Light In the Darkness
Light in the Darkness is an organization that works with kids and families who are at risk of human trafficking, experiencing food insecurity due to immigration status, and numerous other factors that could lead to incomplete education and cyclical barriers.
Dan and Gina Weston are the founders and operators of Light in the Darkness. Their story for the foundation of their organization started in the 2010’s when they were on one of the short term mission trips they went on annually to Ecuador. During their trip, they were working alongside another organization in Ecuador that aims to rescue children out of sex trafficking. When the Westons’ mission was coming to an end, they were asked by the missionaries running the program if they would be willing to stay in Ecuador and help them run a girls-house with the organization. They said thank you, but no. When Dan and Gina went back to the United States, many people including friends, their pastor, and their community kept on telling the Weston’s that God was telling them (the community) that Jesus was calling the Weston’s to become missionaries. After a very painful Sunday of wrestling with God, and much prayer, Dan and Gina moved to Ecuador. During the Covid pandemic, their calling was changed one morning. They realized that what they were doing was important, but that God was calling them to take it a step further than just getting kids out of sex trafficking. Their new calling was to prevent the trafficking altogether. Many kids who are saved from sex trafficking either end up victims of life threatening mental health disorders, having no choice but returning back into sex trafficking, and a few may be able to find a healthy life. God was going to use the Weston’s to prevent these statistics from coming to fruition for many children.
In 2023, the current location for Light in the Darkness was rented out to the Weston’s in a highly impoverished area in Quito with high rates of human trafficking. It is on a hill called Panecillo. A lot of kids they work with have experienced abuse and other traumas and were considered high risk for becoming victims of human trafficking. One third of the children they work with are immigrants from Venezuela, who had to trek upwards of 2,500 miles through jungles and mountains to escape war and corruption. Some of the kid’s families have lived on Panecillo for multiple generations, being unable to escape the broken hill. The hill does not have a single church on it, Light in the Darkness is the only Christ centered group the community has.
The 5 goals of Light in the Darkness:
Share Jesus with the kids, families, and communities.
Help the kids understand and complete their homework.
Feed and help the kids physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Prevent human trafficking.
Help make the kids’ families structures healthier.
Day to day life with Light in the Darkness looks like teaching the kids the Bible, feeding them and providing personal hygiene resources, helping them with their homework, playing sports and games with the kids, and most importantly, loving the kids well. They also have a psychologist working alongside the kids to help them work through their education, and supporting them as they process and heal from the trauma of their past.
How do Light in the Darkness and Experiential Tours intersect? Light in the Darkness desires for an experiential tour group to have fun with and build relationships with the kids and for the gifts that God has given each group member to be used. You do not need to speak the language to make a positive difference in someone’s life. The Westons encourage groups to prepare for the altitude of Quito, spend time in the Bible, and learn about the customs and the culture of Ecuador to be well equipped for your trip.
This organization is excited to welcome any Experiential Tours. The teams that are most likely to work alongside Light in the Darkness are Education, Psychology, and service trips.
Gina and Dan Weston
If God calls you to do something, just do it.
- Gina Weston
About the Author:
Alexander Bole
My connection to L&LI: Student with Living and Learning Int. Quito, and intern with Experiential Tours in Ecuador.
What my role is: I go to the Location sites that are to be visited by Experiential Tours and collect information for the groups that will be working there.
Fun Fact: I am super outdoorsy and I am passionate about Jesus and combining Him with the work that I do out in His creation.