Jim and Suzy Olsen in Ecuador

Jim and Suzy Olsen in Ecuador We are international workers with One Collective serving with the Youth World Team in Ecuador.

Our ministry takes place at an outdoor retreat center called El Refugio. We live and serve in Ecuador, working at El Refugio, an outdoor retreat center that is part of Youth World.

Throughout the year at El Refugio we offer different open enrollment events. These are events that you don't need to alr...
11/11/2025

Throughout the year at El Refugio we offer different open enrollment events. These are events that you don't need to already be a part of a group for, in order to attend, but can simply go to our website and sign up as an individual, a couple, with a friend, or as a family. Our traditional summer youth camps (Adventure Camp) fall into this category, as do our family camps, Third Culture Kid Family events, Homeschool Retreat days, and more. One of the events planned this year was right after the Leader Mundial conference that took place in October. It was a day of rest and reflection for Pastors and those working in ministry contexts. The invitation was to step away from the busyness for a couple of days, rest, receive some teaching, and have space to think, process, and plan.

The second day of the event I (Jim) was blessed to teach an hour-long workshop on the importance of vision and the various components that can be developed to flesh out a clearly articulated vision 'package'. As I walked into the Grace Center I was blessed to see Anita, one of our ministry partners from Río Negro, a town on the edge of the jungle about 5 1/2 hours away. We caught up, I led the workshop, and afterwards she came up to me and we talked a bit more regarding her circumstances and some of the content I had just taught.

A few days later she reached out to Suzy and shared the following:

"Hello beautiful friend, yes — thank the Lord that I was able to make it. It was a wonderful time; I felt really good, and the Lord fulfilled His purpose. I feel like everything that was shared in the workshops was meant for me. Thank you, my friend.

In particular, one thing God highlighted was about the vision with CASA TAO. I feel like I’ve been losing direction and have felt very frustrated and even a little bitter. But Jim’s presentation was so direct, precise, and confronting that I felt the Lord wanted me to listen and 'take back’ the situation again. Then the next presentation came, and it was perfect and exactly what I needed.”

Moments like this are so encouraging for us! God used an event we planned in the life of a leader we've been investing in for years to bring clarity and encouragement for greater health and Kingdom Impact. God is good!

At our first Youth World staff gathering in September I took some time to introduce myself as Youth World’s new Director...
11/01/2025

At our first Youth World staff gathering in September I took some time to introduce myself as Youth World’s new Director with the hope that the team might get to know me better and understand certain things about me.

One of the pieces I mentioned was a concept that has historically been a part of Youth World’s DNA. Specifically, the concept is leading and serving from a place of health. This is something I so profoundly value. We are blessed and privileged that the God of the universe has chosen to use people like us to represent him in this world and we need to remember that we will be better stewards of that if we’re not burned out, exhausted, or unstable. Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full. So, we work hard, we steward well what the Lord has entrusted us, and at the same time we prioritize and look for opportunities of rest.

I recognize that leading and serving from a place of health doesn’t just mean being well rested. We want to strive to be healthy in a holistic way— physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. But, if we are to start somewhere, I suggest following the model that Christ gave us. In Luke Chapter 5:15-16 it says, “Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

In the following chapter Jesus heals a man's shriveled hand and then it says, “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” (Luke 6:12) After giving and ministering Jesus needed rest and connection with his Father. So, what did he do? He prioritized it and made it a rhythm that defined his ministry.

Friends, I want to encourage you today to do an inventory of your time. Are you prioritizing times to withdraw from the busyness of ministry? Are you making space to go to the mountainside and pray? Jesus invites you into that rest and into that intimate space of relationship with him. In Matthew 11:29-30 he clearly states, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

If you aren’t prioritizing that rhythm of rest and connection into your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly rhythms, start today! Take the first step and carve out some time to step away from your work and be with your Savior.

Let’s all pursue together this concept of leading and serving from a place of health.

In Christ, Jim

Thanks to all of you who were lifting up the Leader Mundial Ecuador conference in your prayers! We had an amazing 4 day ...
10/31/2025

Thanks to all of you who were lifting up the Leader Mundial Ecuador conference in your prayers! We had an amazing 4 day conference, and I (Jim) continue to be incredibly thankful for how smoothly things went and all that God did. Our focus this year was on ‘the Qualities of a Leader’ and all of the teaching and sessions pointed towards that theme. All of the speakers did a fantastic job, and what stood out to me was how well El Refugio's team building and low-ropes challenges complemented what was being taught. Many participants commented how the content came alive when they lived it and experienced the metaphors of what was being taught through the low-ropes challenges and guided experiential education. The times of worship were also powerful, the group discussions around the table were rich, and the feedback we received was incredibly positive. But don’t take my word for it! Let me share a few quotes from the 1 page feedback form they filled out on the last day of the conference:

What is ONE thing that stood out to you most from our time together?
The unity that was created in a group of people who didn’t know each other but are brothers in the faith.
Sharing and being able to take off the “leader hat.”
The vulnerability and intentionality.
The harmony and friendship among brothers.
The sense of living in community — knowing that I’m not alone; finding good friends.
The freedom to be vulnerable before God, with my table friends, and to rest.

What is ONE thing you’re going to try to apply in your life and leadership?
To be more efficient with my time and more intentional with the people I lead, showing them more love and Christ-like discipline.
To fix my eyes on Jesus and reestablish my rhythm of alone time with Him.
To grow in my character as a leader — without selfishness, learning to listen, and leading sincerely without masks.
Humility and responsibility.
To seek more times alone and in silence with the Lord.
Humility, responsibility, and the ability to accept and correct my mistakes.

Praise God for what he did during the Leader Mundial Conference! As always, it was an incredibly rich and significant time where men left filled-up, inspired, and ready to continue making an impact in the world in Christ’s name!

Enjoy the photos from the conference as well as two bonus photos of our family carving and painting pumpkins from this last weekend - after all, ’tis the season!

Blessings,

The Olsens

Merry Christmas from our family down here in Ecuador! We're so grateful for our family, friends, and the community that ...
12/23/2024

Merry Christmas from our family down here in Ecuador! We're so grateful for our family, friends, and the community that surrounds us here in Ecuador and back in the US. But, most of all we're grateful for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who came to save us! Merry Christmas!!

Friends,The past few weeks have flown by and October has been a monumental month! We kicked things off the first week b...
10/25/2024

Friends,

The past few weeks have flown by and October has been a monumental month! We kicked things off the first week by hosting the One Collective Latin American Regional Conference at El Refugio. All One Collective workers serving in Latin America were invited to come and we not only had the privilege of participating in the conference as a family, but also being the host site for the event. It was a rich week connecting with other One Collective workers and leadership. That Saturday, Jim and Suzy flew down to Guayaquil (the main port city of Ecuador on the coast) for less than 24 hours so Jim could take part in his first ever marathon! Travels went smoothly, and his training paid off. He successfully crossed the finish line -- it was a unique and memorable experience! And, he's now able to cross 'run a marathon' off his life-goals bucket list!

Then, last week we hosted three families that came to visit us from the US. These families are all dear friends of ours from our college days and have supported us an El Refugio in various ways over years. It was so refreshing to be with friends who have known us for 20 years. We took some time off to take full advantage of the time with them and let them experience Ecuador, but they also blessed us in wanting to give of their time to do some service projects around the El Refugio property one day. The cherry on top for this visit was they were with us to celebrate Jim’s 40th birthday on October 14th! It was a true joy to host them.

On Wednesday a mission team arrived from Camp-of-the-Woods in upstate New York, and they will be with us through November 4th. Pray for their time and our involvement with them! As always, thank you for your prayers, support, and partnership with us. We're grateful for each and every one of you - enjoy the photos from the last couple of weeks!

Blessings,

The Olsens in Ecuador

It has been an incredible last month as we have wrapped up our mission team season and launched into this year’s chapter...
08/12/2024

It has been an incredible last month as we have wrapped up our mission team season and launched into this year’s chapter of adventure camp.

During this time (thanks to some of you!!!) we were able to meet our financial goals for the funds we needed to raise for adventure camp scholarships and to meet the budget needs for the micro-scholarship program for the upcoming academic year! Jim also ran in another half marathon as part of his training for the full marathon that he will run at the beginning of October and we hosted David Cooper and his son Anthony for two days, a visitor from One Collective that runs the Short-Term teams department for the whole organization! It meant so much to have him here to be able to see in person all that we do and to show him around our community.

In the last two weeks of July we hosted the final two mission teams for the summer: one from Spring Creek Church in WI and the other from Shocco Springs Conference Center in AL. With both we were able to carry-out important and strategic outreach activities in our local community and with our ministry partners in addition to continuing to work on key projects around El Refugio.

Spring Creek:
With Spring Creek we invited all of our volunteer facilitators and ex-students to join us for a one day retreat. It was designed like a youth group gathering with outdoor games, times of worship, conference talks, and small group discussions to encourage the students from both countries to be able to grow together as well as to get to know one another. It was a phenomenal day to provide a space for our volunteers to be poured into while also having a cross-cultural experience with one of our mission teams.

Later in the week we traveled to Cajabamba to partner with Pastor Manuel and his family and the foundation they run called Rescate Ecuador. We were able to invite the elementary school students that participate in an after-school program with them during the academic year for a special summer event. Many of these kids experience food insecurity at home and may only eat up to one meal per day. So an important part of the after school program is to provide a nourishing meal. Therefore, the next day the team helped to clear a plot of land where a greenhouse will be built to be able to grow produce for the meals prepared for the kids. It was a really meaningful visit for both the team and Pastor Manuel and his family.

Shocco Springs:
With the team from Shocco Springs we were able to put on two days of an afternoon kids club for the students in our local micro-scholarship program as well as coordinate an important event that we have been praying and dreaming about for a couple of years now!

In the nearby community of Yunguilla we have partnered with local leaders to be able to provide bible-focused kids programs with the help of our teams. This community is very well-organized and has a strong sense of unity. They provide eco-tourism activities to visitors and have a group of young adult leaders that are trained as guides to host these activities in their community, but everything they do is framed within a traditionally secular, conservation-focused world view. We have desired to come alongside this group of guides to complement the training they have received and to expose them to how - we at El Refugio - connect nature and outdoor adventure with a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. In recent years the leaders of the community have been so open to wanting the kids and young people to learn more about the Bible and have asked us to come alongside them to help their community grow in their emotional, relational, and spiritual life.

So it was so fun to be able to invite this group of guides and community leaders to El Refugio to experience a mini-retreat alongside the group from Shocco Springs. They spent time at our climbing wall as well as going through some team building activities on our high and low ropes course elements. We finished the day with a meal around the campfire and an intentional time to reflect on the day. We heard from the guides that they couldn’t believe how much they felt “at home” by the way they were welcomed in with our mission team. One community leader also mentioned how each time they interact with someone from El Refugio there is a stirring in their heart to want to learn more about God and a recognition that there’s something ‘more’ to experience in life with Christ.

It was an incredible day to be able to bring the Body of Christ together in this way from two completely different contexts and to watch them catch a glimpse of God’s Kingdom here on earth. We are so thankful we were able to finally take this step to invest further in the Yunguilla community. Please pray for the follow-up conversations we will have and for more opportunities to continue to invest in this group of community guides and leaders.

Thank you for being a part of this impactful summer through your prayers, financial support, and for some of you by being a mission team member! It means so much to have you a part of the ministry God is doing here and we can’t wait to report back next week about all that God is doing through Adventure Camp!

Enjoy the photos for this week - and God Bless!

In Him,
The Olsens in Ecuador

Friends, This year El Refugio is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a ministry and our larger team in Ecuador (Youth ...
06/28/2024

Friends,

This year El Refugio is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a ministry and our larger team in Ecuador (Youth World) is celebrating its 30th! Several months ago a reunion celebration was planned to invite past Youth World team members to return to Ecuador and celebrate together. That event took place from June 12-16 with several different activities to honor all that God has done through the organization over all of these years. That Friday everyone came out to El Refugio and we had a wonderful day sharing funny and meaningful stories about all that we have seen God do through the ministry over its 25 year tenure. The 30th Anniversary Reunion then ended with a big service in Quito on Sunday. It was a weekend full of memories, rich conversation, laughter, and testimony of what God has done through the Body of Christ these last 25-30 years here in our little corner of the world.

As we were preparing for the anniversary events there was a day in early June when we had several different events happening all on the same day and I realized it was a rare moment in which every single one of the types of experiences that we offer were happening simultaneously on the same day! There was an open-enrollment one day backpacking event rock climbing on a nearby mountain, we had our first mission team on the ground from Foundations Church in Colorado that was helping us with an outreach event to the youth of our local community, we had our Ascenso and Elevation interns on property, there was an Ecuadorian retreat group from Puyo that came to El Refugio to receive a training from us on how to train counselors for youth adventure camp, there was a small family doing a personalized retreat, and our outdoor adventure club was on an outing to a nearby town to go hiking and rafting!!

Once I had the realization that all of this was going on at the same time I couldn’t help but stop, reflect, and thank God for this amazing team and ministry that we get to be a part of. And I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the 25 years of ministry than taking a moment to acknowledge with God all that He has and continues to do here!

There are many days when we feel like we could use more hands and more people to accomplish all that we feel like God is calling us to do through the ministry, but that day I realized how much He is able to accomplish through those of us that are here and it was simply incredible to see all the lives being impacted on a SINGLE day through our faithful, ordinary team, plugging away to help others have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. And you are a part of that as well!!

Enjoy this week’s photos from the different events that were all happening on that same day as well as from the anniversary events. And please join us in continuing to pray for our team at El Refugio, the programs we are running, and for all the Youth World ministries - that God would continue to use them to draw people closer to Him!

In Him,

The Olsen Family in Ecuador

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