We had a visitor come from the Seattle area this past week. Emily Davidson, one of our Santiago Partnership board members was able to come down and visit! What a pleasure it was to finally meet her in person as well as 3 friends of hers too! She was able to visit the clinic as well as the home which is currently about 80% completed! What a blessing it was to have her and gain insight from her into at-risk children in Ecuador. Thanks for coming Emily!
Visitor
Accidents Happen…
Accidents do in fact happen, we all know it. Unfortunately, it’s never fun when they happen. Joel was involved in an accident this week on the way to pick up friends who were going see the ministries in Cayambe. He was in a line of about four cars that had to abruptly stop and the car behind Joel did not see this happening and rear ended him. The gentlemen did not have insurance, but admitted that it was his fault and was very apologetic. He seemed very worried and his family was very shaken up as you can imagine. Joel was able to share with him that he was a pastor and that God works even the most difficult of circumstances out for His good. He also said he would be praying for him. We praise God that no one was hurt and that the damage will be taken care of. We also praise God that the man who hit Joel was very kind and willing to help; that is not always the case. Please pray for this man and his family; that they will see Christ in the midst of their difficult circumstances.
Small Victories…
A license plate…it seems pretty simple huh? In the States, getting your license plates is a very simple process that takes 1, maybe 2 weeks right? Well, the process has proven to be a little longer here, about 15 months! BUT, we finally got them and now our van will be complete with license plates! It’s a small victory we realize, but something we celebrate!
It’s that time of year… VBS time!!!
Summertime always brings a multitude of excitement…warm weather, walks, vacations, family reunions, pool time and VBS for a lot of churches. We just had VBS at one of the churches here in Quito and it was so much fun. It is so great seeing kids and adults who have never heard the gospel, experience Jesus! It’s exciting and fun to experience in a new and fresh way!
This year, the Evangelical Covenant Church has used the Santiago Partnership and ministries here in Ecuador for the “mission moments” in the curriculum for VBS around the country. This is so exciting. We have been contacted by a few churches who have used the curriculum and adapted it for THEIR mission moments. We are grateful and humbled to be a small part of kids learning more about missions and life for kids around the world!
Thank you to Modesto Covenant Church, Faith Covenant Church and Faith Community Covenant Church for involving us in your VBS and for using the focus of your mission moments as the Santiago Partnership and the kids in Ecuador. THANK YOU!
Here are some pictures from the VBS at Faith Covenant Church.
It’s also not too late to incorporate Ecuador and the Santiago Partnership into YOUR VBS, AWANA or Sunday School curriculum. Check out this link to see how you can use the materials:
Continue to pray for permits…
This may seem like a very simple picture, but it represents a lot for the clinic in Cayambe. This is an official permit that is currently up in the clinic. Please continue to pray. We are only lacking 1 permit before the clinic can be officially opened! YEAH! Please join us in prayer that the Ministry of Health will grant us this final permit without any issues. It may be baby steps, but God is slowly but surely allowing these permits to come in. Thanks be to God!
Volunteer Tourist Week
We took two of our summer volunteers on a week adventure to see the beauty of Ecuador. Here are some pictures from our time:
Pictures of Disaster Relief in Oyacachi
Pictures of disaster relief and pastoral care in Oyacachi. It has been amazing to see how the see the response by our Christian brothers and sisters in the surrounding area Covenant churches. If you would like to support their efforts, gifts can be received through Covenant World Relief, just click the link below and put in the notes of the gift “Ecuador disaster relief” http://www.covchurchgiving.com/p-174-disaster-relief.aspx
Please pray for Oyacachi!
Please pray for our sister church/community in Oyacachi who on Friday experienced an incredible landslide and flooding. Currently, the entire community is evacuating and the surrounding area Covenant churches are providing shelter and food. You may remember that we recently completed a medical caravan in this community.
Visas Approved!
PRAISE THE LORD!!! Our resident visas have been approved! We now have residential status in Ecuador and we will not have to renew our Visas again unless we are out of the country for an extended period of time. And the little girl who looks the happiest in the picture was the key to this happening that since she was born with Ecuadorian citizenship, as she was born here in Ecuador, the rest of us were able to get the Resident Visas because of our family relationship with her. God is good!!!
Esther Turns 1!
Happy Birthday to Esther as she just turned 1 year old! She is growing up so quickly as she is getting her teeth in now, getting close to walking and seems to be doing something new ever day. Happy Birthday Esther!!!