November pictures

The Santos Pamba School teachers: Amanda, Mary, and Soledad

Last weekend at Rancho de los Pinos

Pablo singing at Santa Maria Quichua Alliance Church

At Santa Maria Quichua Alliance Church

My little Native Americans and Pilgrims

3rd Grade Class Picture (with Amy their ESL teacher)

November update

Dear Friends and Family,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Phil. 1:3

That is true! Thank you for your constant encouragement, support, and prayers for me. You are each a vital part to my ministry here. I could not be here without your prayer and support backing me. Thank you very much!

It has been a long time since my last update. So much has happened that I don’t know where to begin! First of all I want to thank all of you for your prayers for my health. I found out that I have allergies now here. I have to take medicine daily, but I’m feeling a lot better. Thank you for your kind emails and many prayers.

School Update:
As I wrote last time, I have a very challenging class this year (see my class picture above). Every day I have to seek the Lord for patience and wisdom on how to be the best teacher for each of them. I have a PRAISE- my new boy who is ADD accepted Jesus a couple of weeks ago! Praise God! That is the reason I am teaching at the Alliance Academy. I pray that the Lord will continue to use me as He wants there. For Thanksgiving my class has the tradition of hosting a Thanksgiving Feast for the Ecuadorian maintenance workers at our school. The purpose is that the students get a chance to thank them and appreciate those that serve them daily. They each made cards and all of the parents brought food. We had our feast on Tuesday. My students also did a play about the first Thanksgiving. (see pictures) I can’t believe November is coming to a close and that Monday will be December! On December 5th it is Independence Day for Quito, Ecuador. There are many cultural traditional events that will take place over the weekend- including bullfights! We are having a special celebration at our school for the kids. A couple of weeks ago I was asked to have a student teacher in January who is from Cedarville University. It seems like just yesterday that I was a student teacher!

I continue to have the Bible study with the new teachers. We are doing a Beth Moore study about the Tabernacle. It has been incredible! Everyone is enjoying the time of fellowship and growth together. This weekend we are all going to the beach together for Thanksgiving vacation!

On a personal note: Many of you already know this, but I have been dating an Ecuadorian named Pablo Flores. We met at my school. He teaches guitar. Pablo is a very gifted musician. He leads worship at his church, which I go to every other week. He is a wonderful man of God and is passionate about my ministry also. When I go to the Quichua churches he joins me and is able to share his gift of music with them, which has been a blessing. It has been wonderful to serve the Lord together. When my family was here this summer they met Pablo. He will be coming home with me for Christmas so I hope many of you can meet him!

My roommate Laura got engaged in October! She will be getting married here in Quito on June 20th. It has been very special to be a part of her life during this time. My dear friend Cheryl (who lived here in Quito and moved back to Canada) came with a team and stayed an extra week with me! It was God’s perfect timing. She was such an encouragement to me and our time together was very refreshing. It was just what I needed.

Safety: The crime in Quito has been increasing a lot lately. There have been many crimes and threats happening to people I know. Please pray for my safety and that the Lord will continue to protect me as He has and that I won’t live with fear.

Ministry Update:
I have been visiting different Quichua Alliance Churches with the Shafers and Pablo. My friend Cheryl brought a team here from Canada and we were able to work with them at Santa Maria and El Tejar church (above are some pictures). Pablo and I have also been helping with a new church plant that his church has in the south of Quito. Pablo has been helping with worship. There are only 15-20 people at the church right now, so we have been going to encourage them. This past weekend Pablo and I went to visit a Quichua church that is in a very poor and dangerous neighborhood (Rancho de los Pinos). This church has been struggling for members because the people have very hard hearts. Many are alcoholics, in gangs, are robbers, etc. There were only 2 adults, Pastor Juan, and 12 kids at church. Pastor Juan asked Pablo and I to do a children’s service since there were mainly kids. Pablo played the guitar and we taught them Bible songs. I then taught a Bible story about how God is always with us and we don’t have to be afraid. I had brought toothbrushes, shirts, and mittens with me that had been donated. The children were so happy to receive gifts. We had a wonderful morning together. (see picture above) After the service Pablo and I had a time of prayer with Pastor Juan and the church leaders. It was a very special time.

Santos Pamba Update: The school year has gotten off to a great start. The students are all loving school and never want to go home! I haven’t been able to visit the students during the school day yet, but I have been meeting with the teachers. Every other week I have them over to my house for coffee and a time to share teaching ideas with them and pray together. (see picture of them) We now have purchased doors thanks to donations and are working on getting windows now. Last week Pedro Pablo had a meeting with Compassion International. Sadly, they denied our site until January. They had 10 applicants and could only choose 2 for October. We are trusting that this is God’s will and will continue to pray and prepare for January. I am planning on bringing my new class on a field trip/mission trip to Santos Pamba in a couple of weeks. Please continue to pray for the ministry at Santos Pamba and for the children.

Quick Summary:
Praises: health, student accepted Christ, school year at Santos Pamba going well, spiritual growth occurring during Bible study with teachers, God is continuing to use me here daily and open the doors for ministry

Prayer Requests: patience and wisdom with my students, ministry at Santos Pamba and the children, be able to purchase windows soon, safety

Thank you for your support! I love and appreciate each of you! May God continue to bless you.