Missionaries to Ecuador
Women from a remote community near "Cayumbe" volcano. Please see the rest of the pictures at the webpage.
the Bond Family Fall '05 eDiary
.... THIS ISSUE ....
Debbie's Ministry Update | Project: Great Commission Update | October Mission Team Report | Family, etc. | Favorite Pictures
Deb's Ministry Update
Debbie had a life changing event this past November. Starting in October, she experienced rapidly increasing pain in her neck and then numbness in her arm and leg... she had a severely herniated disc in her neck. Also, we found out that she had a degenerative condition with all kinds of problems with her neck, and surgery was the diagnosis. After much praying and professional opinions, she had surgery on November 25th. The operation was a success and she is recovering nicely, although stuck with a neck brace for a while longer. She is back at school, enjoying her art teaching position at the Alliance Academy very much. She teaches all of the elementary grades, in trade for a portion of our girls' tuition. Here is the website for the Alliance Academy if you are interested.
Her volunteer work at Casa Gabriel, a home for street boys, was put on hold in November as well... but plans on returning after the first of the year 2006. Here is a large mural that they completed and sold recently.
Project: Great Commission Update
Please visit the PGC web page for more information and lots of pictures.
Evangelism Training for Laymen
One of PGC's focuses is training the church membership in how to share your faith. Visit the "Outreach" web page for more info and pictures. We held this class at "University Baptist Church" this Fall.
Pastor and Leader Training
We finished our monthly classes in the Calderon area for pastors unable to attend seminary, led by Seminary professor and national missionary Joselito Orellana (my former ministry partner in PGC). Joselito has taken full time positions teaching at Universities in the city, and he will be missed in this ministry. But God is faithful, and has provided new partners for me... and a new ministry in them as well. He has provided two Ecuadorian "Timothy's" that I am training to be missionaries in their own right through the work we have with "Project Great Commission".
Training Sunday School Teachers
We coordinated with leaders from University Baptist Church to go out and train our churches in the Calderon area. Please see the web page for pictures and more details.
Banquet for the Poor
God really laid this on my heart this Fall.
Luke14:12 - 14 -- "Then said he (Jesus) also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner
or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy
kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a
recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame,
the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for
thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."
We are putting it into practice now. Please stop in at the Banquet webpage and check out scripture come to life!
Small Groups for Men
We have started small groups to build accountability, leadership skills, and Christian maturity in three of the churches so far. This is an interactive format, held during the week to build the men of the church. We have plans to start other groups this winter.
October Mission Team Report
A team from our home church in Corinth, Mississippi came to Ecuador. Oakland Baptist Church sent a great mix of people to work here in the Quito area, and it was a major blessing!
Please visit the web page for lots of pictures!
Family, etc.
Thanksgiving was spent in the hospital this year, but Christmas was special, with my parents coming for a visit. They got to meet Luis (the "honey"man), and visit the old city in downtown Quito, as well as relax with the family.
All three girls were in the church Christmas play and did a song in English for everyone.
Melissa made a ton of great cookies, and handed them out to the poor folks who came around for food or candy, and included tracts with each bag of cookies. The tracts got this little girl's attention.
We got a puppy recently; her name is "Missy"; short for "Mississippi".
New Year's Eve was fun... we spent it with another missionary family, complete with fireworks and "burning the old man", an Ecuadorian tradition.
Melissa is doing very well in 11th grade; continues with her 4.0 average, was in the school play this Fall, the Christmas musical, plays the piano, and is gearing up for basketball this winter.
Andrea has started the second half of eighth grade in homeschool, as she was struggling a bit in a number of areas. So far it has been wonderful but tough to get accustomed to! She still continues to attend the extra curricular activities at the Alliance Academy with her friends.
Rachel is in the 5th grade, and continues to be a well balanced kid, with good grades as well as socially active & happy. She played soccer this year, and plays the piano as well.
The Chelmowski Family came to visit us, and it was a great pleasure to have them here. They visited their home church's sister church - "Parada Siete" and got to be a part of the "Banquet for the Poor" (see more about this ministry above) and give out Christmas presents which included green tshirts with both church names on them.
English as a Second Language Ministry
I am also enjoying this ministry when I can; it is a great outreach tool, given at "English Fellowship Church". Over 100 Ecuadorians come each Wednesday night to practice their English, and most are not saved. The theme is almost always with a spiritual twist, and the group leaders are free to share the gospel as they wish.
Favorite Photos
Elderly lady at a house we visited to share the gospel.
As a Christmas treat while my parents were here, we visited the new "Botanical Gardens" of Quito; a 5 minute drive from our house and a paradise to visit! There were all kinds of flowers and trees and ponds, as well as a spectacular Orchid greenhouse that have literally hundreds of types of orchids. I love taking photos, and this was a special opportunity to enjoy close up still life (including Rachel).
God Bless you all and keep you - please know that you are in our prayers!
Hasta Luego... Until next month!
