Volunteers Labor in the Harvest

God has sent us many laborers into the harvest fields this year. Ten volunteer work teams have come to Ecuador to work with us. Three more groups are coming this fall. These people have given of their time, energy, and money to serve beside us in Ecuador!


They have led retreats,

prayerwalked,

given eye exams and eyeglasses,



provided medical care, and taught English classes as an outreach. A group coming in September will put drop ceilings in a school to keep the volcanic ash off of the children as they study. Another team of professional counselors will train local Christians how to counsel in critical areas.

Several teams have come to Riobamba to explore possibilities and plan how their church or association can partner with us. Another one of these vision teams is coming next month.

Our church planting strategy includes abundant Gospel sowing, evangelism, discipleship, and leadership traning. Volunteers have helped us in each of these areas. Hundreds of people have heard the gospel through their work and have said that they want to know more. Many have accepted Christ as Savior. Local believers have grown spiritually. These volunteers also encourage and provide special fellowship for our family! When they return to the US, they have first-hand knowledge of God's work here and how to pray.

And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Luke 10:2 (ESV)

Pantries and Peanut Butter Cups

A friend who is coming on a volunteer trip next month wrote, “What can we bring for you?” What a great question! All missionaries have a Wish List of items that they can’t get in their country. Each of our children also has a favorite candy or snack that cannot be bought here. If you looked in my pantry, you would see my stockpile of canned pumpkin, Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning, maple flavoring, salad dressing mix, cocoa powder, cookie sprinkles, and other special supplies. Other treasures are stored in our chest freezer. There, you would find pecans, chocolate chips, and the most important thing, peanut butter cups. I love peanut butter cups, but no store in Ecuador sells them!

Our son, John Mark, is in college in New Orleans, where he can get all the US treats that he can afford. However, he misses the Ecuadorian snacks. Every chance we have, we send him a package with plantain chips, mango-flavored drink mix, local cookies and other special items.

While we were living in Honduras, a friend came for a visit and brought a large wholesale-size box of peanut butter cups. I was thrilled! However, before I began eating them, my sensible husband intervened. He counted the number of weeks left before we would travel to the US, and divided it into the number of peanut butter cups. “If you ration them weekly, they’ll last until we leave”, he said. I wasn’t happy, but like a good wife, I submitted. After about a month, I reached into the box to get my allowed peanut butter cup. When I opened it, it was covered with mold! Every cup left was moldy and had to be thrown out. If Johnny had let me eat them all in the first week, then they would not have been wasted!

The real lesson learned from this traumatic experience 20 years ago was that peanut butter cups are perishable. Now, I keep my stash in the freezer! I even prefer them frozen now. The texture is different and I enjoy it. Try a frozen peanut butter cup and see if you like it.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Puppies

Nine weeks ago, our Siberian Husky gave birth to seven puppies. We were fascinated as we watched the mother, who had never had puppies before or gone through childbirth classes, take perfect care of each baby as it was born. She cleaned each one thoroughly and bit the cord. The little blind puppies knew exactly what to do also, and squirmed toward their mom and found a food source. We were amazed at God’s design.

Over the next weeks, we enjoyed having 7 puppies. They grew to be healthy, playful creatures. When they were 7 weeks old, we began to sell them. We went to Maria Elena’s baby clothing store and put a sign in her window. She saw the pictures of the puppies on the sign and said, “We need a dog. Our dog died this week of a tumor. He was 15 years old.” Her husband and sons came to our house that afternoon and took home a puppy. We had given each puppy a name and that one was Brees, after the Saints quarterback. They kept the name as they understood it. The puppy is now called Breex.

Maria Elena and her husband Carlos have been attending church on Sunday morning since Easter. The puppy has given us a common point with their sons. This past Sunday, the entire family attended a church picnic. We are praying for an opportunity to clearly share the gospel with them.

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation---if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. I Peter 2:2-3 (ESV)

“I know how to make fanesca!”

We stopped by the baby clothing store to invite the owner to the Easter celebration. I had bought baby gifts there for several years and had formed a relationship with Maria Elena. She lives near the mission church, now called Followers of Jesus Christian Baptist Church.

I invited her to church and said, “Afterwards, we’ll serve fanesca.” Fanesca (fah-NAYS-kah) is a thick dried fish and grain soup traditionally served during Easter week in Ecuador. The preparation is long and complicated, and very few women know how to make it. The church was buying the ingredients and the women of the church had planned to meet Saturday evening so that each of us could take home an ingredient and cook it. Sunday morning, we would meet at a church member’s house and together prepare the fanesca.

Maria Elena said, “Who’s making the fanesca?” Before I could respond, she said, “Who knows how to make fanesca? I know how to make fanesca!” I invited her to come and help. She said, “You have to season the white onions just right, or it won’t be good.”

Sunday morning, I brought my pot of peas to the kitchen where we were cooking. Maria Elena and her husband were there. She spent two hours working with us in the kitchen, cooking grains, onions, fish, and other ingredients. She didn’t stay for the service, but left for a family gathering in another town. The fanesca was delicious, and everyone had a good time of fellowship after the service.

Monday, she called me. “How was the fanesca?” I told her that it was really good. She said that she and her husband would be at church the following Sunday, and they were. She had already met many of the women and enjoyed the service. When she left, she said that they would be back.

I’m praying for the salvation of Maria Elena and her husband, Carlos. Should we call this Fanesca Evangelism?


that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. I John 1:3

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

What does a missionary wife and mom do?

What do I do with my time? This week has been as normal as any week, so I'll give you a peek into my schedule.

Sunday morning, we walked to church. The mission church meets in a storefront building two blocks from our house. That afternoon, my husband, Johnny and I went to Guano, a nearby town for a prayer meeting at a friend's house. When we got there, we found three other families from the mission church had come over for lunch. We were glad to see them all fellowshipping and enjoying time together. One family left, and the others stayed for the prayer meeting. Some other believers who live in Guano also arrived.

We had a good time of sharing and prayer for God's direction in beginning a new church in Guano. Afterwards, the two families from Riobamba rode back with us. We stopped near the park in Guano and treated everyone to mochaccinos. The coffee shop there has the best mochaccinos that I have ever had! They are topped with fresh-whipped cream. Mmmm. We are building a friendship with the family there and hope to lead them to the Lord. I call it Mochaccino Evangelism.

When we got back to Riobamba, Johnny and I spent a couple of hours giving marriage counseling to some local believers. I think that nothing makes me appreciate my husband more than giving marriage counsel!

Monday through Friday, I supervise Andrew and Hannah's schoolwork. They attend an online school, NorthStar Academy, and I have to be sure that all of the work is done and turned in. On Thursday morning, Andrew dissected an earthworm for his biology class as I helped.

Monday afternoon, I met a friend for coffee. She is from Honduras, has lived in New Orleans, attended the same college as our older son, is married to a man from Riobamba, and is a writer. I spent 11 years in Honduras, have lived in New Orleans, and now live in Riobamba. I also write. She and I have much in common and I enjoy spending time with her.

This week, I also spent time talking with our older son, John Mark, on the phone. He is a sophomore at the University of New Orleans. Two weeks ago, he had an accident in a recreational-type vehicle and broke his left leg. He'll be in a cast until May. We have an Internet phone with a US number, so we are able to talk with him without paying high phone bills. This helps me as a mom. I can't be with him during this time, but I can talk with him. I can also see him on the webcam.

On Wednesdays, Johnny and I have a lunch date. We spend the morning together and then eat lunch at a local restaurant. Yesterday, we saw some of our local believers and visited with them while we were out. A friend of mine recently had a baby, so we shopped for a gift. The woman at the baby store lives near us, and we invited her to attend the services Sunday. She sounded interested. Her son was there, and he knew Johnny. As they talked, Johnny learned that this young man had attended one session of an English Bible study that Johnny had taught in the fall.

Johnny and I also spent time together working on emails and paperwork related to the mission board. We have several volunteers coming down over the next few months, and we worked on plans for them.

Friday afternoons and evenings are set aside as Family Time. We take turns choosing a restaurant and planning our evening. Our Family Time has included hiking, swimming, horseback riding, board games, movie night, baking, going to a fair, visiting a museum, and other fun activities.

What else have I done this week? Meal preparation takes more time here. Everything I cook is from scratch. We have very few convenience foods. I make biscuits from scratch. Yesterday, I made chicken-barley soup with fresh vegetables.

In my free time, I read, exercise, listen to music, talk with our kids, play with our dogs, and play on the computer.


So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10 :31 (ESV)