A New Rhythm

Ever since I’ve known him, Ismael has had a dream to one day start a business.  It’s a dream that goes back a long way, and holds a deep meaning for him.  From his childhood, he recognized the difficulty of the job situation here in Ecuador.  He watched his parents and family members struggle with the lack of job opportunities, and with the unethical way of doing business here. 

How many friends and family members have we seen over the years caught up in the struggle of unemployment?  And for so many, when they do find a job, they are exploited—overworked, underpaid, cheated. Too many employers find ways around the laws that require they pay for health care benefits for their employees.  Many employers don’t pay their employees’ wages on time.  Or they don’t pay what they are owed.  But there are no other options.  And it’s so ingrained in the culture, that most people don’t have any expectations or hopes of a different way.  It is what it is.

Well Ismael has never been satisfied with “it is what it is.”  Somewhere inside, he has always seen the possibility of a different way.  Over the years that dream started to become a prayer.   And during this past year, that prayer has been answered, and the dream has become a reality.  Through what can ONLY be described as God making a way, we were presented with the opportunity to buy a business.  And in November, along with our friends, Andy and Stephanie in Bakersfield, we became co-owners of Nativo Percusión—a manufacturing company of artisanal percussion instruments.

It's a fitting company, as we love music.  And while we can learn to have passion for making and selling cajóns and bongos and congas and shakers, our true passion and purpose is to provide jobs—not just jobs—good jobs.  Where there is respect in the workplace and our employees feel taken care of and valued.  Where they are paid fairly, with health-care benefits, and paid on time—everything they’ve earned.  Where they are not taken advantage of or overworked.  Our purpose is to do business with the kind of integrity that makes us stand out.  We want to be ethical, even when it’s easier, accepted, and even expected for us to be unethical.  We want to do things differently, and bring change to the business culture here.  And God has been opening the doors and making the way for us to do this.

Our lives have sort of turned upside-down since November!  I don’t think I have ever been on a wilder adventure, or a faster or twistier roller coaster than this one!  Never in my life have I known so much about plywood!  And I have never googled so many international shipping terms before—so that we could respond to e-mails from the shipping company regarding our customer’s Ex-Works terms without it seeming as if we had just had to google “Ex-Works terms.”

With Ismael taking the lead in this new business undertaking, we’ve also experienced a shift in balance of responsibilities at home and in church. I have stepped boldly into the role of teacher for our Sunday services which has been both challenging and rewarding. I have felt a sort of awakening and a confirmation of that gift in my life, and I am embracing it and finding much joy in teaching God's word and how to apply it to our lives!

And Ismael is a natural at running a business.  He has stepped into a role he was truly made for.  And it hasn’t been easy…it’s been a steep learning curve with challenge after challenge, but he has risen to every occasion with integrity, leadership, and a natural aptitude that has made me feel excessively proud of him. 

The original owner of Nativo Percusión had never legally registered the business or the brand, so we really almost had to start from scratch.  And it took some time, effort, and legal fees to get all the paperwork prepared and filed, but I’ll never forget the feeling of being able to finally provide health-care and retirement benefits for Manuel, our first employee and musical instrument craftsman. He had never worked a job in his life that gave him those benefits before.  We now have three full-time employees, and hope and pray that God will provide more and more ministry and job opportunities through us as time goes on.

Please join us in praying for Nativo--for God to continue to open doors and guide us, and for us to follow boldly where he leads, with wisdom and obedience!