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.

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