ECUADOR Prayer Calendar: Oct 14-20

Good morning! Below are the prayer guides for this week. The Ecuador Haven Retreat starts on Thursday, and many of our Connection Crew are headed to Ecuador on new dates. Please join us in prayer over this retreat and each precious woman that will be involved - those attending and those serving. And may YOU know God’s grace and presence in your life this week in an unexpected and just right way as He meets you where you are.

October 14:

We have been waiting for the unrest in Ecuador to stop and today we saw the answer to our request. Praise the Lord!

Today the Connection Crew has need of new adjusted airplane reservations, favor with the airlines and strength to carry on after so many unknowns in our travel to Ecuador.

For the attendees to experience a peace that surpasses all understanding as they walk through these uncertain times in Ecuador. May they also seek Jesus to be their sustainer in these days before the retreat.

Will You please calm any nerves and stress that come with traveling, and with this kind of trip. As the Connection Crew prepares for their travel please ask the Father to give each woman a heart that knows she is unconditionally loved by her ABBA Father, a flexible attitude and a desire to serve one another. Speak calm and peace over hearts and minds that tend to stray towards anxiety, hesitation and doubt. claim the Name of Jesus over each of these women, as she gives of her heart, time, provisions and spirit to go and do a refreshing work that You have called her to.

God, we ask that You be glorified in all things through them; they would be Your hands, feet, and voices of truth, gentleness, kindness and love. Fill their hearts and spirits with an increased sensitivity towards Your Spirit, towards Your voice and heart. May they be humble and compassionate to one another and those they will interact with. Bless their time together, richly and abundantly. Create in them a spirit of unity and a heart that seeks You and longs to worship You alone. Give them joy and laughter and just a wonderfully good time together. ask all these things in Jesus' Name, amen.

October 15: Today we pray for the women attending the retreat

S - asks for us to pray for people to come to hear the truth through their new church. May God build His church plant, for there to be an increase of wisdom as responsibilities and expectations shift. Pray for her to seek God first and allow Him to be her continual foundation and source of life as she balances all the areas of life with one another - work, family, ministry, friendships; ask that she be given a new awareness of how important her walk with God is to all the other parts of her life.

J - Has been on sabbatical the last 9 months from teaching. She has hit deep depression and burnout. Now she senses God’s leading to leave teaching and start working in Women's ministry at our church in Quito. Please pray for that transition as well as the need for funds. Pray for peace and calm in their family and in their household, that each family member will be compassionate and gracious towards one another, even as things can be stressful and hectic. Pray they know the presence of God with them as seasons change.

J - Please pray for clear direction for her family’s future. Due to different situations with kids, they are considering this being their last term and asking the Lord to clearly show them His will. Pray for an increase of joy and anticipation for what is yet to come, but to rest in the “now,” trusting that God has the future in His hands.

H - Pray for peace to flood her heart, soul, and mind as she is considering leaving faith mission work. Pray that as peace sweeps over her, hope would rise within her; hope for the things yet to come, hope for the promises of tomorrow, hope for dreams to be fulfilled. Pray she would not lose hope, she would not let doubt win, she would bring her worries and fears to the cross and leave them there, confident that the God of hope will fill her with all joy as she chooses to trust in Him.

T - Has had a bit of a roller coaster ride in missions thus far, and is starting her 2nd term in the same location after many years of medical issues and moving countries. Pray as she and her family transition back after Home Assignment and try to get back into ministry for the next 4-year term. Pray for her family as they have been in the midst of transition and upheaval of the regular rhythms of life. Pray for honesty, gentleness, compassion, and love to flow through her and through her husband by the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray for a strong foundation to not be shaken. Pray for hope to spring anew.

B - Pray for my left eye that has been giving her pain and causing headaches. She is supposed to go through surgery but the doctors are not sure if that surgery will stop the pain. Pray for healing, energy, and renewal of heart, mind, soul, and body. She and her family would rely on and trust in the goodness of the Father as they transition to a new field of ministry. For their eyes to be opened to the places of rest God has set aside for them, and in those places for their hearts to be refreshed and rested as they reevaluate and seek God as He leads them in all things. They would have discernment as they start a new ministry. Pray for clarity of God’s direction in the urban poor community they are ministering from, for the right networks and partnerships and for fundraising efforts too.

N - She and her husband are planning an exploratory trip to Cuba in November. Pray she will have a full cup of grace and compassion for those she meets with. Pray she would know sweet times of communion with God. Faith as they are raising the money for an Ecuadorian team to go and have that transcultural experience. In this step of faith, she would see God provide and open doors for all.

C - As she transitions, ask for protection physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Pray God will provide the people to walk through this next phase of life with her. Pray she knows who God is and who she is in Him, that her faith and walk with him will be on a solid foundation.

B - She is wanting to learn how to be content and care for her soul better; pray that she will be given the tools and understanding of what rest looks like, of how she can trust God with all things and how He is right there in the midst of it with her. Pray she would know a continual reenergizing of her soul and know that God has good things for her and longs for her to enter His rest as often as she needs.

J - Pray that the peace of God would completely surround her team, that eyes and ears would be stopped from seeing what is not theirs to see. Ask that God supernaturally intervene on behalf of this team and that all anxiety and concerns would be brought before Him consistently. She would have energy and strength as she ministers to the aging community of missionaries in her life. Pray that she would be a calming tool for the family she is with.

October 16:

Pray for the hotel staff and service workers who will come in contact with all the women involved in this retreat; pray that God will be working in mighty ways in each of their hearts, and they will know a different atmosphere and sense the presence of God as this Haven Retreat takes place. Pray for opportunities for those who are believers to reach out to and love on the people they come in contact with.

Pray for the Connection Crew as they put together the final details and preparations for this retreat, some of them are still on their way. Pray for the Connection Crew that arrives later, that they will make fast connections to the rest of the crew. Ask God to provide time and space for holy moments with Him as they gear up to pour themselves out in love and service. Pray for the Spirit of God to move in power, and to settle in each room and space where His daughters will be gathered. Pray for an atmosphere of welcome and grace to fill every room.

Pray for the speaker as she prepares to speak encouragement and challenge as God leads her to; pray for her heart, mind, soul, and strength to be firmly planted in God’s hands. Pray for her to walk forward in boldness and faith as the Holy Spirit guides her.

Pray for the worship team as they prepare to lead the women into God’s presence through song and prayer; ask that they be filled to overflowing with the Spirit of God, to lay themselves aside and step bravely into God’s presence, where healing, life abundant, restoration and worship long to happen because of who God is and all the praise He is worthy of.

October 17:

The Haven Retreat starts today! Pray for the women attending as they travel and make their way to the hotel. Pray for protection and ease of travel. Pray for God to go before each one as she makes her way; that each heart and mind will be filled with excitement and anticipation to have time and space to rest, connect, and make friendships. Pray for this Retreat to be covered and protected completely by the power of God.

Pray that as each woman arrives she will feel welcomed and loved, and invited into a holy space where Jesus is waiting for her; pray she will have the sense that God is eagerly pacing the floor as He looks for her arrival. Pray for a spirit of rest and safety to cover every place where each woman sets foot.

October 18:

Pray for the retreat as it begins in full. Pray for the Holy Spirit to make space for each woman to encounter and meet with God in a refreshing, life-giving way. Pray for hearts to be softened and broken open before the Lord so He can minister healing and renewal in the depths where hurt, bitterness, and anger may be hidden. Pray for words of encouragement, truth spoken in love, and the challenge to draw near to God would all be heard with open ears and hearts and minds longing to meet with Jesus.

Pray for healing - as God leads you to; healing of hearts, healing of physical nature, healing of relationships and broken communities.

Pray for the Connection Crew as they make themselves available to listen, to love, to be shoulders to cry on. Pray they will be filled with the Holy Spirit to be bold and courageous in loving well, to speak words that God places on their tongues, to be the hands and feet of Jesus in practical and beautiful ways.

Pray for connection and relationships to be built that will last for eternity. Pray for the women to find in one another friendship, common interest and goals, and others with whom they can share the joys and frustrations of living and serving where they are.

October 19:

Pray for the times of rest and community that are provided; pray for intentional conversations and moments of truth to be had. Pray for the mealtimes, that as the women gather to break bread with one another, that the presence of God will be felt at each table; the conversations will be fun and life-giving, but also deep and true.

Pray for the breakout sessions - that the women leading these will speak in confidence and truth. Pray for those who attend to soak up the Word of God, the words of encouragement and challenge, and the truth that is present. Pray they will be moved to put into action the things they are hearing and learning, that they will see the value in practices they haven’t tried before, or would like to bring back into their lives.

Pray for the women to meet with God in unexpected and beautiful ways. Ask that each woman will hear God speak to her specifically, in ways that she knows are just for her, as God loves on her and delights in who she is. Pray for joy to be placed in deep places in the hearts and minds of those at this retreat; for the joy and presence of God to become a strong foundation once again.

October 20:

This is the last day of the Haven Retreat! Pray for things to end well, for peace to be given and hope to be stirred once again. Pray that each woman will leave filled up to overflowing with the goodness, grace, and love of God. Pray that the prayers of each heart coming into this retreat will have been answered, and those returning home to ministry and life will be refreshed and excited for what she has learned, how she encountered God, and for a new life and vision for those she is serving and loving on. Pray for the Spirit of God to continue to go before each woman as she prepares to travel and jump back into the business - and busyness - of life. Pray for words of power and encouragement to be spoken in boldness and faith, and for ears and eyes to continue to be opened to what God is doing.

Pray for holy moments as the women say goodbye to one another and to this time of retreat. Ask that God continue to move and work in power in unexpected ways.

Pray for God’s glory to be so great and beautiful, for His will to be done and His kingdom to come on this earth as it is in heaven.