In my last post, I asked for prayer in a few different areas. One was our Spiritual Emphasis Week. Due to major strikes and civil unrest, school was cancelled during our week of SEW, so we were unable to do what we had planned. A small group of us had been praying & interceding for what God wanted to do and we just resolved in our hearts that it was not God's timing for what He is going to do. We are moving forward in prayer and planning to release what God has placed in our hearts for the SEW in March. The Worship Team from the US that has come the last 2 years will be coming again, as well as local guest pastors from Momentum Church (our home church here in Quito), so I'm really excited and expectant for God to do great and mighty things. The picture I've seen in prayer is a field ripe for the harvest. Our worship & intercessory prayer are preparing the field. Seeds of truth have been and will be planted and the rain of Holy Spirit will pour down over us giving life to every seed! Please start praying and interceding now for this fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We want to be open to His move and receive all that He has for us. All it takes is ONE encounter with Holy Spirit for a life to be transformed.
Prayer Points:
1. Pray that Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, will pierce every heart and lead us to surrender our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and that God's kingdom and presence will flood our campus and every heart!
2. Likewise, pray for the worship team and guest speakers. We want to be vessels for God's glory to flow in and through.
3. Lastly, please pray against every religious, worldly, demonic spirit that will try to come against God's move. Pray that God will silence the enemy, break every chain and bring freedom to the captives!
The other area I specifically asked for prayer was regarding transition. God has been moving and creating a desire in my heart over the last 3 years to pastor a church. In addition to this, all last school year, God had been telling me that this current school year would be my last at Alliance Academy. I naturally assumed and believed that I would transition into pastoring here in Quito, Ecuador, but through much prayer and timely words from others, God has clearly spoken to me and confirmed that our season in Ecuador at this time has come to an end. I truly believe God will lead us back here in the future, but for this next season, God is leading us home to use us, prepare us and train us for what's ahead.
Starting in September 2020, the transition to take the senior pastor position at Radiant Church will begin and my parents, John & Ramona, will pass the baton to me on January 10, 2021, 9 years to the day since Radiant's conception. This whole thing was unexpected, but God has brought a convergence and orchestrated everything according to His will. As you can imagine, this has produced a wide range of feelings and emotions. One is the laying down of a dream of being here and ministering long term in Ecuador. Another is how ill-equipped I feel and undeserving, while at the same time knowing God is calling and leading me. I rest in the truth that God is good, His plans for me and my family are for good and that when He calls, He provides everything we need to do His will as we lean and rely on Him in hope, trust and confidence!
As a result of this transition, we have a lot to prepare for. Our plan is to move back around early July, 2020. So, please be praying for us.
1. Please pray for us as a family. Pray for peace, joy and unity. Though we are very excited to be with our family, friends & church family in the South Bend area and for the start of this next chapter, this is not an easy move, as you can imagine. For our children, Joaquin and Milena feel the weight of leaving what has become home to them (and us all). They are struggling with the idea of leaving their school, family and friends. They are also a little scared of going to a new school, but I know God will bring them new, amazing godly friends. Carolina will for the second time in her life be leaving her family. She has been feeling that we needed to move back to the US for the last few years, but it does not make the transition and sorrow of leaving family any easier. And for me, it is a heavy sense of loss. I love Ecuador so much, but I have a great sense of peace and am really excited for this next chapter, but letting go is not easy.
2. Please pray that we can sell what we need to sell here in Ecuador (particularly our car and some household items). For the things we want and need to bring home, we will be shipping a container. Please pray that we can find the right company, with a good price to ship everything.
3. Pray that God will provide for us the right home and in the right location. Prices have greatly increased since we moved here 5 years ago, but I am at peace because God is our provider. He has always provided for us above and beyond our expectations and I know He will do it again!
4. Lastly, please pray that we finish strong here in Ecuador. I want us to leave here knowing we did what we were called to do and know that we were pleasing to the Lord to the very end of this chapter.
Thank you all for your support over these 5 years. We so greatly appreciate your love, sacrifice and partnership. We could not have done it without you.
We also want to thank you in advance for your faithfulness to partner with us over these next 7 months as we finish our time here in Ecuador.
May the Lord richly bless you all. We love you all and wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Love,
Caleb, Carolina, Joaquin & Milena
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