This summer we took a group of ten to Ecuador to help work at Camp Bellevue, where the Campbells live. It was encouraging to see how much they do for their community. Our congregation has been supporting them since before they moved to Ecuador. When Jesus commissioned his disciples, he told them to go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that he commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).
Going requires more than just packing up and moving to some fantasy destination. Missionaries sacrifice a lot. In the case of the Campbells, they learned two new languages and are raising their children in a different country. They adopt the culture of the country they live in and that becomes home. It’s easy for people who visit for a week or two to forget just how big a transition it is for missionaries to move to another country permanently.
Serving abroad requires a great deal of flexibility, commitment, adaptability, ability to work with a vast number of personalities, and fundraising. We’re excited to hear how the Lord is using the Campbells in Ecuador and we need to make it a point to encourage them in the work they do!