Latinos on the move - from Ecuador to Albania

Guayaquil, Ecuador- 'It has been a process of faith.' That is how Liliana Reyes summed up her experience in mission work. Liliana Reyes returned to the mission field last week, after spending almost six months at home in Ecuador. She returns for a three year term. Liliana Reyes is a part of an emerging mission movement. She represents the growing trend of Latinos joining the mission field.

Before she left, she shared with OM her calling; her experience during the first two years and how returning is different from her first time. For her, it is an experience that stretches back over 10 years.

'I was at an OM Teenstreet conference in Chile in 1998, and it was there I really felt like I needed to join the mission field', said Liliana during her interview. 'I was excited at first', she continued, 'I knew nothing, I just wanted to help'.

Nearly 10 years and a medical degree later, Liliana would act on her calling. In 2007, she would begin working towards raising support and joining the emerging mission movement. The challenges she faced were like many faced by Latinos wishing to go to the mission field.

'My church was very traditional and only wanted to support mission work within the country. They did not want to support me at first. I had to develop a clear plan listing what I was going to do.'

In addition to her church, she had to leave behind her family, a big step for someone from a culture in which family is paramount. 'I became really scared', she said. Raising support, leaving behind family, uncertainty about what she would encounter on the mission field feed her fear. Soon, she felt fear and doubt whelming up inside her.

It was then God spoke to her through His word. 'He gave me a scripture', she shared. 'Isaiah 41:10, ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’ God renewed her and reminded her that He was going to be with her through this entire process.

Later, she discovered that the faith she grew during the support raising process would be used to sustain her once on the field. 'I had this idea that I could go in and immediate begin working, using my medical training. In the beginning, I was becoming frustrated, I was ready to work and had this plan that I wanted to get busy on.'

But God had other plans. He placed her exactly where he wanted her. She worked along side a local pastor to build a local church congregation. Her faith in his guidance grew as she saw him working through the experience, like her faith in his provision grew as he raised her support. 'I’ve really learned to trust in God, that he is faithful and he will provide.'

As she prepared to leave for a second time, she shared a few closing thoughts. 'It’s so easy to live here, to have my family and friends, my culture and my language. It’s difficult to live over there, but, it is an opportunity to see how God works, to experience how your OM team becomes your new family, how you build new friendships with the people.'

When asked what was the biggest highlight from her time spent in Albania, she said: 'The highlight is when you are able to explain the gospel in the local language for the first time, when you see how open their heart it. That point makes it all worth it.'

OM’s role in the Church is to mobilise people to share the knowledge of Jesus and His love with every generation in every nation. OM pioneers and leads initiatives to redeem lives, rebuild communities and restore hope in over 110 countries.