Recently Barth and Mathilde I were in Quito, Ecuador for two reasons. The first was to visit iTeams NL’s Casa Adalia project for women at risk. The other reason was for Barth to meet with other leaders of the International Teams/One Collective family, sharing together, praying and encouraging each other!
Mathilde shares about their trip…On our annual visit to Quito, we hold talks with Casa Adalia's staff, with the leaders of our ministry partner ESME (End Slavery Ministries Ecuador) and with the occupants of the house. Furthermore, I visited another related project EsperanzArt. This project provide work skills and income to women at risk. Since it was Tuesday devotions time, I was asked to lead the devotions. I had chosen the theme: "He knows my name"! This was a nod to a memory I have from our Dutch Sinterklaas festival, where as a child I always wondered how Sinterklaas knew my name. Isn’t it sometimes the case that we as humans also wonder: does God really know my name? Yes!! Our name is recorded in The Book of Life, He calls us by our name! In keeping with the Sinterklaas tradition everyone received chocolate letters! They were welcomed with joy!
A special treat was that we were able to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Casa Adalia. Special thanks must go to Desiree and Miguel Zova and Phil and Debbie Douce who had the vision for this ministry all those years ago and have served faithfully over the years. Barth and I were honoured to receive a glass plaque in thanks for 10 years of commitment, friendship and belief in this project and the leaders. Among those present were the two house-mothers, the school coordinator, the psychologist, the social worker, board members and family members and pastor of the new home coordinator, who was also blessed.
Finally, all this was celebrated with a joint meal. This project is a project of hope, unconditional love and faithfulness!!