Quo Vadis – Where Are You Going?

I am not sure if anyone remembers the movie Quo Vadis? It’s a very old movie that first aired in 1951.

Peter is fleeing Rome in order to escape the great persecution of Nero against all Christians. That’s when resurrected Jesus walks by him. Peter asked, “Quo Vadis – where are you going?” Jesus simply answered, “I am going to Rome where you have fled.” Peter turned around and followed the Lord and there Peter was crucified upside down.

Our God inspired our hearts to pray for Ecuador past few years.
And finally He used His chosen people to confirm His will and plan for Ecuador last winter. He directed us to about 150 very poor and needy children in four different churches in Guayaquil. We decided to support them by providing school supplies and uniforms along with Sunday School materials.

We prepared diligently to launch our very first COJ Project in Ecuador before their school year starts in May. And our team went down to Guayaquil this past April to distribute all the uniforms and school supplies for all 150 children and to conduct a Sunday School teachers training. But when we got there, the reality we faced was far worse than we had expected.

First, the road to the churches have turned into a river. The rainy season in Guayaquil lasts over six months and the standing waters throughout the city are serious health threats. We were told, “You must put these rain boots on because if your body comes in contact with these waters, you’ll contract waterborne diseases.” “Also, please do not use your cell phones anywhere. You never know when you will be robbed or even attacked by the gangsters.”

The community of Duran in Guayaquil is a major hub between powerful drug trafficking countries in Latin America, and these drug cartels have no regard for the lives of innocent people. We were told that even the native Ecuadorians are afraid of travelling into Duran in fear of their lives. “Your team is already on the list of these drug cartels. They closely monitor any new strangers visiting these communities.”
That’s not all.
The entire city is so corrupted, from social workers to public educators. Many of the uniforms for the children were ordered in advance. But when our staff went to pick them up the price had increased drastically. One of the school districts changed the color and style of the uniforms from one brand to another just one week prior to the school start date. A sister who decided to serve and work alongside us for the COJ Ecuador project was in tears and expressed her desire to give up only after a few months. Many of the Sunday School teachers who gathered for our training session did not know the Bible at all. They were looking into the Old Testament section when we asked them to open to the book of Romans.

And the story goes on.
Did we hear our God correctly? Can we and should we continue with this project? Wouldn’t it be better to pull out now rather than later? You have to be a fool to stand your ground in such circumstances and situations.
All these doubts started creeping into our hearts and minds about this newly begun COJ Ecuador ministry.

But as we prayed and sought the heart of our God, the Holy Spirit reminded us of Quo Vadis and the following words of an old praise song: “Father, we want our heart to be where your heart is. Father, we want our tears to be where your tears are. Father, we want our eyes to be where your eyes are fixed. Father, we want our feet to go for those who break your heart.”
We know deep in our hearts that our Abba Father didn’t want to leave these children in the darkest places of Guayaquil. We don’t have much faith like those faith giants around us but simply want to obey and follow our King and Savior, Jesus Christ even if that means to die upside down.
We would like to sincerely thank you for your wonderful partnership in this challenging endeaver through your faithful prayers and financial support for these suffering children. God bless you richly!