Santo Domingo Travel

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Joel & Kim

Sorry that we are still not able to post pictures to our blog. We’re not sure what is going on but sure it will get fixed soon.

We need to let you know what our travel schedule will look like for the month of February. Here’s what it will be:

January 28 – 29th – Joel in Santo Domingo

February 3 – 4th – Joel in Santo Domingo

February 7 – 11th – The Family in Santo Domingo

February 14 – 18th – Joel in Santo Domingo and Kim and Simeon in the South of Quito to live with an Ecuadorian Family to work on her Spanish

February 23rd – 27th – The Family in Santo Domingo

We would appreciate your prayers for the many trips to Santo Domingo. It’s about a 3.5 hour drive, though it feels as though it’s about 6 or 7 as the we go over one mountain and have countless curves to steer through. It’s quite a work out just driving there.

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Update on Earl

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Joel & Kim

Thank you so much for all your prayers for Earl, Joel’s dad. He is finally home from the hospital, we pray, for good. His blood pressure is much more stable, but not perfect yet. He has had his ups and downs emotionally through all of this (as we all have!) but is currently doing very well. We will definitely keep you all updated as we are not totally out of the water yet, but things are looking up. Please keep praying but your prayers have definitely been felt and very much appreciated thus far!

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The Covenant Camp in Santo Domingo

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Joel & Kim

We are finally able to give an update on our ministry. I (Joel) will be going to Santo Domingo tomorrow to start working at the national Covenant Camp property that is located there. This first trip will be a two day trip and Kim and Simeon will be staying back for Kim to be in Spanish class.

They have asked us (Joel, more specifically for this project) to come alongside the Covenant Camp for our first three months of this year. They are looking at making changes to the camp for long term success. Basically, the National Church is having difficulty in its funding for its national ministries. Just like in the States, individual churches tithe to the National Church in order to fund its national ministries. However, in a country where the excess of funds are not readily available, a lot of churches aren’t able to tithe at the appropriate level or at all, which means that many national ministries struggle financially. Well, the Covenant Camp in Santo Domingo has a beautiful property with many great attributes and is currently operating profitably (it’s making a little profit every year off the fees for groups and individuals to use the facility). However, it is not living up to it’s full potential. The National Church would like to make several changes to better their facilties and make it more appealing to more people, even folks outside of the Covenant and even outside the church world. They are hoping to eventually make it into a resort type location that many people would be interested in spending some time at. In this way, the Camp can be a profitable ministry to where it can help fund other national ministries which struggle financially. This is an obvious example of how in countries where finances are not quite as bountiful, the church needs to look “outside the box” to make ends meet.

In the end, over the next three months, they would like me to take on an administrator type role with helping with these changes. They are looking for me to use my background and experience in the business world to help facilitate wise decision making for the Kingdom of God. Please join my in prayer as I take on this new venture with excitement and trepidation.

A view around the grounds of the Covenant Camp in Santo Domingo

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Categories: Ministry, Santo Domingo, Updates | Tags: Ecuador, IPEE, Prayer Requests, Santo Domingo, Travel, Trips, Updates | Leave a comment

Holidays in the States

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Joel & Kim

We spent Christmas and New Year’s in the U.S. to visit family and friends. We left December 21st from Quito and got to spent an evening with one of Kim’s best friends and (her now fiance). It was a great time to catch up and just be loved on by friends. We appreciated that time very much. After that we met in Merrillville, IN with both sets of our parents and Kim’s best friend. That was the first time the parent’s had seen us, or more importantly, SIMEON for 6 months! From there we went to be with Joel’s family in Goshen, IN. It was nice to spend time with all of Joel’s siblings and their children. Everyone had a great time with Simeon and I think he enjoyed the time too! On Dec 30, we went to spend time with Kim’s family. This was a great time as well. We rang in the new year with Kim’s brother and sister-in-law which was SO fun! Grandma and Grandpa had a great time spoiling Simeon and just loving on him. We also got to see friends from college during this time which was very refreshing!

On December 26th, Joel’s dad was exercising and while doing this he had chest pain. We took him to the ER and they kept him for testing. He came home, only to go back to the hospital a week and a half later. Long story short, he ended up having a heart cathertization which showed a major blockage in the left main artery to his heart. They scheduled him for open-heart surgery and did a triple bypass. He has had ups and downs since the surgery, but all in all, he is doing well. Joel will give you an update on him shortly in another post.

Although this was a very difficult and stressful time for all, we were SO thankful that we were in the States during this time to help as we could and support family. God has been truly faithful and evident and we are very thankful for His provision in bringing us to the States for this time.

THANK YOU for your prayers during this time. We defintely felt them and it is great to be surrounded and lifted up to the Lord.

We ended up being in the States for three and a half weeks total, staying an extra period of time to help with everything going on with Joel’s dad. Simeon grew a lot from all the American food and got to get to know A lot of people! He traveled very well and actually got compliments on the plane ride home for being so good on the plane.

Grandpa Carter showing Simeon a new toy he got!

Simeon enjoying the snow with dad, just not the snowsuit

Grandma Carter and Simeon

Simeon getting his haircut by the longtime Carter barber, Gary

Grandma Delp and Simeon

Zach, Simeon, Mo, Kim and Joel

Grandpa Delp and Simeon, before heart surgery

Kim and all her cousins

The O'Dell family (Joel's sister) and Simeon, of course

The Sims and you guessed it, Simeon

Uncle Todd and Simeon holding on for dear life

Some of Simeon's cousins, Sheena, Bailey and Reenna

Simeon really liked the big bath tubs in the U.S. - we only have showers in Ecuador!

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Back in Ecuador

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Joel & Kim

After a 24 hour weather related delay in Atlanta, we finally made it back to Quito late last night!!! It feels really, really good to be back! Thank you for your prayers for the travel!

We are returning with heavy hearts. Joel’s dad has returned to the hospital. It seems the open heart surgery was a success and it is ok. However, since a few days after the surgery, he’s been suffering from very low blood pressure where he can’t hardly stand without passing out. It has actually worsened since being in the hospital to where he is on bed rest and can’t even sit up in a chair and is tired all of the time.

We know that God works through all things for His good. And we have seen the evidence of His hand in this entire process for dad. We just ask that all of you keep him in your prayers. We will keep you updated here on the blog.

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God’s Blessings

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Joel & Kim

Thank you everyone for your prayers for my father, Earl Delp. A successful Triple Bypass surgery was performed this morning and since his heart is in such good condition (the heart disease was only in his arteries), he is expected to make a full, strong recovery. The ventilator has already been removed and he is breathing on his own and his heart is in a normal rhythm.
I was so glad to visit with my father last evening and this morning and he shared with me how he was at peace with the operation. I know this peace has come from the Heavenly Father through your prayers that you have offered up. Thank you so much!
We are planning our return to Ecuador exactly one week from today, Monday, January 17th. We are going to be helping around the house this week and as they transition home from the hospital. Life will be a little different for them now but for all of us, our faith is even stronger because of it. God is good all the time, all the time God is good!!!

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Delay in Return to Ecuador

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Joel & Kim

We just wanted to let everyone know that our return to Ecuador is being delayed. My (Joel) dad is having open heart double bypass surgery tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. EST. We are going to stay for a bit to be with him and my mom.

I would greatly, greatly appreciate your prayers during this time.

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Travel Schedule

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Joel & Kim

Here is our travel itinerary for while we are in the States:

 December 22—30: Goshen, IN

 December 30 — January 7: Hartford City, IN

January 2: Speaking at Trinity United Methodist Church (Hartford City, IN)

 January 7 — 9: Chicago, IL

 January 8: Dinner at Northwest Covenant Church at 5:00 pm (Mt. Prospect, IL)

 January 9: Speaking at Northwest Covenant Church

 January 9: Fly back to Quito

 We will begin our full-time ministry in Ecuador in January 2011

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