Before coming to Ecuador I would have never gone out in public looking like this. My gray hair is glistening.😂 But God has been doing a work in my HEART and showing me what’s really important and it certainly isn’t my hair. HE has stripped away all the things I thought I needed and has shown me areas of my heart where pride set up residence along with selfish ambition. If you’re driven and even a little bit ambitious like me you’ll understand. When pride and ambition move into the same room together the combination is deadly.
The truth about ourselves is often painful to see but we can’t grow if we don’t acknowledge what’s in our heart and surrender it to the Lord for Him to change us.
HE literally has placed me in a country where connection, relationships, love, and serving are what’s of value here. People sharing whatever they have with others. People making sure they greet you with a hug and kiss. People living with an open 
❤️. People have no judgment of any kind but only gratitude for LIFE even though most have had what we would say a difficult journey. This way of living equals no stress for me and pure freedom. I’m so grateful for this experience. I know God is calling me to simplify my life. What is HE calling you to do? Drop a comment below and let me know you were here.
Philippians 2:3
#minimalistlifestyle #burnouttoblessing
Good words. Great goal.
Holly, thank you for stopping by to read and leave a comment. I appreciate your support and prayers.
Love ur story babe! Great words. I love the part about how everyone greets with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Simply little things are so powerful that our American culture has become so distant, seemingly uncaring and self focused.
Yes babe so blessed we are experiencing this together.
What a beautiful expression of your experience, to share with all of us on here, Doreen.
You may not know, that before you both met me, I had to learn, like “the Camel, going through the Needle Gate” to humble myself, quiet myself, let go of nearly ALL my wordly possessions and then crawl through to the “other side”.
In my case, I had no idea where I was going. I knew that I needed a “roof” of my own … so I purchased my Motorhome and paid cash … Put into storage all the things that I felt I simply could not let go of. Which ended up being (still is) two 5’X5′ storage lockers and 1 8’X10″ storage unit. Where all that was extremely important to me… mostly my books, records, picture albums, home video collection of my children’s growing up years and some sentimental “keep sakes”. Everything else was sold or given away or left behind with my house when it was given back to the bank.
My children had nearly all moved to other states and my business income was completely gone.
I knew I was being called to leave Michigan .. but, I had NO IDEA that it was to Naples where I would be lead.
When you met me, four months after arriving in Naples … I was still “licking my wounds” and healing from the “tsunami” that went through my life.
(inside I was broken hearted, distraught, lonely and without direction of what to do next with my life!)
I left behind everything I had ever known, leaving my youngest daughter with her Mother, moving away from my 6 grandbabies, saying farewell to many dear friends, not knowing when I’d see them again … given away or sold nearly everything that I had worked so hard to acquire and build after my divorce, 14 years earlier.
I can tell you that after nearly 4 years time of “being alone with God” … sorting it all out and rediscovering “who I Am”,
Growing deeper in my Spiritual journey and learning to let go and let God … allowing the Divine within to rise up and lead me in new directions.
Purium … the Products AND the People were exactly what Divine Spirit (GOD) had pre-destined to help give me HOPE, Direction and a new lease on life.
Letting go is not always easy … but, always worth it … when we have the Faith and KNOW that it will all work out in the end.
I love this quote:
“In the end, it is all going to be OK and if it is not OK right now…. it is because it is NOT the end!”.
I am so grateful that it is NOT the end for me… but really just a new beginning that I have only begun to scratch the surface of.
I feel more empowered than I did when I met you and each day, I work on ME … I am and will always be grateful that you were lead to the Cider Press Cafe` that day in May, 2014.
I look at these 3 1/2 years and see how much I have grown because of our PURIUM Family and the influence of all the people, convention, Master mind calls, the books and webinars… I am excited that I have something that can change peoples lives so dramatically and for such good. Thank you, forever!
I hope to see you both in Dallas. Maybe we can connect and spend a little time together.
I’d love to hear more about your experience at the orphanage. Please remember… Children are the tender spot in my soul.
When I saw that video of CP with those children clinging and hugging on him… It brought tears to my eyes. Reminded me of the times when I would go to the school and read to my child’s Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade class. Children are so precious and simply want & need LOVE.
So happy that you were able to show such love with those precious children. I am sure your hearts wanted to bring them all home and raise them yourself. I know that’s how I would feel after an experience like that.
Warmest blessings and Hugs of Love to both of you.
Namaste`,
Allen
Allen Biles
Naples, Florida
allenbfit@gmail.com
Allen thank you so much for sharing your heart with me. I love hearing stories from others of what God has done in their lives. You are right. I do want to bring every one of children home with me. You are so dear to me. I appreciate your love and support.
I am so moved and humbled by your experiences in Ecuador. Keep sharing what God’s doing in your lives! We are watching with a happy heart! ❤️
Thank you Diantha for your support.
Doreen, What are you doing in Ecuador? Peace Corp? I’m sure you’re going to make a difference wherever you go. Miss your Raw Potlucks. Your brother, Mark Martell, puts up some good posts on FB. Take care in those foreign countries.
Hey Trevor, thanks for stopping by. We have been in Ecuador all summer helping and serving the locals. Miss seeing you. We return to the states August 9. hugs D
God doesn’t look at our outward appearance as man does but at our heart, and your heart seems to be lined up perfectly.
I believe you’re right! xoxo
Thanks for being a blessing n bring hope to so many strangers. God bless you
Thank you Deb. I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment. xoxo