Missionaries 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 (there are around 25 nationalities represented). We have changed the name of the mural ministry outreach to "Beyond Words"... and we are getting to realize our dream this coming spring of going to the Galapagos Islands to paint the creation murals! Here is the website for the Alliance Academy if you are interested. My personal artsy webpage is here if you are interested.

AN OVERVIEW OF OUR WORK THIS YEAR

We are focusing in three distinct areas right now:
The first is at "Linaje Escogido" church, where we are doing discipleship and involved in the leadership. Our goal is to build up this "outpost for the Gospel" so that we can reach the surrounding area which is void of the gospel. God is putting together many things at the same time, all centered at and around Linaje Escogido church, an hour and a half outside the city and up in the mountains.We've finished building the sanctuary, and are training the church members to be ready to disciple new converts. We are helping build up the church membership through programs for women, men, teen, and kids also.

The second area is in the villages above Linaje Escogido church, with our team of Ecuadorian missionaries which we formed last year. We have launched a campaign of evangelism in these villages up this long and windy cobblestone road on a weekly basis, starting with the very next pueblo, "Cangahua Pungo". Chaupiestancia, then Monte Serin alto are the next two villages. There is no evangelical presence in any of these areas, and persecution exists against the gospel.

The third area of focus is in the "Cayambe" area, an indigenous farming area about 2 hours away. We are working with a small church in the Chambitola community, which is in an area completely isolated, and where farming is the way of life. Most of the people still speak "Quichua" at home instead of Spanish, and are simple and precious. The big need here is discipleship and resources such as Sunday school material and pastoral education.

 

We have spent from September to December trying to get into a closed area to the gospel, and it has finally payed off! We were invited by a local official to hold a Christmas program, where we presented our ministry to about a hundred people from the local community in their community center. We shared who we are, the gospel, offered to hold a regular bible study there, and gave out "care packages" as gifts. The poeple voted to receive us, and we are excited!

We continue to host a number of short term teams this year. Please visit our Short term mission webpage for more information.

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Family Update

Melissa is in her first year at Ole Miss, and loving it. She is in the honors program, involved in BSU, and meeting lots of new friends. She loves college life so far.

Andrea is again with us and doing well, adjusting to 9th grade homeschool, friends, and painting murals with "Beyond Words" (the street mural ministry group).

Rachel is doing really well and enjoying 7th grade with friends and taking voice lessons.