We returned
from our e-3 mission trip to Ecuador a few weeks ago. We flew into Quito and
the next day a bus took about 30 of us southeast through the Andes Mtns to
Puyo. That was our “home base” for the week. We met our translators and
eventually our “sponsor-Pastors.” Tony
and I had a slightly different week than the other groups (of course!).
On our
1st day in the field we took local busses back up into the Andes to
a town called Rio Verde. There we were to evangelize in “town” and teach a
small church in an effort to strengthen the community. It was a very rainy
day…but glorious! We led many a shop keeper to our Lord! One shop was kept by a
12 yr old boy with his baby sister in his arms and his 4 yr old brother! We talked,
shared candy and best of all—both boys accepted Christ AND learned how to use
the Evangicube! I gave them paper cubes to use to share with their friends! We
walked up into the mountain and spoke to a few families. One man met a friend
of his he had been praying for. And guess what! Yeah—we talked, the Spirit led
and he accepted Christ! I must slide this in---we ate fresh roasted trout for
lunch! Yum! Just when we thought the day was over, our pastor pulls out the
cube and continues our evangelism at the bus stop! Cool!
The next day
we took busses back up into the mountains to an abandoned tea plantation where
we held a Sunday service for the laid-off workers. They were “living” on and
around the plantation for the last 12 yrs waiting on the government to figure
out who owned the place so they could go back to work! For 12 yrs they watched
the tea grow but were not allowed to harvest it! In the meantime—they are
unpaid! Boy did we see many machetes that day! Of course before and after the
service we shared the Gospel with families and of course the Spirit again took
many a heart!
After the
morning there we finally went to the area of Puyo where we were to plant a
house church! We walked and prayed on the streets that afternoon and made our
plans for the next few days.
For the next
3 days we walked and shared. We held our 1st home church
discipleship on the 2nd and
3rd days, in the late afternoon. Most of the adults who were led to Christ did
not come due to their work schedules but we had a lot of children! We all know
that where the children are, eventually the parents will come. Our “nationals”
will continue to walk and share and disciple those who accepted Christ on a
one-to-one basis.
During those
days in the community it was amazing! The ground is so fertile in this area!
Many said they were finally filled with the Spirit they had been looking for
many years! Many were confused and needed a better understanding of their
Savior! I will never forget the faces
and countenance of their whole beings change as the Savior just filled them!!!! We always went back every day to those newly
devoted to disciple and answer questions. To watch that garden bloom was so
awesome! One day as we were walking back to the house for lunch, we noticed one
of the newly devoted sitting atop his wood working bench reading his new Bible!
His boss had told us that he (a now re-dedicated Christian) would help disciple
this young man and they would work together to understand more of the word!
Tony and I
would have liked to stay a few more days (weeks…years) to continue, but we left
a very strong and well developed team behind to continue. We left all our
materials that we took for them. And of course, once again, we left part of our
hearts in that little town of Puyo!
Fortunately
our time was not over in Ecuador. Our group headed back to Quito and on to the
airport, but Tony and I stayed in Quito. We had a very important date planned
for Monday! We rested, did some touring and Monday came. A van picked is up
early and now we (along with our translator) headed north into the higher Andes
toward Columbia. We were on our way to
meet Martha and Carlos the children we have sponsored for 10 yrs through
Compassion! They were at the meeting
spot 2 hrs early! What a union! Martha brought her dad and Carlos brought his
dad and younger sister. Their Compassion leader also met us there. We took them
to a lake (which they had never seen one) hoping to take a boat out but it was
too stormy. You know Tony was very relieved! So we walked around the area
getting to know one another, and then went to lunch, which also excited them!
Carlos had his favorite-chicken wings and Martha had her favorite-pork chops.
Back into the van and off to a nearby market. They both chose a new scarf from
a vender for their gift.
Onto their
village and the Compassion Project area! We drove for another hour up into the
very highlands! Can you say “altitude sickness”? It was well worth it. They
graciously took us into their homes and we met the rest of their families, gave
them special gifts from the U.S., and on to the Project buildings. We spent
time with 90 of the 180 Compassion
children and 5 staff. What a treat! They asked us all kinds of questions about
the U.S. and personally. They had no idea what our football or baseball was. They
had no tv, books, etc. One child had a warm hat with Winnie the Pooh on the
front. When I took notice and remarked on him and Tigger, not one of the
children knew who I was talking about! My cousin was good enough to send along
some children’s books written in Spanish which looked to me like their 1st
story books! What they do have a lot of in this Ketchawan village is God, love,
compassion, family and all that matters. Another
blessed life changing experience for each of us! On a side note—only 1/3 of
the children involved in this Compassion Project are sponsored. If God puts it
on your heart, please sponsor a child. They have sponsorship programs for
expectant mothers which teach necessary skills, includes all baby check-ups and
shots, etc. There are also children of all ages to sponsor, including college
bound (if possible).
Please look
at our pics on Facebook! And pray for continued discipleship and open hearts in
Puyo! Don’t forget the children and staff at the Compassion Project!
