Some pictures of the kids
We are a happy family of five and as we have been spending a lot of time with the children as we are adjusting to having Ephraim with us, we have been taking some photos along the way. We just thought we would share so you can enjoy!
Simeon’s first day of Kindergarten!
Categories: Ephraim, Esther, Family Fun, Simeon
Tags: Ephraim, Esther, Family Fun, Simeon
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The Power of Prayer
On September 1st, we received this email from Sharon Martin, a friend who, with her husband, Frank provide pastoral care and prayer support for missionaries:
On Wednesday, August 26, Frank and I left the office at 3:30 pm, an hour early. He had to speak at Brookhaven Wesleyan that evening, so wanted a little time to go over his notes. I decided to use the time to walk on the treadmill before preparing supper. When I walk, I always begin by talking to the Lord and thanking Him for the day. As I was walking, about 4:15 or 4:30, the Lord clearly spoke to my heart and said,” Pray for Kim and the safe delivery of their baby.” I immediately did that. However, I thought to myself but I just saw Noritta today at the office and she said that Kim would have a C-section on Labor Day. God,is there an urgency??
After we arrived home that night, it was time for Frank and I to have our prayer time together before going to bed. I always check FB for any updated prayer needs before we pray. My heart was overwhelmed when I read what Joel had posted about the early arrival of Ephraim. I told Frank that we sure serve a mighty God who can change our schedule and get us to pray even when we don’t know why.
Just wanted you both to know how much God loves you and your precious family. So thankful for your obedient hearts to serve Him. We are privileged to be on your prayer team.
May God bless you all and keep your hearts encouraged. Jeremiah 29:11
Love and prayers,
Sharon
We were able to share with Sharon after receiving this email that it was during that time (4:15 – 4:30) on that day that we went through a 5 minute period in which Ephraim’s heartbeat couldn’t be found and why Kim was rushed into surgery for the C-Section. It was an incredibly difficult time for us as Joel was rushing around trying to take care of the details of the care for our other two children as well clothes for our hospital stay. We don’t know if God called our friend Sharon to pray to keep Ephraim safe during that time or possibly just for us as we were having such a hard time but either way it is amazing to see how God so wants His children to commune with Him and petition for those in need. We serve a great and mighty God!
Categories: Ephraim, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Reflections, Updates
Tags: Answered prayers, Ephraim, Prayer Requests, Reflections
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Muchas Gracias!!!
Well, we were released from the hospital yesterday (Saturday, the 29th) and it was a shock to be at home and now be a family of 5! We are so happy of course but it will take some time to adjust. Thankfully our transition was made much easier because we have some wonderful and loving missionary friends who filled our refrigerator and freezer full of meals for what is easily the next week. Thank you to Mandy and Ricardo Hjelm-Suarez and Erik and Kristina Amundsen as they went out of our their way to bless us in this time of great blessing!!
Categories: Ephraim, Updates
Tags: Answered prayers, Ecuador, Ephraim, Family Fun, Friends, Updates
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A Surprise Arrival!
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
Psalm 145
Weighing 4 lbs 11 ounces with a length of 18 inches, Ephraim Benjamin Delp was born on Wednesday, August 26th at 5:05 p.m. Since he was born a little early, the doctors are monitoring him closely but all signs are good at this point. We can’t thank you enough for your prayers during this trying day. We praise God for his goodness to us and Ephraim!
Ephraim was born at 37 weeks gestation but only had the measurements of a baby of around 35 weeks. Our day started with a typical weekly prenatal checkup in the morning at 9:30 to see how Kim and baby #3 were doing. Simeon stayed with mom for the appointment (he likes to listen to the baby’s heartbeat) while Joel and Esther dropped them off and went off to run errands. We didn’t have any reason for concern so Joel went to get some stuff accomplished while they were in the appointment. Unfortunately, we quickly learned there were reasons for concern as the fetal monitor non-stress test showed that the baby’s heartbeat was low. The doctor was concerned about this so he wanted Kim to get an ultrasound. The ultrasound unfortunately provided inconclusive results, so the doctor asked that she be admitted to the hospital so that way a stress test could be performed. The stress test is one where they gave Kim pitocin to give the baby a little bit of encouragement to see how he would react. The results of this test showed the placenta was not functioning fully so an emergency C-Section was immediately scheduled to get the baby out as soon as possible. Throughout this whole process, Joel and Kim were basically separated as Joel was rushing around getting the kids with friends to help and packing bags for them and Kim and he for the hospital stay. He ended up getting back to the hospital 30 mins before the surgery and first saw Kim after a 5 hour period as she was on the table being opened up. And also during that 5 hour period, there was a 5 minute period in which Ephraim’s heartbeat could not be found. Safe to say in was an incredibly stressful and trying day. Joel had updated a lot of you who are on Facebook with Facebook posts and we felt your love, support and prayers throughout the day. Thank you so much!!!
In the end, God provided us another beautiful child. Though he is very small (considered to be slightly premature), he is doing very well and is actually eating from Kim even better than what our other two kids were at this point. Praise be to God!
Here are some pictures over the first few days:
Categories: Ephraim, Esther, Family Fun, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Reflections, Simeon, Updates
Tags: Answered prayers, Ecuador, Ephraim, Esther, Family Fun, Prayer Requests, Simeon, Updates
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Cotopaxi awakens!
Recently, a sleeping giant very close to home awoke and has been making quite a fuss.
Bursts of ash spew from the snow-encircled crater of the Volcano Cotopaxi and fall in gusts on this village where the locals struggle to herd sheep and cattle to safety.
Capped by glaciers, the 19,350-foot volcano is one of the world’s most feared due to its location just 30 miles from Quito, though it is south of the city and we are way on the north side so it more thank likely not affect us personally.
Although officials say there currently is no such risk, a major eruption could hurl rock and mudflows into zones that are home to more than 300,000 people. The government has set a yellow precautionary alert, the lowest of three levels.
Plenty of Ecuadoreans have been on edge since Cotopaxi began belching ash a week ago in columns more than 2 miles high, prompting President Rafael Correa to declare a state of emergency.
Even more recently, explosions inside the volcano caused by magma meeting water sent a cloud of steam and ash more than a half mile above its rim.
Categories: Prayer Requests, Updates
Tags: Cotopaxi, Ecuador, Prayer Requests, Updates
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A new look!
How do you like the new look of our van??? We finally we’re able to get it in for the repairs from the accident and just got it back a few days ago. Safe to say it’s as good as new and we got our new license plates put on so we are very happy with how everything turned out. Also, just so you know, the driver of the other vehicle who hit me was very compliant and nice throughout the process and did everything that was needed including paying the deductible for the repair. We thank God for that because the whole process could have been much more difficult if that was not the case.
Welcome Amundsens!!!
This past week we welcomed Erik and Kristina Amundsen to the Ecuador field as they arrived this past Monday and will be serving a two-year term as ECC Short-Term Missionaries. They will be serving mainly with FACE as Erik hopes to be involved in agriculture projects, but they will eventually get involved in various aspects. Right now, their only task is to get adjusted to life in Ecuador. It takes a lot to get used to a new way of life and culture so please be praying for them and their adjustments in these coming months.
Erik and Kristina’s arrival at the airport.
A prayer of reception by the leaders of IPEE at our national leadership summit.
Categories: Ministry, Prayer, Updates
Tags: Churches, Evangelical Covenant Church, Ministry, Prayer Requests, Updates
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Please pray for Patricio
This week during our Medical Caravan in Zuleta we had the opportunity to see a patient that we have been trying to get in contact with. His name is Patricio and he is from the Kichwa community of Cashaloma. Joel had found out about his medical condition while he was visiting Cashaloma with the Vision Team from Dassel, Minnesota. Since we were holding the caravan in Zuleta, Joel drove to Cashaloma to try to find him but unfortunately he was not there though his mother was. They didn’t have a way to get a hold of him by cell phone though his mother knew where he was, so Joel took his mother with him to go find him. Once they arrived to where his mother thought he was (over 45 mins away), they unfortunately found out he wasn’t there either. However, the family members who were there did know how to get a hold of him by cell phone and they were able to arrange to have him come to the medical caravan the next day.
Kim was able to see him the next day and though she doesn’t specialize in what he is needing (a throat specialist), she was able to give him some medicine and some advice as how to proceed with treatment and she gave him her phone number so she can help him with follow-up and help along the way.
Please continue to pray for Patricio that he will be healed completely.
Categories: 501c3, Ministry, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Reflections, Updates
Tags: Ecuador, Ministry, Prayer Requests, The Santiago Partnership, Updates
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Women’s Health A Focus This Week
This week we conducted a Women’s Health Medical Caravan in the communities of Zuleta and Cayambe as we had the blessing of a visiting Medical Team from the area of Chicago. Over 100 patients received an exam over a 4 day period. Many thanks to all of those involved!
Categories: 501c3, Cayambe, Clinic, Construction, Ministry, Travel, Updates
Tags: 501c3, Cayambe, Churches, Ecuador, Evangelical Covenant Church, FACE, Ministry, Prayer Requests, The Santiago Partnership, Travel, Trips, Updates, Zuleta
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The Santiago Partnership