Invitation to Ecuador!

I am again blown away at how quickly this year has flown by!  I am now only a  week from finishing my first semester of 2nd year at Bethel School of Ministry in Redding, CA.  Most of you know at least a little bit about what I am doing.  My 2nd year at school has been absolutely phenomenal!  I feel like it has been an entirely higher level of ministry training.  1st year was all about identity and really learning how to be human beings before we become “human doings”.  This year has been building off of that foundation, but we are now being trained on how to now create the culture around us that has been cultivated in us.  This has been so good for me!  Some of the things the Lord has been highlighting to me this year:  1) Community - It is so important to move from independence into interdependence.  We are the Body of Christ!  2) Dreaming with God - The Lord has been really encouraging me to go after the dreams that are in my heart. 3) Trusting over Knowing - I don’t have to have all the answers.  I just need to in the goodness of my God.

I now am presented with another opportunity to grow and take what I have learned outside of school.  I have been chosen to go on a missions trip to Ecuador with an incredible team of people.  There are a couple of reasons I applied for this specific trip.  First of all, I love the Latin American culture and the Spanish language.  It is a culture so full of life!  Also, this trip is focused on bringing heaven’s justice to situations that are distorted by social injustices.  This is a huge passion of mine!  Finally, this trip is partnered with Jennifer Toledo and Global Children’s Movement.  Jennifer has had an incredible impact on my life through her testimony of radical obedience to God which led her to the nations.  It is such an honor to be able to see her ministry in action!

If grace is grace, then work is no longer work (Rom. 11:6). There is nothing like encountering God's love with someone who has never known that He loves them! It's not hard to love God and it's such a blissful joy to share it with street kids, prostitutes, kids in youth prisons etc. We will be serving and supporting the existing ministries and churches who pour their hearts and lives into the people of Quito, Ecuador, day after day.

Our team will meet up with social justice rockstars Jennifer and Jonaton Toledo. Through their connections we will have amazing opportunities, releasing mercy and justice in youth prisons, ministering to and feeding malnourished children, distributing supplies, loving on and healing women and their babies in the nation’s largest maternity hospital for impoverished families, ministering downtown, as well as ministering to believers through a conference.

I would absolutely love it if you would prayerfully consider joining my support team as I prepare for this amazing adventure and also while I am there.  The trip itself is for 17 days near the end of March into early April, but the preparation time is just as important.  If you would like to jump onto my prayer team and get updates, just shoot me an email and I will put you on a list.  Also, I will be blogging about my journey up until the trip, while I am there, and after I get home. I am also looking for people who feel led to sow into this missions trip financially.  Please know that I so appreciate however you choose to support me!

Financial gifts may be made online at ibssm.org. This gift is tax-deductible and you will receive a statement at the end of the year for your tax records. If you wish your gift to be anonymous, please check the anonymous box. This will allow you to receive an end of year statement, but will not allow me to see your name. This gift is non-refundable, and if for any reason I or my team does not go, the money will support another mission trip sponsored by Bethel Church.

I pray that our Father would radically bless you in this season of your life and that His love would fill you daily.

Ellie Stailey

2245 Deerfield Ave

Redding, CA 96002