We made it to Santo Domingo safe and sound. Thank you for your prayers!! We just stopped by at an Internet Cafe so we could let you all know.
In Santo Domingo
Categories: Family Fun, Ministry, Santo Domingo, Updates
Tags: Ecuador, Santo Domingo, Travel, Trips, Updates
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Being Unreachable
We just wanted to update and let everyone know that the next couple of weeks (until February 19th) while we are traveling to Santo Domingo, we will be somewhat unreachable. 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: Ministry, Santo Domingo, Travel, Updates
Tags: Blog, Ecuador, Santo Domingo, Travel, Trips, Updates
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Joel’s Role in Santo Domingo
I (Joel) just wanted to provide a little bit more information as to my role in Santo Domingo.
First off, I just wanted to explain that IPEE (the Covenant National Church or Ecuador) has laid out the next 6 months for us. The first 3 months of those 6 months will be my work in Santo Domingo. The second 3 months of the next 6 months, we will be traveling to the jungle town of Tena where we will be going to visit indigenous communities there so that Kim can help with the diagnosing of disabilities. So, this will be Kim’s time to shine. We haven’t filled you all in on that yet, so we just wanted to update you on it.
I haven’t exactly explained what my role in Santo Domingo will be just yet. IPEE is hoping to make a significant amount of changes to improve the camp facilities there in Santo Domingo. They are looking forward to having me bring my experience in the business world and my business training to help facilitate a process for making improvements.
I have visited now twice and have gottten a feel for what the situation is like and I must say that I am already impressed. I think they have a very good thing going already as there are many church groups from other denominations that also use the facilities. Most Camps I know in the States are not profitable in and of themselves and require the donations of the larger body to make ends meet. That’s not the case for the Camp here. They were profitable last year just in the fees that they charge for visitors, which are some of the lowest of any of the camps in the areas. I understand why they are looking to make the changes because there is still quite a bit that could be done to improve things so that it receives even more visitors.
They would like me to assist in a consultant or project manager type role. They were thinking about hiring someone for this work but when they saw my resume and experience, they thought I would be a good fit. And I think that is the case. I really enjoy this type of project and I believe, with God’s help, I can do well.
My plan for the work is this:
1) Take about a month or so to assess the camp currently. Take an inventory of all their amenities, supplies, etc. Interview all of the workers to get an understanding of everyone’s roles. Assess what the current needs of the camp are and what historic and current financial outlooks are at. Also, with all of this, I hope to be able to put together some sort of manual that can be a guide going forward.
2) Next, I plan to visit other camp facilities and other resort facilities to see what they are doing well and to see what all changes can be implemented at the camp. I will see what is expected of resort type facilities by tourists as well as see what has been profitable for those institutions.
3) Then I will come up with two or three plans that the camp can implement to go about making these changes.
4) Finally, I will present these plans to the committee that is over the Camp so they can make a decision as to what plan they would like to proceed with. At this point, I will take my direction from them as to what the next step will be.
Again, with all of this, all glory goes to God and this work will only be successful if His hand is in it and He leads and guides us through this process. Please pray as we take things one step at a time.
Categories: Ministry, Santo Domingo, Travel, Updates
Tags: IPEE, Prayer Requests, Travel, Updates
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Colaborador
We keep forgetting to let you know that it has been pretty neat for us to learn what they call us “missionaries” down here in Ecuador. Instead of calling us Missionaries from the U.S. or Sweden or wherever, the Nationals here call us “Colaboradores,” which means colaborators or colleagues or associates. We really, really appreciate this title as it emphasizes the fact that we are here to work together with the National Church. Too often in the past, there has been a paternalistic relationship with missions, which isn’t too surprising as the gospel has spread to many places on the earth because of the work of missionaries. But seeing as in Ecuador, they have an established National Church with almost 80 churches which are self-reliant, there is no need for a paternalistic type structure to exist.
That’s why it is neat for us to see the National Church embracing us as co-laborers in the work that lays ahead for us all. We serve Christ hand in hand with equal submission to one another (Ephesians 5:21). Now, not everything is perfect all the time, but do you know any church that is perfect all the time or for that matter, any Christian who is perfect all the time.
Santo Domingo Travel
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.
Categories: Santo Domingo, Travel, Updates
Tags: Ecuador, IPEE, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Santo Domingo, Travel, Trips, Updates
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Update on Earl
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!
Categories: Prayer Requests, Updates
Tags: Answered prayers, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Updates
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The Covenant Camp in Santo Domingo
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
Categories: Ministry, Santo Domingo, Updates
Tags: Ecuador, IPEE, Prayer Requests, Santo Domingo, Travel, Trips, Updates
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Holidays in the States
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!
Categories: Prayer Requests, Travel, Updates
Tags: Churches, Family Fun, Northwest Covenant Church, Simeon, Travel, Trips, Updates
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More posts coming soon
Well, chaos has continued since arriving to Ecuador. Since we have arrived, we have spent our entire time trying to get settled while helping another new Short-Term Missionary, Mandy Hjelm, get oriented, as well as helping the other Short-Term Missionary couple, Chris and Jenny Hoskins, have their second baby. Elsa Kristin Hoskins was born on Thursday even. She is quite the cutie!!!
All this to say, sorry that we have not been providing more regular updates. It has been a crazy month or so with Joel’s dad health difficulties and now our chaotic transition back to Ecuador. We will be providing pictures from our time in the States as well as an update on our work as we get started here this week. Thank you for your patience!
Please continue to pray for Joel’s father. His low blood pressure issue has gotten better and they are hoping that he will be released from the hospital. We will keep you updated but please continue to pray!
Categories: Ministry, Updates
Tags: Blog, Ecuador, Ecuador Info, Prayer Requests, Updates
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Back in Ecuador
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.
Categories: Prayer Requests, Travel, Updates
Tags: Answered prayers, Blog, Ecuador, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Travel, Updates
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The Santiago Partnership