Was it time to "shake the dust off of our feet"?

The new church had grown and was meeting three times a week. They were discipling people and reaching out to the community. One weekend, the leader, Holger, fell back into drinking. This, along with other influences, tore the church apart. When we visited the location the following week, the sign was gone, and the benches and pulpit were thrown in the yard. The congregation was scattered. They had been wounded not only by Holger's actions, but also the blatant sin of another Christian leader.

For the next 6 years, we continued to visit Elsa, Holger's sister, and her adult children. They attended the mission church a few times. Shortly before Christmas, she told us that she had chosen not to be a part of anything that evangelicals did. For Christmas, we took her a plate of Christmas cookies. She was not home, so we left it with her daughter. Last week, Johnny went to their home, but no one was there. He left an invitation to a movie that we were showing at the church on Friday night.

When Johnny got home, we talked about the situation with this family. We have spent much time with them over the past 7 years. We have prayed with them, and for them. I wondered if it was time for us to let go and move on to more fruitful fields. Johnny reminded me of Mark 6:11, "And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them."

That evening, while Johnny was setting up the film at the church, Holger walked into the building. He said that Elsa had sent him. We had not seen him for years. Later, his son and family also arrived. We were very glad to see them and invited them to the Easter service.

God had clearly told us, "I'm still working in this family. Don't quit."

They did not come to church on Easter. I don't know what will happen, but we know now that our ministry to them is not over.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippains 1:6

Always Fall, Never Spring

I sleep between flannel sheets all year. We're just a few hours south of the equator, so we don't experience changes in seasons. At 9390 feet above sea level, our daily temperature ranges between lows in the 40's and highs in the 70's. We have fall weather all year.

From our rooftop terrace, I can see 4 snow-capped mountains on a clear day. We are about 45 minutes by car from the snowline of Mount Chimborazo (pictured at the top of the page). When we want to experience winter, we can drive there and play in the snow. The only place that my children have ever seen snow fall is at 16,000 feet!

Summer is a 7 hour trip away. We spent the New Year holiday on the Pacific Coast, where we enjoyed the hot, humid climate of the beach. We played in the waves, explored tidal pools and came home refreshed.

I think that I miss spring more than any season. I haven't experienced spring since 1998. I miss seeing the change from the drabness of winter to the colors of spring. I love to see trees budding and violets peeking through the ground in the woods. Spring reminds me of new life and new beginnings.

At this altitude, the foliage is a drab green. Everything seems to be the same color. The dryness of the air and the low concentration of oxygen limit the growth of the foliage. When it rains here, most of the water runs down the mountains into the Amazon area.

When we travel over the eastern ridge of the Andes and down into the Amazon basin, we see the foliage change. I am always fascinated as the greens get greener and the colors get brighter and deeper. The plants become larger. The leaves are broader and thicker. The flowers become flamboyant. Color bursts out everywhere! This is as close to spring as I've gotten in Ecuador.

I love living in the Andes, but I miss spring.

"Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." Acts 14:17