THANK YOU PLEASANT VIEW!!!

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Joel & Kim

PV

 

A big THANK YOU goes out to Pleasant View Mennonite Church of Goshen, IN and the VBS they put on this past week.  They invited us to be a part of it through Skype.  Simeon was able to “attend” the VBS and watched the opening worship and group activities and then each day we had a question and answer time with the kids during the closing session of the day.  It was a lot of fun and really neat to be a part!  In addition to all of this, their mission project for the week was the Santiago Partnership and over $1,600 was raised for the purchase of land for the first home for at risk children.  THANK YOU SO MUCH PLEASANT VIEW MENNONITE CHURCH!!!

Report This Post

Categories: 501c3, Ministry, Updates | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Welcome to the world Esther Ashby Delp

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Joel & Kim
Esther Ashby waving hello to the world seconds after being born

Esther Ashby waving hello to the world seconds after being born

“I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart;

I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1

It’s been a difficult road for us of late and we have sensed God’s presence along the way, but what better way to see Him clearly but through a miracle right in front of us.

PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!!

Esther Ashby Delp was born at 3:00 p.m. on June 5th, 2014 weighing 6.37 lbs and measuring 18.5 inches. Though the surgery was long and complicated, both Esther and mom are doing well.  Kim is doing extremely well considering the difficulty of the surgery.  Please continue to pray for little Baby Esther as she is not feeding extremely well yet from mom and we are trying to watch to make sure she does not become jaundiced.

Touching Thinking Simeon_wondering Simeon_Excited Simeon_at_camera Mama_Esther Kiss Kim_Simeon2 Kim_Simeon Joel_Simeon Face Eyes2 Eyes Cutie Being Careful

Report This Post

Categories: Esther, Family Fun, Prayer, Simeon, Updates | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quicker than we thought

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Joel & Kim

Newborn

This picture may accurately depict what could be our lives here very soon.

Today, we are flying back to Quito to move into our new apartment and adjust back to life in Ecuador again.  We had been planning that once we get back we can have a little bit of time to unpack our stuff (nothing is unpacked in our new apartment yet), make some last minute purchases for the apartment (curtains anyone???) and take care of some last minute details that are needed like Joel heading out to Guayaquil to turn in our paperwork needed for the container.  That’s what we HAD been planning.

Yesterday, we had our final appointment with our doctor in Indiana to get the approval to head to Ecuador today.  Everything went well with that.  But he also informed us of something that we weren’t planning.  He said that usually in their practice when it is a planned C-Section (what we are having), they usually plan it for the beginning of the 39th week.  The beginning of the 39th week is in 4 days… 4 DAYS!!!!  Holy canoli!!!  4 DAYS!!!  We had been thinking more along the lines of our due date which is June 15th, so this has been a bit of a surprise.

Now, we need to actually meet with our Ecuadorian doctor on Monday as planned but it is obvious that our lives are just about to be rocked by a new little bundle of joy much sooner than we thought.  Your prayers are appreciated today as we travel, as we arrive and get ready very quickly and as the new little one joins the family for mom and him/her.

 

Report This Post

Categories: Family Fun, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Travel, Updates | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Puzzzled???

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Joel & Kim

Puzzle2Are you puzzled by where in the world we are???  Well, the way our lives have been all over the map recently, we are too!!!  So, much so recently when Simeon asked “Where are we going?” and we responded “Home,” he then responded “Which one???”

Yes… it is true that we do have two homes in Ecuador and the States and we have been seeing a lot of them both here recently.  On May 12th, we flew back to Indiana to be with Joel’s parents for a little while.  Recently, we as a family decided that Joel’s mom, Ruthie, would stop taking the chemotherapy treatments as they were tearing apart her body and causing even more problems than what the tumors were causing.  When that decision was made, we decided to start Home Hospice care as they could provide excellent care during this time.

With this decision also, we decided to travel to be with them for a little bit before baby #2 arrives and our lives getting even more crazy with the start of the project and life with a new baby in the house.

We have had a nice time with Joel’s parents.  Since stopping the chemotherapy medication, Ruthie has been feeling significantly better and has had a lot more energy and strength.  We have been doing things like fixing the puzzle that you see above which is of Cotopaxi, one of Ecuador’s most famous volcanoes.  We even went miniature golfing one day as Ruthie was feeling up for it and it is one of Simeon’s favorite pastimes.

Today, May 29th, we are traveling back to our new home in Quito, Ecuador.  Yesterday, we received the written authorization from Kim’s doctor in Indiana to travel back to today.  We are excited to return to Ecuador.  However, it is extremely difficult to leave Joel’s parents during this time as there are so many struggles.  Please pray for them and for us as the distance will be felt and will be difficult again.  Ultimately, we ask that you pray for complete healing for Ruthie from the tumors that plague her.

Ruthie and Simeon working on the puzzle together.

Ruthie and Simeon working on the puzzle together.

 

Joel, Grandpa and Simeon getting the bike fixed.

Joel, Grandpa and Simeon getting the bike fixed.

 

 

Report This Post

Categories: Prayer, Prayer Requests, Reflections, Travel, Updates | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

How about Kim’s licensing???

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Joel & Kim

logo_ministerio_salud_publica

We are also needing to update you all on the latest on the process of getting Kim’s medical licensing in Ecuador figured out.  On the day that we had left Ecuador, May 12th, Joel had a meeting with the doctor who is the head of the Department of Human Talents in the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador.  After a lengthy conversation, it was decided that there would be a committee of three people who would review Kim’s case to determine if she is eligible to do her Rural Internship as a doctor or as a Nurse Specialist.  We are awaiting to hear the results of that committee’s decision.  Please be in prayer for it!

Report This Post

Categories: Clinic, Licensing in Ecuador, Ministry, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Updates | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments

Container news

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Joel & Kim

ConsulateWhile being here in the States, we took the opportunity to work on the remaining issues with the container.  We have reported recently on it but to get you up-to-date, fairly recently we found out that the container was needing to be switched from being a container of both donations and personal belongings (our stuff!) to a container of only donations.  We could basically still send our personal belongings but they would be considered donations to the Covenant Church in Ecuador as far as the container goes.  That isn’t a problem at all, the problem that came with this is the fact that Ecuador does not accept donations of “used clothing” so all of the used clothing needed to be removed.  The problem there, of course, is that we have a lot “used clothing” in our personal belongings to be sent down.  For this reason while being here in the States, Joel decided to travel out to Ohio to get all of our clothes out of the things to be packed on the container.  He was able to do that on Friday, May 16th as well as while he was there, he was able to get all of the paperwork for the container signed, notarized, and apostilled (international notary) by the folks at Coshocton Christian Tabernacle.  Many thanks need to go out to Janae Stevens and Angie Eberhard for their help with all of that.

Then, last Thursday, May 22nd, Joel traveled out to Chicago to visit the office of Ecuadorian Consulate, what you see pictured above.  There he was able to get all of that official paperwork legalized for the country of Ecuador.  So, the paperwork is now all set and ready to go.  Once we return to Ecuador, Joel will just need to deliver this paperwork to the port of Guayaquil where the container will be arriving and then the container can be sent from Ohio, so we are just waiting for this one last step.

In addition, to visiting the Ecuadorian consulate last Thursday, Joel was also able to accomplish one more important thing that day.  As you know, we now have a lot of clothes that need to get down to Ecuador.  Joel got in touch with a friend, Pastor Dan Teefey to see if their church could help us in getting our clothes down to Ecuador.  Dan’s church is Riverside Covenant Church of West Lafayette, IN and they are sending a team of 27 people down to Ecuador this Sunday.  Dan and his church were extremely kind and very willing to help us out of our jam.  They will be bringing 3 50 lb bags of clothes down for us Sunday!  Thank you so much Riverside Covenant Church!!!  Riverside

 

Report This Post

Categories: Ministry, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Travel, Updates | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Moving Days

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Joel & Kim

Well, we have been extremely busy and haven’t had much time to give updates and post pictures so we are going to try to do a bunch here today to update you on what has been going on with us.

Not sure if you know or not, but we recently moved…. well… kind of.  You see we had been living in a temporary furnished apartment in Quito since we had arrived back in March.  It was a good landing pad for us as we didn’t need to come up with all of our stuff immediately (appliances, furniture, personal belongings, etc).  Also, since the plan was that our container would be arriving in April or May, we could live there until much more of our stuff arrived on the container and we would have more of our stuff for filling our new apartment.  Well, as you know, the second part of that plan did not work out as we had hoped as the container still has not been sent (more on that in a bit) and so we haven’t received our stuff from the States yet.

Nevertheless, the baby is a comin’ and so we needed to figure out where we would be living long-term or short-long-term or basically the next 1 to 2 years of our lives.  We had originally been thinking we would move to Cayambe for a year while Kim would be doing her 1-year rural internship there.  However, since that has not worked out how we have been hoping/planning, we decided to go with Plan “B.”  Plan B is that we decide to get an apartment in North Quito, basically the most northern part of Quito that you can get which is on the way to Cayambe.  In getting an apartment there, we would be able to slip out of Quito quickly (if that’s possible) and travel up to Cayambe in about 45 mins on a  normal traffic day.

So, that is what we have done.  In the beginning of May, we signed a 1-year lease on an apartment in Carcelen Alto, a sector of Quito in the north.  Pictures will come a little bit later.

Our days before we traveled to the States were a bit crazy as we were moving all of our belongings that we have in Ecuador (out of our current apartment and out of storage unit) into our new apartment.  In addition to that, we also were purchasing and having delivered all of our new appliances and furniture for the apartment.  Safe to say it was a lot of work as Joel even pulled an all-nighter one night getting it all done.  There are some before and after pictures below that show the good use of our new van for this process.  Simeon was the photographer on the second one.

So, we are moved into our new apartment… kind of.  Basically, everything is in there, but we still need to unpack and do everything for setting up the place.  It will be a lot of work still but we do really like the place so it should be a lot of fun!

before

after

 

 

Report This Post

Categories: Cayambe, Family Fun, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Simeon, Updates | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Rocha Family

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Joel & Kim

The majority of the Rocha family, although missing a couple after lunch on Sunday by the Panecillo

The majority of the Rocha family, although missing a couple after lunch on Sunday by the Panecillo

We had the great opportunity to host the majority of the Rocha family last weekend.  In case you forgot who the Rocha’s are, they are the administrators of the Covenant Camp in Santo Domingo.  In November and December, Rueben and the family faced many challenges as far as Reuben’s health.  You may remember some of our previous posts about it.  Rueben had pancreatitis, had 2 surgeries, his duodenum was punctured during the second surgery and he and the family were told multiple times that he would likely not live.  We are happy to say he is ALIVE AND WELL!  PRAISE BE TO GOD!  It was such an amazing time to spend with them.

We went to Old Quito and spent time there and had a nice time together.  On Sunday, they went to church with us and because so many people had prayed for them, there was a testimony time where both Reuben and Amparo gave their testimonies.  Although quite emotional, it was such a wonderful time of sharing.  I believe the time really blessed and encouraged many in the church.  Amparo also recently lost her brother to a motorcycle accident.  It was such an encouragement to us to hear and experience with them what they have faced and to see how God has truly worked a miracle in their lives!

It is difficult, (especially for me, Kim, in Spanish) to express how much we love and appreciate this family.  They are such an example to us.  They love Simeon as one of their own and care for him that way.  They are examples of consistency and faith in each adventure or hardship they face.  They face it “con fe” or “with faith”.  Life is not always easy, but they have been examples to us of faith, strength and encouragement in the midst of hardship.  We praise God for them and the work He has done and IS doing in their lives.  Gracias a Dios!

Reuben giving his testimony

DSC_0429

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rocha's and Delp's

Report This Post

Categories: Uncategorized, Updates | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Oh, just a bunch of stuff…

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Joel & Kim

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

Well, there are many things to update you all on, but I wanted to start off with the verse above, again given to us to encourage us and strengthen our spirits.  THANK YOU for praying for us during our major time of transition and craziness.  We appreciate it more than we can express and we pray that YOU may feel God’s peace in the midst of what your hearts are facing in this day.

On the Licensing Front…

images

We posted on facebook yesterday about our meeting with the president of the Ministry of Health here.  We were able to walk right in at 1:30 yesterday and talk to him.  Simeon was even sitting in on the conversation watching his DVD player and Frozen.  How different life can be here.  🙂  He listened to us and looked over the paperwork.  He was very positive and very kind and actually said we are in a great place since I am pregnant and we have a 4 year old.  Other than someone with a disability we have 1st priority in choosing where we want to do our rural training.  He gave us the website to look at the requirements and then the names of 2 people who are the directors of this.  It is good we found out about this because the selection process ends very soon.  We had a friend call about setting up an appointment today.  She was subsequently told there is another person to talk to about this.  We have an appointment with this person today at 3PM.    We appreciate your continued prayers for this and will continue to keep you updated.

On the Container front…

We have been in contact with multiple people regarding the container.  We are working on talking with someone that works in the company that does the processing of containers.  We are not having a lot of luck with this.  It may be that Joel needs to go to Guayaquil, the coastal city where the container would come through to discuss the requirements necessary.  From the U.S. end, we have a shipping company and have tentative dates to pack the container, but the paperwork has to be done or at least in the process on the Ecuador end.  Please continue to pray.

WHERE ARE WE GOING TO LIVE?

Last week we signed a lease on an apartment.  It is on the road out to Cayambe, but still in the city of Quito.  It will only take us about 30-40 minutes or so to get to Cayambe where we hope to have my rural training and obviously where the ministries will be.  We are excited to have a place to live that is more than temporary.  The landlord is very nice and is allowing us to move our stuff in and then start paying rent in June.  We will have pictures eventually.

Rumors of Travel to the States?

Yes, if you have heard or read about the possibility of traveling to the States, you are correct.  We have been waiting to see when the best time would be to travel back to spend time with Joel’s family.  Ruth, Joel’s mom has been placed on hospice and is no longer taking the chemo medications.  Although she has gained strength since being out of the hospital, we do not know what the future holds.  With Kim being due quite soon with our 2nd child, we wanted to travel back prior to delivery.  So our plans are to travel on Monday, May 12 and be in Indiana for about 2 weeks with tentative plans to return back to Ecuador on May 26.  Please pray for us and Joel’s family during this time.  There are more difficult times ahead and preparing for the future.  This will not be easy but we pray for a wonderful time with family and enjoying each other and our days together.

Update on Simeon

Simeon has been having some difficulty with not liking school to say the least.   He has 3 more days at his current school.  We will then be going to the States for 2 weeks and then going to be moving.  He is excited to be done.  Please pray for him in these next couple of months.  As if he hasn’t had enough transition in the last couple of months, he will be having many more with the new baby, going back to the States, coming back to Ecuador, moving again, etc.  I know how much people say children on resilient, and they are, but that doesn’t mean these things don’t effect him and stress him as they do us.  Please pray for him specifically during this extra time of transition as well as other MK’s (Missionary Kids).  It’s not easy for them.

Puppy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How’s the baby?????

We went to see the OB yesterday and he gave us permission to travel to the States.  He said everything looks good and that the worst thing that could happen is we deliver in the States.  We are thankful for such a great doctor and we will also be seeing our previous midwife in the States while we’re there.

So, that is our update.  We are encouraged at what God is doing in our hearts.  It has been difficult days for us, with many tears, but we realize GOD IS WORKING.  We don’t always understand the process, but He is in it and He is in front of it.  We are encouraged.  Blessings in this day from Ecuador!

 

Report This Post

Categories: Licensing in Ecuador, Prayer Requests | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

On the Licensing Front…

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Joel & Kim

imagesWe had our meeting today with the former president, whom we had talked with previously.  He actually told us he is still the president and the other person we talked to was the Vice President.  In reality, it doesn’t really matter.  He was very nice.  That was a good change from our previous try.  My friend, Olga went with me and she was great at explaining (quickly, since apparently we were late and he was waiting on us) things up to now.  He said he briefly remembered us from 2 years ago.  We explained what had recently happened.  He told us that going through the Federation or the College of doctors is currently optional.  The law has recently changed making this not something that we have to do, only if we WANT to.  His recommendation at this time is to take all of our paperwork to the Ministry of Health here.  He gave us the name of the director of the Ministry of Health AND his cell phone number to contact him directly to make an appointment.  He recommended us writing a petition for what we want and where we want to do my rural training.  He said since I’m pregnant, I have priority in where I go!  (SWEET!).  The selection process for where to go is in 2 weeks, so we have to get going on contacting him.  The current president said that it will be the decision of the Ministry of Health if my rural training will be as a doctor or nurse.

SO, we have a different plan of what to do.  Not sure how it will turn out, but we are moving forward (a centimeter at a time).

Please continue to pray for openness with these doctors we are talking to.  We are thankful that the doctor we talked to today went above and beyond in helping us and was very nice in doing so.  Please pray that the next doctor will be open as well to licensing me here as a doctor.

Please pray that timing-wise, things will work out.  Basically that we can get this worked out before May 8th when we go back to the States.

Thank you for your continued prayers and concern surrounding this.  We appreciate it so much!

Report This Post

Categories: Licensing in Ecuador | Tags: , | Leave a comment