Prayer Request

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Joel & Kim

Joel will be having surgery on Monday morning (around 10 a.m.) to repair a torn Anterior Crucial Ligament in his right knee.  He tore the ligament a few months ago playing soccer but didn’t get checked out until a little over a month ago because we have been so busy. This is the second torn ACL that Joel will have had repaired as he tore his ACL in his left knee in his senior year of high school.

The surgery itself isn’t too, too major in that they’ll only be working on his knee and that he’ll only be in surgery for 1.5 to 2 hours.  However, your prayers are appreciated regardless.  What’s more is the recovery.  After the surgery, he’ll be in the hospital for one night afterwards and then he’ll be immobile for practically month.  He’ll only eventually be able to get around with the use of crutches.  He’ll then start physical therapy which lasts an additional 5 months, so he won’t be able to play soccer or tennis for 6 months after the surgery.

Finally, we hope that during the surgery that Joel’s nose doesn’t light up red and he make a loud buzzer noise  when the doctors are trying to repair the ligament (remember the board game “Operation” — pictured left).

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God’s promises

Posted on July 22, 2012 by Joel & Kim

I am not much of one who searches for “signs” from God in life’s circumstances and through nature, which could be to my fault, but God spoke to me through a “sign” yesterday.

Kim and I have been going through a little bit of rough patch recently… not anything with us as a couple or not anything big like difficulties with the national church here in Ecuador.  Just kind of numerous things that have been seemingly stacking up against us and causing us problems.  Of course, we have been taking these matters to heart and to God in prayer and scripture.  But as you know, sometimes these periods last longer than others do.

As you all have read, we (being Simeon and I) had an important meeting to attend in the jungle yesterday as that was where the Administrative Councils of the National church were meeting for this month’s monthly meetings.  We were hoping that we would be able to discuss the future Center for At Risk Children and Medical Clinic to see what decisions could be made and what direction we could be given.  We were hoping that, specifically, they would decide where they would like to have future ministry be located.  It has been over a year since we have begun talking with the leadership of I.P.E.E. (the Covenant National Church of Ecuador) about this question and many others.  It was because of this question that they decided that we should do the Field Study so that way research could be done on the determining a location.  We have felt good about everything I.P.E.E. has wanted us to do but also with the planning of our departure for Home Assignment we were needing to get to the point where some decisions could be made.

All of that to explain everything leading up to yesterday, Saturday’s Council meeting.  I had brought together all of the information that we had collected along the way, the original report that F.A.C.E. compiled, the original proposal that F.A.C.E. wrote, a report on statistics here in Ecuador and finally the report on the Field Study that we had written.  The members of the Council took all of these to heart and read through them carefully and then we went through a process of talking about all 6 of the Districts of I.P.E.E. churches and their pluses and minuses and narrowed them down to 4 areas that would be best.  The North District (which includes the city of Ibarra and everything north of there), the Quechua District (which includes the city of Cayambe and the surrounding area), the Northern Coast District (which includes the cities of Manta and Montecristi and the surrounding area) and the city of Santo Domingo and it’s surrounding area.  After further lengthy discussions, we narrowed them down to two areas: Santo Domingo and a location between the North District and the Quechua District (precisely Otovalo) where those two districts could collaborate together to support the future ministry.  In deciding between these two areas, it was a quite a lengthy discussion.  We talked about the needs of children in those areas, the climate in both areas, the strength of the support churches in the areas, the ease of traveling to each location,  and several factors that pertained.  After this lengthy discussion, they took a vote and 8 to 1 they voted in favor of the ministry being a shared ministry of the North District and the Quechua District and we’ll look to see if it can be located in the city of Otovalo.

We are really excited about this decision!  We feel like the will of God has been shown to us through the strong and capable leadership of the National Church and their well-thought out decision making process.  We just feel honored that we could be a part of it.

Now, back to the first part of this post.  I have always enjoyed rainbows, as I am sure many do.  I am always reminded of God’s promise to Noah and all of us through the rainbow, whenever I see one.  I see it as a way of God reminding us that He is a part of the world, of nature and our lives.

Well, yesterday when Simeon and I were traveling back from the jungle to our home in Quito, we were driving by a vast ravine covered in trees.  It was raining but there was a lot of sun just a head so I thought to myself, I wonder if there is a rainbow around.  So, I looked to my side (while still keeping my eyes on the road mom!) and there was a huge one right next to me.  It traversed from behind me and plunged down deep into the ravine.  It was beautiful!  As I checked it numerous times, I noticed that it was traveling also.  It was actually coming right along beside me.  In that instant, God spoke to me.  Of course, I was feeling overjoyed by the decision that was made and by seeing this rainbow but God spoke to me through it telling me that, just like the footprints in the sand, “Joel, through all your difficulties and pains, I’ve been traveling along right beside you this whole time.”  So, no, it wasn’t an audible voice and the scientific part of my brain would just tell me that I’m sure every rainbow appears like it’s moving when you are moving.  But all of that doesn’t matter because I had never seen a rainbow traveling like that before and God spoke to me right then to tell me that He was near and has always been near.

It doesn’t matter what life and ministry throws your way when you’ve got God right next to you.

Thank you God for your eternal blessings, comfort and love!  I will always be reminded of you and your love through rainbows.

P.S. Kim made it safe to St. Paul, MN yesterday and is having a nice time with family.  She starts class on Monday.

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Meeting on Saturday

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Joel & Kim

Hello!  We just wanted to share a prayer request with you all.  You all know that Kim will be taking off early Saturday morning to fly to the States for another week of class in MN.  Well, Joel and Simeon will be dropping her off at the airport at 4:30 a.m. and driving immediately out to the jungle.  It’s not the deep jungle, only about 2.5 hours to the jungle city of El Chaco.  There the leadership of IPEE will be meeting for their monthly meeting in a different part of the country.  Well, we have recently completed the report of our findings from the Field Study and compiled all of the information into a 43 page report which we presented to the leadership of IPEE.  They will be utilizing this information to make final decisions as to how our ministry will look and where it will be located.  We are hoping (don’t know for certain) that this report will be discussed this Saturday and Joel will be available to help with any questions or provide any input.  We know that they will be asking us what we think and where we want it to be but we are wanting the leadership of IPEE to make all of the final decisions so we will be asking them to make those critical decisions.  Joel will be attending the meeting anyways because he needs to be there as the President of the Campgrounds but we are hoping that this topic will be discussed and hopefully decided upon.

Please pray for us, the direction of the Center for At Risk Children and Medical Clinic and that God’s will be done.

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Leaving on a Jet Plane

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Joel & Kim

Leaving on a Jet Plane

On Saturday (July 21st,  (VERY EARLY), Kim will be heading to Minneapolis/St. Paul for a week for a class at Bethel University until the 28th of July.  The class is the 2nd and final class requirement she needs to take for becoming a long-term missionary with Covenant World Mission.  There are other requirements she will be preparing in the next couple of months, but we are excited and she is VERY excited that this is the last class requirement.  One perk of going to Minnesota is that she has family there.  Her aunts, uncles and cousins live there so she will be seeing and visiting them between and before classes.  Additionally, her brother, sister-in-law, new great niece and mom will all be coming up to visit as well!  This is very exciting as it has been over a year since she has seen her brother and more than that since seeing her aunts, uncles and cousins.  Although this is exciting, it will be very difficult to be away from Joel and Simeon for a week.  BOO!  If you think of us this next week, please pray for:

~Kim’s travel on Saturday-she leaves at 6:35AM-this makes for a long day!

~Kim’s time with family

~Joel and Simeon back on the homefront-for safety as they travel

~Kim’s class-5 days of Covenant Theology-YIKES!

~Kim’s return trip on July 28th

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A Delp Family Visit

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Joel & Kim

On June 24th, Joel’s parents, Ruth and Earl and his brother Eric and his family, Fumiko, Sheena and Reenna flew into Quito for the start of a two-week time together to celebrate Earl and Ruth’s 50th anniversary coming up in August.  We basically traveled through the majority of Ecuador, minus a couple of places.  We went to Mindo to start with.  We knew Ruthie would love this place.  It has many species of birds to see as well as other nature.  The whole family ended up enjoying it!  We then went to Santo Domingo and worked at the camp for a couple of days so the family could meet the Rocha family who we talk about so much.  We then went to Puerto Lopez and saw humpback whales as well as many other animals at the “Poor Man’s Galapagos” or Isla de la Plata.  We spent a day at the beach in Crucita and then went to Bahia de Caraquez and visited Isla Corazon.  We then headed back to Quito because Joel’s sister, Shana and her daughter Braedyn flew in on July2nd.  We missed having the rest of Shana’s family, her hubby Bo and 2 older daughters Brianne and Bailey had to stay home.  They were thoroughly missed though!  Many times we said, “we wish the rest of the O’Dell’s were here!”  We hung out in Quito to see Mitad del Mundo (the middle of the world) and the equator.  Then we went to Pappallacta to the hot springs for a little bit and then went to Puyo.  We went on a jungle tour as well as visited a monkey refuge.  Then we headed to Banos and hiked to a huge waterfall (Pailon del Diablo), rode in dune buggies, went ziplining and much more!  Enjoy the pictures!

We just want to say, THANK YOU so much Delp/O’Dell family for a great 2 weeks!  We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family to share our lives with.

Butterfly in Mindo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earl and Ruth, Sheena and Reenna in Mindo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Delp and Rocha families in Santo Domingo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whales in Puerto Lopez

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earl and Ruth at Isla de la Plata

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue-footed boobies at Isla de la Plata

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A failed attempt at a family picture at sunset

 

 

 

 

 

Family picture op at Mitad del Mundo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Papallacta

 

 

 

 

 

Grandma Ruthie and simeon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isla Corazon and the mangroves

 

 

 

 

 

Jungle tour in Puyo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monkey Refuge

 

 

 

 

 

A monkey be-friending Braedyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family picture (minus 3 O'Dell's) at Pailon del Diablo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheena and Reenna with roasting cuy (guinea pig)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheena ziplining!

 

 

 

 

 

Family pic with Imbabura in the background at Puerto Lago restaurant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more pictures from our trip you can check out our facebook pages (Kim Carter-Delp or Joel Delp)

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Update

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Joel & Kim

Ruth and Earl holding Simeon as a newborn.

First of all, we wanted to update you all on how the meeting went on Friday.  Safe to say it went not as well as we would have liked.  It looks like there will be a lot for us to work through as far as the government is concerned.  It seems as though they are currently going through an evaluation process where they are evaluating all of the current centers for at risk children to see what all they currently have exactly (I guess because they do not know) and then trying to determine what the additional needs are.  While they are going through this process, they are not approving any additional centers.  More than likely, this process will extend through the end of this year.

In the big scheme of things, this is fine because we will not be pursuing what we want to do until 2014 so there is much time to for the government to get things figured out.  And we have seen the need.  We have visited many areas where there is a high need for additional services for children, so we have confidence that they will be approving such ministries again in the future.  But at the same time, this kind news throws one back a bit and causes one to pause and reflect.  In the end, our confidence lies in our Lord Jesus Christ and we know that he is in control and knows what he has plans for in the future.

On a completely other note, Joel’s family is coming!!!  Joel’s parents, Ruth and Earl, his brother and his family (wife and two daughters) and Joel’s sister and one of her daughters are all coming to visit.  This is because Joel’s parents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and they wanted to have the whole family together for this time.  We are extremely excited as none of Joel’s family has been able to come to Ecuador yet so we are so excited to show them our home here in Ecuador.

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June 2012 Newsletter Released

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Joel & Kim

We just put together our latest newsletter.  Please click the following to download it:

Newsletter_June_2012

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Update on Financial Needs

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Joel & Kim

We have recently learned that our Ministry Account has gotten very low and will remain low or in the red the remainder of our time this year in Ecuador.  You may ask, “But Joel and Kim, how could this be?  You have said that you raised all of the support that was needed for your budget and you’ve raised the additional amount that was needed for your 5 month extension?” Yes, you would be correct in your questions and what we have explained about what was raised in the past for what was budgeted.  And for that we are compelled to give you all an enormous and grateful THANK YOU for being such wonderful and gracious supporters that have met our needs every time that we have asked!!!!

The time has arisen again in which we need to ask for help.  This has come about not because of the lack of support but because of an overage in spending.  Unfortunately, the overage in spending has been out of our control.  Things have been more costly for us than what was originally anticipated and for that reason we have gone above the amounts that were budgeted and for what we had raised support for.  We prayerfully decided early on in our time in Ecuador that even though we knew that this was going to be the case that if we felt that God was calling us to these ministries that he would meet all of our needs, including those financial ones, even if they went above what was originally planned.

Let us give you a few examples.  We were given a budget of $150 per month for our transportation costs.  Well, over the last two years we have had average monthly transportation costs of $425.  We were aware of this excess but we decided that God and the National Church were wanting us to serve in the Camp in Santo Domingo and with our most recent Field Study, so we felt that we should keep doing those ministries and he would provide.  A second example would be Kim’s recent news that she needed to take a couple of classes in the States.  She just got back from a week in Chicago taking a Covenant History class and she’ll be taking a Covenant Theology class in July in St. Paul, MN.  These classes have come about because of the fact that we are applying to be Long-Term Missionaries and return to Ecuador!  This is exciting for us but also it’s an additional expense.  She will have had over $3,000 worth of expenses once everything is said and done for taking these two classes.  If you are wondering why she’s not waiting to take them until we return to the States in November, it’s because of the timing for applying for Long-Term Missionary Status and seeking Consecration as Long-Term Missionaries in June of 2013 instead of 2014, which would delay our time getting back to Ecuador.  The third and final example is the fact that we have continued taking Spanish classes on and off when we were able to.  We had originally only budgeted for the first 6 months.  This hasn’t been a major expense because we haven’t done it an extraordinary amount of times but it is an extra expense nonetheless.

People have often told us before that they would like to have an idea of some of our different costs so that way they can support us specifically for one or several specific items.  Well, we provided a list of some of those items below to help you if you would like to support a specific cost.

We wanted to again provide the ways in which you can support us financially.  Those are: 1) Send a check to: Covenant World Mission, 8303 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631 and specify that the check is for “Joel & Kim Delp STM Account”; 2) Provide a one time or recurring gift online by clicking here: http://www.covchurch.org/mission/jkdelp/#more-4857

Lists of costs that have caused the over expenditure

  • 1 Trip to Santo Domingo = $60 (We average 1 or 2 every month)
  • Brake Pad Replacement = $80 (Average 1 every 4 months)
  • Denominational Charges for Kim’s 2 Classes = $1,900
  • 1 Week of Spanish Class = $170
  • Average Field Study Trip = $80 (They were 5 actual trips in total)
  • Kim’s Transportation costs for the 2 classes = $1,300
  • Annual Car Maintenance = $200
  • Charges for babysitter during Spanish classes = $40

 

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News from Joel

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Joel & Kim

I haven’t updated you all on any information from my standpoint (and I’ve got some!) so I thought I’d write a post to update you all on various things.

Last week, Simeon and I had a pretty good week without mom around the whole time, though we sure wished she was there!  We had some help from Martita our babysitter during the week as well as some friends when I had some meetings.  But by and large it was a long time of playing together and we had a blast!

We went to Santo  Domingo on the Friday because I had meetings there with the new Camp Committee on the Friday and Saturday.  They were long meetings and unfortunately Simeon got pretty sick again and so he was wanting to be around me a lot of the time even though he has lots of friends (humans and animals!) there at the Camp.  So, that made things a little bit difficult but in the end we had some very productive and helpful meetings.  I feel like God has brought together this new Committee and with its help and God’s leading, the Camp will make many strides this year.

Simeon and I traveled back to Quito on the Saturday and unfortunately he got worse and actually got sick in the car!  Uck!  It was a couple of rough nights and days the next couple of days while we waited for mom to come back with a sick Simeon.

But he is feeling better now so hopefully he’ll continue to be on the mend.

I got some rough news this week.  I had hurt my knee playing soccer a couple of months ago but have been so busy recently that I haven’t had time to check it out.  Well, this week I went to a knee specialist and found out that I had torn my ACL.  I’ll be having reconstructive knee surgery on July 30th.  We were waiting to schedule it until then because we have such a busy schedule until that point.  The month of August is our first real break that we’ll have had in quite a while.

I think that’s all I’ve got at this point.  Thanks for reading!

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Week in the States

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Joel & Kim

The members of the History of the Covenant Class in Chicago

I (Kim) returned from a very quick trip to the States.  I was there for about 8 days.  You may wonder why in the world would I leave my boys at home?  Well, I for sure didn’t want to, but I did because I needed to take a class in Chicago.  It was a bit unexpected so we didn’t have the money in our budget to fly the whole family back to Chicago.  So, hence, it was just me.  It was pretty difficult to be away from Joel and Simeon for a week and I cried most of the way to Chicago, but I realized on the way I needed to give them to God and know that they were safe there.

The class started on Monday and lasted until Friday from 9AM-5PM.  I had good times visiting with friends, professors and co-workers during this week.  I stayed with good friends Mo and Zach Smith, fellow missionaries to Ecuador, Chris and Jenny Hoskins, during the week and then with our home church pastor and family, Paul and Mary Thompson.  Paul actually picked me up from the airport at midnight on Sunday the 3rd so he gets a gold star for sure!!!!!

On Saturday, I traveled to Mt. Prospect, where we used to live and where our church is.  I connected with a couple of friends that day and got CHIPOTLE!!!!!

On Sunday, I spoke in church, updating everyone on what we are doing and plans for coming back to the States in the Fall.  After church there was a church picnic and I got to see and connect with so many friends that we miss.

It was a great trip, but I was so excited to get back to Ecuador to be with Simeon and Joel.  It was a great reunion.  Simeon even had  a balloon for me!

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