"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (!!!!) Gal. 4:6
Dear friends,
This is the last notice I will send until I see some of you! Our Father is so glorious! I look back on these last five plus months and see His hand at work. At this point with less than two weeks until I enter the plane that will take me to Utah and then onto Seattle, I am starting to pack a bit and wrap things up here for this part of the journey. I will be returning here after my future training, Lord willing, but that will not be for a year or so. I have mixed feelings. I am really going to miss this community, the IBCI students and our neighbors but I am excited to gain more training and practical experience with Gospel Recordings to be applied here in the future.
One awesome report is that the Lord provided a gal, Juana Cuichan, to fill the administrator position for IBCI Quito! She accepted just days before the November 7th class. She signed an agreement to volunteer for at least two years. After she had signed the paper and we had taken a picture to mark the joyous event we prayed together. She said a thankful prayer to God and cried about how God was using her! God really supplied someone that is excited and empowered to do the job!
Since her decision earlier this month Amie and I have been training her for this, her new position. We even have all of our volunteer teams! We had a meeting for all interested volunteers and nine students showed up and all of them want to volunteer! This is truly God’s hand as when I was here last March we had a meeting with the Quito IBCI students to see if anyone would want to volunteer and for the most part we had only one consistent volunteer. Now we have 4 people on our registration team (one more than we even need), several on the operations team and others that are volunteering as well. We even have an official IBCI office to be used by the volunteers! One of our graduated students donated a bodega in the back of their house to be used as an office. We painted it a few weeks ago and electricity has been put in. We hope to be moved in the next week or so.
Thank you all for your prayers and more than generous support. God has supplied all of the funds to purchase a ticket to Culiacan, Mexico at the end of January to be involved in the outreach to the migrant workers and to start training. I send a warm email hug until I see many of you in a few weeks when you can trade it in for a real one!
Some friends in Everett, WA are hosting a dessert party on December 15th. I would love for you all to be there. It will be a relaxed time to connect, eat some sweets and we can all catch up. I will share some pictures…no more than 10-15 minutes worth…and be able to share more about this upcoming year in Mexico and Lord willing onto Colombia! This is a Tuesday night from 6pm to around 8 or so….Please RSVP by email: holygroundhere@yahoo.com
Love in Christ Jesus!
Tiffany
Dear friends,
This last month has gone by quicker than any of the other previous months. At the beginning of this month we started the school year for the Bible Institute, IBCI, we partnered with Acts 29 for a church planting conference, and in the middle of the month I spent a week in El Oriente (the eastern jungle of Ecuador) fellowshipping and encouraging the Christians there. Also at the end of this blog I will share a big change coming in the next few months concerning an open door to begin training to effectively reach oral cultures with the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
This coming Saturday, the 7th, the students will return with their work that they were given in the class last month. I have been in the process of working myself out of a job as Quito administrator. We knew when I started that it was an interim position for me. Our desire is to have an Ecuadorian fill that role. We recently asked one of the graduates to take on the role and we should hear her response this Saturday!
The church planting conference went great! We had almost 100 people there from all over Ecuador. We had three days of preaching from different Acts 29 pastors. What was wonderful is that there was a large emphasis at the conference concerning a man’s character and family life as a pastor. A huge, and sadly frequent, sin in many congregations is infidelity. This was really addressed. There were several men there that are now pursuing to partner with Acts 29 to be church planters here in Ecuador! Here is a translated letter from one of the participants:
“Brother Steve (Steve Youngren), it is a pleasure to be part of this ministry. It was very profitable to participate in Acts29 International. It filled all my expectations about being used by the Lord in the work of His mission. As soon as I finish the questionnaire (A29 application) I will give it immediately waiting upon the Lord that He will have mercy on this insignificant servant to be accepted in this organization. Greetings to all in Christ.”
I was able to visit with Laura and her family in Babahoyo (in El Oriente) for a little less than a week. This is the same area that I stayed in last year when I was here. We have two IBCI graduates who live there. This trip I wanted to connect again with my friend and we discussed the area in which she lived. Their colony is in the middle of several Quichua villages lining the Napo River. We visited the nearest village and talked about how she and the Christians in the area could begin speaking to the few Quichua Christians that are there about reaching out to the other Quichua’s in the area with the Gospel.
As many of you know, and as I have written in previous emails, my desire for working here with Compassion Connection is to help them develop discipleship teachings to oral cultures (cultures that have no written language or are largely illiterate.) We have been waiting on the Lord to see how He would work out the training and where that would be. Last month I visited Shell Mera to meet some people working with Gospel Recordings. We were able to talk about training and what that would look like. I shared this information with Steve and Sandi Youngren and we prayerfully felt that this was an open door to be walked through.
What it will look like (Lord willing…)
After my visit to the NW for Christmas I will leave for Culiacan, MX to be involved in a training/outreach. Thousands of Indians and Spanish speakers from all over Mexico come to Culiacan each year representing over 130 ethnic groups. Thousands of migrant workers are drawn to the fertile fields of Culiacan. Gospel Recordings comes together and ministers to these people in the migrant camps when they have all come from miles and miles around for the harvest. Around 6000 cassettes or CD’s or whatever format they can listen to (there are even manual wind-up devices for those with no electricity) are given out in the month. They receive these recordings and after the harvest they return to their villages where others of their same ethnic group may listen to the gospel of Jesus Christ!
After Culiacan I would continue training in Mexico for a few months and later in the year go through a recordists training possibly in Columbia.
For most of next year I will be out of Ecuador training and working to distribute gospel tracks to various people groups in their own language. The following year I would split my time 50/50 between GRN and Compassion Connection. For GRN I would commit to making 8-10 gospel tracks a year and for CC I would be developing discipleship training for oral cultures of Ecuador (Primarily the lowland Quichua – Babahoyo, the area I visited in this last month would be an area of focus)
During my training I will learn and be involved in distribution of materials to oral cultures and I will also learn and be involved in the recording process. We would use native speakers on the tracks to then be given to others of their language and people group. GRN is simply a part of the Church’s assignment to make disciples of all nations. Often these materials are the first Christian resources on the scene in an unevangelized environment. Later there are other organizations that specialize in translating the language into writing so that these people groups can receive the written Bible in their own idiom. GRN seeks to be in partnership with the Church as a piece of the puzzle.
We had no idea what training would look like, and still we walk through this door humbly knowing that God sees things far more clearly than we do. I am very excited for these next few years. Please continue in prayer and support during this time. With this type of change it is more needed than ever. I admit I am nervous but very excited!
I will be returning to the NW from the 14th of December to the 30th of January when I depart for Mexico. Some friends are hosting a dessert party on the 15th of December in Everett, WA. If you would like to attend and hear more about this last year and the year to come I would love to see you there! RSVP by email: holygroundhere@yahoo.com
In conclusion here is a letter from Steve and Sandi Youngren sharing about these next few years:
This last month has gone by quicker than any of the other previous months. At the beginning of this month we started the school year for the Bible Institute, IBCI, we partnered with Acts 29 for a church planting conference, and in the middle of the month I spent a week in El Oriente (the eastern jungle of Ecuador) fellowshipping and encouraging the Christians there. Also at the end of this blog I will share a big change coming in the next few months concerning an open door to begin training to effectively reach oral cultures with the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
This coming Saturday, the 7th, the students will return with their work that they were given in the class last month. I have been in the process of working myself out of a job as Quito administrator. We knew when I started that it was an interim position for me. Our desire is to have an Ecuadorian fill that role. We recently asked one of the graduates to take on the role and we should hear her response this Saturday!
The church planting conference went great! We had almost 100 people there from all over Ecuador. We had three days of preaching from different Acts 29 pastors. What was wonderful is that there was a large emphasis at the conference concerning a man’s character and family life as a pastor. A huge, and sadly frequent, sin in many congregations is infidelity. This was really addressed. There were several men there that are now pursuing to partner with Acts 29 to be church planters here in Ecuador! Here is a translated letter from one of the participants:
“Brother Steve (Steve Youngren), it is a pleasure to be part of this ministry. It was very profitable to participate in Acts29 International. It filled all my expectations about being used by the Lord in the work of His mission. As soon as I finish the questionnaire (A29 application) I will give it immediately waiting upon the Lord that He will have mercy on this insignificant servant to be accepted in this organization. Greetings to all in Christ.”
I was able to visit with Laura and her family in Babahoyo (in El Oriente) for a little less than a week. This is the same area that I stayed in last year when I was here. We have two IBCI graduates who live there. This trip I wanted to connect again with my friend and we discussed the area in which she lived. Their colony is in the middle of several Quichua villages lining the Napo River. We visited the nearest village and talked about how she and the Christians in the area could begin speaking to the few Quichua Christians that are there about reaching out to the other Quichua’s in the area with the Gospel.
As many of you know, and as I have written in previous emails, my desire for working here with Compassion Connection is to help them develop discipleship teachings to oral cultures (cultures that have no written language or are largely illiterate.) We have been waiting on the Lord to see how He would work out the training and where that would be. Last month I visited Shell Mera to meet some people working with Gospel Recordings. We were able to talk about training and what that would look like. I shared this information with Steve and Sandi Youngren and we prayerfully felt that this was an open door to be walked through.
What it will look like (Lord willing…)
After my visit to the NW for Christmas I will leave for Culiacan, MX to be involved in a training/outreach. Thousands of Indians and Spanish speakers from all over Mexico come to Culiacan each year representing over 130 ethnic groups. Thousands of migrant workers are drawn to the fertile fields of Culiacan. Gospel Recordings comes together and ministers to these people in the migrant camps when they have all come from miles and miles around for the harvest. Around 6000 cassettes or CD’s or whatever format they can listen to (there are even manual wind-up devices for those with no electricity) are given out in the month. They receive these recordings and after the harvest they return to their villages where others of their same ethnic group may listen to the gospel of Jesus Christ!
After Culiacan I would continue training in Mexico for a few months and later in the year go through a recordists training possibly in Columbia.
For most of next year I will be out of Ecuador training and working to distribute gospel tracks to various people groups in their own language. The following year I would split my time 50/50 between GRN and Compassion Connection. For GRN I would commit to making 8-10 gospel tracks a year and for CC I would be developing discipleship training for oral cultures of Ecuador (Primarily the lowland Quichua – Babahoyo, the area I visited in this last month would be an area of focus)
During my training I will learn and be involved in distribution of materials to oral cultures and I will also learn and be involved in the recording process. We would use native speakers on the tracks to then be given to others of their language and people group. GRN is simply a part of the Church’s assignment to make disciples of all nations. Often these materials are the first Christian resources on the scene in an unevangelized environment. Later there are other organizations that specialize in translating the language into writing so that these people groups can receive the written Bible in their own idiom. GRN seeks to be in partnership with the Church as a piece of the puzzle.
We had no idea what training would look like, and still we walk through this door humbly knowing that God sees things far more clearly than we do. I am very excited for these next few years. Please continue in prayer and support during this time. With this type of change it is more needed than ever. I admit I am nervous but very excited!
I will be returning to the NW from the 14th of December to the 30th of January when I depart for Mexico. Some friends are hosting a dessert party on the 15th of December in Everett, WA. If you would like to attend and hear more about this last year and the year to come I would love to see you there! RSVP by email: holygroundhere@yahoo.com
In conclusion here is a letter from Steve and Sandi Youngren sharing about these next few years:
Dear friends and supporters of Tiffany,
Greetings from Ecuador!
For the past five months we have had such a wonderful time seeing what a wonderful “fit” the Lord has blessed us with by sending Tiffany to work alongside of Compassion Connection. Thank you all for making that possible!
As most of you are aware, Tiffany came to Compassion Connection with a desire to help with a long-term vision that we have had to see discipleship and bible training materials recorded in the Quichua dialect of the Napo river region (as well as the other indigenous languages here in Ecuador). Ever since her internship in Brazil she has had a desire to pursue recordings in indigenous dialects as well. Again, the way God brings things together the desires of one person with the vision of another is His amazing work of sovereignty.
Over the past couple of months we have been in dialogue with Gospel Recordings to see if there is a way for Tiffany to gain the needed training in recording oral materials. This again has been fun for us to see God’s hand, because our own journey in missions allowed us to view firsthand the work of Gospel Recordings and also to know personally the directors of GR in Latin America—Dave and Linda Gutierrez.
What has come out of this dialogue is an agreement in which Tiffany, beginning in February of 2010 will begin a track of training with GR starting in Culiacan, Mexico and then continuing on through the year in Colombia and Ecuador. Over the next two years she will share her time between Gospel Recordings and Compassion Connection, working both on recording of GR materials in the indigenous languages of Ecuador, as well as the recording of discipleship and training materials in the Quichua dialect of the Napo River region.
We are very excited for this phase of Tiffany’s (and Compassion Connection’s) missions’ journey. Our prayer is that all of you who love and support Tiffany will catch this excitement with us and be a support to Tiffany throughout all her transitions, living in other countries, working between two organizations, purchasing her recording equipment, etc. God’s grace is abundant and yet prayer is the way that many times we, on the field, are sustained by this abundant grace.
Thanks so much for your faithful support of Tiffany. May God bless you as you continue partnering with Him in His mission to this world!
In Christ, in Ecuador
Steve and Sandi Youngren
Founders/Directors Compassion Connection
Greetings from Ecuador!
For the past five months we have had such a wonderful time seeing what a wonderful “fit” the Lord has blessed us with by sending Tiffany to work alongside of Compassion Connection. Thank you all for making that possible!
As most of you are aware, Tiffany came to Compassion Connection with a desire to help with a long-term vision that we have had to see discipleship and bible training materials recorded in the Quichua dialect of the Napo river region (as well as the other indigenous languages here in Ecuador). Ever since her internship in Brazil she has had a desire to pursue recordings in indigenous dialects as well. Again, the way God brings things together the desires of one person with the vision of another is His amazing work of sovereignty.
Over the past couple of months we have been in dialogue with Gospel Recordings to see if there is a way for Tiffany to gain the needed training in recording oral materials. This again has been fun for us to see God’s hand, because our own journey in missions allowed us to view firsthand the work of Gospel Recordings and also to know personally the directors of GR in Latin America—Dave and Linda Gutierrez.
What has come out of this dialogue is an agreement in which Tiffany, beginning in February of 2010 will begin a track of training with GR starting in Culiacan, Mexico and then continuing on through the year in Colombia and Ecuador. Over the next two years she will share her time between Gospel Recordings and Compassion Connection, working both on recording of GR materials in the indigenous languages of Ecuador, as well as the recording of discipleship and training materials in the Quichua dialect of the Napo River region.
We are very excited for this phase of Tiffany’s (and Compassion Connection’s) missions’ journey. Our prayer is that all of you who love and support Tiffany will catch this excitement with us and be a support to Tiffany throughout all her transitions, living in other countries, working between two organizations, purchasing her recording equipment, etc. God’s grace is abundant and yet prayer is the way that many times we, on the field, are sustained by this abundant grace.
Thanks so much for your faithful support of Tiffany. May God bless you as you continue partnering with Him in His mission to this world!
In Christ, in Ecuador
Steve and Sandi Youngren
Founders/Directors Compassion Connection
The Body of Christ
This last month has been a great time of the Lord speaking to my heart and giving me more and more passion and peace here in Ecuador. In my last letter I shared the beginnings of some culture shock that I have been going through. Even more I have received peace upon peace from the Lord. When we feel uncomfortable, confused or maybe even angry living in another culture it is a chance to let God be glorified through our weakness. I think of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). When we all spoke the same language we tried to make a name for ourselves by making a very tall tower. God dispersed us for a reason. He confused our language for a reason - so that he would be glorified. If I am a fool so that He can be glorified then I will be a fool with all that is in me...I say this as I continue to learn and dislike being a fool sometimes! : )
In August all of our North American Potter’s Wheel students were staying in Ecuadorian homes for two weeks. This is their "homestay" that is usually the highlight of their six months here. The students take a two-week break from their classes that they take here at the base and they become a part of an Ecuadorian family for those two weeks. Just today we were all together debriefing with the students. We heard some amazing stories of how they were all stretched, frustrated and received revelation living in this different culture.
While the students were gone I had plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming IBCI graduation here in Quito this coming Saturday. Our prayer is that eventually the Ecuadorian students of IBCI would get a passion to carry on the work. IBCI is a handing off ministry. The Tena IBCI office is self run now and we are praying for that same thing here is Quito. This last month I was given the task of administrator for IBCI Quito in this interim period. Amie Youngren is the administrator over all of the Ecuador IBCI offices. Steve Youngren is the director of the IBCI offices as well as teacher for many of the classes each month. Together we have been brainstorming new policies to make this next year in Quito even stronger before the start of the new school year in October.
This last month I have also been preparing to teach New Testament Survey to the Potter's Wheel students this September and part of October. I am also preparing to teach a few discipleship courses for our morning devotions.
Heavy on my heart these days is the greater need for unity in the body of Christ (Ephesians 4). Divisions and backbiting are a daily reality in the churches here in Ecuador as well as all over the world right now. Just the other day we had a Jehovah's witness come to our door here. Mormon's are making a huge presence in the jungle areas. While we are busy fighting between denominations the enemy is taking ground with false, misleading teachings! This should not be so. I ask us all what we are going to do about it in our little corners of the world? How can we be loving our Pentecostal brother, along side the Baptist and Lutheran, alongside our Assemblies of God brother or Churches of God brother? I see so much pride and possesiveness at the root of divisions here. Are we building our own ministries and neglecting God's Church? Are we many times straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel? What happened to the city churches written to in the New Testament? What can I personally do? By God's grace and wisdom we can choose to stay out of the gossip and seek for peace amongst one another. If there is a major theological heresy we must speak the truth in love. Be in prayer with me about this. I believe this is a bigger issue than we have given credence to of late.
Prayers:
For the upcoming IBCI graduation this Saturday the 5th of September. Pray for a great time of celebration and fellowship in the Lord.
Please pray that more of the Quito IBCI students would get a passion to take IBCI on and be evangelists to their Ecuadorian brothers.
Continue to pray for Jorge and Erika - the two pastors in Chichico Rumi. Pray that those that heard the gospel in June and July's outreach would continue to grow and share with those who have not heard.
Please pray for my monthly finances. I am asking for more monthly supporters. I find I am falling short in many areas. If you would like to host a dinner or dessert to help raise support for the work here in Ecuador please contact me to receive a fundraising package in the mail.
Thanks you, thank you all for your prayers and love towards all that are near and far. We need each other in the body and I am grateful for each one of you.
Love,
Tiffany Butler
In August all of our North American Potter’s Wheel students were staying in Ecuadorian homes for two weeks. This is their "homestay" that is usually the highlight of their six months here. The students take a two-week break from their classes that they take here at the base and they become a part of an Ecuadorian family for those two weeks. Just today we were all together debriefing with the students. We heard some amazing stories of how they were all stretched, frustrated and received revelation living in this different culture.
While the students were gone I had plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming IBCI graduation here in Quito this coming Saturday. Our prayer is that eventually the Ecuadorian students of IBCI would get a passion to carry on the work. IBCI is a handing off ministry. The Tena IBCI office is self run now and we are praying for that same thing here is Quito. This last month I was given the task of administrator for IBCI Quito in this interim period. Amie Youngren is the administrator over all of the Ecuador IBCI offices. Steve Youngren is the director of the IBCI offices as well as teacher for many of the classes each month. Together we have been brainstorming new policies to make this next year in Quito even stronger before the start of the new school year in October.
This last month I have also been preparing to teach New Testament Survey to the Potter's Wheel students this September and part of October. I am also preparing to teach a few discipleship courses for our morning devotions.
Heavy on my heart these days is the greater need for unity in the body of Christ (Ephesians 4). Divisions and backbiting are a daily reality in the churches here in Ecuador as well as all over the world right now. Just the other day we had a Jehovah's witness come to our door here. Mormon's are making a huge presence in the jungle areas. While we are busy fighting between denominations the enemy is taking ground with false, misleading teachings! This should not be so. I ask us all what we are going to do about it in our little corners of the world? How can we be loving our Pentecostal brother, along side the Baptist and Lutheran, alongside our Assemblies of God brother or Churches of God brother? I see so much pride and possesiveness at the root of divisions here. Are we building our own ministries and neglecting God's Church? Are we many times straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel? What happened to the city churches written to in the New Testament? What can I personally do? By God's grace and wisdom we can choose to stay out of the gossip and seek for peace amongst one another. If there is a major theological heresy we must speak the truth in love. Be in prayer with me about this. I believe this is a bigger issue than we have given credence to of late.
Prayers:
For the upcoming IBCI graduation this Saturday the 5th of September. Pray for a great time of celebration and fellowship in the Lord.
Please pray that more of the Quito IBCI students would get a passion to take IBCI on and be evangelists to their Ecuadorian brothers.
Continue to pray for Jorge and Erika - the two pastors in Chichico Rumi. Pray that those that heard the gospel in June and July's outreach would continue to grow and share with those who have not heard.
Please pray for my monthly finances. I am asking for more monthly supporters. I find I am falling short in many areas. If you would like to host a dinner or dessert to help raise support for the work here in Ecuador please contact me to receive a fundraising package in the mail.
Thanks you, thank you all for your prayers and love towards all that are near and far. We need each other in the body and I am grateful for each one of you.
Love,
Tiffany Butler
Follow up in Chichico Rumi
OUTREACH:
Yesterday morning most of the short term-team returned to the states after about ten days here. We had a group of 23 people that went back to Chichico Rumi for a follow up outreach. We had been there last month with another team, which included Mark Erickson and Tuan Nghiem from Seattle Bible College.
The first few days the team was here were taken up with "M101 Bootcamp", activities to get the team into a cross-cultural mindset. Then last Tuesday (the 28th) we set off for the jungle. We first arrived in Puyo for the night with a visit to Shell Mera the next day then we headed onto Chichico Rumi where we arrived Wednesday night. From Thursday through Sunday we were involved in several different activities. We were helping to construct a bathroom behind the church as well as to put in some pillars for an extension in the back, along with painting the local medical clinic. During all four days we also held a Vacation Bible School for two hours each day. In our last visit Linda Webster had coordinated the events and I was her assistant. This time I had the pleasure...and the stretching experience... of coordinating the VBS. But the Lord brought such an amazing team to us and everyone was giving 110% each day!
For the kids outreach we had three different stations each day of activities from pin the tail on the monkey to jump rope stations. We would take groups of 8 or so kids from the activities to share the gospel. Most of these kids heard the Gospel last time so a lot of this trip was strengthening and encouraging the kids.
MINISTRY:
My job description here includes:
Administrator for the IBCI Quito office - Amie has been moved into the position of head administrator over all the locations in Ecuador. I am the administrator over the Quito office. I will be working with the students and preparing the materials for the students each month. This is an interim position as the future goal is to get the administration and logistics into national Ecuadorian hands.
Potter's Wheel teacher - I will be teaching New Testament Survey this September.
Mentor - I am a mentor to one of the Potter's Wheel students.
Oral cultures research - Eventually we want to be moving into oral discipleship recordings. For now part of my week will be spent in praying about and planning materials for this.
FRIENDS:
Elizabeth Garrett from Sonrise Chapel visited with me this last month down in Ecuador. It was such a wonderful comfort and blessing to have her here. She was here for the initial orientation week for Potter's Wheel (the 6-month discipleship training for students) and then we took a week to travel around different parts of Ecuador. We stopped in Quilotoa, which is a distinct volcano that erupted about 800 years ago. It is now a beautiful crater lake with amazing blues and turquoises in the water. With the elevation at about 12,840 feet the half-hour walk down turned into an hour-long trek back up!
PERSONAL:
I have now been here for almost two months. The first several weeks were pretty easy with being here. I felt the Lord's grace and calling here. In the last few weeks it had become a bit more difficult. Currently back in Washington my dad is going through many tests and minor operations to try and get him walking again. For almost a month he has been alone in a hospital in Seattle. I had shed many tears and prayed a lot for him. Not only this but also culture shock started to set in and I found myself discouraged. Being a foreigner here you are sometimes viewed just as that. You can get taken advantage of with bus fairs or a myriad of other expenses because it is thought you have a lot of money. While as in comparison I know I am rich in many ways it was discouraging to many times not to be viewed for whom I am. During the outreach and the time in Chichico Rumi I really felt passion and calling for why I am here. I look to scripture knowing that if I leave father, mother, brother (those specifically apply to me) I know I look forward to a hundred fold and eternal life to come (Mat. 19: 25-30). I know that God can take care of my family better than I can. But I know I must take care of those of my household and honor my father and mother (1 Timothy 5:8; Ex. 20:12). The Lord also has been molding me to see that despite being taken advantage at times or not understanding certain aspects of culture I must become a fool for the sake of the cross (1 Cor. 4:10-13), for the love of Jesus Christ. So in all points I see God showing His grace and peace upon me, His calling is sure. I thank Him for the understanding He supplies! And I thank you all for your prayers! : )
Yesterday my dad was moved back to the San Juan Island so he is close to family again. But please still pray that he would know the Lord and that he would be able to walk again.
PRAYERS:
Please pray that the seeds in Chichico Rumi would continue to grow
Pray for the IBCI students that they would be built up in the word and feel the cry of the lost. Pray for their upcoming graduation later this month for IBCI Quito.
All the staff of Compassion Connection for rest, wisdom and strength.
CHECK OUT THE NEW COMPASSION CONNECTION WEBSITE: you can see more pictures and comments from group members by clicking on the blogs at the bottom of the page!!!
http://www.compassionconnectionintl.org/
Yesterday morning most of the short term-team returned to the states after about ten days here. We had a group of 23 people that went back to Chichico Rumi for a follow up outreach. We had been there last month with another team, which included Mark Erickson and Tuan Nghiem from Seattle Bible College.
The first few days the team was here were taken up with "M101 Bootcamp", activities to get the team into a cross-cultural mindset. Then last Tuesday (the 28th) we set off for the jungle. We first arrived in Puyo for the night with a visit to Shell Mera the next day then we headed onto Chichico Rumi where we arrived Wednesday night. From Thursday through Sunday we were involved in several different activities. We were helping to construct a bathroom behind the church as well as to put in some pillars for an extension in the back, along with painting the local medical clinic. During all four days we also held a Vacation Bible School for two hours each day. In our last visit Linda Webster had coordinated the events and I was her assistant. This time I had the pleasure...and the stretching experience... of coordinating the VBS. But the Lord brought such an amazing team to us and everyone was giving 110% each day!
For the kids outreach we had three different stations each day of activities from pin the tail on the monkey to jump rope stations. We would take groups of 8 or so kids from the activities to share the gospel. Most of these kids heard the Gospel last time so a lot of this trip was strengthening and encouraging the kids.
MINISTRY:
My job description here includes:
Administrator for the IBCI Quito office - Amie has been moved into the position of head administrator over all the locations in Ecuador. I am the administrator over the Quito office. I will be working with the students and preparing the materials for the students each month. This is an interim position as the future goal is to get the administration and logistics into national Ecuadorian hands.
Potter's Wheel teacher - I will be teaching New Testament Survey this September.
Mentor - I am a mentor to one of the Potter's Wheel students.
Oral cultures research - Eventually we want to be moving into oral discipleship recordings. For now part of my week will be spent in praying about and planning materials for this.
FRIENDS:
Elizabeth Garrett from Sonrise Chapel visited with me this last month down in Ecuador. It was such a wonderful comfort and blessing to have her here. She was here for the initial orientation week for Potter's Wheel (the 6-month discipleship training for students) and then we took a week to travel around different parts of Ecuador. We stopped in Quilotoa, which is a distinct volcano that erupted about 800 years ago. It is now a beautiful crater lake with amazing blues and turquoises in the water. With the elevation at about 12,840 feet the half-hour walk down turned into an hour-long trek back up!
PERSONAL:
I have now been here for almost two months. The first several weeks were pretty easy with being here. I felt the Lord's grace and calling here. In the last few weeks it had become a bit more difficult. Currently back in Washington my dad is going through many tests and minor operations to try and get him walking again. For almost a month he has been alone in a hospital in Seattle. I had shed many tears and prayed a lot for him. Not only this but also culture shock started to set in and I found myself discouraged. Being a foreigner here you are sometimes viewed just as that. You can get taken advantage of with bus fairs or a myriad of other expenses because it is thought you have a lot of money. While as in comparison I know I am rich in many ways it was discouraging to many times not to be viewed for whom I am. During the outreach and the time in Chichico Rumi I really felt passion and calling for why I am here. I look to scripture knowing that if I leave father, mother, brother (those specifically apply to me) I know I look forward to a hundred fold and eternal life to come (Mat. 19: 25-30). I know that God can take care of my family better than I can. But I know I must take care of those of my household and honor my father and mother (1 Timothy 5:8; Ex. 20:12). The Lord also has been molding me to see that despite being taken advantage at times or not understanding certain aspects of culture I must become a fool for the sake of the cross (1 Cor. 4:10-13), for the love of Jesus Christ. So in all points I see God showing His grace and peace upon me, His calling is sure. I thank Him for the understanding He supplies! And I thank you all for your prayers! : )
Yesterday my dad was moved back to the San Juan Island so he is close to family again. But please still pray that he would know the Lord and that he would be able to walk again.
PRAYERS:
Please pray that the seeds in Chichico Rumi would continue to grow
Pray for the IBCI students that they would be built up in the word and feel the cry of the lost. Pray for their upcoming graduation later this month for IBCI Quito.
All the staff of Compassion Connection for rest, wisdom and strength.
CHECK OUT THE NEW COMPASSION CONNECTION WEBSITE: you can see more pictures and comments from group members by clicking on the blogs at the bottom of the page!!!
http://www.compassionconnectionintl.org/
How you can be praying
Hi buddies!
Tonight our second summer team arrives for the M101 "boot camp". I will send a report after the team leaves but I just want to let you know how you can all be praying.
Please pray:
1) That the team would all arrive here safely.
2) People would be stretched and grow in all that the Lord has for them.
3) For the outreach in Chichico Rumi:
a. We are heading back there to run a 4-day Vacation Bible School.
b. Wisdom and endurance for myself as I am coordinating the VBS this time around.
c. For those that heard about Jesus last time to be strengthened and for those who have not heard to come to know Jesus.
d. Strength and endurance for the different work projects going on each day.
4) Safe travels to and from the jungle area.
5) For the Ecuadorian teens joining the outreach. We have five youth from the youth group joining us for several of the activities the first few days here in Quito and we are all heading out to the jungle together for the outreach. Pray that there would be great unity and fellowship within the team.
6) For help and grace in speaking and communication concepts in Spanish.
Thank you all for your prayers! You can follow an M101 blog updated almost daily by going to the new Compassion Connection web site (You can find a connection to the blog at the very bottom of the page on the left).
Love in Christ!
Tiffany Butler
Tonight our second summer team arrives for the M101 "boot camp". I will send a report after the team leaves but I just want to let you know how you can all be praying.
Please pray:
1) That the team would all arrive here safely.
2) People would be stretched and grow in all that the Lord has for them.
3) For the outreach in Chichico Rumi:
a. We are heading back there to run a 4-day Vacation Bible School.
b. Wisdom and endurance for myself as I am coordinating the VBS this time around.
c. For those that heard about Jesus last time to be strengthened and for those who have not heard to come to know Jesus.
d. Strength and endurance for the different work projects going on each day.
4) Safe travels to and from the jungle area.
5) For the Ecuadorian teens joining the outreach. We have five youth from the youth group joining us for several of the activities the first few days here in Quito and we are all heading out to the jungle together for the outreach. Pray that there would be great unity and fellowship within the team.
6) For help and grace in speaking and communication concepts in Spanish.
Thank you all for your prayers! You can follow an M101 blog updated almost daily by going to the new Compassion Connection web site (You can find a connection to the blog at the very bottom of the page on the left).
Love in Christ!
Tiffany Butler
Chichico Rumi
Dear friends,
Where to start? The time that the group was here was amazing. Many things did not go as "planned" but everything worked together for God's glory. It was wonderful to have Tuan Nghiem and Mark Erickson here. They threw themselves into the "bootcamp" (the first couple of days here where they are challenged with situations and experiences to get them into a cross-cultural mindset) and into the outreach in Chichico Rumi.
Thanks to all of you who were praying for Linda. She is the mother of one of the missionary gals here. Linda was to come down several days before the jungle outreach and prepare the group for the children's activities. She had started on her adventure Saturday, the 13th of June, and arrived Thursday, June 18th. She was flying standby and she kept getting pushed aside...even to the extent that she was supposed to be on one flight but they overlooked her...but not before her luggage was put on board and went ahead of her to Ecuador! It seemed the enemy was really trying to throw the whole event off. God really spoke to Linda about all of this. Even though the enemy was trying to stop the event, God used it so that we wouldn't rely on our own plans but that we would rely on Him. If she had been there with plenty of time we may have relied on how prepared we were...but we needed to totally rely on God.
Friday in Chichico Rumi some of us painted a local school and others laid brick for the back wall of the church. We then had a couple hours of games in the afternoon and invited the kids back Saturday for more games and activities. Saturday morning right as we were starting the outreach the skies opened up and poured out much rain on the tin roof of the church. Linda had to use the microphone so that she could be heard.
During the day there were several games and activities going on, including a parachute game, face painting, coloring, and duck, duck, goose. During the games Linda and I would take aside 8-10 kids to present the Gospel to them. The first group we had consisted of ten kids...9 of which excepted the Lord! Other groups we would gather maybe only one child would receive Jesus...but after the whole weekend there were about 30 kids who had received Jesus! Some of the older kids received Bibles and during the activities started a more in depth Bible study time with Mark Erickson and some of the other Ecuadorian youth who had come with us from Quito. They started by writing down the Roman's Road verses and had discussions.
What touched me very much was watching Pastor Jorge during the Sunday service. There were several kids there and adults in the service. I am not sure how many usually attend the Sunday service, but just to see how he was looking out on the congregation with such love in his eyes just melted my heart. Jorge and Erika are the ones planting the church there in Chichico Rumi and his eyes looked like he was seeing a glimpse of his answered prayers for that area.
Mark and Tuan returned to Seattle this last Wednesday. Thursday Potter's Wheel students started arriving. Again, Potter's Wheel is the 6 month discipleship training school held here at the house with North Americans. We started orientation for Potter's Wheel today.
There has been some time to rest these last few days...which has been great! : ) I am so excited to be here and to work with Steve and Sandi Youngren as well as Amie Youngren and the rest of the team.
Thanks you all again and again for your prayers! I am in continual need of them. Please continue to pray for:
Where to start? The time that the group was here was amazing. Many things did not go as "planned" but everything worked together for God's glory. It was wonderful to have Tuan Nghiem and Mark Erickson here. They threw themselves into the "bootcamp" (the first couple of days here where they are challenged with situations and experiences to get them into a cross-cultural mindset) and into the outreach in Chichico Rumi.
Thanks to all of you who were praying for Linda. She is the mother of one of the missionary gals here. Linda was to come down several days before the jungle outreach and prepare the group for the children's activities. She had started on her adventure Saturday, the 13th of June, and arrived Thursday, June 18th. She was flying standby and she kept getting pushed aside...even to the extent that she was supposed to be on one flight but they overlooked her...but not before her luggage was put on board and went ahead of her to Ecuador! It seemed the enemy was really trying to throw the whole event off. God really spoke to Linda about all of this. Even though the enemy was trying to stop the event, God used it so that we wouldn't rely on our own plans but that we would rely on Him. If she had been there with plenty of time we may have relied on how prepared we were...but we needed to totally rely on God.
Friday in Chichico Rumi some of us painted a local school and others laid brick for the back wall of the church. We then had a couple hours of games in the afternoon and invited the kids back Saturday for more games and activities. Saturday morning right as we were starting the outreach the skies opened up and poured out much rain on the tin roof of the church. Linda had to use the microphone so that she could be heard.
During the day there were several games and activities going on, including a parachute game, face painting, coloring, and duck, duck, goose. During the games Linda and I would take aside 8-10 kids to present the Gospel to them. The first group we had consisted of ten kids...9 of which excepted the Lord! Other groups we would gather maybe only one child would receive Jesus...but after the whole weekend there were about 30 kids who had received Jesus! Some of the older kids received Bibles and during the activities started a more in depth Bible study time with Mark Erickson and some of the other Ecuadorian youth who had come with us from Quito. They started by writing down the Roman's Road verses and had discussions.
What touched me very much was watching Pastor Jorge during the Sunday service. There were several kids there and adults in the service. I am not sure how many usually attend the Sunday service, but just to see how he was looking out on the congregation with such love in his eyes just melted my heart. Jorge and Erika are the ones planting the church there in Chichico Rumi and his eyes looked like he was seeing a glimpse of his answered prayers for that area.
Mark and Tuan returned to Seattle this last Wednesday. Thursday Potter's Wheel students started arriving. Again, Potter's Wheel is the 6 month discipleship training school held here at the house with North Americans. We started orientation for Potter's Wheel today.
There has been some time to rest these last few days...which has been great! : ) I am so excited to be here and to work with Steve and Sandi Youngren as well as Amie Youngren and the rest of the team.
Thanks you all again and again for your prayers! I am in continual need of them. Please continue to pray for:
The Ecuadorian people: more opportunities for people to hear about Jesus and begin a relationship with God through His Son.
Health
For my father back home: he has lost all ability to walk at this point after the knee surgery and they don't know why. Please pray that he would run to Jesus and that he would receive healing.
For the Potter's Wheel students that will be here for the next 6 months: that they would be impacted with God's Word and His mission.
For the staff here. For strength and wisdom.
Thank you all for your support! If anyone would like to give an offering to the work here in Ecuador please give all offerings to
Sonrise Chapel - 11625 Airport Rd Ste D Everett, WA 98204 425.355.9129 Office
If you don't want to remain anonymous please let Sherrie know to let me know...I really like to know who to thank!
You can also contact me via facebook or by email holygroundhere@yahoo.com
Love in Christ,
Tiffany
Last week
Dear Friends,
it is good to be back. I already miss the people of Ecuador though! The import of the trip hit me in a new way on the last night. I was so privileged to be able to spend time with some amazing men and woman of God.
The last week was mainly spent in El Oriente. This is the eastern part of Ecuador. We first arrived in Misahualli to stay with a friend of Amie's. While we were in the area we tried to find a family that she had connected with in the past. The man was a Shaman and the last time Amie had seen them the wife had been having problems in her legs where she could not walk. They believed that she had been cursed by someone else. We went 
on a walk and tried to find them. We were having some trouble finding the house and we started to head back. We had been praying that if it was the Lord's will that we would find them. Coming back over the river we asked a gal and it turned out she was going to that house! We were able to meet with most of the family but the father was not there. The wife was now walking fine but still had some health issues, one being what looked like arthritis. We had a great conversation...mostly on Amie's part at this point. Amie laid out the Gospel to them again and the mother seemed like she was saying she believed....Both Amie and I prayed for her in the end. She says her husband is still practicing Shamanism but only for tourism. I really felt God's love for this family and I hope to check in on them again when I return and see how they are doing.
on a walk and tried to find them. We were having some trouble finding the house and we started to head back. We had been praying that if it was the Lord's will that we would find them. Coming back over the river we asked a gal and it turned out she was going to that house! We were able to meet with most of the family but the father was not there. The wife was now walking fine but still had some health issues, one being what looked like arthritis. We had a great conversation...mostly on Amie's part at this point. Amie laid out the Gospel to them again and the mother seemed like she was saying she believed....Both Amie and I prayed for her in the end. She says her husband is still practicing Shamanism but only for tourism. I really felt God's love for this family and I hope to check in on them again when I return and see how they are doing.
After two days we headed to Tena, which is about 20 minutes away. In Tena we visited with different families and some of the IBCI students. It was so good to be a part of all of these visiting times. Some of these conversations were difficult, as Amie was amazing in tackling some hard issues, but I was able to see practical issues being played out in the body. Like all of us in the body we can tend to deal with muck. We all need each other and it was so wonderful to be able to share in the amazing faith of some of these believers and in some of the struggles as well.
Last Monday night there was a dinner held to introduce me to the Tena IBCI logistics team. I was able to see many of the people I hadn't seen since my last trip last year. God is growing my heart for the love of the Ecuadorian people and that is what it is all about.
We came back from the jungle area on Tuesday and Wednesday was spent wrapping up and packing before the loooong flights on Thursday.
Now I come back on a mission. I have two months left here in the states before I move. There is a lot to do. Once I return in June I will be involved in the short term teams coming down and 6 months of Potter's Wheel (a discipleship training for North Americans) so I can really utilize these two months to get a lot done before the craziness.
Along with the part I will play in IBCI, short term teams and Potter's Wheel I am getting started on planning, according to God's direction, about pr
esenting discipleship training to the lowland Quichua speakers. This is something I really have a heart for. There are still many questions but we see the hand of God moving forward.
esenting discipleship training to the lowland Quichua speakers. This is something I really have a heart for. There are still many questions but we see the hand of God moving forward. Also as a ministry we now have land in Latacunga. This is a very central location in Ecuador that will make it easier to move in and out of the areas and it brings us closer to new areas of ministry. Now there is the task of raising funds to actually build housing and offices so we can move to the property. 
These next two months will be spend raising a portion of the funds for building on the property and for raising awareness and support for preparing discipleship recordings for oral cultures. I am hoping to return to Ecuador with all the equipment I need (recording devices...) to be ready to move when God opens the doors. We had also been wondering where I might take some training for the recordings. We had talked about Brazil, Peru, and even Texas! It turns out a missionary couple are in Columbia this year and are on track to come to Ecu
ador next year! This puts us in good timing to accomplish all that we have to do first. God knows the timing and I don't want to go anywhere that He is not.
ador next year! This puts us in good timing to accomplish all that we have to do first. God knows the timing and I don't want to go anywhere that He is not. I was humbled to see such faith this trip in the Ecuadorian believers and stirred up in the excitement for seeing the fringes of God's work ahead! Thank you all who made it possible for this trip. You were there when we prayed for the family in Misahualli. You were there with every visit and every vision. If I could sum up my heart it would be that we would do everything and use the gifts God has given us... "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that 
we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,..." Our Father bless you all.
we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,..." Our Father bless you all.Pictures:
- Amie and I walking to the bus
- The la marin bus station
- Bus scenery
- Part of the family we had searched for in Misahualli
- Me and my new buddy
- Dinner with the logistical team
- After dinner hugs
- Graciela cooking some breakfast - yum!
- Saying goodbye to Graciela in Tena
Hello my friends,
this week has flown by...we have mainly been doing more work in the office. Aside from computer and copier frustrations I have been plugging away at learning the logistics of the Bible Institute. Computers don't have emotions right? So I can tell them a piece of my mind...but then I sing a tune and all is well...he, he.
Last Friday we went visiting students in northern Quito. We were able to visit with two of the students. One of the gals had been on bed rest with pregnancy complications but the day we went to see her was the first day that she was out of bed. She came to meet us from the doctors where she was checking on her pregnancy. She heard the babies heart beat and it seems like that was a new day in her health! Praise God! We also visited with another sweet lady and were able to enjoy great fellowship.
On Saturday we visited with the youth group at the local church. We did not have enough time to plan for them to come over but we played a funny shoe game (we took off shoes and made a mad dash to pick any other pair and put them on...a little weird to be wearing someones shoes but it was fun!)
Today Amie and I are going to be taking the loooooong bus ride to the jungle in a few hours (it is about 6 hours). We will be having some fellowship days with a friend of Amie's then on Sunday we will be visiting students and Monday they are having a dinner to introduce me to the Tena logistical team. We return Tuesday. Please pray for safe travels on the amusement ride buses going over the mountains! : )
I met with Steve and Sandi Youngren yesterday and I have a great idea of how I am walking forward in service here. Our Father is so amazing how He perfectly brings things together for His glory and for the spread of His word....I will share more on this in another email.
Thank you all for your prayers! There are very exciting things happening and in the formation stages right now. Essentially I am training for the office with IBCI right now but we are praying and talking about the future as concerns reaching out to the oral cultures (cultures that don't have a written language) in the area with discipleship classes - Lord knows the timing and the method! Our Father bless you all in the name of His Son Jesus! : )
...sorry I don't have many pictures this week...but this one was taken on Sandi's birthday outside our house.
Week 1
I arrived safely here in Quito, Ecuador last Thursday. On Friday we had some of the Bible students over to see who would be interested in starting to "man" the registration tables during the Saturday, once a month meetings. We had a few of the students sign up to help! The whole idea of IBCI is planting and releasing. Steve and Amie Youngren have just successfully handed over the Bible Institute in Tena over to the national students. We are in the beginning stages of doing the same releasing here in Quito.
Saturday we went to the IBCI meeting with the students where they handed in their work from the previous month and received there work for the upcoming month. Pastor Miguel taught the first session then four of the third year (the final year) students taught in half-hour increments.During the week Amie Youngren and I have been working in the office and running around town trying to get me registered....good times! I have a visa good for a year with additional extensions. I need to get my censo (my id card) in order during this trip and it takes some time and a few different offices.
In the office at the house Amie has been showing me the ins and outs of the Bible Institute. We have been going over the manuals, converting tapes to CD and Cd's to MP3's and filing. We still have some ground to cover but the office side of things is going by pretty quickly. This is good as we have both been sick. I started getting sick on the plane flights here. I was terribly sick for the first couple of days but then I started feeling better on Monday. Amie caught my cold and she is in day 2...please pray for a speedy healing for her.
Tomorrow is hopefully the last day getting my censo and while we are in town we are going to do house visits with IBCI students. We are hoping to have the local youth group over on Saturday for a time of fellowship and Steve and Sandi Youngren come back from the states this weekend. Please pray for them for safe travels.
Next week we are going to head out to Tena in the El Oriente of Ecuador (the jungle area) to meet with the students there. Please continue to pray for health and for good fellowship.
It is great being back here. The Lord is giving me continued peace about my future service here. Being sick the first couple of days showed me how precious it is to be able to serve and work here but also to recognize that I must always rest at the feet of Jesus. I don't want to be a burnt out missionary. I want to be in love with Jesus and serve out of a place of rest in Him. There is lots of work to do but it has to come from a place of being full of Him. I sent my love and prayers of peace and strength to you all! See you in a couple of weeks.
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