Update

Ruth and Earl holding Simeon as a newborn.

First of all, we wanted to update you all on how the meeting went on Friday.  Safe to say it went not as well as we would have liked.  It looks like there will be a lot for us to work through as far as the government is concerned.  It seems as though they are currently going through an evaluation process where they are evaluating all of the current centers for at risk children to see what all they currently have exactly (I guess because they do not know) and then trying to determine what the additional needs are.  While they are going through this process, they are not approving any additional centers.  More than likely, this process will extend through the end of this year.

In the big scheme of things, this is fine because we will not be pursuing what we want to do until 2014 so there is much time to for the government to get things figured out.  And we have seen the need.  We have visited many areas where there is a high need for additional services for children, so we have confidence that they will be approving such ministries again in the future.  But at the same time, this kind news throws one back a bit and causes one to pause and reflect.  In the end, our confidence lies in our Lord Jesus Christ and we know that he is in control and knows what he has plans for in the future.

On a completely other note, Joel’s family is coming!!!  Joel’s parents, Ruth and Earl, his brother and his family (wife and two daughters) and Joel’s sister and one of her daughters are all coming to visit.  This is because Joel’s parents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and they wanted to have the whole family together for this time.  We are extremely excited as none of Joel’s family has been able to come to Ecuador yet so we are so excited to show them our home here in Ecuador.