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The Rocha Family
La Familia Rocha
The camp in Santo Domingo where Joel has been working and where the family has been visiting could not run without the Rocha family. They keep this place going and take care of the visitors that come. Rueben with a couple of helpers takes care of all the grounds at the camp as well as taking care of the workers that are working to fix the camp up. He works very, VERY hard-probably 60-70 hour weeks. One example is he mows the entire camp grass (probably 5-10 acres) with a PUSH MOWER!
Amparo, Rueben’s wife does ALL of the cooking with a few kitchen helpers. While we are there, she cooks 3 meals a day for us, but even with 150 people at the camp, she cooks 3 meals a day, PLUS 2 snacks! She is quite the busy lady. Rueben and Amparo have 5 daughters-Lis, Mayra, Jeymi, Caren and Rubi. They also have a niece staying with them, Maria. Each of these girls, besides Rubi who is only 1, helps out around the camp. It has been great to see the relationship of this family and the example of Christ that they are. Although they work VERY hard, they always do so with a smile. Each member of the family has their part, and they really, honestly love each other. It’s great to see and we have been so blessed to be able to get to know them this past month.
Categories: Ministry, Santo Domingo, Travel, Updates
Tags: Blog, Ecuador, Ecuador Info, IPEE, Santo Domingo, Updates
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The National Assembly
This past weekend we went back to Santo Domingo, but this time it wasn’t for the direct work that Joel has been doing. This last weekend was IPEE’s (The Evangelical Covenant Church of Ecuador) Asamblea Nacional or “National Assembly”. It is the same thing that we have in the states that we call an Annual Meeting. It’s basically the annual business meeting of the church in which each church is supposed to send delegates to come discuss and vote on the affairs of the national church.
This was a fantastic time for us to meet new people around the country and in the leadership of the church. It was fun to see how the business of the church is conducted: very energetically!!! We got to meet a lot of people and be a part of some of the meetings. We were introduced to everyone at one point. Everyone, as you might expect, really loved Simeon!
Kim had a fun time as she actually worked the whole weekend. This wasn’t something she had to do but wanted to help out in the kitchen. Basically, the folks that run the camp make the food for all the meals for all 150 people at the meeting, so she wanted to lend a hand. Plus, it was a great time for her to work on her Spanish and to learn how to cook like an Ecuadorian. Please check out the pictures so you can get an idea.
The sanctuary of the main pavilion all setup and ready to go for worship.
How things looked with all the people during the meetings.
Folks chowing down during one of the many delicious meals we consumed.
The ladies working hard in the kitchen.
That's a big pot!
Proof that Kim was actually working in the kitchen.
A family enjoying some fruit on the beautiful camp property.
Folks relaxing in the hammocks.
Some folks chose to sleep in tents... not Simeon!
Simeon eating fruit with his buddy Karin.
Simeon helping feed some chickens.
Categories: Ministry, Prayer Requests, Santo Domingo, Simeon, Travel, Updates
Tags: Ecuador, Ecuador Info, IPEE, Prayer Requests, Santo Domingo, Simeon, Travel, Trips, Updates
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The Roof 80% Complete
Here are some pictures of the main pavilion in the camp in Santo Domingo. We are now about 80% complete. Looking pretty good, huh?
Here's what the new roof is looking like.
A side view of the new roof.
Inside the new pavilion. It's very bright now!
Another shot inside.
This is the dining area of the new pavilion.
Categories: Ministry, Santo Domingo, Travel, Updates
Tags: Answered prayers, Ecuador, Santo Domingo, Travel, Updates
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Roughing It
Two weekends ago we had our annual staff retreat, staff meaning all of the missionaries from the US in Ecuador. Safe to say it was a blast! On Friday night, we went out to eat at a nice restuaraunt in Old Quito called Vista Hermosa (“Beautiful View”) that is up on the top of a fairly large building and has, quite literally, a beautiful view of the city. Our dinner was, as you would expect, delicious.
Most of our retreat consisted of on Saturday and Sunday morning a trip to Papallacta, which is an area up in the mountains that has natural hot springs. It’s good we weren’t paying for things because we stayed in a very nice resort which actually had the hot springs in them. It was, as you might guess, a wonderful time to relax and to just spend time with our fellow missionaries. We all took turns sharing our stories and how we had become missionaries. It was great to hear everyone’s story and learn more about one other. Here are some pictures to give you an idea:
Here is a picture of the team at the restaurant Vista Hermosa
A family portrait at Vista Hermosa.
The Termas de Papallacta were beautiful.
Another shot of the resort.
We tried making a fire but we struggle with lighting it at that altitude.
This is where the title "roughing it" came from.
Simeon getting tired in the hot springs, resting on Mandy
Father and son playing in the hot springs.
The family definitely liked the Termas de Papallacta. It was a nice break from all the trips to Santo Domingo.
In Santo Domingo
We just wanted to update and let everyone know that from today through this weekend (through Feb. 28th) we will be traveling again to Santo Domingo and will be somewhat unreachable again. Where the camp is located there are no land line phones and the cell phone signal is pretty much impossible to get. As you would guess, they also don’t have email/Internet access. If someone is needing to get a hold of us for some reason, you can try contacting the camp at 011-593-9-401-8820. Just so you know, in case you are trying to get a hold of us or something.
Categories: Santo Domingo, Travel, Updates
Tags: Blog, Ecuador Info, IPEE, Santo Domingo, Trips, Updates
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Our Time in the ‘South’
Simeon and I (Kim) recently spent a few days in South Quito with Simeon’s babysitter (Martita) and her family. I must admit, I was a little nervous about it. The whole goal was to be immersed in Spanish all the time to help increase my knowledge and especially speaking Spanish. It was a little nerve-racking thinking of speaking and understanding Spanish 24 hours a day. I defintely did better than what I thought I would. I understood a great deal and thanks to my dictionary, I was able to speak pretty well also. We learned a lot about culture and everyday life for Ecuadorians in Quito. The whole family loved Simeon and Martita’s 2 daughters would hurry home from school to spend time with Simeon and to ask me LOTS of questions! It was so much fun!
We had some interesting experiences while there. Hireq, one of our dogs, got sick the first day we were there so we had to take her to the vet. Additionally, Simeon got sick the 3rd day we were there. It was his first time being sick with a fever and vomiting. It ended up that Joel came back early from Santo Domingo so that we could take Simeon back to the north of Quito to our pediatrician. She told us he had a throat infection and he has been on antibiotics. Today, Monday, is the first day he is feeling more like himself. We are thankful for God’s healing. It was hard on me as a mom to see him sick. Even being a nurse practitioner, I wasn’t thinking as a nurse practitioner, I was thinking as a mom. Joel had to remind me when I was thinking we needed to take Simeon to the doctor like “RIGHT NOW”, he said “what would you do if your friend brought their son to you with this problem”? I thought about it and remembered, all kids have fevers. It was an interesting contrast for me to try and balance.
I am grateful for this experience. It forced me to use my Spanish more than I have, because I had to! This was good for me to realize I know more than I think I do. I praise God for safety for Simeon and I and for Martita and her family for opening their home and their lives to us.
Simeon loved playing the piano at Martita's
Robin (Martita's Husband) showing Simeon how to play
More with Simeon playing the piano
Categories: Family Fun, Language Study, Simeon, Travel
Tags: Ecuador, Language Study, Simeon, Spanish Lessons, Travel
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Out of Reach
Hello all! Just a quick note to let you all know that we are out of reach again this week. Joel is in Santo Domingo again and Kim and Simeon are staying with our babysitter Martita and her family this week as a way to learn more Spanish (no one in the family speaks English). Please pray for Simeon. He is not feeling well. He´s been running a temperature and you can tell he just feels lowsy. He´s having difficulty sleeping also. Thanks so much for your prayers!
Categories: Language Study, Ministry, Prayer Requests, Santo Domingo, Travel
Tags: Blog, Ecuador, Language Study, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Santo Domingo, Simeon, Spanish Lessons, Travel, Trips, Updates
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Pictures of Santo Domingo
We just wanted to give a pictorial update of the progress of the Covenant Camp in Santo Domingo:
Here's what the roof of the main pavilion looked like before the work started
Here's another shot of the roof before the work started
This is how they mow the ENTIRE camp ground facility lawn... wow... I wouldn't want that job!
The family that runs the Camp has farm animals to help earn a living
The workers putting up a new front wall.
The old changing rooms gotta go!
So here's what the roof of the main pavilion is looking like now.
Another shot from inside the pavilion.
A shot of the pavilion with the new back wall... looks nice, eh?
Our neighbor who stayed outside our room all week. He hopefully helped with the 4 inch spiders.
Categories: Ministry, Santo Domingo, Travel, Updates
Tags: Blog, Ecuador, Ecuador Info, IPEE, Prayer Requests, Santo Domingo, Travel, Trips, Updates
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Ministry Update
Here is a recent newsletter update that we sent out to Northwest Covenant Church in Mt. Prospect, IL and just thought everyone might be interested in reading:
“Our first month being back home in Ecuador has been an eventful one. First we just want to give a quick update on Joel’s dad, Earl. He is doing much better and has been home from the hospital for almost a month. He is slowly beginning to return to some of his normal activities such as news watching and going to the granddaughters basketball and soccer games! We are very thankful for this, but ask for continued prayers for recovery as well as for Joel’s mom, Ruth, for energy and endurance as she continues to care for Earl.
We came back to Ecuador in a whirlwind. We were supposed to host our new short term missionary, Mandy Hjelm, but she ended up making it to Quito before we did. She did stay with us the day after we returned for about a week. She was given the full ‘orientation’ to being a missionary as the next day while we were shopping, one of our other short term missionary couples, the Hoskins called saying they needed to bring their son Breck over to spend time with us as they were going in to have their second baby! We weren’t expecting this for at least 3 more weeks or so! That same day, our country coordinator, Cheryll Clark was taken to the hospital and had her appendix and gallbladder removed! Like we said, it was quite a whirlwind, but we praise the Lord for the healthy birth of Elsa Hoskins and for the continued recovery of Cheryll. The next week, Josh Swenson, our final short-term missionary tore his meniscus and had surgery the next day. Please keep all of us in your prayers. You see how important they are in our everyday lives.
Kim continued with 2 weeks of Spanish study with a new school right after our return and through that connection, Joel has been able to play more soccer and hopefully tennis. She, Simeon and the dogs will be spending a week with our babysitter, Martita, and her family to help develop her Spanish even further. Joel has begun doing ministry in Santo Domingo at the Covenant camp there. He has made 3 trips with 2 more planned in February. Two of these trips will include Kim and Simeon. There has already been work started to repair the roof in the main meeting complex and there are continuing discussions about how to improve the camp to make it more family and tourist friendly. Please continue to pray for wisdom as Joel meets with pastors and those in leadership in Santo Domingo.“
The Santiago Partnership