Quito Quest

Good Afternoon!

So interestingly enough, tomorrow I will be one of three leaders hosting a Short Term Quito Quest Team. The team is from First Presbyterian Church of Nashville and we will be working with one of Youth World's main partnerships - Carmen Bajo. A church in Carmen Bajo (north of Quito) hosts a soccer ministry, a Compassion International center and opportunities for VBS with kids.

This will be the first time I revisit Quito Quest since I was a senior in high school in 2002. It will be interesting to be on the other side of the fence as a leader instead of a student.

God is doing some awesome things here and it is great to be a part of it all. As the summer winds up for multiple teams on the ground for short term missions, everything is getting a little more fast-paced. Over 20 interns have arrived here to help with the summer and everything starts this coming week.

The greatest thing about short term missions here is that Youth World is very deliberate in teaching that a team cannot change the world in a week in a half by doing VBS, working in the dump or building a church; but that spiritual growth is the focus for the teams visiting, but also for the people receiving the help. I recall them giving the same instructions when I was here in 2001 and 2002 and I took that seriously. My spiritual growth was huge while I was here and after I had returned home to tell others.

I think that is one of the reasons I am back here again today. A missions trip to Ecuador was not to prove how much manual labor could get down or how many kids we could feed, it was about relationships and spiritual growth.

So as teams come here this summer, I ask that you pray for spiritual growth (eyes opened) for the teams, for those being served and for us as hosts. There are a great many things happening here!

I also pray for my friends and family back home, wherever home is for you now, that you will have a safe and loved filled summer. I really do want to know your prayer requests and needs or praises! So please email me @ jenny.luth@gmail.com. My life with you all is still very close in my heart, so please don't hesitate.

Much love,

Jenny