We met Sariita for dinner in Otovalo a town 30 minutes from her home in the indigenous area of Gualsaqui. She wears the beautiful clothes of the indigenous Ecuadorians: a long dark skirt, white blouse with a 4” ruffle around the neck embroidered with flowers, and a beautiful, brightly colored, woven belt wrapped several times around her waist. Her long dark hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, wrapped in dark blue ribbon. Sariita is a calm, steady presence who seems more mature than her 24 years.
Sariita’s father started the church in her town about 26 years ago when he gave some of land for missionaries to build the church building on. Pastor Luis’ church has literally been built by missionaries from the walls to the tile floor to the block walls surrounding church, courtyard, and his home, which also resides on the same land. Sariita grew up serving in the church, and now she leads Sunday morning worship and leads the children’s ministry. She does these jobs with the steady assurance of someone secure in their position with the Lord. She even told us how she is considered the most fearful among her 5 siblings, yet she overcomes those fears to lead her church family in worship every week.
Sariita has seen the impact missionaries and short term missions have had on her church. And this has kindled a fire in her heart to become a missionary herself. She works 6 days a week in her family’s shoe store in Otovalo, but she has never spent a night away from home, even at an aunt’s house 5 minutes away. But her eyes light up as she tells us of her plans to join in a 25 day short term Missions team ministering in Quito and in the jungle of Ecuador. The group she is working with has a partnership between Ecuador and Germany, sending people for missions trips between 2 weeks and 10 months long between the 2 countries. Sariita hopes to fundraise after the short term trip for a year to be able to go to Germany for 2 months. Raising the money is a daunting task for a girl who didn’t have the finances to go to college. Raising $200 for the short term trip has been challenging. And yet she presses on. Not with the naivety of someone with their head in the clouds. But with the quiet confidence that she has been called to this work, and that the Lord will miraculously provide.
Sariita told us how she hopes to go and become a missionary, and how she also wants to return to her people to teach other children how to become missionaries. As you talk with her it becomes obvious she isn’t looking to escape but is realizing the calling God has on her life. The kind of calling that has the ability to change communities and generations.
On Sunday we had the privilege of worshiping at Pastor Luis' church, and seeing Sariita lead her church family in worship. After church we were able to pray for her along with her parents and 2 of her brothers. What a sweet time it was of sending her, and seeing her parents’ joy and sorrow in her departure.
*Please be praying for this woman of God as she embarks on a new challenge and carries the Gospel into new places!
*Please be praying for her parents as they miss her, and continue with her church work in her absence.
Sariita’s father started the church in her town about 26 years ago when he gave some of land for missionaries to build the church building on. Pastor Luis’ church has literally been built by missionaries from the walls to the tile floor to the block walls surrounding church, courtyard, and his home, which also resides on the same land. Sariita grew up serving in the church, and now she leads Sunday morning worship and leads the children’s ministry. She does these jobs with the steady assurance of someone secure in their position with the Lord. She even told us how she is considered the most fearful among her 5 siblings, yet she overcomes those fears to lead her church family in worship every week.
Sariita has seen the impact missionaries and short term missions have had on her church. And this has kindled a fire in her heart to become a missionary herself. She works 6 days a week in her family’s shoe store in Otovalo, but she has never spent a night away from home, even at an aunt’s house 5 minutes away. But her eyes light up as she tells us of her plans to join in a 25 day short term Missions team ministering in Quito and in the jungle of Ecuador. The group she is working with has a partnership between Ecuador and Germany, sending people for missions trips between 2 weeks and 10 months long between the 2 countries. Sariita hopes to fundraise after the short term trip for a year to be able to go to Germany for 2 months. Raising the money is a daunting task for a girl who didn’t have the finances to go to college. Raising $200 for the short term trip has been challenging. And yet she presses on. Not with the naivety of someone with their head in the clouds. But with the quiet confidence that she has been called to this work, and that the Lord will miraculously provide.
Sariita told us how she hopes to go and become a missionary, and how she also wants to return to her people to teach other children how to become missionaries. As you talk with her it becomes obvious she isn’t looking to escape but is realizing the calling God has on her life. The kind of calling that has the ability to change communities and generations.
On Sunday we had the privilege of worshiping at Pastor Luis' church, and seeing Sariita lead her church family in worship. After church we were able to pray for her along with her parents and 2 of her brothers. What a sweet time it was of sending her, and seeing her parents’ joy and sorrow in her departure.
*Please be praying for this woman of God as she embarks on a new challenge and carries the Gospel into new places!
*Please be praying for her parents as they miss her, and continue with her church work in her absence.