who had not graduated from college, let
alone seminary, did extremely well on the
test.
I remember traveling with him out to
remote areas of Ecuador where he would
sometimes stay for weeks at a time,
watching him relate with the men and
women of Ecuador that he ministered
alongside. They loved him so much because he would eat what they ate, sleep
where they slept, laugh with them, cry
with them. He showed them Christ’s love
serving in Ecuador, I had the privilege of
attending many services to honor him
and my mother. Everywhere I go, once
people know that I am “Don Miguel’s”
daughter, they share with me how much
my dad meant to them and how much his
ministry here blessed them. “Footprints”
is the word they often used. My dad left
his footprints here in the hearts of many,
many people.
My dad taught me what it looks like to
be radically dependent on God, and for
that I am truly grateful. His unwavering
strength, faith, and courage in the midst
of hard times and trials during his ministry
have provided an example that I try to follow as I minister in Ecuador. My hope and
prayer is that, when I get to the end of my
ministry, those that I have come to serve
will be able to say the same about me.
in a tangible way, and I felt so proud of
him. He taught them, as well as me, what
radical dependence looked like.
I remember the tears in his eyes as he
and my mom welcomed my husband and
me to the field as Ecuador missionaries.
My dad spent years praying for and loving me unconditionally during my years
of dwelling in the pit. As we walked off
the plane and into the welcoming arms of
my parents, the realization of answered
prayer flowed down Dad’s face in streams
of tears.
My dad spent 32 years as a missionary
in Ecuador. He came to plant churches
but quickly found himself in the role of
field leader and eventually the international regional director of Latin America
and the Caribbean. When he retired from
photo page 24: Mike and Kelly in 1967 photos
page 25, top: Kelly, her husband Darryl, and their
two children middle: Mike, with an Ecuadorian
friend bottom: Kelly with her hero dad, Mike
25