Since arriving in Ecuador three days ago, I have met several extraordinary people. I have been traveling with a group of 20 American teenagers who are here to deliver Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes and to participate in other Samaritan's Purse ministry projects.

What a privilege to see how God is restoring broken lives. We attended a dedication ceremony today in the town of Penipe, where Samaritan's Purse funded the construction of houses for 102 families displaced by the 2006 Tunguruhua volcanic eruption.

One of the great things about this project is that each family builds their own home. They receive the materials, training, and supervision, but do most of the labor themselves. The blessing is then two-fold: they have a true sense of ownership, and they learn vocational skills that can help them earn a living.

Each family has a remarkable story to tell, but I was especially impressed by Julio and Maria Criollo. The Criollos are both 90 years old and lost all of their belongings in the 2006 eruption. Julio told me he had lived in the same house at the base of the volcano almost his entire life. He and his wife, Maria, have been married 48 years and have 10 children and 41 grandchildren. In his younger days, Julio supported his family by raising corn and other vegetables on their small farm in the valley.

Tunguruhua had always been a menace, and Julio can remember the volcano erupting when he was a boy. The mountain of fire and snow became a part of his life. But there was no warning on the night of July 14, 2006, when Tunguruhua exploded. With ash and burning rocks raining down on them, the couple was evacuated by bus at 1 a.m. and never saw their house again.

It’s difficult enough, at any age, to lose everything you own, but it is incomprehensible to think of starting over when you are 90 years old. But that is what Julio and Maria are doing. They have already moved into their new home, a sturdy cinderblock structure Julio built himself.

I was struck by the pervasive spirit of hope and resilience I saw in these people. Perhaps it comes from a lifetime filled with poverty and hardship, realizing that happiness doesn’t depend on the size of a house or the amount of possessions. I think that’s what made the dedication ceremony so special. It was a celebration of some 500 people who had great hope and were eager to get on with living.

Samaritan's Purse , Ecuador , Operation Christmas Child , Samaritan’s Purse provides homes for 102 families