another ecuador update

I just wanted to send a quick update and let you know how things are going here in Ecuador! Specific prayer requests are in bold...

The bible study with the family has continued to be a success. We are learning more and more each time we meet with them about their hunger to know more about the Word. It is exciting and encouraging to see them stand up in the face of the judgement they are receiving from their neighbors and friends. I praise the Lord for their strength and desire to know more! Please pray that this bible study will continue to be a source of growth for them and that they will take what they have learned and continue to apply it in their lives. Pray that they will read and study on their own (which I believe they are doing) and be bold in sharing their faith with others.

I have good news and bad news about the weather here. The good news is... Rainy season is over. The bad news... It is now winter. All that means is that rain will be more scarce, but it will be windier and colder on a daily basis. Please pray that the weather will not affect our attitudes towards ministering to those who are outside in the community. Pray that people will still be outside so that we will continue to build relationships with them as we walk around the area. Pray that hearts will be warmed with the Love of Christ despite the cold external temperatures.

Tomorrow we have a HUGE open door to travel into el campo (the country) with the town doctor to meet people as he gives children vaccinations. We will be taking a van in the morning into the areas that are more difficult to reach by walking in order to take the Good News to these people. This is something that the doctor only does once in a while, and so I praise God for the opportunity and the willingness of the doctor to allow us to tag along for this. Please pray that the people that we visit will be welcoming and receptive to the message that we are bringing. Pray that the Spirit will guide our actions and our words, so that we deliver nothing but a saving knowledge of Christ to these people.

Our dear sisters in Tabicundo (Katie, Brittany, and Joy) are experiencing many victories in their area. Please pray specifically for their bible studies and for their ministry to the family they live with and the people that they encounter everyday. These girls are such a source of encouragement for us here in El Chaupi, so please lift them up so that they too may be encouraged.

We milked cows last Monday. Yes, really. Cows. We were out on the playground with a group of children and began to talk to one of the mothers (who was actually one of the first people that we met here in El Chaupi... Her name is Rosio). Somehow, she got around to inviting us to help her with milking her cows. We jumped at the chance because really... how often do you get asked to milk cows? We walked to her house and had a chance to help her and her friend milk a few cows. Milking cows is more difficult than it looks. But it was fun :) The most encouraging part about our milking adventure was the conversation with the two women that occured while milking. We learned a lot about the culture and about what the local Catholic church is teaching. They admitted to not reading the Bible, and they told us a lot of why they worship the Virgin Mary. Rosio´s friend told us that she came to the bible study that the group who was here before us had and that she did not like some of the teachings - which were straight from the Bible. This seems to be the attitude in a large part of El Chaupi. They have invited us back to help milk cows whenever we like, so we will gladly milk a few cows in order to tell someone about Jesus Christ. :) Please pray that we will have more opportunities to share with them in the 2 weeks that we will remain in El Chaupi, and for Rosio and her friend´s heart to be opened to the true message of the gospel. Pray that the people of El Chaupi will realize that the Word of God is alive and active and TRUE.

We have been eating fried food (such as chicken, shrimp, or beef) and vinegar-soaked veggies for breakfast. Along with the normal breakfast foods such as fresh fruit, bread, and juice. It´s really weird and has been difficult to adjust to. Plastic bags have become our good friends at breakfast time. Other meals are fairly normal, although we do have the occasional weird dish like beets or mystery vegetables. We say the missionary´s prayer often - Lord, I´ll put it down if you keep it down. :) Yesterday was Barnabus Day - a day of encouragement from our friends in Quito and Tabicundo. Thankfully they sent us some goodies that make up for the strange Ecuadorian food that we have been eating. There has been very little sickness on our team... Praise the Lord! :)

As for Dodo the rooster... He´s gone. We ate him. Okay, not really. BUT I think that his cock-a-doodle-dooing affects us less than it did at the beginning of our time here. Either we are used to him or he has found his mind. Either way, that´s good news.

Thank you for all of the encouragement that you are sending through your messages, and I ask that you please continue to pray. The Lord is working in mighty ways here in Ecuador, and you are a big part of that through your prayers!