to Ecuador to Ecuador
Continue to pray for the girls and I at the Alliance Academy.
I am loving teaching but often overwhelmed with the responsibility of so many cultures and ages to work with (especially being involved with the Korean culture this year), running an at-risk girls Bible study which has grown, taking my first college course in ... years, running the mural ministry this year, and too much more to list. We have changed the name of the mural ministry outreach to "Beyond Words"... and I am really enjoying it but it's a challenge every Wednesday night to work with energetic kids from 3 different cultures! By God's Grace and for His Glory we press on! Here is the website for the Alliance Academy if you are interested.
Please visit the PGC web page for more information and lots of pictures.
The third area of focus is where we are starting our multi-year discipleship program anew, in the communities around "Cayambe", an indigenous farming area about 2 hours away. The Chambitola community, is in an area completely isolated, where farming is the way of life, and most people still speak "Quichua" at home instead of Spanish, and are simple and precious. New Life Baptist church is farther out, higher up, more remote than anything we've previously experienced. We have completed a 3 month course on "how to share your faith" with them already. A second church in the same basic area, "New Jerusalem", in a community named "Tupigachi" has recently expressed interest in our discipleship program and we start our training with them in Feb '07.
So as we wind down our discipleship program with one group of churches this coming year, we are starting over in a new area, with the idea that the "mature" group can carry on with much less interaction on our part.
It has always been my philosophy that Nationals can reach Nationals much better than we (North Americans) can, and should be involved as much as possible. The real backbone and success of our ministry, right after God in importance, are my national partners. Meet these wonderful men that God has put in my path to bless me.
From left:
Pastor Pablo Lincango. Although not officially a ministry partner, he has been critical to our ministry in developing contacts and relationships in the Indigenous community. He is the pastor at San Jose Alto BC.
Diego Leon. Gifted teacher and wise couselor, and small group leader. Adult focus. He is the president of University Baptist church and adult Sunday school teacher.
Freddy Garcia. Gifted musician, and small group leader. He is a member of University Baptist Church with Diego, and secretary of the Association.
Lisandro Mejia, pastor of University Baptist Church, is a missionary at heart primarily, and is another key element of our discipleship training programs. He is instrumental in involving many members of University Baptist church in our work.
Fernando Bassler. Worked for about 9 months in our ministry with great success, but has since left public ministry for personal reasons. Please pray for his spiritual restoration.
Small Groups for Men
We are involved in small groups to build accountability, leadership skills, and Christian maturity for nearly a year in three of the churches, and have now added a fourth (Linaje Escogido). This is an interactive format, held during the week to build the men of the church. The men are all progressing incredibly well, and many are part of our "home grown" missionary group!
Construction Project at "Linaje Escogido" church:
We have helped the congregation purchase the property next to the church, giving them a total of about an acre of usable space. . The church has elected to put on a more conventional roof, so they can have a more open sanctuary. We hired an engineer/architect to ensure that the building plans would be safe and durable, and have a wonderful, simple but ample design. The construction is in progress, and we are short about $5000 to finish it
The October '06 team from Oakland was a great success. We worked at 5 different indigenous churches, visited the "old city" of Quito, and the coastal rainforest where we ministered to a couple of new Christians living in paradise. We worked with kids and teens, ministering to about 500 during the week. Go visit the web page right here!
• LINAJE ESCOGIDO CHURCH AT CHINCHINLOMA-- January 13 - 22, 2007
We are helping finish the construction of this wonderful little church in the mountains, to not only encourage this body of believers but to set up an outpost for mission work into the mountain above this church where the gospel doesn't exist today! Please email me or call the office right away if you are interested in this trip, or in donating to the project.
• GARDEN OF EDEN -- May 28 - June 6, 2007
We are repeating the successful trip to the orphanage, "Garden of Eden" right after school is out. Contact Kenny Digby or Travis Smith through the association for more details. Visit the webpage from last year to get an idea of what it is like.
Family |
 |
Melissa is working hard at finishing her last year in high school. Taking two AP classes, along with Physics, tutoring, an AWANA leader, secretary of her class, a regular member of solidarity (a prayer group for persecuted Christians)....I hope I didn't forget anything.
Andrea is doing well at adjusting to high school, friends, painting murals with "Beyond Words" (the street mural ministry group), and just what a relationship with God really means.
Rachel is tired of elementary school, and looking to middle school as a teenager, but doing well both socially and with her grades!
A butterfly on a flower, from our recent October mission team visit.
Debbie and Rachel at Middle of the World.
Diego and his wife, Rebecca.
An Indigenous Lady from Tupigachi.
A young mother and her child.
Cayumbe Volcano, as viewed from the church at Tupigachi.
God Bless you all and keep you - please know that you are in our prayers!
Hasta Luego... Until next month!
