Update 08/28/09

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Summer has come and gone so quickly.  Your prayers have sustained us, protected us, refreshed us, and allowed us to continue the work that God has called us to do here in Ecuador.  A lot has taken place during the last couple of months.  So, we'll try to provide a brief summary.

David found that working "in the real world" presented quite a few challenges, especially spiritual ones.  Please pray for him as he tries to seek ways to utilize this experience as a testimony to share with his friends.  He was greatly encouraged and spiritually blessed to spend a week traveling with his mentor in Northern California.  Thank you for your prayers as we know they protected him from so many things.  He is entering his senior year and we are beginning to search for colleges.  Please pray for direction & discernment for all of us as we select a college and seek scholarships to assist with the finances. 
 

Jonathan truly enjoyed his time in Gibson City, IL for a couple of weeks.  However, due to airline restrictions and unforeseeable issues, he was not able to utilize his scholarship to Camp Highlands.  Unknowingly, Jesus had other plans for him when he was able to assist with the setup and distribution of 130 wheelchairs with a short-term team from Houston, Texas.  He met many new friends this summer from short-term teams.  Thanks to electronic technology, he is able to keep in touch with many.  He will be starting 8th grade and can't seem to think of much outside girls and Gibson City.  Needless to say, he is very excited about our upcoming year of furlough in the States beginning next summer.

 
Thank you for your prayers for Cindy's mom and her broken heel.  Cindy arrived in Chicago the day her mom came home from the hospital (She had purchased her airline tickets 4 months prior to the accident).  God's timing is always perfect. Their time together was so precious.  Her mom has since healed quite quickly (thanks to your prayers) and has returned to work while undergoing routine physical therapy.  Cindy continued with Spanish classes this summer which went very well for 8 hour days of Spanish.  She's already been working in her classroom and anticipating the arrival of her 15 students.  Her Bible study will continue this Fall with the ladies as they study the book of James.  Her preparation has been refining her in some areas.
 

This past July was a busy time working with the churches.  Doug had the honor to participate in the baptisms of three new believers in Bet-el in south Quito, and in speaking during the first church service in Riobamba's new (but unfinished) church building. (click here for more photos)

 

It was great to see how much they had accomplished (If you are interested in bringing a team to help with further construction, please let us know).  

Later in July we had the blessing to help the team from Houston distribute wheel chairs in a Nursing home in Calderon and in two churches located in Píllaro and Santo Domingo.  It was wonderful to see so many happy and smiling faces on those that received the desperately needed chairs, as well as on the faces of those helping with the distribution and adjustments of each chair.  It was a blessing for all.  (Click here for more photos)  

Towards the end of July, we were asked to film the church of Píllaro's participation in their city's annual city anniversary celebration (Cantonización).  For the first time in the 158 years of history for this town, some of the Evangelical Christian churches participated in this event.  This was a huge milestone as the churches participated in the parade with a float, marching, dancing, performing music, and conducting an evangelical service in the local coliseum.  The churches have since received some strong criticism from local city officials, but it was wonderful to see Christ represented in this heavily oppressed community.  (Click here for more photos)

This summer, we have also had the opportunity to attend church picnics and visit many of the churches located within our central district.  Doug continues to make many church visits and Cindy has been busy building relationships with the women of the churches including teaching how to bake deserts and snacks.

In early August, we enjoyed four days with our Ecuador mission family at Camp Pallatanga for our annual retreat and meetings.  We had some great teachings through a Biblical dinner and a Biblical wedding feast with Jay McCarl. Jay walked us step by step through the rich significance of Biblical meals and their amazing spiritual application in modern everyday life. The Biblical Wedding brought fresh insight to our glorious future... that radiant day when the Bride is united with the Bridegroom for all eternity.  We highly recommend these dinners for their in-depth teaching. (Click here for more info)

On September 10, Tom Sparrow (with OMS) will arrive in Quito, and he will be visiting many of our central district churches and teaching on how to study the bible.  He and Doug will be traveling from the 11th to the 27th and visiting 8 churches.  Cindy began her first day of this school today, and the boys will begin on Sept. 7.  The sports calendar has changed a bit here, and David will beginning volleyball as soon as school starts.  We would appreciate your prayers during this very busy month of September. 

Just as we are repeatedly reminded in the scriptures to "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever", we too are reminded to give thanks for YOU... for your faithfulness in prayer and and support for us.

Blessings to You!

Doug & Cindy