Thursday, March 08, 2007

Update 03/08/07

Dear Prayer Warriors,

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Eph 6:18

As we think of this verse, we think of those of you that have been praying for us. Doug recently had the opportunity to attend and speak at a Missions Conference at the Gibson City Bible Church, as well as at the First United Methodist Church in Gibson City, and the Christian Bible Church in Cissna Park. It was during these speaking opportunities, that Doug had the opportunity to share how we don't take lightly, our need and thankfulness for Prayer Warriors to be interceding to God on our behalf. We are extremely thankful for your prayers and we covet them as well.

Other than coming down with a sinus infection and watching it either rain or snow every day, Doug had a good and blessed time in Illinois. He was able to visit with his parents and sister, as well as many friends and supporters. Doug also had the opportunity to share about our work here in Ecuador with the local FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and with the High school youth at the Gibson City Bible Church. Thank you very much for your prayers. His trip went smoothly, and despite some minor delays, his travels were seamless.

Next week (March 14-20), Doug will be a part of a group of prayer warriors coming from the U.S., traveling in the northern coastal district of Ecuador to visit 20 churches, praying with the pastors and over the church and neighborhood. Jerry Mattocks (OMS Prayer Champion of Ecuador) from Pennsylvania will be heading up this group, and Tom Stiles and Darryl Chambers of OMS Ecuador will also be a part of this team. Please pray for humble hearts that we may be sensitive to the spiritual needs in each of these churches, as well as traveling mercies.

Town ----------- Church Name -------- Pastor
BABAHOYO ------- PHILADELPHIA ------- Saul Vera
BABAHOYO ------- THE BEAUTIFUL ------ Blanca Viejo
BABAHOYO ------- CHRIST IS COMING --- Martires Rizzo
BABAHOYO ------- JEHOVAH HEARS ------ Alicia Garrido
CANAVERAL ------ JEHOVAH HEARS 2 ---- Alicia Garrido
JUJAN ---------- THE GOOD SHEPHERD -- Benigno Tomala
PATRICIA ------- JEHOVAH HEARS 1 ---- Alicia Garrido
PUEBLO VIEJO --- CHRIST IS COMING --- Pedro Calderon
QUEVEDO -------- FELLOWSHIP BIBLE --- Rolando Barzola
QUEVEDO -------- MOUNT HOREB -------- Francisco Zorrilla
RICAURTE ------- NEW JERUSALEM ------ Jairo Alava
SAN JUAN ------- SHEKINAH ----------- Juan Lucio
SAN JUAN ------- ELIM --------------- Lorena Arias
SAN JUAN ------- SHALOM ------------- Espana Avila
SAN JUAN ------- FAITH -------------- Alfonso Terranova
SAN MIGUEL ----- JEHOVAH HEARS 3 ---- Alicia Garrido
SANTO DOMINGO -- FELLOWSHIP BIBLE --- Xavier Borja
VENTANAS ------- FAITH -------------- Hitler Carriel
VENTANAS ------- GETHSEMANE --------- Maximo Juca
VENTANAS ------- CHRIST REIGNS ------ Pedro Calderon

Our son David recently returned from his ministry trip to the jungle where he and his Christian Service Outreach team from school, visited 3 villages, conducting VBS (Vacation Bible School) type activities and church services. His update (written by David), is included below.

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

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February 25, 2007

Hey Everyone,

I recently returned from a jungle trip with my CSO (Christian Service Outreach) group to three remote villages. We went to Archidona, Pano, and Campana Cocha. It took us between 7 and 8 hours to get to our first stop in Archidona. We had about three minor bus problems but got there safely. We led a VBS (Vacation Bible School) type of program for the kids at each of these villages. (You can click on any photo to view an enlarged image.)

The VBS program didn't start till around 3:30 so we decided to go drop all of our stuff off at the house in Pano which is where we would be staying for the next 3 nights. That was about an hour trip from Archidona. So we hopped back on the bus and headed towards Pano. After getting there, we formed a big line and loaded all of our baggage into the house which was the pastor's house. There were two basketball courts right across from the house, so my friend Jake and I headed over and played with the kids a little while. After about 30 minutes we were back on the bus, going back to Archidona, doing make-up for the clowns and mimes, and doing last minute preparations which is a little tough to do on a bus constantly hitting pot holes. We started the program with songs, and then had a variety of different fun things, including puppets, skits, a little mini lesson, games, crafts, clowns and mimes. I was part of the mime group, mostly because it was a non-speaking role...and I don't know very much Spanish. Our mime skit was in a circus and about how a clown had always wanted to be a trapeze artist, but never got to be...then one day he finally decided to do it and fell and broke both his legs...and the message behind it was that God can use you just the way you are.

After we finished, we headed back to Pano where we were staying, and played with the kids till dinner. A lot of us were soaked because here in Ecuador it was a holiday called Carnival, which is basically a country-wide water fight...so the kids had water balloons, water jugs, and silly string, and we were their main target. However none of us really minded considering the temperature was at the least 90 degrees. It was UNBELIEVABLY hot and humid.

Then Sunday we attended church service in Pano which we led, and then later in the day had VBS. Which was the same program. So in between our ministering we had our meals and free time...During our free time we played basketball, soccer, "pato, pato, ganso" (duck, duck, goose), red light - green light, hung out and just talked with the kids, played tag, and then my favorite was going down to a small river to bathe and swim. Every morning we'd go down to the river which was like a 5 minute walk to go shower, and then we'd make 1 to 2 trips in the day just to swim and have a good time. The kids would see us going and then grab your hand and tag along. When we would get there, the Ecuadorian kids would just strip down to their underwear and jump in. Half these kids looked like they were under six but could swim like a fish. There was a huge boulder in the middle that we'd could jump off of, so you'd jump off that or play King of the Hill with the kids...it was lots of fun.

Monday we went to an actual remote village which was Campana Cocha. Here we did the same things with VBS. However we had to take about an hour trip on to a big river and then we had to take long motorized canoes to the village, these canoes held about 10-12 people. When we got to the village we arrived on a beach, we then hiked just a little ways to the village, where would would be doing our program. There was one problem in Campana Cocha though...the kids didn't speak Spanish, then only knew Quichawa, so I think they didn't understand a lot of things, afterwards we played a little soccer and then decided to head back. In Campana Cocha it was a lot hotter, just sitting on a bench I was dripping in sweat, it was probably 10 degrees hotter...I was soaked in sweat, so after we got back, we went to the river to cool off, and then had some free time. That night we went out to a nice restaurant, and had some really good breaded shrimp. We went back to the house where we were staying...there were three floors, the girls got the second floor and the guys got the third floor which was the loft...which got extra hot...you could feel the difference going from the second floor to the loft. So we just kind of hung around that night with the kids. Also, everyone thought that the only way to bathe was the river but a sponsor and 3 of my friends and I found a shower! We made a truce not to tell anyone, and would sneak out every night and shower off, so we wouldn't be sleeping in our sweat like everyone else..jeje.

But anyways, Tuesday came, we had breakfast and packed our lunches, said goodbye to all of our "nuevos amigos" (new friends), and got back on the bus for a long trip home...

Thank you for your Prayers!

Blessings,
David

email: soccernut_516@hotmail.com