17/09/2025
I’M MOVING TO ECUADOR! 🇪🇨 🙌 🦙 🌍 ✈️ 🎒
I wanted to personally thank each and every one of you who supported my mission trip to Ecuador this summer, whether through prayer, encouragement, or financial contributions. It truly meant a lot to me! You have made a difference in so many lives there and I know God will bless you tremendously.
I want to update you all on some very exciting news and a big change that is coming in my life. This change will mark a new season and a different location. God has opened a door and asked me to move to Ecuador to do ministry full- time as a foreign missionary with First Love Movement and the Schenker family and I simply answered the call by saying yes! I have been anticipating this moment to share with each one of you how God confirmed this calling.
It happened similarly to what I felt the first moment I stood on Haiti’s soil in 2012…
Nataly and I were in a conversation the day after I landed in Ecuador. She asked me what I felt when I landed in Ecuador and stepped out of the plane for the first time. I shared with her that I felt something heavy in my spirit, not a terrifying feeling, but a sense urgency in the country. I also felt a sense of peace that I was home. She replied “Yes, we feel that too.”
On the night of Tuesday, July 22nd, as I was preparing for bed and processing my first two
full days of ministry at Fundac, I suddenly felt like God was piercing my heart for what He felt for these children. With tears streaming down my face, I had a cry I couldn’t explain, breaking for what broke God’s heart, and that was all I knew in that moment. I couldn’t control the tears that fell that night. There was an urgency I felt burning in my heart, and as I lay there, God spoke to me. He told me that I would be moving to Ecuador this year to serve and He had been preparing me for this since January. The same type of urgency and feeling I felt when God pierced my heart during my first experience through the 30 Hour Famine event as a teenager when God revealed to me that I would be meeting those children one day face to face and the call to move to Haiti as a full time missionary with Victory Compassion. I asked God to confirm this by speaking the same to the Schenker family so I knew it was more than just an emotional feeling. A few days later after I took some time to pray about it, I spoke with one of the staff members of the family and shared this call with her. She confirmed that God had also spoken to her and that she usually overthinks these things but it wasn’t the case this time. We decided to share this news with Nataly and Tim on Saturday, July 26th, while being away in the jungle region at a retreat we served at. As tears streamed down Nataly’s face, she embraced me, confirming that her spirit was at peace with this and that throughout the week she was asking the Lord to speak the same confirmation to my heart if she was hearing Him right. Another staff member had the same confirmation before she had officially met me in person and Tim agreed on the move as well. We shared the news with Tim through a creative team photo and video shoot in front of an active volcano view that same weekend!
Although, I had let my home church pastors know about this calling while serving in Ecuador, once returning, I officially met with them about the call and the logistics and the responsibilities I would have with the ministry. They then met with Tim and Nataly and confirmed this calling.
I know how it feels to leave everything behind to fulfill God’s call on your life, and I am willing to do that again. Ohio has been quite an adventure. God led me to a church family that has embraced me, guided me, loved me and showed me the true identity of the Father. Now, I will be launched out as a supported Life Chapel foreign Missionary and it was all because my church family believes in what God has for me. I want each of you to know that God sees you, values you, treasures you, and loves you! For the past 6 months I have felt like the Lord was preparing me for this move, asking me to detach and lean on Him through this season and it was one of the most difficult season I have endured but He reveals why in His perfect timing. In January, He asked me to start selling all of my furniture because I wouldn’t need it anymore. While I was planning a trip to Ecuador, I had no plans to move continents, especially to Ecuador, but God had other plans. Now, I am anticipating this move with complete peace, release, and excitement. I feel it strongly in my spirit. It’s mind -blowing how God works out all the details so smoothly and perfectly when we do our part and are obedient. It just takes a simple yes.
As I prepare for this big change, I have committed to come on full-time staff as a missionary with First Love Movement serving with another staff member that involves the short-term missions trips for individuals and churches worldwide. I will also be serving as an English teacher at the ministry of Fundac, who I had the privilege of working with the past two weeks in Ecuador. I will also be working alongside an orphanage in serving in any area they are in need of. The couple that launched the Fundac center has been praying that God would send someone who would answer the call to serve as a teacher. I didn’t know this until after I answered the same call. I will be living on a secured compound with the Schenker family in the valley right outside of Quito, Ecuador.
These are the things I am asking as I prepare to move this November:
1. I am in need of monthly sponsors to come alongside of me as I am being sent to Ecuador as a full time missionary. The sponsorship commitment is needing to take place on October 1st and will be reoccurring every 1st day of the month. I am in need of a total of $1200 in monthly sponsorship to move. I believing to make this transition in November of this year God willing!
There are two options for sponsors:
•Indefinitely: For the seasons God has called me to Ecuador they are committing to remain a sponsor.
•Monthly for one year: For a 12 month commitment they are agreeing and have felt called to sponsor me for 12 months
2. I would love for people to commit to praying for me and the team as we minister to the people of Ecuador and encourage those who have the desire to embark on short term missions themselves.
There are several ways you can give. If you would like to be praying how you can partner in this vision or would like to be a monthly sponsor please reach out to me with any questions.
You can visit First Love Movement at https://firstlovemovement.com
Then click on GIVE and there are multiple options! When doing so please use the Debit card option as there will be no CC fees.
(If you would like to sponsor or donate through this option please send me name and amount so I can forward that to the ministry)
God has been faithfully meeting each step I have been needing to take and I believe He will do what He has promised!
You can visit Ecuador Summer 2025 here on Facebook to stay up to date and contact me for any questions or to connect as a sponsor!
Thank you so much!
Chelsea Vaughan
Missionary to Ecuador
