Deb started teaching art to the street boys at "Casa Gabriel". They have two different age groups, and many were very talented.
Deb has also been teaching art at the old folks home in Calderon, a small city outside of Quito. A friend, Dianne Paratore, goes along with her. The elderly really enjoy this interaction, and they are very proud of their work!
Luis Lopez, the man who sells us honey, recently prayed for salvation, and committed his life to the Lord! .
Joselito Orellana, his wife Anita, and his children (the two younger girls in this photo) have become our good friends. He is a Baptist Preacher, and rector of the Ecuadorian Baptist Seminaries. We have become good friends and are serving the Lord together, as well as "sharpening" each other.
On Good Friday, we went to witness one of Ecuador's strange customs. It is a parade of "purple people", in repentance for their sins. The parade is in the "old city" near the Basilica (main Catholic church in Ecuador). They believe that this form of penance clears them of guilt with God. The next day many of them are back to stealing or whatever their lifestyles are normally. Some dress up as Jesus and carry heavy crosses, wear barbed wire and stinging nettles on their bare skin, wear chains like prisoners, or carry cross-like poles on their shoulders. Sometimes children are in this parade as well. (See more of the "old city" in a previous eDiary if you are interested.)
The discipleship program at San Carlos del Sur was a pilot program for all of us. We spent about 9 or 10 Saturdays teaching, going over, and practicing "how to give your testimony", and "how to share the gospel". Then the big weekend of "graduation"... we showed the Jesus movie for their neighbors on a Friday and Saturday night. The church members ran the show, gave their testimonies, and shared the gospel! This was done in the face of persecution and tension... but the Lord blessed us and nothing bad happened. It's a bit different witnessing to someone who has threatened to burn your house down because of your faith...
Their church has grown some directly because of this outreach, and their neighbors realize that they are not "children of the devil" as some of the priests are telling them. It has eased the tension between them a great deal. It was wonderful to see them grow up in their abilities and faith, trusting in God for all things!
Classes were in the church at first. We had instruction, and homework. They practiced giving their testimonies (reading them was ok at this point) after about 3 weeks.
Here are three generations, all hungry to learn and serve.
Doug Paratore and I did all but one of the Saturdays. Manuel Pumisacho, a local pastor, did the class on evangelism.
Later in the program, we took our classes outside, to practice with each other. Young and old alike participated. The big weekend; we set up the outdoor "movie theatre" for the Jesus movie. Unfortunately, it was too dark to take pictures of the actual event. We did not want to be rude and use a flash in a potentially volatile situation. About 150 of their lost neighbors came over those two nights.
This is a special place. The people are simple, the coastal rainforest is incredibly beautiful (except for the bugs), and God is working here. There is a 30 year old Baptist church in this poor area of the Ecuadorian "costa" region. The only other church is a catholic church in this little agricultural community where travelling on horseback is still normal. The church members of "New Life" Baptist church hope to get some help building a second floor to their little church, to allow for a learning center and Sunday school rooms. Joselito Orellana and his family were our hosts for this spiritual adventure in the jungle. More about them in our eNewsletter, but for now enjoy the photos!
On the way down out of the "Sierra" (high country where we live) towards the coast. Part way down in a shrine to Mary where travellers stop and pray for protection on this windy and dangerous mountain road.
As we reach the area, the terrain changes dramatically between high plains to coastal rainforest, including waterfalls, incredible exotic flowers and plants, powerful rivers, jungle, and winding roads. We stayed in a simple but beautiful, bug filled hotel 5 minutes walk from Joselito's sisters' house. This is Joselito's humble home pueblo, and the church where he came to know Christ. He visits once a month and preaches here. They have a relatively new Pastor who loves the lord, and is a bivocational school teacher. The community is agricultural, and no one goes hungry here really. They are poor and have little else but a small house or shack, animals, and produce. The Church is simple and small. Here is a shot of the inside. The neighborhood has a small school and is the center of activity.
Sunday service is more of a discipleship session; a mix of Sunday School and service as we know it. Kids break out to their small rooms for their lessons. At the end each group small kids, teenagers, and adults take turns sharing what they learned. Singing is aided by Joselito's guitar this day, as they don't have a piano or any other instruments.
Here are a couple of shots of the roof area where they hope to build a learning center for more classroom space and for a regional training center for church leaders. We want to share a bit of the culture with you. Here is a fruit called "Guanabana" that is used to make an incredible juice. Also, a shot of a tradional breakfast; boiled eggs, fried bananas, a tasty tomato stew mix, and guacamole. An incredible favorite for lunch or supper is "Seviche"; a seafood soup with citrus fruits, onions, and many other exotic stuff mixed in. Popcorn, corn kernels, and fried bananas are the side item of choice. Joselito's Sister prepared all these meals for us and treated us like kings, even though they are too poor to even own an electric fan in a hot and humid climate. Here is a closeup of the folks outside their little church as a farewell. They are praying for a short term group to come help them with their dream in the jungle.
Favorite Photos: Rachel and her friend hold a leaf from a rainforest plant. This area is about an hour from where we live in Quito. In the same area, Andrea poses with a friend in the jungle. Here are some exotic plants 1- 2 - 3 as well.
God Bless you all and keep you - please know that you are in our prayers!
Hasta Luego... Until next month!
