Ministry at Dunamis

Dear friends, 

 

I realize it’s been a while since I last posted a blog, so I want to give you a little look at what my life has been like recently and a few updates moving forward.  

 

Early March, my half of the squad moved from El Refugio to Dunamis, switching ministry with the other half of our squad. Dunamis is a safe home for trafficked girls under the age of 18. Their main goal is to provide a safe and comfortable space for girls to come and be totally removed from their home situation and experience the healing and care they need, while learning valuable life skills. They continue their education as well as learn how to sew, cook, dance, clean, etc. 

 

During our two weeks there, we each got to spend some time in the house with the girls, helping them with their school work, cooking meals, and caring for the two babies so their mothers could complete the tasks that were asked of them. Along with time with the girls, our squad worked in the massive tomato greenhouse they have on the property. The tomatoes grown there are sold to help with funding for the organization, as well as provide tasty and healthy produce for the girls and staff. We were put to work harvesting, weeding, watering, and caring for the plants in whatever way was necessary during the day. I also got to daily feed and care for the many animals they have on property including dogs, ducks, rabbits, chickens, sheep, a cow, and horses. I thoroughly enjoyed the farm life.

 

I really loved ministry at Dunamis, especially getting to connect with the girls. Currently there are nine girls in the house, plus two babies. Each of them were taken out of their homes because of abuse and trauma they were experiencing, some even by their own father. It truly breaks my heart to know even a fraction of these precious girls’ stories and to even begin to comprehend what they have been through at such a young age. It is so hard to see the Lord’s hand in situations like these, but He is faithful in bringing them to a safe space and I truly believe He has huge plans for each of them in the future. I loved getting to intercede for them with my squad on the same soil they live on, and see chains being broken and life begin to flow, even in just two weeks. Even though we speak different languages, we were able to form real and healthy bonds with the girls, and love on them to an extent they may have never experienced. And although we only spent two weeks there, it was incredibly hard to leave my new friends, knowing we would probably never see eachother again. 

 

Here are some photos of what life there and beyond has looked like so that you can get a little glimpse of all I’m getting to experience.

This is inside the greenhouse. It is enormous. It takes a full day just to harvest the tomatoes, which they do once a week. 

 

Here’s my squad leader, Katy and I harvesting tomatoes. 

 

After we have all the red tomatoes, we have to sort them by size and take out all the rotten ones. 

A sweet, sweet child of the house. It was such a pleasure to get to love on this little one. 

Lola, the cow, enjoying her salt while I enjoyed the view. 

Rooster care. We had to give this poor guy some medicine that day to help him get over a cold. Needless to say, I am having new experiences. 

This is the house being built out of shipping containers on Dunamis property. This house will serve as a transition house for the girls to live in once they turn 18. Here they will learn more real life adult skills and start working to transition into adulthood while still being sheltered by the safety of this location.

The view of Quito from Dunamis at night. 

 

On one adventure day recently, we were able to explore a bit of Old Town Quito. We got to see some really beautiful architecture, as well as tour a five-hundred year old church. This is the view from the bell tower. 

On our most recent adventure day, we got to go to the Laguna Quilotoa. It is a natural lake inside the crater of a volcano. One of the most beautiful and serene places I have ever been. 

 

Some of us hiked down the mountain to the lake and got to kayak on the lake. It was such an incredible experience getting to enjoy creation and the unique beauty all around us. 

Now I have some very exciting news…

We recently found out our next country!

We will be traveling to Guatemala on April 5!! The AIM base is outside of Antigua and they partner with many  different ministries in the area. We are so excited for this and for all the new things we will get to experience in a new country. I am especially excited to go back to Guatemala after my mission trip there in December 2019. It is already a place dear to my heart and I am excited to see all the Lord has to do there this time. It is so crazy as time is just flying by, and I am trying to enjoy every little moment of this experience while it is still happening. We will be in Guatemala until the end of May, and then we’ll be headed home!

 

Thank you each for your prayers for me and my squad in this season. I truly are still here only by grace of God, and for that I am humbled and beyond thankful. 

 

-Beth