Update 04/25/07

Dear Prayer Warriors,

During the first week of April we were able to host some of our supporters (people just like you). Barb and son, Jackson Mills from Chicago, Illinois wanted to see what Ecuador was like and experience some of the ministries that we are involved in. They participated in an Alliance Academy field trip with 60 - four, five and six year olds; they spent 3 hours in a Spanish speaking Good Friday church service; viewed Quito from 14,000+ feet above sea level; straddled the equator; missed an English Easter service; and played with children at the city dump during the five days that they were here. We pray that God will continue to use this small glimpse of His work in their lives.

The boys are doing well. For those of you who have focused your prayers on Jonathan's transition ~ THANK YOU!! We have seen an amazing transformation. We're seeing much of our Ol' Jonathan again. We attended David's spring sports banquet where he received MVP from his basketball team and a special Best Defensive medal from his coaches. He also scored 236 points this season.

Doug began another Spanish class, and will continue studying through mid-July. This Sunday, he plans to meet up with the District Superintendent of the churches that he will be working with, to discuss beginning to attend district activities, pastoral meetings, etc. Cindy is researching opportunities for summer sessions of Spanish (no break for her this summer). Please join us in praying for the right Spanish training and comprehension of the language. It continues to be our #1 challenge/frustration.

Cindy's bible study continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Libby and Silvie. They spent several lessons studying for Easter. Cindy had the Resurrection Eggs sent from the States for her classroom students and Silvie was determined to be the new owner of the set. Praise God that she took them to her family on Easter Sunday and retold the Easter story to many who heard it for the first time. Our relationship is really growing with Silvie and her family. Silvie's husband has really connected with Doug and always has lots of spiritually related questions for him.

We are reminded daily of the provision that God has given to us through answered prayer and sacrificial giving. We share with everyone that asks, and even those who don't, how we are able to be here serving Jesus in Ecuador, and it's only through your obedience and faithfulness!! We thank you for being obedient to what the Lord has called you to do on our behalf.

On a side note: If you are so led, there are two additional, very easy ways in which you can help to support OMS International:

• GoodSearch - An Internet Search Tool, and for every search on the internet, OMS receives one cent. http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=838654. We have made this our home page.
  
• Community Plus, includes a group of online merchants that if you make an online purchase, by first going through Community Plus, they will donate a portion to OMS http://www.communityplus.com/. We have signed up and it was very easy.

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

Update 03/22/07 - North Coast District Churches

Dear Prayer Warriors:

Thank you for your prayers, as Doug has returned from a great trip visiting the North coastal churches (Distrito Costa Norte) last weekend and earlier this week. This was the trip in which a group of prayer warriors from the U.S. came with plans to travel through the northern coastal district of Ecuador to visit 20 OMS-planted churches, praying for the pastors and over the church and neighborhood. Jerry and Clara Mattocks (OMS Prayer Champions of Ecuador) from Pennsylvania came along with Dick McLeish of OMS' Men for Missions International. Tom Stiles and Darryl Chambers of OMS Ecuador were also a part of this team. It was extremely hot and humid the entire time - much like your hottest and most miserable day in the US during July/August. They visited 14 churches.

Many of these churches were located deep within the swampy banana plantations and rice fields. They were unable to locate some of the churches and others were to far away to reach within their allotted time frame. Many of the churches were rather primitive and their needs were great. But, it was wonderful to see and hear of how they have been working and growing with so little. No bibles, books, study materials, or basic provisions such as benches to sit on. The team met with the pastors, some church members, visited with them and prayed for them. The team's arrival was extremely encouraging to those they visited and the locals were very sad to see them go. Be sure to check out the photos (below) of the churches from this area. These are not churches that are within the district that Doug is currently assigned to work with, and there is a need for another Missionary to work with these churches in the role of District Liaison. Perhaps the Lord is calling you? Please pray for a missionary to come and work with these churches.

Jerry and Clara have now returned to Pennsylvania and they are now in the process of updating their files and will be trying to recruit Prayer warriors for these churches and locating individuals, groups, or churches that would be willing to adopt one or more of these churches and begin praying for them regularly. Please join Jerry and Clara in prayer as they seek to find these individuals, as well as someone that is willing to coordinate prayer for the churches in this district (District Prayer Coordinator).

As Doug continues his language training, OMS recommends that we change instructors and types of instruction occasionally to experience different types of teaching methods, and get to hear other national's dialects and vocabulary. After listening to the pastors Doug visited, he realized it was time to make a change. So, yesterday, he visited a language school (Cristobol Colon) located in the central part of the city and took an hour-long placement exam. He will begin class next Monday and will have class daily from 10 to 1 (plus lots of homework). He will also be taking the bus back and forth (which takes about 30 - 45 minutes each way). He now has to inform his instructor whom he has been using for the past 8 months, telling him of the news that he will be changing. There has been a strong relationship built between them, so we are sure he will take it rather hard. (Update 03/23: Doug's language instructor took it rather well, and we will be working towards continuing to strengthen that relationship.)

This past Wednesday, we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary, and this was actually our second anniversary celebration here in Ecuador. We were here with a short-term prayer team back in 2005. Cindy has been wanting to go to the Fondue restaurant located close to us in Plaza de las Americas. We took the kids last night and when we got there, there was a sign on the door that said "after two years, we have decided to take a vacation" and it was closed. It was rather humorous, since during Cindy's last birthday here in October, we went to a restaurant called "El Tartaro" and it too was closed for vacation. So last night, we ended up eating Mexican. She's still looking forward to the Fondue.

Blessings to You!

Doug & Cindy

(Click any photo below to view an enlarged image)

Iglesia Evangélica de Fe – San Juan; Pastor Alfonso

Banana Plantation Roads:

Shekinara de Dios – San Juan; Pastor Sra. Diana

Iglesia Maranatha – San Juan; Pastor Sra. Esmeraldas

Imperio Nación de Cristo – San Juan; Pastor Emiliano

Iglesia Rosa de Saron – San Juan; Pastor Emiliano

Iglesia Evangélica Maria 2 - San Juan; Pastor Sra. Herminia

Iglesia Evangélica Jehová Shalom - San Juan; Pastor Sra. Herminia

Iglesia Evangélica Elim - San Juan; Pastor Sra. Lorena

Pan de Vida (De Fe 8) - San Juan; Pastor Guido

Iglesia Príncipe de Paz (De Fe 9) - San Juan; Pastor Pedro

Iglesia Evangélica Getsemaní - Ventanas; Pastor Carlos

Iglesia Evangélica Cristo Viene – Pueblo Viejo; Pastor Patricio

Iglesia Bíblica Confraternidad – Quevedo; Pastor Rolando (left)

Iglesia Monte de Horeb – Quevedo; Pastor Francisco

Pastor Rolando and Monte de Horeb Youth Leaders – Mónica & Mariana

View during the trip

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

==========================================================================================
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