Meeting Our Luis....

Luis is a little boy we sponsor in Ecuador 

through Compassion International.

Compassion helps children in poverty all over the world.  

We feel so humbled to have been able see this ministry in action 

and to be a part of Luis' live while we are here.

Heart friends at once. 

From the moment we met we were called by name by Luis. 

He had memorized everything about us from our bio.

We meet at a restaurant in Cotaccachi for breakfast then 

went to his house for a tour.

He brought along a crew of people.  

His tutor and compassion mentor,

our guide and translator, 

his older brother, and our bus driver.

Liam serenaded us with an Adele song to break the ice.  

The house where Luis and his family rent 1 room for the 5 of them.

We were welcomed into Luis' home by his mother 

who had taken the day off work to meet us. 

I am truly humbled by what a sacrifice she made to see us. 

She is a single mother who works 2 jobs  to support her 3 children.  

She works from 7am-7pm.

She wanted us to feel at home and sit and visit.

There were 2 beds that the 5 of them shared.  

She showed us her kitchen where her middle son who is 15, 

cooks all the meals for the family.

Lots of neighbors wanted to see Luis' gringo friends.  

He is very famous in his neighborhood now.

Less than 1% of sponsored children ever meet their sponsor. 

Wow.  I am truly humbled by that statistic. 

And amazed that God would let us have the privilege of meeting him.

The neighbor boy wanted badly to go with us

and you know we wanted to take him...

The house was built into the side of the mountain,  

which is very typical for the mountains of Otavalo.

Such a good mom.  Very hospitable and joyful to be together with us.

 Luis was on the waiting list for a long time before we sponsored him she said.

She longed for him to be taken care of while she worked.

To be fed, and given medical care and to have help with his school work.

The physical side of what the program is what she desired for him, 

the spiritual side she said didn't matter one way or the other. 

She is not a Christian, but says "maybe one day".  

I know the Lord is calling here to him as I talk with her about God.

  Luis is learning about the ONE TRUE GOD and he is the 

first in his family to hear the good news.  

We are praying Luis will grow up to be the light for his entire family.

Now Glory be to God who by HIS mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare ask or even dream of- 

infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes. 

Eph 3:20

As I reflect on our first meeting with Luis this word from the Lord is so real to me.  

God is able to do more than we ever dream- 

and to give us vision of eternity and not just of material earthly things.

Our family will be forever changed by this little boy and his family.