelets? How would I teach this with the language barrier? Again, God said, "trust me", "do not be anxious". I packed it all in a box and put in my luggage. Several days into our trip, I got the box out at the church. As soon as I opened the box and began pulling the supplies out, Nancy followed me and was "glued" to what I was doing. She asked what it was, so I showed her. Before I could offer, she asked if she could make one. I gave her the one I'd started and she finished it! A day later when we started to make the forms for the necklaces, I found I didn't have enough nails. Nancy showed someone the nail I'd brought and 15 minutes later a bag of nails was provided. Someone had gone to a nearby store and purchased what we needed. I'd asked Miriam to sketch different shapes on paper so I could show the women other ideas of what kinds of necklaces they could make in the future. Within a half an hour, Nancy had put together the form for the Christian fish symbol and made it into a necklace. By that evening Nancy had made one of every shape we had given her. We were supposed to make the necklaces together that evening when the women met, but we didn't have enough time. It was announced that the women would gather this Saturday and Nancy would teach them how to make the necklaces. God gave the vision, raised up Nancy and will use it for His purpose and His glory. Pray for our sisters in Christ as they meet to make the necklaces this week. 

As you read and hear testimonies of what God did. Give God all the glory!!!!! God did far more than we can see with our eyes. As I return and process all that happened over that last several months,  I want God to continue to develop deeper roots in the areas God made me aware of. I do not want to limit God in what He will do or where He will do it. I want to remember to be obedient to all God calls me to and trust Him in every circumstance. 

We may call this trip short-term, but God will use everything for His purpose, for His glory and much of the fruit will be eternal. "Lord, help us to have vision for eternity. Help us to say, 'Yes, Lord' when we hear you call. Help us to be faithful and diligent to the purpose You have given us in the body of Christ and help us to build up the body for your glory."

Thank you to each one of you for your part in this trip. Thank you for giving....time, finances, encouragement, prayer. Each of you were vital.  

Anne Torstenson

Mandy Korns

This trip has affected me in a variety of ways.  In the first place, I was very blessed to have the opportunity to go to Ecuador with a missions team that included my wife and son.  To experience God move as a family was very special.  I was reminded more than ever that God has given me the responsibility of being a husband and father, and that I need to be focused on my family’s spiritual growth as much as my own.  During the week, I saw my wife respond to adversity by calling out to God, asking him to give her strength and a right perspective.  I saw my son sing out and clap in worship like I’ve never seen him before.  In my life with them, it is my desire to place God where he ought to be so that we do not doubt where our hope and joy is.

I’ve found that in our culture, valuing God above all is often times very hard to do.  Our consumerist culture is one of many distractions that shift our values away from God.  Before going to Ecuador, my family had been convicted of simplifying our lives and living with less, and after being in Ecuador for a short while, that conviction has been strengthened.  While in Ecuador, I was not concerned with acquiring more stuff or participating in my favorite hobbies.  I was concerned with serving my brothers and sisters.  I learned that when we peel away the distractions in life, we are able to serve God and each other with a lot more clarity, purpose, and love.

God also blessed us through the relationships he gave us, both within our team and with the church family in Puerto Bolívar.  Our construction goal on the trip was to lay the second floor slab, which was accomplished through many people working hard together.  During this time, as well as during other church activities, God was strengthening his global family.  Pastor Cesar conveyed to me several times, his gratitude for us coming to help with the construction and ministries of the church.  But he also told me not to forget that we are doing more than physical labor, that we are having a spiritual impact on the church and community in Ecuador. 

Christian, a member of the church who worked with us, is a guy that many of us bonded with.  He was saved 3 months ago.  In my conversations with him we talked a lot about the freedom from sin that Christ brings to us and also how God makes us responsible people through the jobs he gives us to do.  We were an encouragement to each other.  I believe that this is what happens when we build relationships cross-culturally.  We are able to see how we have a common humanity, despite any cultural similarity or difference, and how God unites us more powerfully than anything else could.  It is my prayer as we go forward, that we would stay connected to the church in Puerto Bolívar, that we would keep them in our prayers, that we would continue to grow in our relationship with them, and that we would be able to return shortly, all for the glory of God.

Eric Wenninger