Update 10/17/08

Dear Prayer Warriors,

We pray you are all doing well and for many of you, beginning to enjoy cooler temperatures and the Fall colors of changing leaves. We are well into our rainy season, and the rains are arriving almost every afternoon.

Be Aware of Pizza Delivery Guys ?? We celebrated Cindy's birthday last Tuesday after David's 6 pm. soccer game. We ordered pizzas from Papa John's around 8:20 (yes, we do have pizza here in a city of 2.5 million), and we were a bit frustrated when they had not arrived in over an hour later. Normally it should take around 15 or 20 minutes. Well, it showed up around 9:45. Doug was a bit perturbed and asked if they honored the 30 minute delivery or it is free (other restaurants do). He said no. As typical, he did not have change for a $20 bill, but he showed Doug a big wad a cash with $10's and $20's (which was unusual), proving he had no change. Well, he did come up with some loose coins and we promptly told him that this was our second time and the last time we would ever order pizzas from them. He departed and we ate our cold pizzas. At 11:00 that night, we received a call from Papa John's. He was asking Doug if we had received our pizzas and if we paid for them, and he said "yes". The man then went on talking, using the word "golpe" which means to punch or fight. Doug was thinking to himself... did the delivery guy go back and tell them that he was mad and I punched him.. or what? They guy on the phone then asked Doug he knew what he was explaining and he said "no". He said thank you and goodbye. Well, the next morning a boss from Papa John's came to our door. Guess there was a real problem that night. Seems our delivery man was not working for Papa Johns, and was not a real delivery man. From what we understand, he beat up the real delivery man, stole the pizza delivery man's motorcycle, cash, and then delivered the remaining pizzas to collect the additional cash. None of the pizza payments made it back to Papa Johns. The boss at our door was asking us what the guy looked like, etc. Guess we will be a little more observant and cautious with our pizza delivery men.

Last week, we spent the weekend in Latacunga. We spent Saturday morning helping with set-up and preparations for the AIEE church association's 30th anniversary to be held on the next day (Sunday) in the church. We also helped with setup for an evangelistic outreach held at a restaurant on Saturday night before the anniversary. The main anniversary celebration took place in Guayaquil, but another celebration was held in Latacunga for the central district churches, and over 200 people attended. Doug received quite a few "thank you's" from the pastors when each had an opportunity to speak, and he also received a certificate of recognition for his merit and service to the AIEE. Doug had an opportunity to address the group, however, Cindy had an even bigger opportunity. She, Kelly Chambers, and Bonnie Shrode (also with OMS) had the opportunity to participate by singing a song in both Spanish and English. They were even introduced as the group: "Princesses of the King". The crowd loved it, and they received many cheers.

David was recently accepted into a CSO (Christian Service Outreach) called Guardians. As a part of the selection process he had to participate in being interviewed, and it was an honor for him to be selected as a leader. Guardians is for approved Juniors and Seniors to mentor middle school students. Please pray for David as he seeks to be used by God in the lives of these boys: Christian, Daniel, Nicolas, Milton, and Marcel. These boys selected David to be their leader. They officially meet every Wednesday after school, but David will be trying to build relationships with these guys throughout the week as well. Jonathan is also participating in Guardians, but on the other end - as he is being mentored to by another student.

The elementary Spiritual Emphasis Week was this week. On Thursday, the speakers presented the Gospel message, offered an initiation and many children made decisions to accept Jesus as their Savior. Upon returning to the classroom, Cindy and her class spent the next hour sharing testimonies. Six of Cindy's students made a genuine decision to accept Jesus. HALLELUJAH!!! What a beautiful day!! Please pray for these children: Joel, Emil, Jung Woo, Hanan, Karla, & Olivia.

Cindy's Bible study has been underway for 3 weeks. Three new ladies have joined the group, they are all very comfortable with one another and bring much to share. They surprised Cindy with a birthday cake & flowers. Please pray for these women: Silvie, Libby, Lorena, Maria Alexis, Alice & Ennie. Bernarda will return after maternity leave. Please also pray for a friend of Cindy's. She is a young unwed mother-to-be with many apprehensions. She fears that following Jesus will cost her the relationship with her fiancé and a father for her baby.

Our prayer champions for Ecuador - Jerry & Clara Mattocks from Pennsylvania are scheduled to arrive tomorrow and stay until the 23rd. Their work stateside is one of the primary resources that supports OMS ministries here in Ecuador - PRAYER!!! If you have ever been to Ecuador to serve Jesus, you probably either know Jerry & Clara or have heard of them. During their time here, we plan to visit the various ministries we have here in the area and pray over them. We also plan to take them around to see some parts of Quito, and take time to stop and pray for these various sites. Please pray for their health, strength, and safety while they are here.

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

Fishing Trip - Volcán Mojanda

Dear Prayer Warriors,

After living here in Ecuador for more than 2 years, I (Doug) finally had the opportunity to take Jonathan (and myself) fishing this weekend. The first task, was to locate and purchase fishing gear. That was a challenge in itself, as it took shopping here and there during a three-week span. I picked Jonathan up on Friday after school and we headed out. We joined Ebert (Pastor of a church in Ibarra) and a friend of his - Fabian. We picked them up in Otavalo (2 hours north of Quito), then headed up the mountain - Volcano Mojanda. At the top of this volcano, is a lake, which is crystal clear, very deep, and very cold. The lake is located at 12,300 feet, so you will see in the photos, we dressed warmly.

Unfortunately we did not catch any fish, however Ebert can testify that he has caught many Trout in this lake. Despite the fact that we never caught a thing, it was a great time to get out of the city and enjoy soaking up the beauty of God's creations. We are a bit tired, as this trip involved a good deal of hiking some extremely steep hills, not to mention the altitude. Jonathan and I had an extra tent, but since we were told that Ebert's borrowed tent was a 6-man tent, we left ours in the truck. However, upon setting up the tent, it was more like a 3-man tent. Sleeping conditions were a bit cramped and uncomfortable on rocks and tree roots. However, it was great to spend time with Jonathan out of the city and also encourage Pastor Ebert. Jonathan also had the opportunity to openly use his pellet gun.

The email photo service (Sharpcast) that we were previously using closed down, so we are giving Picasa a try. I have included some photos for you to view: http://picasaweb.google.com/dtank87/20080927Mojanda

Blessings,
Doug

Update 09/19/08

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Do you ever get to busy to pray? We are continually haunted by a question that we heard during our missionary training: "Is your prayer life adequate enough to become a missionary?" If it were not for you, we should return to the states! Even when we are too busy to put out a plea for prayer, we feel that you are still praying for us. Thank you for all you give and do for this ministry. I hope that we never become to busy to be grateful!!!

The school year is off to a good start. Jonathan is really enjoying some independence that comes with being a 7th grader in the secondary education of the AAI. David entered his junior year with varsity soccer right around the corner. Cindy has her hands full with 16 first graders - 80% which are ESL learners. Two of them do not speak any English. The countries that are represented in her class this year are South Korea, Guatemala, Uruguay, United States and Ecuador. Cindy will provide an additional detailed update with names and prayer requests for her students. Please continue to pray for the new elementary principal. He's doing an incredible job, but we know all to well the transitions that come your first year on the field. He has a wife and two young elementary boys.

The secondary students have been in SEW (Spiritual Emphasis Week) this week. Pray that the word of the Lord will not return void and that the students will continue to be transformed by all that they have heard. Cindy will be starting her bible study next week. She will lead the ladies through the book, Captivating. Her prayer is that each one realizes how captivating they are to God and how He desires to be captivating to them.

There have been robberies all around our neighborhood. One block away, three guys dressed in suits robbed a "gringo's" apartment. When a nearby maid checked on the disturbance, they held a knife to her throat until they were finished. The fear of becoming a victim increases daily. Please pray not only for our safety but that we would not be paralyzed by this fear.

Since our return to Ecuador, Doug has been busy attending multiple mission and national church association meetings, as well as completing 11 church visits. His visits include meetings with Pastors, leaders and staff, as well as visiting and sharing during their various church services. This morning he returned from visiting a very remote village called Sucre, where a house church meets on Thursday nights. An existing and remote church in Galpón has many members that come from Sucre, which is about a 30+ minute mountainous hike. Most of the members are farmers (manually) and many are indigenous. The church of Galpón has started a house church there, and it is being lead by Galpón's Pastor Rafael. This is a poor area, but this church is rich in their love of the Lord. They love to worship the Lord in music, including multiple guitars, accordions, and a violin. During his time in Sucre, Doug was reminded of the verse in Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Please pray for the house church of Sucre, as they are praying about constructing a church building, and that they would be the light of Jesus Christ in this village. Doug would loved to have included some photos to share, but felt taking photos at this time was inappropriate. They are not used to seeing white skin and blue eyes. Maybe next time.

Our OMS-Ecuador Field Treasurer and Field Director have left for the states on furlough, and will return in January. During this time, Rebecca Pazmiño has assumed the responsibilities of the Field Treasurer job, and Doug has assumed the responsibilities of interim Field Director. They would both appreciate your prayers, and specifically that things would be rather quite during this time. Please pray that Kathy Coon and Tom & Susan Stiles would be able to quickly raise their needed support so they can return in January.

As the end of the month draws near, tensions and conflicts will begin to surface a bit more as the people of Ecuador will accept or decline a new constitution. Please pray for our Christian brothers and sisters as they prepare to vote, and that there would be a limited amount of protests and demonstrations during these times.

If you are interested in putting together a short term mission team this spring or summer, we have many needs to be filled. The OMS guesthouse is looking for a team to do some painting and maintenance. Many of our churches are interested in evangelistic outreach activities. A couple of our churches have several maintenance projects. Let us know if the Lord is leading you to Ecuador.

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

We all Need to Study

I am excited to be back in Ecuador, after a brief time in the United States and four weeks in Costa Rica (far from the beach). Thank you for your prayers for us during our time of traveling. Things went very smoothly, and our time was truly blessed and productive.

During our time in Costa Rica, Cindy and I had the opportunity to take a four-week intensive Spanish Class. During my time there, I discovered that I had developed many bad habits or misunderstandings in my uses of certain words or phrases. I also discovered that when I pray in Spanish, I should be using the more informal or more personal form of “tú”. A very simple concept to native Spanish speakers, but this was new to me.

Learning Spanish can be difficult and frustrating for me. Although I feel my Spanish is rather lousy (and many would probably agree), I love to be able to communicate in Spanish with others. I continually desire to be able to speak better Spanish. To be able to use the words that are correct or more fitting, and not just choose from the list of Spanish vocabulary words that are in my mind.

As I was reading a devotion this past week, I was encouraged and reminded of the importance of my learning Spanish. The reminder came from a verse in 1 Corinthians 14:9:

• “So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.”

We should excel in speech. This too, refers to the church’s public ministry of teaching and preaching. We have the gospel that liberates and satisfies us. We have the Bible that tells us how to live. We have examples of the way, the truth, and the life through our Savior and Teacher - Jesus Christ. In our sermons, lessons, and conversations, we need to be able to share that message with excellence, while accurately communicating the Word of God – the Bible.

We should excel in knowledge. Professor Steve Prothero of Boston University recently wrote a book entitled: Religious Literacy, in which he claims that even churchgoers in America are woefully deficient in Bible knowledge. According to his studies, 60 percent of Americans can not name one-half of the Ten Commandments, and 50 percent of high school seniors think Sodom and Gomorrah were married. We need to be lifelong students of the Bible.

I need to continue working on my Spanish so that I can share the Word of God with others, in a way that is clear and not confusing. And so that those listening will accurately understand what I am saying, and that I will not be just be speaking into the air.

And just as I need to be able to continue working on my Spanish, we all (me included) need to be lifelong students of the Bible, so that we can share and teach others the Word of God, with clarity and accuracy. So that we are not intimidated or unsure what to share, and that we are always prepared to share the Good News (1 Peter 3:15).

If you are regularly attending a church with solid and accurate teachings of the bible, along with opportunities to learn from your pastor and other teachers, that is wonderful and you blessed. However, we cannot rely simply on the teachings that we are receiving in church. We all need to be spending personal time in the Word, as well as searching for other opportunities to learn more, such as attending a bible study or small group. Some of you may not feel that you are qualified to teach from the bible, or do not know enough in order to teach or share with others. But one of the best ways to learn more, is through your weekly preparation to teach others. Just as I discovered that I had developed many misunderstandings in my use of certain Spanish words or phrases, as you spend time in the Word, you too may discover that you have developed some misunderstandings of the Bible.

Now that we are back in Ecuador, I am very excited about resuming my role of working with and supporting the pastors and leadership of the churches located within our Central District. I also excited about learning more Spanish every day, and also learning more from the Bible each day.

If you have read this far, thank you!

Blessings to You!
Doug

Update 08/19/08

Dear Prayer Warriors,

It's been some time since our last update. The last time that we wrote, we had arrived in Costa Rica for Spanish training which was about 6 weeks ago. We would be greatly negligent if we didn't testify to God's abundant faithfulness and goodness during our time in the States & Costa Rica. We'll keep it brief for now, and try to share more information on our Blog as soon as we get caught up a bit.

Camp Highlands for Boys http://www.camphighlands.com/

The boys loved Camp Highlands. David received the Camper of the Year award in his age division and Jonathan received 3rd place for Camper of the Year in his division. Quite an amazing accomplishment since it was their first year. The scholarships were such a blessing to our entire family. We knew that Camp Highlands was a place that our boys could thrive, but we always knew that our budget would never award them such a great opportunity. We truly feel that this scholarship is another way that God has shown us His enormous abundance. Entering the mission field has limited the ways that we can "treat" our boys. However, God has shown us that His "treats" are far better than anything we could have provided.

Costa Rica http://www.thespanishinstitute.com/

We highly recommend the Spanish Institute in San Jose as well as living with a Costa Rican family. Ester and Rafael were a real joy to live with, and we usually spent 3 to 4 hours a day visiting with them before, during, and after meals. We had a rich experience in spite of torrential daily downpours of rain. Although the rain came in handy when we were without water for 4 days. We spent four weeks eating, sleeping and studying Spanish, not to mention 3 to 4 hours of homework a day. Doug has already had the opportunity to be using more of his Spanish, as met last week with Pastor Antonio, catching up on what had taken place over the last 7 weeks. He also had the honor of preparing and sharing the message last Sunday in Iglesia Bet-el (a church in south Quito).

Family & Friends

We ran out of time to visit everyone, and there were so many others that we wanted to visit with. We trust that the Lord orchestrated the reunions that we had. It was so good to eat, share, and catch up with so many friends and family. We look forward to our furlough time in 2010. Until then, please keep in touch and let us know what is going on in your lives.

Travel Mercies & Health

How blessed we were with a car to borrow (Thank you Eric & Amy)!!! We spent much time on the road, in the air, and in airports during layovers. God paved the way for all of our traveling, providing safe travel. The gas prices were quite a sticker shock, but the Food Marts at the gas stations were great!!! Other than the typical allergies and sinus problems that the Midwest seems to harbor, our health was blessed. We were strengthen with wonderful food and fellowship. Doug did have a detour to the dentist after eating candy (that we can't get in Ecuador) and breaking a tooth. However, we received another blessing when the dentist said, "No Charge!". Thanks, Dr. Doug S.!!!

Sunday Services

We have 4 supporting churches in our ministry, and we had 4 Sundays in which to share all that God is doing in Ecuador. What a blessing to worship in English and brag on what God is doing not only through us, but through them as well. We do see some amazing things and are so grateful for the opportunities to share with others. We pray that people were encouraged as well as challenged.

Future Opportunities & Obstacles

There are so many needs in Ecuador and the ministry opportunities are endless. There are many people from the Illinois area that are interested in coming to Ecuador with a ministry team this coming year. Please pray that the airfare prices would not be a deterrent and many would be able to come and share Jesus in Ecuador.

School Starts

Cindy officially begins school on this Friday. She's been working in her classroom since we returned to Quito. There are many new faculty this year. Please pray for their transition as well as for our new principal, Mr. Driscoll and his family. The first day for students is August 28th. Pray in advance for the students and their families that don't know Jesus as their Savior. Pray that the Alliance Academy will be the resource to the TRUTH of Jesus Christ that so many are seeking. Pray for the students who know Jesus, that their relationship will grow stronger and deeper this year. Our Spiritual Emphasis Week is scheduled for October 13 - 17. Begin to pray now for God's Word and Will to go forth!

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As we type this update, we are constantly reminded of God's abundant goodness and blessings. God wants to bless you, provide for you, and show His mercy and goodness to you. And He does all this through the hands, feet and hearts of His people. Thank you for your obedience to what God is calling you to do and give. You have encouraged us so much and strengthened us to be more like the Jesus we see in you!!!

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

Update 06/03/08

Dear Prayer Warriors,

WOW!!! Wowie Wow Wow!!! We had an incredible time with Justin'o family from Zábalo. They arrived at the school somewhat unannounced on Tuesday afternoon in the pouring rain. We had told them that they were always welcome if they ever came to Quito...so we welcomed them. You may have received our SOS via email and we thank you so much for your prayers. The follow is how their time progressed....

Wednesday: They spent most of the day observing Justino's day in school. Cindy toured them around the Alliance Academy on her break. By the time we got to the library on the third floor, they were quite overwhelmed. Not thinking, Cindy decided to take the elevator down to the main floor. She began to re-think this when she saw the look on Isalina's face as the door closed her into this small metal box and then heard her shriek when it started to move. They enjoyed a school cafeteria lunch. We were able to serve them typical Ecuadorian food for dinner. However, they are not typical Ecuadorians and even Ecuadorian food was new to them. Justino's sister enjoyed trying to use silverware, and was fascinated in how a salt shaker worked!! They retired early as it was quite a day for them.

Thursday: The morning was spent running a few errands with Doug for bullets, fabric, and a soccer ball. With traffic and the huge selections, it was another overwhelming experience. They joined Justino, Mishel, and Cindy for lunch. We tried an Ecuadorian restaurant and it went well. They found great laughter in watching the dogs play fetch. Thursday night was very special as Carlos asked to borrow our guitar. He spent the evening playing Cofán songs and the children were singing away which was actually practice for their desire to play for Justino's class. Isalina sat sewing on a traditional Cofán tunic (robe) for Justino.

Friday: The weather has been cool and rainy since their arrival and today the sun was shining! Justino, Mishel and Cindy walked to school. Their morning at school was spent cramming 3 subjects into one in order to make time for the Cofán Concert of Carlos and Justino. After the practice time on Thursday night, Cindy planned for an hour. They played 4 songs and were done in 15 minutes. So, we played some typical classroom games like Heads Up Seven Up and Kings & Queens. They enjoyed the entertainment until it was off to the cafeteria again for a hamburger lunch. Not one of their favorites. Our class was wrapping up an ocean unit with Finding Nemo. They stayed and watched the whole thing in English. Friday night we introduced them to Dominos. They loved it and kept wanting to play another round.

Saturday was spent running errands to get some clothes and mixing bowls. In Ecuador, they celebrate the Day of the Child and everything was incredible congested this day. The clothing store that we went to had balloons for the kids and free candy. Then the store dressed the kids up in clown suits and took a picture. Wow, what a souvenir to take back to the jungle. The family then spent time watching the escalators. What a thrill to be able to ride the escalator with them!! We then went out to lunch at KFC and off to a store to get mixing bowls. Well, mixing bowls turned into frying pan, plastic containers with lids, plastic pitchers, a dish strainer (Isalina saw how to use the dish strainer when she helped with the dishes), fishing line, hooks, and weights.

We really didn't do much, as everyday living seem to be quite entertaining and thought provoking. Cindy enjoyed having a little girl to paint nails with. We shared every meal together, held hands and thanked God for his provisions. The last evening, we asked Justino to pray and thank God for our meal. He was reluctant at first, but when his dad realized what we were asking, he encouraged him.

We really believe that this was a divine appointment and we relished in every minute of it. There is a very extreme communication gap with the language and culture. Smiles seem to fill the gap to some degree. It was nice to see Isalina smiling more and more everyday. We pray that through our service and hospitality, they saw Jesus!! Our prayers continue for a pastor to minister in Zábalo and lead them and many others to Christ.

We've included below a poem that we received earlier this week, and when we read it we thought of you. Thank you for traveling on your knees with us. We couldn't do this without you. Also this week, Cindy gave each student one of our new prayer cards and an Ecuadorian parent gave a donation to our ministry. With that donation, we were able to bless the Yiyoguaje family. Over and over again, we are reminded that we don't work alone. Thank you for your giving!!!! Thank you for allowing us to serve in Ecuador!!

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

TRAVELING ON MY KNEES
by Sandra Goodwin

Last night I took a journey
To a land across the seas.
I didn't go by ship or plane-
I traveled on my knees

I saw so many people there
In bondage to their sin,
And Jesus told me I should go,
That there were souls to win.

But I said, "Jesus, I can't go
To lands across the sea."
He answered quickly, "Yes, you can
By traveling on your knees."

He said, "You pray, I'll meet the need.
You call, and I will hear.
It's up to you to be concerned
For lost souls far and near."

And so I did, I knelt in prayer,
Gave up some hours of ease,
And with the Savior by my side
I traveled on my knees.

As I prayed on, I saw souls saved
And twisted persons healed.
I saw God's workers' strength renewed
While laboring in the field.

I said, "Yes, Lord, I'll take the job.
Your heart I want to please.
I'll heed Your call and swiftly go
By traveling on my knees."

Update 05/27/08

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Today after school, we were surprised to have a visit from Justino's family. They traveled two days from Zábalo (the jungle) to come and see us. This is the first time that Justino's mother has been to the city of Quito. Justino's dad has been here 3 times. They plan to stay until Sunday.

I don't have much time to write, but please pray for us as we try to bless them and make them feel comfortable. Please pray for their health as all the foods are quite new to them. I plan to take his little sister with me to school tomorrow. Doug will entertain the Mom and Dad. It's Tuesday and 2 for 1 pizza night, so we introduced them to pizza. They seem very content. It's very cold here in comparison to the jungle, so they are now snuggled up in blankets watching TV.

In the process of picking the family up from school, Doug was in a little fender bender with the whole jungle family in the car. Please lift this situation up for us. We will only have 3 weeks to deal with issues that may arise.

In the midst of all of this, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY THRILLED that they are here. It has touched our hearts so much.

We'll keep you updated on this interesting story.....

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

Update 05/25/08

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Thank you for your prayers as Cindy ministered to over 95 women at Iglesia Betel. Pastor Antonio was very complimentary and is already planning more events when we return in August. The ladies of Betel were greatly encouraged, and the ladies who were invited as part of an evangelistic outreach were presented the Gospel several times. Each went home with a Gospel of John and a challenge to take a step of faith and trust God to do the rest. We trust that God's word will not return void. This was also an incredible opportunity for Silvie. She has been in Cindy's bible study for over a year and half. This was her first time to minister in and through the church. Please pray that the Lord will continue to work in her life and give her more opportunities to utilize her gifts.

Cindy will finish her Bible study on Spiritual Gifts this week. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal the gifts that each of these women have been entrusted with, and that they will be given opportunities to use their gifts for the purposes that God sets forth in His word.

Jonathan's 6th grade class worked months to put on a 3 performance play of Pinocchio. They did a great job!! Jonathan will graduate from elementary school on June 5. Our 7th and 8th grade are considered secondary school although they are somewhat isolated from the high school students. However, this is a big celebration among the Ecuadorian population. Cindy is working hard to maintain balance and is very curious as to how they will decorate with the 1000 roses that have been donated.

We celebrated David's 16th birthday on May 16 (a golden celebration in Cindy's family). One of the advantages as parents living in Ecuador is that you can't drive until your 18 years old!!!!!

Believe it or not..almost 2 years later, Cindy has finally obtained her Ecuadorian drivers license. You might remember what an ordeal it was for Doug to get his license. Shortly after that the laws changed AGAIN!! Now everyone is required to pass a 9 session - 40 hour driver's education course offered only in Spanish along with eye tests, blood test, response tests, and of course a driving test. The instructor couldn't speak English, so he could only tell Cindy to turn right or left. Even though she passed the course, it seemed that they ran out of paper to print the certificates, causing a 3-4 week delay in taking my paperwork to the Tránsito (governmental drivers license bureau). Then there was such an influx of people taking their pile of paperwork to the Tránsito, that they started to run low on the official document paper to print the license on, which in turn caused preferential treatment. To make a long story short, it's all about who you know here in Ecuador and up in Heaven. Thank you so much for your prayers.

Doug just returned this evening after a whirlwind tour visiting 5 churches with Antonio. They met with the Pastor and his wife of Latacunga, attended a leadership meeting in Salcedo, and church services in Yatchil, La Lindera, and Píllaro. This was Doug's first time to visit Yatchil and La Lindera, both of which are much more remote and poverty levels are greater. The church in Yatchil (Nueva Vida en Jesús) began the construction of classrooms on the second floor 20 years ago, but was never able to finish them. They anticipate another $6500 will be required. Please pray that if it is the Lord's will, the needed funds and labor (a team) would be provided to complete this construction. (For a glimpse of additional photos of the church in Yatchil, click on the following link: Churches) Doug had the opportunity to share in both of these two churches, as well as in Píllaro where the Pastor asked the congregation to come forward so that Doug could pray for them. The Pastor for Píllaro is recovering from eye surgery, as a result of previous physical persecution including beatings to his head due to his beliefs and stance for Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for a complete healing of Pastor Juan Manuel, as he only has about 40% of his sight in his eye after surgery. For those of you that have been praying for him or have helped him financially with his medical bills, he is greatly appreciative. On another note, after these trips, Doug seems to have a bit of difficulty remembering to revert back to English when he speaks with his family.

This week in the Guesthouse, we have 3 guests arriving on Monday to stay with us for 5 days, and a family of 4 arriving on Friday for 9 days. Cindy and the boys will finish up their school year on June 12. Please continue to pray for the Alliance Academy. There are several positions that need to be filled, especially the one of elementary principal. In anticipation of the Chambers family returning, we are making preparations to move back into our apartment (a block away) on June 1 and head to the states on June 17 for our brief visit. In addition to moving this coming weekend, we have also been invited next Sunday to attend a Family Day of Celebration at Iglesia Bíblica Restauración in Latacunga, and are planning to host a Sunday evening Prayer Time with some of our Ecuadorian Pastors here in Quito. Not sure how we will balance all of that out. On June 2, Doug will head back to Riobamba (3 1/2 hours each way) for a special meeting at Iglesia Fuente de Vida.

We were greatly blessed when we received word that the boys were awarded scholarships to attend the first (3 week) term at Camp Highlands for Boys http://www.camphighlands.com/. Camp Highlands holds a special place in our hearts. Doug was a counselor there for several years and we spent 5 summer vacations as family campers (Cindy's prep school for the mission field). This in an incredible honor and privilege for our family. The Conforti campership was created after Tom Conforti, a co-counselor and good friend of Doug's, died suddenly. Thank you so much to the Conforti family and to Mike and Sharon for their consideration!!

Your continued prayers for health and safety are greatly appreciated. For without them, our updates could be so different!!

Blessings to You!

Doug & Cindy

Update 05/07/08

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Since our last update when we shared about Zábalo (the jungle), we need to briefly mention our Souvenir from the jungle. While we were in Zábalo, one of the families that we were visiting had baby parrots. Naturally, Jonathan was very interested in these parrots and liked the idea of bringing one home to Quito. After much persuasion, he talked Doug into inquiring if the owner would be interested in selling one of them and for how much. The owner said he was very interested in a trade. He was interested in trading one of the babies for a flashlight. Well, that seemed like a pretty good deal and we were set to make the trade during our final day before we left. Upon Doug's visiting with the Chief of Zábalo about this, he quickly informed Doug that our bus ride and multiple roadside checks would quickly eliminate our chances of ever getting this bird back to Quito. So, we disappointedly decided to just give away our 4 flashlights and forget about the bird. We were all disappointed, but understood that was best. Well, the following week, Cindy's student in school who is from Zábalo, informed her that the bird made the trip with them (a few days later) and they would be bringing it to school. Sure enough, the bird showed up at school, and we are now the proud owners of a Blue-Headed parrot name "Tufi" (his Cofán name). He is a fun and very friendly parrot with his own little personality. So, far the guests here seem to enjoy him as well.

Soon after our trip to Zábalo, we had a Intercessory Prayer team of nine members from the Ovid Community Church in Anderson, Indiana come to visit several of the churches located within the Central AIEE District. The goal of the Ovid team was to gather information so that they could pray about how to best form a long-term partner relationship with one or more Ecuadorian churches. Jerry Mattocks from Pennsylvania (who is our OMS Ecuador Prayer Champion) also came to be a part of the team. He served as an "embedded intercessor" whose primary role was to support the Ovid team in prayer as they visited churches, and met with pastors and their leadership. Doug, along with AIEE District Superintendent Antonio Zabala and the team, visited 9 churches from Ibarra in the North to Riobamba in the South. At each stop we heard from the pastor what his dreams and aspirations were for his congregation and how Ovid might participate in helping fulfill those visions. Of course, the first and primary request was for prayer support! Ovid is currently praying about working with 3 churches here within the Central District as well as helping to finance bible/seminary training scholarships for future church leaders and pastors. They also plan to bring another team here within 6 months. Please pray for Ovid as they seek the Lord's wisdom and guidance on how they can best serve the Lord here in Ecuador.

April was a bit slower in the Guesthouse after a very busy March. This was a good time to be slower as Doug and Jonathan both battled a bacterial infection with fever for 8 days. This month things have picked up a bit and we currently have a team from Pennsylvania staying here at the Guesthouse that is working with various churches, in various areas including puppets, music, evangelism, and shoe distribution. This team has many members that are repeat visitors to Ecuador, and they too, are also looking into how they can be more productive in reaching the lost here in Ecuador. In addition to running the Guesthouse, Doug plans to work in some additional church visits this month, as well as a Field Council meeting in Guayaquil and a Central District Church Committee meeting in Píllaro. We are still anticipating the Chambers to return to Quito in June, and resume the responsibilities of running the Guesthouse. They currently have two additional meetings and a mission conference in Waco, TX scheduled to help them complete their fundraising requirements. Please pray that the Chambers will be able to complete their fund raising requirements and will be able to return prior to our leaving.

Cindy is busy preparing for May 18, in which she will be sharing her testimony and encouragement as part of a women's outreach evangelistic campaign at Iglesia Betel. Her friend Silvie from school will be translating for her. As part of an Ecuadorian custom, when you are asked to be the key speaker of a program, along with that comes the responsibilities of providing all of the refreshments and decorations for the event. Please pray for Cindy as she prepares what she will be sharing, and for the hearts of those women attending to be open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jonathan will be graduating from 6th grade this year, as they prepare to move into the Middle School, and Cindy has been very busy as the committee leader for the 6th grade graduation services to be held at the Alliance Academy. Please pray for the professional needs at the Alliance Academy, especially the need for an elementary principal.

David finished his Varsity year of basketball on a good note, when their team won their final tournament. During the recent winter sports awards banquet, David received the "Most Hustle" award for Varsity Basketball. His coach, who has been there for 18 years (and this is his last year as coach), publically said that he thought if David kept working at it, he just might be the best defensive player Alliance Academy has ever seen. Sounds like a good goal.

We are still scheduled to make a brief visit to Illinois on June 17 prior to our four weeks of additional intensive language training in Costa Rica. David & Jonathan will be staying with their Grandparents in Gibson City during most of this time. Also during this time, David is seeking summer employment. When asked what type of employment he might be interested in, his reply was "anything that pays". If you have any needs in hiring an athletic 16 yr. old boy (without a Driver's License) in the Gibson City area, or know of anyone that may be in need of his assistance, would you please let us know? He will be available to work from June 23 through August 1. We are looking forward to seeing and visiting with many of you when we return.

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

Update 03/29/08 - Back from the Jungle

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. 3 John 1:5

It was only five days, but it will take us days, months and years to tell the stories, ponder the events, and understand God's purpose in all that we experienced as well as every adjective in our vocabulary. WET, HOT, HUMID, ITCHY, JOYFUL, HARD, DISCOURAGED, BUGGY, WET, BEAUTIFUL, HOT, UNCOMFORTABLE, MEANINGFUL, WET, etc.

Our trip began with a 7 1/2 hour all night bus trip (due to a change in plans), followed by a 7 1/2 hour (113 winding miles) motorized canoe trip down the Aguarico river. About half way, it started to rain (rainforest style) a wall of water for about 4 hours. Ponchos didn't cut it - we were soaked from head to toe. On several occasions, we had to use Jonathan's shoes to bail the canoe. We were all miserable to say the least, but our thoughts on this Good Friday turned to remembering all the miserable things our Lord went through for us and amazingly our misery seem to disappear quite quickly.

Saturday was an unplanned day as well. Unbeknownst to us, it was "Save the Turtle Day". The Cofán people have a project of replenishing the river turtle population. They raise turtles until a year old and then release them into the rainforest waters. We were part of releasing the turtles. We also spent the afternoon getting to know the kids and playing with them.

Easter Sunday was special as we were able to participate in a Cofán Easter service. We didn't understand a word of it (in the Cofán language), but what a joy to know that we will see these brothers and sisters again in heaven. Cindy brought the Resurrection Eggs and held a small children's service. Her student, Justino, translated as each child opened an egg that shared the Easter story. Justino was amazing. Cindy then shared the salvation message and asked if anyone would like to pray and ask Jesus into their hearts. Three children prayed and accepted Christ as their personal savior. Justino again translated through our prayers. We were able to pray for each child that came to the service and trust God with the rest. Please rejoice with us over Tokino, Machele, and Diko. This community would benefit greatly if they had a pastor for their church. Please pray that God would raise up spiritual leaders in this community.

Sunday afternoon was a beautiful day for a canoe ride down the Zábalo river (a small tributary to the larger Aguarico river) where the plan was to do some Piranha fishing after a picnic lunch in the rainforest. However, about 1 hour into the river ride, the rains came again. We got to feel the effect without ponchos. We did get to fish a little later on the way back to Zábalo, but no Piranha.

Monday was our 3 hour trek through the rainforest escorted by Justino's Dad. Okay, now we can say we did it and don't have plans to ever do that again!!! The incredible wall of water rains came again in the afternoon and we were able to rest. Although we weren't completely dried out from the day before.

Tuesday was a special day for the Cofán people as they celebrated a juice festival. All the Cofán ladies worked hard to make this "chunky" juice and brought their kettles to the center of the village. Doug, sporting his homemade beaded necklace received as a gift, was the first to receive the BOWL of special juice with specific instructions from the Chief on how to drink it: begin drinking and don't stop until it's gone, hand the bowl back to the server and say, "Bwau" and don't wipe any of the juice from your face. He was impressive!!! We spent the afternoon trying to stay cool and bug free - IMPOSSIBLE!!!

We packed up on Wednesday morning to begin our 17 hour trip home. It's only 200 miles away. Our 8 hour canoe ride upstream with no rain was an answered prayer. We all arrived home sunburned and appeared that we had been relaxing on a bug-infested beach all week.

Upon some reflection of this trip, we have many different feelings as it was made for many different reasons: to support a student, to see the rainforest up close and personal after studying it in first grade for many years, to somehow be a blessing to the Cofán people, family vacation, and as always... to glorify Jesus in all that we do. Together as a family, we have all reminisced in how we would love to bring home some of the children and older kids. They have so little, and we loved them so much. We come home with many questions as to why God allowed us to be a part of this group of strangers for a brief moment. We trust that He will teach us much in the days ahead from this trip. We continue to rely on Him for our continued "professional" development. We definitely need it!

Cindy was back to educational seminars Thursday morning; Doug flew to Cuenca today for Field Committee meeting and a meeting with the AIEE church association; We have the Indiana prayer group of 10 arriving on Saturday night. Our agenda is as follows:

• Saturday - Preparations and evening arrival
• Sunday - Church service at Iglesia Betel, Meet with leaders, and visit Iglesia Jesus Rey de Reyes church
• Monday - Travel to visit Iglesia Jesucristo El Salvador in Ibarra
• Tuesday - Travel south to visit Iglesia Bíblica Restauración in Latacunga, Iglesia Jesus de Nazareth in Salcedo, Iglesia Filadelfia in Píllaro, and Iglesia Fuente de Vida in Riobamba
• Wednesday - Sites of Quito
• Thursday - Panecillo to pray for the city, and Alliance Academy to pray for the school, Debrief and Depart

Please pray for this team, our travels, and for Doug as he leads this team.

Thank you for standing with us during our "vacation" time. Your faithful prayers for health and safety are evident and we can praise the Lord for our safe and healthy time in Zábalo and our safe return (we will continue to take our Malaria medicine).

For photos of our time in Zábalo, click here: Jungle

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

Update 03/19/08 - Off to the Jungle

Dear Prayer Warriors,

“It is true! The Lord has risen…..” Luke 24:34

What a wonderful reminder, as we celebrate this Easter Sunday, remembering the gift of LOVE we have because He laid down His life for us, and for the gift of HOPE we have because of His resurrection. We celebrate You, JESUS, with hearts full of praise and gratitude for who You are and all You’ve done for us!

Since our last update on Feb 25th we have been busy keeping up with guests here at the Guesthouse, including the 178 individual beds that were utilized. The groups have been very diverse, ranging from medical teams, work teams, and a movie production crew here to do a promotional for a local mission group. Also during this time, our guests included 3 different individuals from South Africa, all which came at different times, and each not knowing the others. This past weekend, we said goodbye to group from Aldersgate United Methodist Church of Greenville, SC, who were here working with Mission Society. They were a blessing to us, and a fun group to visit with during their stay. We still have another group of 5 here that leaves tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow (Thursday) night, our family will be heading to Zábalo, which is an 8-hour bus ride EAST from here, then a 6-hour ride in a motorized canoe deep into the jungle near the Peru/ Columbia/ Ecuador boarder. We will be visiting and staying with the Cofán Indian tribe where one of Cindy's student's parents live. We have purchased kettles, plates, silverware, dry goods, and toys to give away while we are there, and we will also be celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary and Easter Sunday in the jungle. We have been told that “this village does not have a resident pastor, but there is a group of Christians in the village, but there is very little leadership, so the church operates by jumps and starts.” We are praying that we will have the opportunity to participate in some form of Easter Sunday (Semana Santa) church service, to share the true reason of this special day. Please pray that the Lord will open opportunities for us to minister to this village, and that everything we do and say would be pleasing to Him.

On the 27th Cindy returns to school for teacher in-service, and Doug flies to Cuenca on the 28th to meet with our OMS Field Committee and our AIEE national church association. Then, on the 29th, (as we shared in our last update) we have an Intercessory Prayer Team of 10 arriving (nine members from Anderson, Indiana, along with our OMS Ecuador Prayer Champion – Jerry Mattocks from Pennsylvania). Doug and our AIEE church association’s national central district Superintendent will be taking them to visit 7 of our OMS-affiliated churches. The team from Indiana has the desire, and is praying about building long-term relationships with one or two Ecuadorian churches, along with the plans to make multiple return trips per year. Please pray for this team of 10 individuals as they prepare to come, and for discernment in how the Lord is leading them.

One final thing to note is that the OMS Ecuador Blog is now up and running. This is a site where you’ll find postings from OMS Missionaries and National workers in Ecuador. You can also access the weekly Ecuador Prayer Digest and periodic prayer letters and updates from the field. The goal of the blog is to provide resources to help you pray strategically for the proclamation of the gospel in the country of Ecuador.

We pray you have a wonderful Easter Weekend!

Easter Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

Oops... I have been telling everyone that Zábalo is west of here. It is East, not west. Sorry, I am still directionally challenged living south of the Equator.

Immediate needs for those affected by floods

Dear Prayer Warriors:

The worst flooding in more than 20 years has affected 14 out of the 23 provinces of Ecuador. On January 31 the Government declared the emergency situation for 9 provinces; on February 20, Ecuador’s President, Rafael Correa, declared a state of emergency, facilitating the army to intervene. Here are some quick facts about the flooding:

• To date, the Government has officially declared that the death toll has risen to 23 persons due to the floods. 5 of them are children under 18, 2 children are under the age of 1
  
• The country has suffered heavy damages in the productive area (nearly 300,000 acres have been affected and US$ 82 million were lost in crops), and in their infrastructure
  
• Recovery expected to cost $1 billion
  
• The total population affected by the floods is around 3.5 million which represents 27% of the total population
  
• 315,000 persons have been directly affected, and 16,000 persons have been displaced to shelters
  
• Among the displaced are 8,000 children and adolescents who are at risk of exposure to diseases, abuse or exploitation, and have limited access to food, safe drinking water, and essential medicines

The effects of the rains include; overflowing rivers, submerged crops, destruction of fields and houses, displacements, and starvation of animals. Schools and churches are being used as temporary shelters. There is a high risk of an outbreak of diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, diarrhea, respiratory infections, skin diseases, leptospirosis, and snake bites.

It is believed that the situation will get worse before it gets better. Ecuador is still in the middle of the rainy season which can last up to April. The rains continue to fall, and waters are rising as much as 7 to 8 inches a day.

We have had OMS Missionaries travel through this area, and many houses are isolated with families having to get around by dugout. Many, possibly hundreds of people are seen along the road looking for handouts to buy water, food, and clothes. This is also an area where we have several churches, and OMS has a project set-up to help with this effort. Please pray for those that have been affected by these devistating rains.

The OMS-affiliated church association (AIEE) will be sending out supplies later this month. If you would like to help with this desperate need, you may send your donations to:

. . . . OMS International, Inc.,
. . . . P.O. Box 1648
. . . . Monument, CO 80132-1648

Please indicate you wish to donate to project "Ecuador Flood Relief" ECD #402070

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

Update 02/25/08

Dear Prayer Warriors,

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thes. 5:11

Thank you for your prayers & support since our last update. Your prayers have been evident, are greatly appreciated, and are a true encouragement to us. During the past couple of weeks, we have been repeatedly reminded of Apostle Paul's words to the Thessalonians in this verse.

Last month, we had a good and productive time during our OMS Ecuador Field Council Meetings here at the Guesthouse, which included up to 30 people. Doug had a good trip to the coast in Manta, attending the annual AIEE Asamblea (church association meetings) along with national pastors. This gave him the opportunity to hear how the Lord is working throughout nearly 100 OMS affiliated churches within Ecuador, and provided him with additional time to visit with some of the central district Pastors that he works with.

This month, Doug has been busy in his role as Liaison, traveling to various churches within his district, including those located in Quito, Salcedo, Riobamba, Latacunga, Píllaro, and Galpón. During these visits, Doug has encouraged the Pastors and leaders of the churches, and shared how important their role is and how great a responsibility they have in leading their church into the future. Unfortunately within the central district, one church has had to close it's doors due to an increase in rent, and another one is praying about what to do, as their enrollment has continued to drop. Please pray for the future of the pastors, leaders, and members of the churches of: Jesucristo Es La Respuesta (Jesus is the Answer) and El Poder de Dios (The Power of God). For a glimpse of these churches and some of the others that Doug works with, click on the following link: http://tank87.sharpcast.com/albums/image/25857_111054969376501

We have had a couple of slower weeks here at the OMS Guesthouse, however between now and the end of May, we anticipate around 575 people that will be staying with us. Please pray for the strength that we will need to keep up with the excited and energetic guests that arrive, and that the Chambers will be able to generate their needed financial support and can return in June to resume their ministry of running the Guesthouse.

We are excited to share that Doug and Pastor Antonio have been preparing for an Intercessory Prayer and Exploration short-term team from Indiana that is arriving on March 29th. This church feels that God is leading their church to develop a long-lasting relationship with one or more of the existing churches here in Ecuador, along with the idea of sending multiple short-term teams back to these churches each year. During their initial time here, we plan to take them to visit 7 to 9 churches located between Ibarra and Riobamba, so that they can meet the pastors, see the churches, determine their needs and prayer concerns, as well as have a time to pray for them. Please pray for this team of 8 or 9 individuals as they prepare to come, and for discernment in how the Lord is leading them as a church. We look forward to sharing the experience of this team with you in future updates, and pray your church might also be praying about partnering with one or more of our existing churches here in Ecuador.

On March 21, our family will travel deep into the jungle to visit the home and family of one of Cindy's students. This will include a 6+ hour drive, followed by a 6+ hour ride down a river in a motorized canoe (no roads into the village) to Zábalo. During our time there, we hope to be an encouragement to the family, to be a "bridge"

between these two completely different worlds, and participate in an Easter Sunday church service. Of course Jonathan is excited about the opportunity to go fishing for Piranha. Check out the Cofán Indian website at: http://www.cofan.org/. Please pray that the Lord will open our eyes & hearts on how to best serve this family and village.

This week, Cindy will wrap up her teaching on the Book of Romans to the group of Ecuadorian women. She is planning to begin a 6 week study on spiritual gifts and working to identify the gifts that each of these women have been given. The Lord has blessed their time together each week and has provided encouragement to all of them.

We also want to thank you for your prayers, as Doug seems to have overcome his stomach/intestinal issues, and Cindy's blood pressure levels seem to be remaining normal (with the assistance of daily medicine). David's back pain continues to flare up, and he is currently battling a severe cold. Please pray for him and that we too would not catch his cold.

Please pray for the people of Ecuador as they have been devastated with the effects of torrential rains and flooding, and Ecuador has been declared a National State of Emergency. The rainfall has ruined coffee, rice, cocoa, and banana crops, flooded hospitals and destroyed roads and bridges on the coast and in the Andean highlands. Once the water recedes, health officials say the risk of infectious disease will rise.

Just as a final note: We have been so busy that we have been unable to sit-down together and write up what has been happening. We often have thoughts to share but save them for our monthly update, and by then we have forgotten them. Therefore, we plan to begin updating our Blog much more frequently than sending out updates. So, please check our Blog site frequently.

We can encourage because we have been encouraged!! Thank you for your all you are doing for this ministry.

Blessings to You!
Doug & Cindy

Update 01/13/08

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Happy New Year - 2008
Isaiah 40:12-31 describes our amazing God!!

Thank you for all the Christmas cards, letters, pictures and the many gifts to our ministry as well as the gifts to us personally. We are so grateful for your continued support to us. We were especially blessed with a visit from Doug's mom. Thank you for your prayers on her behalf. She remained healthy throughout her visit and arrived home safely on Jan.8th.

On January 8th, Cindy began teaching the Book of Romans to the group of Ecuadorian women. Please pray specifically for these women: Sylvie, Libby, Lorena, Bernarda, Daniella. Pray for Cindy as she teaches on Wednesdays. After a lengthy discussion on God's grace, Cindy was able to share a testimony of His amazing grace on us that week. When we examined our support account, we noticed a large donation by someone we didn't know. We called them to correct what we thought to be a mistake. However, this couple assured us that it was no mistake. We then began to panic that we should know them from somewhere and forgot. They assured us that we didn't know them and they didn't know us. They went on to say that they wanted to give a donation and asked OMS for some names of people. After praying, the Lord led them to give on our behalf. GRACE!! Nothing we do....ONLY AN UNDESERVING GIFT FROM GOD!

Beginning Tuesday of this week through Saturday, we will be hosting the OMS Ecuador Field Council Meetings here at the Guesthouse. As Chairperson, Doug has the responsibility of coordinating and leading the meetings, while we will also be running the Guesthouse (for 30 people). We are also in charge of lining up a cook for lunches and suppers, as well as purchasing all of the food ahead of time (we will be cooking and serving all of the breakfasts). Please pray for our fellow missionaries traveling to Quito. Pray for wisdom and discernment during our meetings. It's a wonderful time to reflect on all that God has done as well as eagerly anticipating all that God will do!!

Next week, Doug will be attending the annual 4 day AIEE Asamblea (church association meeting) in Manta (12 hrs away via bus) along with OMS affiliated pastors. Please pray for his travels, ability to comprehend Spanish, and for continuing to build relationships with the national Pastors.

We have some health concerns and ask for your prayer support. Doug has been battling stomach/intestinal issues for the past 3 weeks, Cindy is struggling with high blood pressure (could be altitude related) and the doctor has put her on daily medication. David's back pain also continues to flare up.

May 2008 be filled with God's Amazing Grace!

Blessings (& Grace) to You!
Doug & Cindy