In a touching act of love and faith, a group of students from Point Loma Nazarene University in California, USA, were led on an evangelistic day for the boys and girls of the Shuar community in Pimpints near Taisha, Ecuador.

The Shuar are an indigenous group native to the Amazon region in Ecuador.

The initiative, filled with games, music, and joy, aimed to highlight the importance of the identity of each boy and girl, reminding them how much God loves and honors them. Bracelets were given to children and dresses to girls, seeking to instill them with value and security in God.

The dresses were made by a group of women from Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene in Arizona, USA. Once a year, these women make roughly 2,000 dresses and ship them around the world through a program called “Dress a Girl.” The idea is to pass those dresses to girls and talk with them about their identity in Christ. As each girl receives a dress, someone prays individually for them.

Celeste, a missions team member, couldn't hold back the tears and recounted how the Holy Spirit showed her the pain of each girl who has suffered harm and the joy of knowing they are being loved.

Belen Ramos and her husband, Isaac Almendaris, have pastored the Church of the Nazarene in Taisha for five years. During her participation, Ramos shared with the girls the value and dignity God grants them. Almendaris shared about the importance of self-esteem and the children’s identity in Christ.

Ramos expressed her deep gratitude to Cindy Orellana, Lady Yumbla, and Johana Yumbla for their valuable contribution and support. These women, who received discipleship in the local church, have become an inspiration and light to others.

"We must learn to express love within our families, especially to boys and girls,” said Johana Yumbla, coordinator of the Oikos sponsorship ministry at Taisha Church. “In this evangelism, we hug the girls, tell them about Jesus, and remind them how much he loves them."

This evangelistic day was carried out in the hopes of establishing a church in the community. The team asked for continued prayer for these children and their families so that they may find hope, strength, and protection in their walk of faith.

--Church of the Nazarene South America