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
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/
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