Hey everyone!
I have been in Ecuador a little over a month! The time has flown by!
As some of you might already know, I am with a ministry called Dunamis. Dunamis is a non-profit organization that serves underaged girls that have been rescued from sex trafficking and sexual abuse. They aim to teach life skills and help them heal in a safe, Christ filled environment. There are currently fourteen amazing girls, and four babies living in the safe house. They spend a minimum of nine months at Dunamis. Most of the girls have been there for over a year. Their days are scheduled from 6am to 10pm. The staff is gentle and loving, but they also are quick to discipline in a healthy way.
My day looks something like this:
EVERYDAY
5:50 – wake up
6-8 – time with Jesus
8 – breakfast
TWO TO THREE DAYS
8:30 – head over to the girls house (we live in a different house at Dunamis)
8:30-1 – This time varies day to day but we would typically
– play soccer…in rain boots 🙂
– watch the babies
– art or dance workshop
– English class
1-2 – lunch at our house (Mercedes cooks for us)
2-5 – Back in the girls house
– agriculture with the girls
– horse therapy…I get to ride the horses too!
– group therapy
– watch the babies
– help the girls with homework
—————— OR ——————
TWO TO THREE DAYS
8:30 – clean house
9- head to the green house
9-12 work with the golden berry plants (3,000)
– tie them up
– cut of dead leaves
– fertilize
– harvest
12-1 – plan for VBS
1-2 – lunch
2-5 – VBS in a community at the park
Some of the girls are depressed. Some of them are Christians while some are not. Some of the girls are mothers. Some of them hate what happened to them while others have wanted to go back to it. Some are in this situation because of their own family while others were kidnapped. Each one has a different story, and each one is at a different point in healing, but I can see how the Lord is pursuing all of them individually.
My heart breaks, but the Lord is so evident in this place. He has taken my hand and taught me so much in the last month, and I am so grateful.
There is honestly so much to say, but I think this might be better over a cup of coffee, or at least when I have had more time to process it.
Prayer Request!!
- My stomach 🙁
- My dreams
- Preparing to come home
- Strength to finish this race
I will be home in 35 days!!!!
Praying that each one of you has the courage to say yes to the Lord in a new way this week! 🙂
I love you all, and so does He!
– Abigail Grace
Sending my love and prayers! Praying your whole body is cleansed from anything that doesn’t belong there! Thank you for doing this hard yet beautiful work! Thank you Lord for the beautiful work You are also doing in Abby. She will finish strong and You will give her great grace to transition to home. Thank You also Lord for the dreams You have put in Abby’s heart. And thank You for giving her grace to surrender those to You and trust You completely to fulfill those dreams!
So happy you got tjis experience and happy you will be home soon.
Thanks for posting this-I enjoy hearing about what your day is like. I am sure there is so much more to say, of which cannot be explained through an email or post, no doubt!
Looking forward to hearing about it. We continue to pray for you daily Abby. Take good care!
Praying for you Abby!! Finish strong !! Love you my friend
Abigail, Praying for each of you on Squad H as you engage with the precious people of Ecuador during these last few weeks; glad to know your specific requests and what your days look like. Hugs to you!