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Blessing after Blessing

"Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another." John 1:16 GNT

By Laurel Ellis

October 2^nd, 2018

Video: Blessed by Stl!

The rest of the story.

Speed the Light, a program of the Assemblies of God, was started over 70 years ago by then National Youth Director, Ralph Harris, to equip missionaries with vehicles. Since then youth groups across the nation have given over 300 million dollars to the cause!

Pendleton First, one of my supporting churches in Eastern Oregon, took on the challenge to raise the funds for my car. I was approved for over $40,000 but upon arriving here in Cuenca, as I shopped for a good reliable car, the Kia Niro seemed like the best choice for my needs and at $29,000, it was much cheaper than anticipated. Thank you to all of you at Pendleton First who gave sacrificially to provide me with wheels.

Pendleton First surprised me when I visited there on July 1 with a check for the full amount for the STL car.

Thank you Pendleton First for your love and prayers that accompany your generous financial help!

Patricia, the Kia salesperson, has become a friend.

The missionary team prayed over my car , asking for protection as I drive around the city and beyond.

My beautiful Kia Niro with Cuenca in the background.

Many of the secondary roads outside the city are still gravel or dirt.

The old city is all cobblestone streets.

My new life in cuenca

Thank you for praying for me over these past months. Upon returning from Cuba in early June, I hit the ground running, getting our family home in Canby, Oregon ready to to put on the market as well as packing 16 pieces of luggage to send with Sandy Assembly's MAPS team who was traveling to Cuenca. Many people helped me with the myriad details that had to get done in just a few short weeks. You know who you are. I couldn't have done it without you!

After the big push to the finish line, I had a few weeks breather in Seattle with family and going to counseling at MRI, then visiting Rick and my parents in Phoenix and LA before flying to Ecuador, arriving in Cuenca on August 8th.

I have received a warm welcome from the missionary team as well as the Ecuadoreans. God's grace sustains me every day as I adjust to my new life here and I ask for your continued prayers.

The kids came down to Canby and took mementos and other things that they could use before we sold the house.

Sandy Assembly blessed me with a fifteen person work crew who came and got the inside and outside of the house ready to sell.

My sister, Rosie, staged the Canby house and along with others helped me sell everything in a garage sale.

God graciously gave me the desire of my heart, a view and a balcony, in this beautiful furnished two bedroom apartment.

My apartment in the background is located on — My apartment in the background is located on "the island" between two rivers.

God has also graciously given me new friends like Becky Davis, a fellow missionary who has become such a close friend already!

Cuenca is the center of the Panama hat industry.

Ecuadorean delicacies, rotisserie pig and guinea pig.

Building relationships

The pictures below are from an all church city wide event, "Festival for Life" and a country church where I was invited to speak. I have been attending the weekly interdenominational pastors meetings, establishing rapport and learning so much. They have welcomed me with open arms and I see God opening doors.

Other groups with which I am interacting on a weekly basis are the Unsión Television station employees, AGWM missionaries in Cuenca and a Gringo Life Group made up of expats. Once a month I join with 15 Ecuadorean Assemblies of God church planters and their lead pastors, learning the mechanics of beginning a house church as well as Biblical principles. During these initial weeks my goal is to visit the Assemblies of God churches in the area, meet the pastors and continue the process of building strong relationships with both missionaries and Ecuadoreans.

Church group in traditional dress, dancing to Christian folkloric music.

Blessing after Blessing

Blessing after Blessing

Blessing after Blessing

Pastors from different denominations praying for their city.

Speaking at a church

Blessing after Blessing

Blessing after Blessing

Blessing after Blessing

Footnotes

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

FootNotes

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

© 2026 Laurel Ellis

Her children arise and call her blessed.

Proverbs 31:28 NIV

"Here I am. Send me!"

Isaiah 6:8

"...you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ..." Phil 1:5 NLT

Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 1Corinthians 3:7

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.

He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalm 37:23 NLT

The Goodness of God

Taste and see how good the Lord is! Psalm 34:8 CEB

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