Holden, Darrell & Sondra #20319

Darrell and Sondra are the founders and shepherds of Despensa de Gracia (Pantry of Grace) which serves Ecuadorian families-in-distress and immigrant/refugee families from Venezuela and/or Colombia currently living in Ecuador. Contributors from the local Latino community and/or church, along with Latino and U.S. financial partners, help to provide meals, groceries, clothing, alternative medical options/referrals/medicines, school and/or work supplies/uniforms, basic household items, and evangelistic resources in times of transition or crisis. In addition, the ministry provides guidance in regard to employment opportunities, work skills training, support for small micro-business start-ups, instruction for legal documentation, and help with basic home repair (particularly in the areas of safety and security).

Local Christian professionals offer services at little or no cost to the ministry, including: a Venezuelan pastor, Ecuadorian medical doctor, Ecuadorian psychologist, Ecuadorian lawyer, bilingual Ecuadorian with administrative skills, Ecuadorians/Venezuelans with knowledge of the legalization processes and micro-business marketing, and an Ecuadorian neighbor who loans land to the ministry for a community garden project to help feed the families.

The ministry’s primary focus is: to demonstrate the love of Christ in times of distress, and help to connect families to local churches, small groups, and other places of Christian community.

Sondra is the Administrator/Manager of all ministerial tasks, working from Holden’s home office.

In addition, Darrell and Sondra manage the ‘Water from the Rock Refuge’ located on site at their place of residence, providing temporary housing to visiting ministry workers and missionaries, as well as to families/individuals in transition.

Darrell also serves as a member of the Liaison Group with the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador, and is an ‘on-call’ employee of the Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) which responds internationally to the physical,/emotional/spiritual needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine