4/21/2016

God is Bigger!

On Saturday evening the country I call home experienced a 7.8 earthquake. Although the earthquake could be felt here there was absolutely no damage where I live. However, that is far from the case for so many people in the coastal region of Ecuador.  The stories that we are hearing (and seeing) of the affected areas are heart wrenching. Stories about children who are now orphans because their parents died protecting them bring fresh tears to my eyes as I write this. The real-life accounts of the areas where people have to go and look at the deceased to identify their loved ones are unbelievably saddening.  The official numbers that I am hearing are that around 600 people have died. However, there are many still missing. This does not even begin to mention the injured.

My heart has been extremely heavy this week as I think about and pray for the people in the cities. They have no electricity, no water, and have been experiencing multiple after shocks for days now, including some that qualified as earthquakes themselves. People are sleeping outside even if their homes were not destroyed because they are afraid another earthquake will occur that will destroy their homes with them inside. Ecuador is on the equator, which means it is very hot, and especially so in the costal regions that are at sea level. They have no electricity, no water. People are desperate. The pictures of people standing along side the road begging for a little water for their families are heart breaking.

Even though this earthquake has not affected our area, emotionally it is felt countrywide. Ecuador is not a huge country. Practically everyone in Ecuador knows at least someone who lives in the affected areas. I can’t begin to imagine the pain of not knowing if your family members are all right or even still living. The Spanish teacher at our school told me how her family has had no word from her aunt, her aunt’s children, or her grandchildren. They have attempted to contact everyone they can that might know something, and they have added their names to the registry that helps people find out about their loved ones. This is just one story of thousands.

As I have reflected on this tragedy and prayed for the injured and the families grieving the death of their loved ones, I have thought about what it would be like to go through this. Although the pain felt by all involved is tremendous, I can’t even begin to imagine going through something like this without a very real confidence in our trustworthy God. During our girl’s Bible study this afternoon we discussed how God is a trustworthy God. He is faithful and ever true. He is the creator and sustainer of all. We discussed how we CAN and should trust our God no matter what happens. At one point in the discussion I asked the girls if we can trust God even when bad things like the earthquake happens. One of the girls so rightly responded with something like, “Of course, because He is God. He created everything” Oh! To have the faith of a child. There is so much desperation, so many hurting, so many in need of a Savior. I know my God is bigger than the troubles. I know my God is there even in the sorrow. I praise God that the Word tells me that I can have this confidence.

In the midst of all this hurt, there are many nationals and foreigners rushing to the aid of the victims. My two neighbors are pilots with Mission Aviation Fellowship serving with a local Ecuador mission as pilots usually serving people needing to get in and out of the jungle areas. Both of these men are away from their families as they serve as pilots to fly aid workers into the affected areas. Fellow Reach Beyond missionaries are serving as doctors in the hardest hit areas (also away from their families). Many other friends of mine serving with other ministries are also ministering during this time. Pray for them as they serve. Pray that they will have opportunities to share the good news of Christ as they minister to the physical needs of the hurting. Pray for their safety in dangerous situations due to the overwhelming desperation of the people. 

If you are looking for a way to give financially to support the work that is being done to help the victims I have listed two reliable ministries below that are taking donations specifically to get aid where its needed most.

Samaritan’s Purse: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/disaster/ecuador-earthquake/

Reach Beyond:  https://reachbeyond.org/ecuadorrelief

4/17/2016

Asking for Prayer

Hey Guys,

I have been meaning to write a blog for quite some time now. This is going to be a different sort of blog. I don't really have any pictures to share with you at this time. Really I just wanted to give a brief overview of how you can be praying for me, my students, and their families this week as well as the rest of Ecuador.

 
1) Shell was not directly affected by the earthquake. There is no structural damage here. However, many of the missionaries here in Shell are already on the move to assist the people in need at the coast. My neighbor is a missionary pilot with MAF. He flew out this morning to begin taking patients from the affected areas to hospitals in bigger cities that could provide the care they need.

  • Pray for the missionaries as they serve those in need.
  • Pray for their children and spouses that remain here in Shell to carry on daily life.
  • Pray for the people in the affected areas. (the injured, the people who have lost their homes, people who have lost their livelihood, people who have lost loved ones...)
  • Pray that through this tragedy many would come to know Christ.


2) I would also ask you to pray for the upcoming week at school. We are having spiritual emphasis week starting tomorrow. We are calling this week REFRESH.  We are talking about John 15 and abiding in Christ. We as a staff are praying that the students hear and apply the word that we are bringing before them.

  • Pray for the teachers who are leading these devotions each day this week starting at 8:15am.
  • Pray that the students' hearts will be open to what God would have them learn this week.
  • Pray for unity among the students and staff.
  • Pray for the leaders and the students to be obedient to the Word of God.
  • Pray for strength for the leaders and students as their emotions are affected by what is going on elsewhere in Ecuador. 



I am so encouraged to know that I have people who pray for me daily and weekly. Thanks so much for praying for these specific needs. Hopefully I will be able to bring you more news on how the missionaries here in Shell are able to help the people on the coast. I will update everyone about how REFRESH goes next week.

Love you guys!
Jennifer Kendrick

P.S. I also have a new telephone number. (205-564-5500). This is a number that you can call just like you were calling anyone else in the States. It is an Alabaster, AL area code. I would love to hear from you :)