Thunder Shahan, a 25-year-old from South Carolina has been with us this past month! We got in contact with him last August and talked about the possibility of him coming down solo and serving with us. After hearing about our needs with the foster home, he expressed the desire to use his construction skills to build bunk beds for the foster home. Thunder raised his own support for living expenses by working extra jobs. He received a generous donation from his church and friends that has helped us with materials for the bunk beds.
We have been so thankful to have him here serving with us and his construction experience has been very valuable as well. For us (Roberto and Jill/Foundation) it has been a great experience of what it might be like to have an intern someday or what it might feel like to have someone else serving down here with us.
Thunder has enjoyed getting to know and see the vision that God has here for us, all while learning about the culture, the language, trying new foods, meeting new people, and serving OUR Father. He took a HUGE step of faith deciding to come down and serve; he didn't know us, we don't have a lot of money to work with, he raised most of his own funds, he's young...but God provided!
Here are a few pictures of the bunk beds and some other highlights of his trip!
We have been so thankful to have him here serving with us and his construction experience has been very valuable as well. For us (Roberto and Jill/Foundation) it has been a great experience of what it might be like to have an intern someday or what it might feel like to have someone else serving down here with us.
Thunder has enjoyed getting to know and see the vision that God has here for us, all while learning about the culture, the language, trying new foods, meeting new people, and serving OUR Father. He took a HUGE step of faith deciding to come down and serve; he didn't know us, we don't have a lot of money to work with, he raised most of his own funds, he's young...but God provided!
Here are a few pictures of the bunk beds and some other highlights of his trip!
BUNK BEDS!
Going the EXTRA MILE
Last year Silvana (Robert's mom) informed us of a 10-year-old girl in a neighboring Shuar (indigenous) community that was found with NO NAME, NO IDENTIFICATION, ABANDONED BY HER PARENTS, LIVING WITH GRANDPA, AND HAD NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL It would be like a child being born, and was never registered as even EXISTING in Ecuador. Their living situation was less that poor... they were living in a space about the size of many of your bathrooms. Silvana and her office were able to get her registered, gave her a name, and were able to help her get into school.
This was the perfect example of a child NEEDING a SAFE HAVEN! Had CASA RESCATE (THE RESCUE HOME) been open, we would have taken her in!
Silvana has continued to follow the child and her grandfather and approached Roberto about helping them with their living quarters. Thunder and Roberto went out to the community to take a look to see what they could do. Thunder was very touched and got in contact with some friends back home and was able to get $300 donated toward materials to fix up the house and make it a bit more secure for them.
I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...
This was the perfect example of a child NEEDING a SAFE HAVEN! Had CASA RESCATE (THE RESCUE HOME) been open, we would have taken her in!
Silvana has continued to follow the child and her grandfather and approached Roberto about helping them with their living quarters. Thunder and Roberto went out to the community to take a look to see what they could do. Thunder was very touched and got in contact with some friends back home and was able to get $300 donated toward materials to fix up the house and make it a bit more secure for them.
I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...
Random Run-Arounds with a Gringo
Thunder has also had some time to "experience" Ecuador! He was able to go to the beach for a week during Carnaval (which is kinda like Mardi Gras for us in the States). He connected really well with our missionary friends in Macas (David, Kellie, Ru, and Lana) and was able to do some sight seeing and touring with them as well. Here are some pictures of things that he found interesting. We thought you might enjoy seeing Ecuador from someone else's perspective!