Our Story

Weaving Paths began through years of relationship-building between churches, community leaders, and service teams working in Ecuador.

What started as short-term mission trips has grown into a deeper commitment:

to move beyond one-time service and toward sustained, community-centered impact.

Our work is rooted in listening first—honoring the knowledge, culture, and leadership already present in each community.

Our approach

We believe:

  • Access to healthcare is a matter of justice

  • Communities are not projects—they are partners

  • Sustainable work requires long-term presence and trust

  • Service must be guided by humility, not charity

Leadership

Executive Director

Dr. Israel Loachamin is a native of Quito, Ecuador. He is a two-time alumnus of Baylor University, earning his Master of Divinity in 2019 and Doctor of Ministry in 2022, and holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Loja, Ecuador. Israel is married to Emily and has two sons, Lucas and Gabriel. He serves as associate pastor of the Hispanic Ministry at First Baptist Church of Waco and is the founder and executive director of La Puerta. Israel was a Waco Under 40 honoree in 2021. He has served on the boards of the City of Waco, Texas, Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee, the Latino Mental Health Coalition, the McLennan County Public Health District's Equitable Vaccine Allocation Subcommittee, the Amberly Collaborative, and others.