Sabbath Retreat
Categories: Ministry, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Reflections, Travel, Updates
Tags: Answered prayers, Evangelical Covenant Church, Family Fun, Ministry, Prayer Requests, Travel, Trips, Updates
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Thank you ladies!
A big thank you to Women’s Ministries of First Covenant Church of River Falls, WI for the hand made curtains for the Medical Clinic. As we are about to open the clinic, they come at the perfect timing. Thank you so, so much!
Categories: Uncategorized
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Successful day for Ephraim
It was a successful day for Ephraim. Today we were successful in obtaining Ephraim’s Cedula (Ecuadorian Identification Card) and his Ecuadorian passport. Yeah… Ephraim!!! Now, onto his U.S. documents and he will be officially a dual-citizen just like his sister.
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Smoking Cotopaxi
The Volcano Cotopaxi remains active in south Quito. This morning on the way taking Simeon to school this was the view we had.
Categories: Prayer, Prayer Requests, Updates
Tags: Ecuador, Ecuador Info, Prayer Requests, Updates
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Sabbath Retreat
On Friday Joel will be leaving for a Sabbath Retreat so he can continue on his goal to reduce the stress and overall workload in his life. You can read about when he last talked about this and his beard here: http://blogs.covchurch.org/delp/?p=3356
Here is the explanation of what a Sabbath Retreat is:
Sabbath retreats are an opportunity for Covenant pastors, missionaries, and chaplains, offering the chance to revisit the practice of holy rest. Over the course of two-and-a-half days, participants will find the space to pause in the presence of God, moving through the Sabbath rhythms of relinquishing, receiving, and resting.
For me, I feel as though this re-commitment to a healthier me needs to start with God, reconnecting with Him in a new way and rededicating myself to the ritual of Holy Rest. Please pray for me that this retreat is successful to this end and God works in a mighty way in my life.
Please also pray for Kim and the kids as I will be gone almost 6 days with all of the travel time needed for this retreat. Thankfully, Kim’s mom Noritta and Aunt Donna will be here to help with the kids. However, we have been going through an incredibly busy time since Ephraim was born so I feel like I am leaving her during a tough time. I trust that God is leading this process and will care for her and the kids will I am gone, especially through the assistance of family. Please pray!
Categories: Ministry, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Reflections, Travel, Updates
Tags: Answered prayers, Evangelical Covenant Church, Ministry, Prayer Requests, Reflections, Travel, Trips, Updates
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Minga, minga, minga!
We love whom we serve alongside! Yesterday, we held a minga (community volunteerism event) with the churches from the Kichwa Conference and the Central Conference (Quito area) of Covenant churches and over 30 good folks came out to help plant potatoes and continue the construction of the home. It was quite a site and such a tremendous blessing to have their partnership in ministry!
Categories: 501c3, Cayambe, Construction, Home, Ministry, Updates
Tags: 501c3, Cayambe, Ecuador, Evangelical Covenant Church, FACE, Ministry, The Santiago Partnership, Updates
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Welcome family!
This past Tuesday, Kim’s mom Noritta and Aunt Donna arrived to help out with us with Ephraim’s recent arrival. They will be here with us for a couple of weeks. Welcome Noritta and Donna!!!
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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