September Internship Report – Juan and Marissa Moncayo

Published September 1, 2016

La Fuente Church, Quito, Ecuador

Juan

Ministry Highlights

This was a crucial month since returning to Ecuador. We finished the translation of almost 30 hours of biblical counseling training, started a Biblical Counseling Training Center and received calls from various biblical counseling organizations asking us to help in the translation of further resources.

It is encouraging to see how our community group is starting to define their new identity. We sent a handful of people to help start other community groups. God is faithful and our CG is starting to define their identity as a family in mission together!

It has also been encouraging to start to feel like we are back in the swing of things especially in respect to having Community Group at our house with our baby. It’s been neat to see how our CG loves on Willow and one another.

After six years in Ecuador without a car, God has provided the finances needed for us to start looking for a car. It’s great to see how God provides and to think of the ministry opportunities that will open up once we have a car.

Key Prayer Requests

We are hosting a team with Children’s Hunger Fund in September. Please pray as La Fuente was chosen as the leading church to coordinate a possible Mercy Network of churches in our city.

Please pray as we continue to adjust to this beautiful season of life with our 2-month-old. Pray that we can cherish every moment with her!

Pray for the political and economic climate in Ecuador and our new series in the book of I Peter that we plan on starting in September.

Pray for wisdom and clarity on our involvement with the Biblical counseling opportunities that are opening.

Prominent Lessons

We had a strong earthquake this month. God taught me about his love and care as I ran to the room to pick up our daughter. She was sleeping soundly and woke up with a little smile. Little did she know what was happening. It was a beautiful lesson of the care and protection of my heavenly father.

I got sick during the busiest week of the month. I would sit down and I could not concentrate or get much done. The Lord used this opportunity to teach me some key lessons on prayer and leaning on Him much more than in my ability to prepare and lean on my abilities.

God works in HIS timing. It was so encouraging this month to see how God works on His timing. After many years of wanting and praying for a Biblical Counseling Training Center, this month we saw it come to fruition. Not only that but the timing with the people that were present, and other circumstances going around was such a reminder that HE IS IN CONTROL and HIS PLAN IS PERFECT.

Key Goals for the Next Month

Get details figured out for the transition Celebration in October. This will be the Sunday were the church plans on installing me as lead pastor.

Have a good idea of Module two of the Biblical Counseling Institute.

Learn how to use my time more effectively in my preparation time for preaching.

Write at least one article for The Gospel Coalition.

Marissa

Ministry Highlights

My husband has been working really hard on a curriculum for biblical counseling training. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in biblical counseling and I am really excited as biblical counseling is very sparse in Ecuador and people are excited about it.

Key Prayer Requests

Wisdom as I am trying to figure out how to be present in community group, church with a newborn and my husband as the pastor and leader of our community group.

How to be a good wife and mother.

Finding daily time with the Lord.

Prominent Lessons

We had two earthquakes the last month. The epicenter was in Quito. In April there was a large earthquake in the coast that we felt along with several aftershocks. I realize that I was taking comfort in the fact that they were in the coast and that if there was another one not much would happen here. Now that we had two earthquakes very close to home, I’ve been forced to face the reality that my only hope is in Him and not in this world and human safety.

Key Goals for the Next Month

Start meeting with the ladies in leadership and start planning our women’s study.

To continue to work at being more present in community group.