Mission Beyond Borders: A Journey of Harmony and Faith
By David and Shari Nelson
As we set foot in Ecuador once again this winter, we were filled with anticipation and gratitude. Returning to the computer classroom we established during last year’s 3 ½ month stay, we were thrilled to see its continued success. However, this year, our mission took on a new dimension—one filled with melody and fellowship.
David and Shari in front of “Quito” sign
At the request of Bishop Pilatuña, we embarked on a journey to organize a conference for praise team musicians from the 22 Methodist churches across Ecuador. Recognizing the transformative power of music to open people’s hearts to the message of the gospel, the bishop believed this endeavor to be pivotal for church growth.
Welcome banner: Encuentro Nacional
Although organizing such an event was uncharted territory for us, we eagerly embraced the challenge. Leveraging our organizational skills such as spreadsheets, budgeting, word processing, scheduling, connecting people together, and our ever-improving Spanish skills, we devoted nearly all of our time for 2 ½ months to meticulous planning and coordination.
We recruited a 10-person praise team from the US to join us in Ecuador for a week to lead the conference. This ecumenical UMVIM team was a crucial part of the success of the conference.
In the lead-up to the conference, we visited almost half of the 22 Methodist churches in Ecuador, created relationships with pastors, musicians, and congregants alike. Through these connections, we not only generated enthusiasm for the conference, but we were able to arrange to borrow instruments and technical equipment from many of the churches, so the US team didn’t have to bring any of those things with them.
All-Conference participants
The culmination of our efforts, the "Vivan Las Alabanzas Conference," surpassed all expectations. With 47 Ecuadorian and 10 US praise team members, plus 7 pastors, 6 missionaries from 5 countries, and 8 translators, we embarked on a journey of worship, music, learning, and fellowship.
Over three days, we immersed ourselves in a tapestry of worship music, inspiring keynotes, and interactive workshops. Through shared meals and intimate discussions, we forged lasting connections, transcending language and cultural barriers.
David and Shari speaking at church in Ecuador
The impact of the conference reverberated far beyond its conclusion. Post-conference evaluations from the participants were enthusiastic. Participants left equipped with newfound technical skills, a renewed sense of purpose, and a deeper understanding of their role in spreading God's love through music.
But our mission extended beyond the confines of the conference facility. Following its conclusion, we took the US team to visit a couple of Methodist-church-affiliated school programs to sing and dance with the kids, work one-on-one with praise team musicians, and interact with the kids in a Bible lesson and crafts.
We thank God for the many blessings and protections that we experienced during this mission week with the US team, including safe travels, minimal health issues, availability of electricity and water throughout the visit, impactful connections with Ecuadorians and with one another, and the promise of a continuing relationship with new “hermanos y hemanas en Cristo”.
As we reflect on our 3 ½ months in Ecuador this year, we see that once again, God blessed us by putting us in the right place at the right time to participate in an impactful mission project in Ecuador. God matched our specific skills with God's specific needs, and we give God the glory. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the opportunity to play a small part in God's grand design. For truly, it is in service to others that we find our greatest joy and fulfillment.
