Once, Jaque could barely take care of herself as a recycler in the Quito Dump. After the shocking death of her sister-in-law, she and her husband now are providing life-giving sanctuary for three young boys. What changed? Grab a drink and read her inspiring story to find out!

I am a middle-aged mother of two, a wife, a sister, an aunt and a friend. My name is Jaque. I bear the title of recycler. Culturally, this makes me insignificant, unacceptable and demeans my value. Thankfully, I also bear the title of a daughter of Christ where I find my value and purpose.

In 2008, I began recycling in the Quito Dump and attending ER’s Recycling Community Women’s Program. I chose to allow my children to be cared for at the ER Dump Daycare. These decisions would change my life and the lives of my family.

My husband Sandy and I have faced numerous trials generationally entrenched in our community. Alcohol, abuse and conflict ran rampant in our home. Amazingly, God used Pastor Jose and Teresa Jimenez to soften our hearts and show us how to know the Lord. We both turned from our sin and accepted Christ.

Troubles

In 2019, my brother Luis called me to share his troubles. He also struggles with alcohol and desperately needed work to care for his wife and boys, Alex, Lucas and Gael (privacy names).

“Don’t worry,” I said. “We are going to find you a job with my husband’s cousin.” And we did. For three months, Luis had steady work in Quito and sent money to the coast for his family.

Life was improving for Luis and his family until the pandemic struck. There was no more work. Luis caught COVID. Sick and jobless, he was devastated. We feared for his life, but God gave him another chance because we prayed for him.

After recovering, Luis despaired. He didn’t know what to do to support his family. I explained that God is the only one who can guide him. We trusted one day he would come to know God. We told him God would open doors for him to get a job.

Doors Open

We helped Luis secure work at the Recycling Transfer Station (Quito Dump) where Sandy works. Thank God, Luis still works there and can earn income.

We continued to shepherd Luis. He became stable, so I encouraged Luis to reunite his family. I told him, “A home is when a husband, wife and their children are together”.

Luis resisted bringing his family to Quito because the children were underweight. One is anemic; one has a blood condition; and one is mentally challenged. Because of these hardships, my brother struggled.

I reminded Luis he is not the only one with a disabled son. I also experienced hardship with my son. Doctors said he wouldn’t succeed or get through school. But thanks to God, my son graduated from high school.

I told Luis his sons could have bright futures. I shared that if his sons were accepted into the Quito Dream Center, they would be loved, nurtured, and receive help with their education.

The boys didn’t know how to read; neither do their parents. They are illiterate like me. I prayed for the doors to open at the Dream Center. Thanks to God, my nephews were accepted!

Luis moved his family to Quito. The boys enrolled in school and started at the Dream Center where they received great care. They spent the next 18 months adapting to their new lives.

Tragedy Strikes

In July, Luis’s wife (also named Teresa) died unexpectedly while visiting family on the coast. Luis was alone with his children and didn’t know what to do. He was grieving and in a bad state.

When local authorities and relatives attempted to separate the boys from Luis, I intervened so they all could stay together. I encouraged and counselled Luis, but he was despondent. He struggled to care for his boys and was lost in his grief.

With help from ER, Luis and the boys returned to Quito and were welcomed back into the arms of our family, as well as the entire Dream Center staff and students. Their first day back was during the Vacation Bible School hosted by volunteers from Briarwood Church.

That week the boys were embraced as they worked through so much fresh grief and uncertainty. The ER staff came around our families to care for every need. Pastor Jose and Teresa ministered to us all. The teachers made sure the boys received emotional support.

Zac assessed our homes and matched the physical needs to the resources of another group of volunteers. A team from Bethlehem Church purchased and delivered an oven, stove, fridge, bunk beds, mattresses, a table and chairs to Luis’ home. They also delivered an oven to my home because I am doing most of the cooking for Luis’ family.

Incredible Moment

While the team was visiting Luis, something incredible happened. Luis was so impacted by the team’s generosity and love toward him and his boys that he took a huge step of faith. Luis prayed to accept Christ. I have been waiting for God to answer our prayers and He did!

Later in the week, the Bethlehem team taught us cooking skills and food safety, then sent us home with groceries to fill our kitchens. Everyone left with huge smiles.

God put people in my path who didn’t know my family or our circumstances for a purpose. Luis has experienced hardship, but I tell him to persevere. The Bible says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

I was overwhelmed by the love and support strangers showered upon my family. It was a huge gift during overwhelming circumstances. We are adjusting, looking to the future, and seek to be a blessing to our community.

We have big dreams. Luis and I enrolled in ER’s new adult literacy program. We want to learn to read, develop life skills, and grow our faith together. Sandy, Luis and I all want to be discipled, baptized and publicly dedicate our lives to Christ together.

May God bless everyone who hears our story.

Love, Jacque

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” John 10:10b.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

The ripple effect of an abundant life is incredible. Jaque let her cup overflow from the unconditional love she received at the ER Dream Center. She filled the cups of her kids, husband, brother, and nephews. The ripples of a self-described “insignificant” person propelled her entire family toward faith and hope during their darkest time.

If you’ve experienced God’s abundance, you can create ripples among the castoff, forgotten, and defeated people we serve, like the volunteer teams that made ripples for Jaque’s family.

You can provide abundant lives for the 200+ kids and 100+ adults in our programs through our Make Your Ripple campaign. Your generosity breaks the chains of hopelessness.

To give online visit our secure website at https://extremeresponse.org/give4/.

On behalf of the ER team and the people we serve, thank you for investing in others!

Brad McKenna, President & CEO

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

P.S. Your donation can be doubled! A generous ER supporter is matching donations to our Make Your Ripple campaign dollar-for-dollar. If you donate $100, ER receives $200.