October 30, 2017

An Ecuadorian Wedding

We were invited to a beautiful Ecuadorian wedding in Rocafuerte this month. Two different couples were getting married and it was such a humbling experience. One of the couples, we have grown to adore and consider them family. Carolina and Luis were married several years ago during a legal ceremony, but not inside the church. They have a beautiful son who they are raising in a Godly home. After we arrived for the ceremony, we were humbled by a surprise invitation to play an important role in their ceremony...Scott was asked to walk Carolina down the aisle! To know how much we care about this family and how much we have grown to love them...this was one of those experiences that we will never forget!

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Scott is Coaching Volleyball

Volleyball season began in early September and just ended last week.  Scott had a really awesome team of young men. He is really enjoying his time with them and hopes to make a lasting, eternal impact on their lives. 
Madeleine also had a great 1st season as she learned so much!
​Although it was a super amazing time...we are all happy to spend more family time together!

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RefresHer Gatherings

We have kicked off our monthly RefresHer gatherings for missionary women in our community. A friend of mine started this ministry several years ago and as her family was preparing to return to the states this past summer she ask if I would be willing to keep it going. We are having a blast! Please be in prayer that this would be a beautiful time for each of us to be refreshed and form a closer community. 

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Riverfest

So, I have this super amazing friend named April Brown who desires to devote her free time helping us raise much needed funds to continue our ministry here in Ecuador...and beyond! She worked tirelessly setting up and taking down at Riverfest and spent long, hot hours selling beautiful handmade goodies from Ecuador. I have NO DOUBT that each person who entered that booth was warmly welcomed...and if you were one of those people...THANK YOU!
If you are aware of any other opportunities to sell these beautiful items, please let us know!

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Shop with Purpose! Upcoming Events

One way our ministry is supported is through the sales of Ecuadorian, Artisan-Made products! The artisans of Ecuador are some of the most gifted individuals I have ever met! They make everything from jewelry to hand-carved wooden bowls to alpaca ponchos and more! We can't think of a better way to raise funds for our ministry than purchasing directly from the folks we are serving here! We enjoy spending time with these artisans learning about their hopes and dreams and how we can play a small role in helping them reach their goals!
​We have amazing friends who have offered to help us sell these products! There will be a booth at Community Christian School on November 4th if you would like to stop by and pick up a few Christmas gifts!

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Thank You!

If you are reading this and you take the time to respond to this email with your full name and address I would like to send you a simple Thank You gift for taking the time to show interest in our ministry! We know your Inbox becomes flooded with emails, but you have taken the time to learn more about all that God is doing in Ecuador! Do you understand how much this means to us? We value your prayers and words of encouragement more than you will ever know or understand!
It can get lonely at times. The burdens we have for the people of this world are, sometimes, too much to bare...and a simple scripture being sent to our inbox would wake us up and allow us to realize we don't bare this burden alone!
Being away from our family is hard. Learning to adapt to an entirely new culture is hard. Working many hours and not being able to rely on a steady paycheck...is hard. Seeing hardships all over this world and not being able to snap our fingers and it all be 'good' is hard. But, God didn't say our life would be easy...and for this we will press on. We will press on because God has never left us! We know without a shadow of a doubt He walks with us step by step and He has sent us to serve here in Ecuador. Through every trial we face we learn so much more about Who our Heavenly Father is and just how much He loves us. We are so thankful He has chosen us to be His hand and feet...and for this season...on another continent, in another country...in Ecuador.

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Prayer Requests

• We are welcoming a new young lady and her son to Casa Adalia this week
• A young lady who left Casa A has recently returned to Quito. Please pray that she will experience supernatural healing...physically, emotionally and spiritually. 
• We will be planning Christmas parties for the women who are working in prostitution. Please be in prayer that these women would turn to God and seek other, healthy ways to earn an income.
• Please pray we use our time effectively - that we are serving in the areas God has prepared for us.
• Our hearts. This will be the first Christmas our kids haven't spent with family. We are all sad we will not be going back to Georgia for Christmas, but the kids are having an especially hard time with this. 
• Provision

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Final Thoughts

Y'all, we live in a broken world. We see the brokenness all around us. We can't escape it. Sometimes, it leaves us feeling hopeless...overwhelmed...angry...sad. I was recently asked by one of our girls at Casa Adalia why God allows so much heartache and troubles. That can be a super tough question...especially coming from someone who has been through so much in her young life.  For me personally, I know that each and every trial I have faced has taught me so much more about my Heavenly Father. I have learned from these trials and have been able to share my experience with others to give them hope. What we must know is that the Lord Jesus Christ is our One True Hope. I challenge you to turn your mess into a message and your tests into a testimony. 
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​Thank you for your continued prayers and support!
​Blessings -
​The Murphy Family