Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart…

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Joel & Kim

When I graduated in 2009 from grad school, I thought that I was finally done writing papers and taking classes.  That has all changed this summer.  I have taken 2 more graduate classes, but they were theology classes, nothing to do with nursing, medicine, etc…Talk about being out of my comfort zone-YIKES!

I am currently writing my consecration paper.  This is basically a paper where I explain my call to missions, my character, my thoughts on Covenant Theology, thoughts on Evangelism, etc…This is a step in the process for me in becoming a long-term missionary with the Evangelical Covenant Church.  I am nervous for sure about writing this paper, but not necessarily because of the content, more of how I portray the content.  I don’t just want to answer the questions, but I want to give a picture of who I am in Christ when answering them.  The verse that keeps coming back to me as I write is:

Psalm 19:14

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer”

Please pray for me as I write this paper.  That I may write was is pleasing to my Lord.

 

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Kim’s Licensing Update…The Story Continues…

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Joel & Kim

You all may be wondering what is happening with my licensing stuff here in Ecuador.  Well, yesterday (Tuesday) after getting my diplomas ‘officially’ translated into Spanish, getting things notarized etc…we (Olga and I) went back to the office thinking that things would probably go pretty smoothly since we did everything that was asked of us.  That is not exactly what happened…

The person we saw was different this time.  Because North Park University is not on the ‘list’ of schools that automatically are accepted here, we had to do a little more with this.  The first thing she asked for was my actual diploma (which we were told I didn’t need, just a copy).  Things pretty much stopped there because I didn’t have my actual diploma.

We then moved on to the Rush Diploma.  I had my actual diploma and Rush IS approved here as a school they accept diplomas from.  HOWEVER, they said it was not apostilled (internationally notarized) correctly.  It is supposed to be on the actual diploma.  We tried to explain that this is not typically done in the State because diplomas are official and I believe legal once they have the seal on them.  I had the apostille, just not on the actual diploma.  She then sent us to the notary to get some additional things done, but the notary wouldn’t notarize my diploma because it wasn’t apostilled the way I just explained.  UGGGG!

We thought that we might be able to get this completed through the U.S. embassy here in Ecuador.  I called them this morning and they told me that this official apostille has to be completed in the U.S. in the state here the diploma was obtained.  UGGG again!  SO, the process won’t be completed before we leave Ecuador.  It’s not that it HAD to be done, we just wanted to get one thing off the list so it would be one less thing to do when we come back.  God apparently has other plans…and that is OK!  The good thing is, this special apostille they are talking all about is an agreement between Ecuador and the U.S. to make diplomas and titles official here or in the U.S. I think in the long run, this will be a good thing in regards to my practice here in Ecuador.

Thanks for your prayers!  We appreciate them greatly!

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Joel’s Knee Update

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Joel & Kim

We just realized that we haven’t posted an update on how Joel is doing post-knee surgery.  He still has quite a bit of pain and discomfort but with all things considered he is doing quite well.  He is about 3 weeks post-surgery and is off his crutches and is getting around with a limp.  His knee still gets quite sore after being on it for a while but that is still to be expected at this point.  He is now off all of his medications and so his life is back to normal in terms of that.  It can still be a little bit difficult with sleep with the pain but that is getting better each night.  He has physical therapy every day which can be a lot of work and fairly painful but he thinks it is worth it because he can see a little bit of progress each day.  He is going to try to get back to work/ministry with going into the IPEE offices and making some small trips.  We appreciate all of your prayers and support through the surgery and the recovery.

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Upcoming Calendar

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Joel & Kim

Here is our Upcoming Schedule

August 21st — Joel Meeting at IPEE with FACE & Kim & Olguita working on Kim’s Medical Licensing in Ecuador

August 22nd & 23rd — Pre-Vision Trip Planning in the Quechua and North Districts

August 26th — Church at Santiago

August 27th – 28th — Finishing Pre-Vision Trip Planning and Visiting Current Orphanages in the Quito area

August 29th – 30th — The Search and Purchase of a New Vehicle for the Campgrounds

August 31st & September 1st — Camp Committee Meeting at the Campgrounds in Santo Domingo

September 2nd – 4th — Trip to Manta to visit a Foster Home

September 5th – 7th — Finishing the Pre-Vision Trip Planning and Orphanage Visits

September 8th — 16th — Vision Team Visit

September 18th — Joel’s Knee Surgery Follow-Up Doctor Visit

September 20th – 25th — Visit from Dave and Wendy Mark, Regional Coordinators

October 9th — Fly to Chicago for the beginning of Home Assignment

October 12th — Interviews with the World Mission Committee of the Executive Board

October 14th — At Northwest Covenant Church in Mt. Prospect, IL (our Home Church)

October 15th — Midwest Ministries Ministry Assessment in Chicago

October 16th — Interviews with the World Mission Committee on Ministerial Standing

October 17th – 18th — Continuation of Midwest Ministries Ministry Assessment in Chicago

October 28th — Church Visit at Evergreen Covenant Church in Sanford, ME

October 28th – 31st — Attending the Annual Conference Pastor’s Retreat of the East Coast Conference

November 4th — Church Visit at Emmanuel Covenant Church in Nashua, NH

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Were coming back!

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Joel & Kim

We have some big news – we have had a change of plans on when we will be returning to the States for Home Assignment.  Things have been bumped up a little.  We recently purchased our return tickets for October 9th because have interviews that week and the next as well as a 3-day Ministry Assessment.  All this is taking place because we are applying to be Long-term Covenant Missionaries and Joel is going through Covenant ordination process.  We decided to purchase our return tickets for October because he had to return for these interviews and such and it didn’t make sense to return to Ecuador afterwards only to return to the States a couple of weeks later when we were originally planning to in early November.  We just couldn’t see justifying the extra expenses in our minds.  In addition, we have already made plans to visit three churches and go to one Conference Pastor’s Retreat in the months of October and November.

We will remain Short-Term Missionaries and on salary through December 2012.  Thank you for your faithful support through the rest of this year.   In January, we will begin a time of fundraising for our next assignment as Long-term Missionaries.  If you feel so led, you can continue to give in 2013 because we will immediately start raising financial support for our next term which will begin in January 2014.  We will also have expenses related to our Home Assignment.  If you have any questions at any point please contact us at your convenience.  There are many ways to get a hold of us (see contact information below).

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A Visit from a Group with Vision

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Joel & Kim

We have a lot of good news about our future ministry of the center for at risk children and medical clinic.  You already know that IPEE made the decision about the location and they have decided on the area of Otavalo.  We are very excited about this decision and God’s leading through the entire process.  In addition to that, we also need to let you know that in the second week of September, we’ll be having a Vision Team come visit.  What is a Vision Team you ask?  A Vision Team is a group of people that visit a mission field for the purpose of garnering a vision for future ministry by visiting locations, ministry sites and churches.  Specifically, our Vision Team is the people that are interested in supporting our future ministry by serving on the Board of Directors of the U.S. based not-for-profit organization.  There are 8 people that will be a part of this team, 5 from OH and 3 from IL.  We’ll be providing more information on this as we get closer but we just wanted to mention it and allow you all to pray for the preparations of this team.

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Nurse Practitioner Licensing Update

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Joel & Kim

Just thought I (Kim) would give a quick update on how things went yesterday.  Olga (my best friend here) and I went to a place called SENESCYT.  This is a place where everyone who has some kind of professional title registers it.  They have a place where foreigners can register their titles too!  This was very exciting news for us!  We talked with a worker their that told us what we needed to do to register both my undergrad and graduate degrees.  It is actually pretty simple in comparison to other processes we have experienced.  This week we will be in the process of getting my diplomas ‘professionally’ translated into Spanish, making copies of everything, getting my transcripts and diplomas notarized in Ecuador and preparing then to go back to the office next week.  We found out some great information.  Once these are registered, I don’t have to do it again, meaning, it is not dependent on my Visa status etc.  This is good news.  For instance, each time my Visa expires, I have to get a new driver’s license.  Also, we were told that once everything is approved, I can practice.  They won’t change the name of my title, because they don’t have the title here, so I will be able to practice as I do in the States!  How cool!

Thank you for your prayers yesterday.  Please continue to pray that all these processes go smoothly and that everything will get approved quickly!

Blessings from Ecuador!

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Medical Licensing Prayer Request

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Joel & Kim

Kim's graduation from Rush University in 2009

It’s a little crazy to think that it was 2009 when I (Kim) graduated from Rush University with a Master’s in Nursing to be a Nurse Practitioner!  I remember being SO excited to FINALLY be done!  I am now getting ready to take another very BIG step in the process of my nursing career.  Tomorrow (Tuesday) in the morning, around 9AM, my friend, Olga and I  will be going to a place (of which the name is slipping my mind) to try to register my diploma here to be able to practice as a NURSE PRACTITIONER since they don’t really have that title here.  This is HUGE, especially if it all works out.  They have many different schools that they accept diplomas from and we are very much hoping Rush University is one of them.  We appreciate your prayers tomorrow around 9AM.  Pray that all goes well and that my title will be accepted here and that I will be able to practice.  We’ll keep you updated.  Thanks so much for your prayers!

Olga, Caleb, Simeon and I

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Update

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Joel & Kim

Joel’s surgery was successful!  Amen!  He was in surgery for about 2 hours but everything went smoothly and as planned.  He had quite a bit of nausea from the anesthesia after the surgery in the hospital and threw up numerous times but that eventually passed.  He was released from the hospital and came home around 3 in the afternoon on Tuesday.  After the pain medicine wore off that he had been taking in the hospital, quite a bit of pain came and also additional swelling.  The pain medicine and medicine for the swelling that he has at home isn’t as strong as what they were giving in the hospital.  So, now he is mainly dealing with pain and swelling in his knee (as one might expect after knee surgery) as well as an over all feeling lousy from all the medications.  But, with that said, he is doing incredibly well with his recovery, especially in comparison to where he was at at this point after surgery when he had this same surgery last time. Last time, he wasn’t able to put any kind of weight on his leg that was operated on for over a week and half to two weeks.  He was able to put a little bit of weight on his operated leg one day after surgery this time.  It’s obvious to see the increase in technology (the first surgery was over 18 years ago) and what a good job the surgeon and his team did.  Joel begins physical therapy this afternoon and will have it every day now.

We also want to let you know that we had the opportunity to Skype today with Bluewater Covenant Camp in Grand Rapids, MN.  They are one of the Covenant Camps that are collecting offerings to send to our camp here in Ecuador.  It was fun to talk with them and answer their questions about Ecuador and the camp.

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MOM’S HOME!!!!

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Joel & Kim

Simeon and I came back from the camp in Santo Domingo just in time to go pick up Kim from the airport.  It was great to see her as we both had missed her a lot.  She seems to have really enjoyed her class on the Theology of the Covenant in Minnesota.  She also had a really nice time with her aunt, brother & sister-in-law, and her mom and extended family there in the St. Paul area.

Simeon and I made a quick trip out to the camp for the monthly camp meeting.  It was a good time as a lot of good, important decisions were made and we are moving forward and making progress at the camp.  I am working towards lessening my role in the decision making and things to be done as I am preparing things for my departure.  We were blessed to have the presence of an architect from Quito that had put together some plans for us for the grounds and all we are trying to do with the Super Camp plan.  He has also put together plans for the changes that we are going to be implementing for the donation that will be coming in a few months from the States for the pool, the renovation of the kitchen and a family cabin or two.

During this same weekend, I.P.E.E., the Covenant national church, was having its annual youth retreat at the campgrounds.  The folks that work there just amazed me as four days before the event, the national church had confirmed that there would be around 80 youth coming from around the country.  When the retreat actually started on Friday, 285 youth came from all parts of the country. This, of course, is awesome as it was a wonderful time for so many of learning about God and his work in the world, but can you imagine the logistical nightmare that this would cause?  There was so much more food that needed to be purchased, sleeping arrangements that needed to be figured out, etc.  The staff amaze me how they are able to come together in such difficult circumstances and put together such a wonderful event.  I’m sorry that I didn’t have time, as we were so busy with our meetings, to take some pictures of the festivities.

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