Christmas in February

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Joel & Kim


Some of you may look at this picture and think, wow, you like clutter, maybe you should clean that up.  To us, this is GOLD!  For those of you who may not know, in Ecuador, during the pandemic, our postal system was completely shut down, so we can no longer receive any type of cards or packages.  Most of the things we would have received like the Covenant Companion magazine or the Home Altar or even the missionary prayer calendar isn’t something we receive unless we are in the U.S. or some willing volunteer can fit it in their suitcase.  So, when Joel’s family came down in January/February, we given CHRISTMAS IN FEBRUARY in the form of cards and letters from YOU ALL!  It is truly a gift to receive and we are so thankful that you took the time to write the letters, address the envelope and stick it in the mail to send.  We feel loved, cared for and remembered.  What may seem like a very simple act, makes us feel loved whenever we receive them, in December or FEBRUARY!

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Unrest in Ecuador – prayers appreciated!

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Joel & Kim

We would covet your prayers for Ecuador right now for the unrest and violence that we are currently experiencing as a country as a whole.  You have probably heard different news reports and such, but if not, this video provides a quick explanation of what has been happening:  BBC News

Despite all of these news reports which are true and good at providing the prayer points that we would love you to join us for prayer on, we do want to share that we are doing well here in Quito as well as the project is doing well in Cayambe.  Although there is increased violence on the coast, especially in regards to the police and military interventions with the drug trafficking, we have experienced relative calm and peace here in the highlands.  We want to share with you that 80% of the increased crime that Ecuador has seen since the recent uptick in voilence is related specifically to the crackdown on the drug cartels and their response to those efforts.

 

Since the initial steps that the government took to keep people safe, Quito, Cayambe and the rest of the highlands have all returned to normal and, besides an overnight curfew, there are no additional restrictions in place.  Though the coast of Ecuador, where the drug route is located, is still experiencing many restrictions, our life is back to normal here in the highlands.

 

Additionally, during this time of increased violence, the U.S. Embassy has not issued any additional travel warnings or advisories for U.S. citizens traveling here.  Ecuador is still considered a relative safe place to travel to, especially here in the highlands.  If you have had plans to travel here, the U.S. Embassy still gives you the green light and so do we.

 

All of that to stay, please pray for Ecuador and the Ecuadorian government and police and military forces as they are in a battle against these drug cartels!

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Delp Family Christmas Newsletter 2023

Posted on December 25, 2023 by Joel & Kim

Hello,

In case you haven’t received our annual Christmas newsletter in the mail, you can click here to download it:

 

Delp Christmas Newsletter 2023

 

Merry Christmas everyone!

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Broken Places

Posted on November 30, 2023 by Joel & Kim

“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.”

                                                                                ― Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms

Don’t worry, I know this sounds really, REALLY dark and it is dark.  Just the other day, my spiritual director and I were talking about this quote and this is the image the came in to my mind.  It would be very easy to take this quote above and let it drive our lives to live in a constant place of hopelessness.  Honestly, some days feel that way for most of us.  But the hope that we talked about in this quote is that WHAT comes through broken places?

LIGHT.

Light gets in to the broken places.

Which brought thoughts and memories of verses that I have learned throughout my life.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.  Isaiah 9:2

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

8Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night. 9 An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy.   Luke 2:8-10

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

The world is broken and we live in this brokenness everyday.  We are guaranteed that we will experience this brokenness and the weight of this experience can be unbearable.  It can break us.  But isn’t the brokenness of this world the very reason that Jesus came to this earth?  We aren’t waiting in this season of Advent for everything to be fixed.  We are waiting for “God with us”.  GOD.  WITH.  US.  Emanuel.  The light of the world, coming in to our dark places and our brokenness.  He is with us there.

We can choose to look at this above quote as the darkness that it is.  We can choose to stay there after we have been broken by this world or the people in it.  But we can also choose to see the hope-not that everything will be fixed (not on this earth anyway) or that the brokenness will stop.  But we can choose to remember that we are not alone.  Jesus came in to this world for the very reason to be in the brokenness with us.

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Delp Family Ecuador Bucket List

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Joel & Kim

Over the years, we, the Delp Family, have created a Delp Family Ecuador Bucket List.  A list of things that we want to make sure we accomplish here in Ecuador.  This has been a significant list as there are so many wonderful things to do an places to see.

Recently, we decided that we needed to get a move on with our Bucket List.  We decided that we are never really going to have the time nor have the money but we, as a family, wanted to accomplish these goals, so if it takes dipping into savings a little bit and figuring out extra time that we never seem to have, we decided to move forward on our Bucket List.  For the most part, we are able to accomplish these trips/excursions on the weekends and holidays so we aren’t having to figure out vaction days or missed days of school.

Our first Ecuador Bucket List trip occurred in September when we, as a family, visited the Hotel Dann Carlton Quito.  To explain, over the years, Kim and I have had a tradition of doing our “get aways” pretty close to home without the kids.  The idea has always been that we don’t need to travel far (in case the kids need us and we need to come back) but that we can slip away for the weekend to spend quality time as a family right near by.  So, you may think it odd that we went to a hotel in our hometown of Quito, Ecuador but that is exactly what we did.  Kim and I over the years have stayed in reasonably price nice hotels in Quito as a way to get a way as a couple.  The kids have always been jealous of these excursions and have always said, “One day you need to take us with you;” thus, the bucket list item was created.

So for our first Delp Family Ecuador Bucket List trip, we just went 15 minutes away to stay a night at the Hotel Dann Carlton Quito, a great deal that we got for only $80.  But the kids didn’t care about what a great deal it was because all they saw was the beautiful hotel they got to stay in.

Here are some pictures from our family date weekend at the Hotel Dann Carlton which included a family date night, a trip to the tea room, time in the pool, a family walk in the park as well as other adventures.

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The Battle Is Not Yours

Posted on September 29, 2023 by Joel & Kim

 

You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem.  Do not be afraid; do not discouraged.  Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.

-2 Chronicles 20:1

Recently I woke up, as I often do, with words to a song in my head.  I couldn’t remember the name of the song or who sang it, just lyrics that throughout the morning kept coming to me, “he’s in the waiting.”   I know well enough by now that usually means God has something for me.  So, I did what any almost-middle aged woman does when they can’t remember something, I googled it!  The song that came up was Take Courage by Kristene DiMarco.  As I listened to the song, I was overcome with encouragement, care and like I was given a big hug!  We think a lot of time when we read scripture or when we listen to music with biblical words how much of an impact it has.  But both of these things hit very differently when we are in the middle of our own battles, our own crisis or chaos, which is where we feel we are right now.  That is what is so amazing about the God-breathed scriptures, they aren’t static, just as God is not static.  He is always moving WITH and AMONG us.

After listening to this song on repeat for awhile, I wanted to know how it came about so I researched what caused the writers to write it.  It was based on 2 Chronicles 20 which talks about Jehoshaphat.  He is in the middle of a crisis for sure.  The chapter starts with Jehoshaphat getting some bad news that a huge army was coming.  His first response was to inquire to the Lord and fasted together with all of Judah.  Jehoshaphat stands up and gives a shout out to God and His faithfulness in the past.  He ends this by saying,

” For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (v12)

After that the Spirit of God came to some of those standing in the assembly and spoke to Jehoshaphat saying THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS TO YOU:

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v15)

So after he hears this, Jehoshaphat bowed down and all those with him did too in worship to the Lord (v18).  Some stood up and praised Him.   The next day they left and Jehoshaphat stood up and said “Listen to me, have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful.”  After this he appointed people to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the SPLENDOR OF HIS HOLINESS as they went out at the head of the army saying:

Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.

When they began to sing the army was defeated by the Lord. (v20-23)

So when I read this, there was just SO MUCH speaking, so much good and hope and praise!  It hit me differently because of what we are currently facing, challenges in ministry and it feels like our days are just filled with new problems and fires to put out.  It’s heavy and today, I even said to myself, “things feel very hopeless.”  I talked with my spiritual director about this today and we walked through this passage of scripture and came up with some great points to focus on that bring hope.

  • Jehoshaphat admits he has no power and doesn’t know what to do.
    • This is likely something most people (myself included) wouldn’t admit right away.  We want to figure things out and fix them.  We don’t want to admit we are powerless.  But here’s the amazing thing, I think it takes us getting to this point to realize we are at the end of ourselves to fully focus and let go of all we think we know to allow Christ to take over.  Jehoshaphat does this first thing, showing truly that his eyes were on God (v12)
  • Jehoshaphat allows others to speak God in to His life.
    • Sometimes we get very consumed and inward focused when we are in the middle of a battle.  We lose where we are supposed to be looking and who we are supposed to be listening to.  The Lord spoke to members of the assembly that were gathered.  They were obedient to not only listen to what the Lord said, but to pass it on to Jehoshaphat.  I know a lot of times when I am in the middle of the battle similar to I am now, it may take a little bit more for me to hear.  In the hearing from God, he had to listen to others who were seeking him out in obedience.  They actually said, “LISTEN, this is what the Lord says to you.”
  • Jehoshaphat is told that he didn’t need to be afraid or discouraged and will not have to fight the battle.
    • Imagine the peace would have been felt just by hearing that this huge battle that was upon Jehoshaphat would not have to be fought.  A vast army on his doorstep and he didn’t have to do anything!
  • In response to this news, Jehoshaphat bows down and worshipped.
    • What a beautiful scene this is of the kingdom of Judah bowing down in worship and what a beautiful example to us to do the same.  They could have done a hundred other things in this instant, but they bowed down and worshipped.
  • In the worshipping, Jehoshaphat recognizes that it wasn’t what God did or would do to rescue them, but WHO He was.
    • He experiences the holiness of Christ himself and the result of that is thanks, praise and HOPE! (v21).  What a beautiful psalm they are living out saying “praise him for the splendor of his holiness.”
  • As they sang praise, the Lord set ambushes against the army and they were defeated.  Others turned on themselves and defeated each other.
    • “As they sang praise”…in the middle of praise, God worked, God acted on behalf of Judah.

We may think this is just a story nestled in the heart of the Old Testament.  But this passage speaks to us and gives us a blueprint that in the praise, in the waiting, in the battle, God is fighting with us and for us.  He does not let us fight the battle, but is fighting the battle for us.  In the praise, we can experience hope and the realization of the holiness of Christ himself.

 

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Culture Shock in the Vitamin Aisle

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Joel & Kim

In the mission world, we talk about culture shock a lot.  You have probably heard people talk about it, people who have been overseas for a while, or maybe not even that long and then go back to their passport country and realize something is different.  We left the U.S. over 13 years ago now, but that doesn’t mean we still don’t have culture shock either coming back to Ecuador from being in the U.S. or vice versa.  There is usually something that makes it known either consciously or subconsciously that makes us tell ourselves,  “we’re not in Kansas anymore” or “Houston, we have a problem”!  It can be simple things like being able to flush toilet paper or drink water out of the faucet or not hearing Spanish, but only English in the background all the time.  In Ecuador, it is usually only Spanish and that is easy to not need to be aware and overhear or eavesdrop because our brains (because it is our 2nd language) can tune it out.  But when we are surrounded by only English all the time, it is like circuit overload because we understand EVERYTHING in all of the conversations around us and because our brains aren’t used to it, we struggle tuning it out!  Another thing is going to Walmart or Target and just being surrounded with so.many.options!  The pop aisle has two whole aisles of decisions!  The chip aisle has so many Dorito choices!  The candy aisle, WOWZA!

Sometimes, it is bigger things like tough conversations or explaining ourselves over and over why we speak Spanish or that hard word, HOME, that always comes up when we are stateside (this would take a whole other blog to discuss), but safe to say that the U.S. rarely feels like home to us because our home is in Ecuador.  Anyway, there is always culture shock for us.  This year going back to the States, for me (Kim), it was the vitamin aisle!  I know that may sound a little crazy, I admit it sounds crazy.  But I was specifically looking for a couple of different vitamins for the kids and then for Joel and I!  I literally sat there for over 30 minutes trying to find what I needed, but to no avail.  Throughout our time I ended up going to multiple different vitamin aisles only to be overwhelmed to the point of tears at the amount of options from Melatonin to Probiotics to multivitamins and everything in between.  Vitamins here in Ecuador are a hot commodity, but also a very expensive one, something the majority of people can’t afford, but that we know can be so beneficial.  Even just standing in the aisle made me realize I was so fortunate to be able to have the choice of SO many vitamins.

Why do I even tell you this seemingly meaningless story of my vitamin aisle culture shock?  It is a reminder to be thankful for choices, simple things like vitamins and also to remember to pray for missionaries when they are traveling between different cultures.  If they cry unexpectedly, give grace because it likely is way deeper than you know.  If you have no idea what to say to missionaries, sometimes it can be easier to choose to talk to someone you know better, but most missionaries and especially missionary kids want to be seen.  Ask them about their life, what is hard, what they love, what are favorite things about the country where they serve?  Most of us will love telling you and most of us want someone to acknowledge the hard part of coming back to our passport country.

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Vacay for the Delps

Posted on August 31, 2023 by Joel & Kim

In August, we were able to take a family vacation to the U.S.  We spent time in Texas, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, doing some of our favorite things, eating fav foods and visiting friends and family.  On the way, we stopped in Houston for a 15 hour layover and visited with good friends, the Burbanos!  Last year during our Sabbatical, Joel and the kids were able to visit places in Ohio, including where Joel grew up, where he spent summers and the kids wanted me (Kim) to be able to experience those things with them.  So, we spent our first week in Ohio.  We visited Madison, OH and Geneva-On-The-Lake.  We went to some hometown favorites that have been around a LONG time including Eddie’s Grill, Madsen donuts and a putt-putt place that is one of the oldest in the country!  We went to Cedar Point and a Cleveland Guardians game.  We also visited high school friends of Joel’s including DB and his family and Candy and Pete and their family!  We drove by Joel’s old home and played in Lake Erie where he used to!

We also spent time in Indiana with family and friends.  We went tubing and boating, learned how to play pickleball, ate yummy Amish food, picnicked in the rain, made pizza together, went fishing, worked on new ideas for reusable menstruation kits and really just enjoyed making sweet memories together.

We then were in Illinois where we had our favorite Sushi-Sushi Station, visited with those who first welcomed us in to the Covenant Church, received amazing generosity from friends who allowed us to stay in or live in their house for a week.  We took the kids camping for the first time!  Had amazing food and coffee!  Enjoyed summer nights chatting and Chicago sunsets and skylines.  We went to a movie in the park in Chicago, went to a dog park (without a dog, just to get the kisses), tubing, boating, fishing and catching fireflies!

Here was our top 10 from the Summer vacay:

  1. Cedar Point
  2. Seeing Family and Friends
  3. Guardians Game
  4. Camping
  5. Tubing
  6. Flying (#tellingthestory) of getting to the U.S. from Ecuador which included failed Lyft drivers, throwing up in a plane and canceled flights
  7. Mini golf
  8. Madison/Geneva on the lake
  9. Seeing DB (Joel’s high school buddy)
  10. Eating at U.S. restaurants we miss!

Check out some of the pics:

We have to celebrate BUCKEYES in OHIO!

And we got yummy Ecuadorian treats to introduce to the Bilek family (for like 3 times the price of Ecuador)

 

 

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Update on the Ecuadorian Presidential Elections

Posted on August 30, 2023 by Joel & Kim

We have talked in recent weeks about the presidential elections that happened here in Ecuador.  We thought we would give you an update of what we know, possibilities of what the future might look like and what that may look like for the project in Cayambe.

There has been some instability leading up to these elections.  In May, the National Assembly was dissolved after current president Lasso invoked the “muerte cruzada” which, to our understanding dissolves the legislative and executive branches to call for elections.  Lasso, who could have run for another term said he would not run, but call for elections to happen.  Leading up to the election in August, there were multiple attacks on presidential candidates, including the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio, which made international news.

The elections took place on August 20th, with an 82.2% voting participation that exceeded elections over the last 2 decades.  Two candidates came out of this vote, although neither received over 50% of the vote.  So, on October 15th, the country will vote again on these two candidates in hopes of voting in their next president.  The hope with this is more financial and political stability will follow as well as less violence and narcotic trafficking.  Please pray with us as the October date is fast approaching.  Pray for safety and security surrounding these elections.

One way this has affected the project in Cayambe is through government funds we receive.  The funding we receive annually for the community-based projects we carry out through the project are currently on hold.  With the instability described above, we have no idea of knowing when those funds will come.  We SO appreciate your support in our recent URGENT request for kids’ school supplies and uniforms for the children in the Home for At Risk Children.  The unexpected nature of not knowing the full picture of how this will affect the project is hard.  But we know that God has always provided in the past and will continue to do so through the generosity of supporters like you!EcuadE

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The Power of YET

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Joel & Kim

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, YET I will rejoice in the Lord.  I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

~Habakkuk 3: 17-19

Holding two truths at the same time, especially when one of the truths feels heavy seems really difficult, right?  I suppose I didn’t used to think about such things.  Holding good and bad, grief and joy, hurt and wholeness, despair and hope.  When my eyes were less wide open (aka when I was youngER), I saw things much more black and white and less in grey.  I feel much more now that grey is often where things sit. In the face of holding these things together, it isn’t quite as easy to have answers, especially black and white answers when we see such brokenness.  In the past that might have scared me a little.  Doubting or questioning would have caused more pause.  But I realize more than I used to that questioning the brokenness around us isn’t bad.  Questions aren’t as easily answered and sometimes we need to pause, not to answer, but to allow ourselves space to be able to carry grief and joy at the same time.

As I was drawn to this passage coming off of the last couple of weeks where this seemed to be the sentiment, I was carrying the weight of what I was seeing around me: death, sickness, bad parts of humanity while still holding and seeing in front of me what God was doing in the midst of all of the bad.  It is definitely a spiritual battle this mission life that we live.  The wind can get knocked out of you when you realize so much of the battle IS spiritual and that maybe I’m just not holy enough to handle it.  But like the brokenness itself, those are lies from the enemy.

In the midst of the brokenness of humanity around us and spiritual {battles} (what felt like uphill battles we were in the midst of), Christ was present.  In the lives of those around me, in spite of me, in spite  of my brokenness, God worked.  He changed lives, He changed courses of young lives, He opened eyes to see Himself in ways we could never imagine.  He gave people insight in to JESUS.  Eyes and bodies that would not step foot in a church were seeing and experiencing JESUS!

A simple prayer I prayed during these last couple of weeks was

to see God in His creation and in His created beings.

That prayer was answered.  In the face of unknown diagnosis, in the face of brokenness, we were able to see hope and joy.  Holding joy and grief at the same time.  It is a difficult place to find yourself.  It IS possible to do though, but I encouraged myself to hold both of them loosely.  The grief will not always remain or it will at least be held differently, but so will the joy, the hope.  It will not always remain in the same way and it will not be held equally as it is now.  To hold both loosely gives space for the enormity of what both of those are and names what they are, but it also puts to place that it can be temporary.  We don’t have to LIVE in this space forever, it isn’t permanent.  Just as these verses in Habakkuk talk about, the power of YET, is in itself powerful.  There is hope after the grief, there is joy in our Savior.  It isn’t to minimize the grief or the pain or the brokenness, but it embodies it and allows us to carry both the grief and the joy of knowing there is more, there is beyond and we can have hope in that, joy even and strength to continue even when we don’t want to.

The power of YET.  It is powerful and although it is uncomfortable to sit in the place of YET, the place of holding brokenness and hope, we realize as we sit in this space that Jesus, the risen Savior and Redeemer of all things sits with us.

 

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