Update 06/20/06 - One Week and Counting

Dear Prayer Warriors,

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1a

Have you ever really paid close attention to the punctuation in the NIV bible? Not a very interesting topical study! However, we noticed today of the exclamation mark. It dawned on us that we don't really see many exclamation marks in the bible. Cindy loves exclamation marks and uses them so much that they may even loose their effectiveness and purpose. In God's holy, infallible, Spirit-filled Word, He knew right where to put the exclamation mark!

Thank you for your prayers!
We have our Visas! Last Wednesday we went to the Consulate of Ecuador on Michigan Ave. in downtown Chicago. In a small waiting room with about 30+ Ecuadorians, we submitted our pile of paperwork to a non-English speaking woman and waited and waited and waited. Three hours later with no questions asked, we received all of our visas to stay in Ecuador for two years. We will have to renew them while we are in Ecuador. As we were walking down Michigan Ave, God lavished his love on us, when who should we pass.... but Pastor Santana and friends from Iglesia Cristiana de Restauración (Restoration Christian Church in Bloomington).

We have a home! It's official ~ we will be house-sitting for 7 months. This will provide us with additional time to gather household necessities and look for a place to rent. What a beautiful provision from the hand of God, and yet He lavished His love on us when in a city of 2.5 million people (where we are acquainted with one family), He has placed the backyard of our new home against the backyard of theirs.

We have good health! Cindy has been having what appeared to be gallbladder attacks for the past 3 weeks. She's been to the doctor 3 times and had a HIDA scan yesterday. The doctor reported today that Cindy's gallbladder is fine and is treating her for a small ulcer that should be completely healed in 8 weeks. Doug has been attacked with lower back pain ~ a chronic condition that flares up occasionally. God has lavished His love on us in that these conditions have not debilitated us or kept us from moving forward.

We have good Spiritual food! We leave on Thursday for the World Outreach Conference (OMS Mission Conference) in Marion, Indiana. We have received such encouragement, fellowship, and a hunger for God's business through this conference. Next to being with family and friends, we can think of no other way to spend our last few days that would give us such desire to serve in a land that God has prepared for us and prepared us for. (thank you Chad & Wendy for those words)

We have family & friends! In the midst of such chaos, God has lavished His love on us through our family & friends. It's been weeks since Cindy cooked a dinner at home. We have had so many wonderful opportunities to visit and spend time with those that we love the most.

We have support! On Father's Day evening, we attended church service at the Iglesia Cristiana de Restauración in Bloomington with Pastor Santana and family. The Lord led us to this church almost two years ago and we have considered it a "stepping stone" in ministry. However, every time we go to "minister", we have been "ministered" to. God has lavished His love on us through this church. They blessed us greatly with their prayers and love. We have learned so much from them. Isn't it amazing how when you go to bless and encourage others, the Lord somehow turns that around and ends up blessing you a hundred times more? God is Great!

We have a Home Church! Cindy can't even think about this without the tears flowing down her face. God has lavished His love on us through the mission of the Gibson City Bible Church:

• Worship that uplifts the Name of Jesus Christ:
• Teaching of the Word and equipping of believers;
• Fellowship and caring for the body; and
• Outreach in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have Prayer Warriors! A dear friend of ours shared this morning, Col. 4:2 which says: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ....". That verse is such a wonderful reminder to us of how faithful and devoted you have all been in praying for us. We know that there is no way that we would be leaving for Ecuador in one week, if you had not been praying for us. We would not be mentally or spiritually prepared; We would not have the required finances; Doors would not have been opened. We cannot thank you enough for your faithful and devoted prayers. You are true Prayer Warriors.

Just another reminder that if you are in the area, we would love to have you join us during our Commissioning Service this Sunday at the Gibson City Bible Church. The service will begin at 10:20am. with a potluck dinner to follow at approximately 11:30. The church is located on the west side of town on Rt.47, just north of the Rt.47 and Rt. 9 intersection. http://www.gibsoncitybible.org/missionary.htm
Directions :http://www.gibsoncitybible.org/directions.htm

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

Three Weeks and Counting

Dear Barnabas,

No, we didn't make a mistake in the salutation. As we ponder God's goodness in bringing us to this point, we thank Him for all the Barnabas' He has put in our path…. especially, these past two years. God has used you in a mighty way to change our lives. Your encouragement has come in
many forms and our lives have been forever changed by your commitment to the Lord's work. We can't thank you enough for your willingness to help us as we prepare to serve in Ecuador, for encouraging us to be obedient, and for friendship that has impacted eternity. Thank you, Thank you for your prayers. They have been very evident.

We recently had a wonderful opportunity to meet Dr. Manuel and his wife, Nellie from Cuenca, Ecuador and in all places ~ Forrest, IL. Forrest is small town (1,124) approx. 20 minutes from Gibson City. I t's amazing how God orchestrates these events in our lives to allow us to hear how He is working in Ecuador. This medical doctor and his family ministers in small villages bringing physical and spiritual health.

We had another wonderful opportunity when we delivered a donated van to a missionary family from Ecuador. We will be working with this family when they return from their Home Missionary Assignment. The family that purchased our van heard of the transportation need and donated their van to this family. We were blessed by being the ones to deliver the van.

Our departure is three weeks away and we can't help feeling that the "Honeymoon" is over. This time of preparation has been such a beautifully blessed time in our lives and although it's exciting to anticipate what the next few months will bring, it is also very difficult to say goodbye to our family, friends, and ministries that He has graciously lavished on us here in the states.

Last Friday, Doug completed his last day at State Farm. D oug said goodbye to the many friends that he has come to know during his nine years of employment there. Many of his friends have shown interest in our future ministries in Ecuador by becoming partners with us, and others requested to be kept informed through email updates. As a part of his last day, a food day was held in his honor and he received a card signed by employees with a cash offering that has been collected. Doug was also surprised to discover that he was being treated to a 24oz. Porterhouse steak. He had always wondered if he could actually consume a steak like that…..we won't say how he did. Doug was especially touched when his boss refrained from giving the typical goodbye handshake, and prayed for him instead. Doug was very blessed to have management that was extremely supportive towards his leaving the company to pursue full-time missions service.

This weekend we head to Fort Wayne, IN to celebrate the Graduation of our nephew Derek. This will also provide us with the opportunity to visit with both of Doug's sisters and their families. Next Wednesday, June 14, we are planning to appear before the Ecuadorian Consulate in downtown Chicago. Please pray that the documents we present for authorization will be acceptable, and they will grant us our required Visas. On June 22, 23, & 24 we will be attending the OMS World Outreach Conference at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Just another reminder that if you are in the area, we would love to have you join us during our Commissioning Service at the Gibson City Bible Church on June 25. The service will begin at 10:20am. with a potluck dinner to follow at approximately 11:30. The church is located on the west side of town on Rt.47, just north of the Rt.47 and Rt. 9 intersection. http://www.gibsoncitybible.org/missionary.htm
Directions: http://www.gibsoncitybible.org/directions.htm

Please pray as the Lord prepares a place for a to live in Quito. We received word today that there might be an opportunity to house sit for 7 months very close to the Alliance Academy. This would give us time to look for our own place and furnishings. Who knows, maybe we can become professional house sitters for 4 years????

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy