I will not attempt to add all the information shared by the eNewsletter, but to supplement it by these pictures.
Please email me if you want to receive the eNewsletter as well. It is a more detailed text-only version of our adventures for the Lord in Ecuador.
Also, a sad note of warning that I am adding in 2005: Manuel Pumisacho, the pastor mentioned here and in other places, is a professional "confidence man" and is not to be trusted in my experience and opinion. Do NOT get involved with him.
Riots:The University students here have been rioting for 2 weeks now. Some days more serious than others. We have experienced tear gas a number of days, as the students throw rocks at the police- wearing riot gear - fire tear gas back. Some of the students have even shot at the police with hand guns. As we go to school in the mornings, the shop owners are clearing away the rocks and we all are trying to cover our eyes and mouths from the leftover gas. by the afternoon, the crowds have returned, and so have the police for another day of unrest.
Rain: The "winter" season has begun here, which means rain just about every afternoon for an hour or so. Sometimes in the morning but not usually. We are settled in to our house with all our stuff (except for the books) where they belong. Life has settled into a routine of walking to the school with the kids in the morning, and riding the bus to our language school afterwards. We ride the bus back in time for lunch, and an hour of study before we go get the girls. Between supper, their homework and our homework, that's about our entire day! Wednesday they have AWANA, and the rest of the week is at home, with homework. We continue to have bible study and share the reality of Jesus with our language teachers.
Rejoicing:We have recently gone to two different Ecuadorian churches with Manuel Pumisacho, an Indigenous Baptist pastor here in Quito. He has unexpectedly had us speak (in Spanish) to both congregations. First at his church "Belin de Cocotog" in a small village north of Quito. It is mostly made up of indigenous Ecuadorians. The second church is really a "mission"; just south of Quito in the mountains. There is no regular preacher yet, and they meet in a rented building. It is a relatively new congregation, and the people are a mix of indigenous, mestizo, and black... and all are incredibly poor. Deborah and I both took turns speaking (in Spanish) for about 15 minutes, then Manuel shared the plan of salvation. He asked if the Lord was calling anyone to salvation, and a group came to the front of the tiny little building and fell on their knees right there on the hard cement. Five new Christians went back to their seats a few minutes later! Others recommited their lives as well. What a wonderful experience!
Photos
Riots begin with protests. Here are some students gathering for trouble and the police getting ready. Notice the baseball sized rocks laying everywhere... We shot these pics from the city bus, as you can probably tell. There was real danger of rocks and even bullets so I took the photos quickly and got down.
We have been talking about the teachers we are sharing with at our school, so I thought it would be a good idea to introduce Iván, Maria (and her daughter), Alexandra, and of course, Luis. Also the two young folks from East Germany, Christine and Matius (from a previous letter) who are now working at the Orphanage (Stop in at our August eDiary page to experience the orphanage "Garden of Eden".)
One Saturday we visited Luis, his wife Patricia, and son Eric at their house in South Quito (about 40 minutes from our house by car). Here is the view from his "house on the hill", a shot of Luis, a vollyball game next door (notice the pigs and chickens), and a look up the hill at his neighborhood. It is quite poor, but they have a neatly kept, small cinderblock house. Patricia is expecting in December. They are both teachers.
We attended an Ecuadorian birthday party for Diego's son, Tony. It was quite an experience complete with piñatas, tons of food, and games.
Belin de Cocotog: Manuel Pumisacho's church, built in cooperation with the Baptist's in the States. There are lots of kids in the nursery, lots of youth in the church, and a great community center where he feeds, teaches, and worships with the local kids 3 days during the week. He is a great preacher, and although simple, they have music Ecuadorian style for praise and worship. Here is Manuel, his wife, one of his sons, and his young daughter.
San Carlos: A Baptist Mission planted by Manuel in the South of Quito. At the truck just off the road, and the yard next door gives a flavor of the area (yes, that is a pig and a dog eating together). This is the outside of the rented meeting hall, and the walk to it. We climb up some narrow steps, onto a terraza, and into a small room that holds 50 maximum. Deborah and I take turns giving our testimonies in Spanish, as the people sit attentively... forgiving our horrible accents. After Manuel explains the gift of God, many came forward to recommit their lives and 5 accepted the Lord as Saviour! Afterwards we had a special time on the terraza as they shared sandwiches and coke with us (a great expense for them), and we made one special friend named Kevin.
On the way to San Carlos, we stopped and took some photos of Quito from the mountain road. This is a composite of 5 photos, showing the entire length of Quito with the center (the Panasilla) straight ahead.
God Bless you all and keep you - please know that you are in our prayers!
Hasta Luego... Until next month!
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