Mateo 4:4

   As I crack my eggs this morning, I notice the yolks are more orange than yellow.  See, my chickens are finally producing after 4 months and $30 worth of morrocho (corn).  I finally broke down and asked Tio Bill for help because the hens weren't laying eggs.  He said,"That's easy, just modify their diet.  Let  'em out so they can eat insects, throw some apple cores in the cage and once and a while give them a piece of bread."  It took a whole two days to prove true.  We can learn so much from simple, practical things in our life like: ask questions, modify and most importantly what we consume changes outputs!

    I just dropped off our first construction team from Crossgate Baptist in Arkansas.  All were not familiar with each other before they came.  It was raining when the came and left, although the Lord was gracious holding it off while we worked.  They worked harder, faster and longer than I asked.  They left their tools, clothes and suggestions behind to encourage, resource and help me to accomplish our goal here.  I can't express the gratitude for these five southern guys who gave up their time from work and family, sacrificed their resources and poured themselves into two projects at the camp which would have been impossible to replicate with local help.  They finished what they came to do.  They demonstrated what a selfless, servant should look like!

     We were in much need of building catch basins for the culverts (to divert massive amounts of water off the paths/terrain) and constructing partitions for the multipurpose building to sleep girls and guys. They came up with the design, modified it when needed and both led/followed according to the weather, task and challenge.   Much of what we did constantly had to be changed (Gringo's use 2 X 4's - we had to mill them to spec from a local).  It all sounds simple but these guys live what they read, know and say.  You could tell that the Word permeates their lives, demonstrated in how they worked, played and joked (they gave me the nickname Pharaoh - we used gravel instead of straw!)   Like good, southern gentlemen, they loved to eat the food prepared by Teresa or in restaurants during the cultural day.  But, it was them living out "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" in their lives here, that the Word walked!   Show the Word.....by feasting on the Word!

Salmos 121

     For the last six months on a clear day, we've been able to see three volcanoes from our vantage point on the campamento.  On the left sits Cayumbe past the Cumbaya valle, on the right Cotapaxi off towards Ambato and dead ahead with its peak bearly visable is Antisana.  Year round, the peaks are snow capped which feels odd when the sun is scorching down at 85 degrees.  Since we moved here, our family has talked about 'driving to the snowline' which we were told we could do.  That day finally arrived yesterday.

     After some grumbling, we were off.  Our trip took us through our valle to the other side of the second range of the Andes, just beyond on the other side - Antisana.  It wound us around the rural town of Yurag where we will conduct VBS with future teams and a site where we have ministry partners.  We passed beautiful vistas, roads with no guardrails and multiple unnamed sport fishing locations full of mountain rainbow trout.  As we began to climb the vegetation became shorter, the sun stronger, the air colder, the oxygen thinner and looking down I noticed the tank emptier.  Mistakenly, I forgot to tank up and was on 1/8 tank.  We were stopped at the entrance of the park and given instruction by the ranger - stay on and stick to the roads.  The land was privately owned and full of cattle and gorgeous fields of verdant green crops.  We broke the rules by getting out, exploring the creeks and a farmhouse and trying to catch trout by hand.  We finally made it to the top but were unable to reach the snow due to our gas situation and lack of planning (need permission? tickets?), not quite sure.  We quickly took pictures and began the long 'coast' downhill saving gas on the 8,000 foot high decent.  A few simple things occurred to me on the trip down.........

How often I repeat the same patterns over and over.  Wanting to see something so far off or reach the peak, I fail to be truly prepared for the trip or bringing what I need to sustain us.  Or, not following simple instructions like sticking to the road given us (the direction is for our good, not bad - why do we always interpret it as the latter). 

     Since school started, we have lived two distinctly different lives.  One on and around the AAI campus and one here in the Los Chillos Valle.  Many things are different between the two: the people, traffic and driving patterns, abruptness, socioeconomic status, education levels and time sensitivity to name a few.  Ann, I and the kids have had to cross over that bridge daily which takes patience and agility.  Five miles and a ridgeline makes a huge difference (just think Mountain Brook and downtown Birmingham).  It can make you weary, tiresome and at each others throats.  I realize we can't do what we need to do, be who we need to be or go where we need to go without HIM leading the way.  Please pray for us in this time.  It's hard to know what altitude we sit, whether we are on a mountain or in a valley.  Are we in need of oxygen or as parents, spiritual leaders and partners are we allowing God to work through us?  I do know that we need to continue to 'fill our tanks', trust in HIS watchship by not trying to 'fix' things and look to the ONE who made it all......

I look up to the mountains-

does my help come from there?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;

the one who watches over you will not slumber.  

Indeed, he who watcher over Israel

never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you!

The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

The sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm

and watches over your life.

The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, 

both now and forever.

Agradecido

  At the six month point in camp development, we are overwhelmed at HIS provision and plan to bring people together to make it happen while developing relationships for the Kingdom!  I stand in awe that what was discussed over 40 years ago between Momi and Popi Davis is now becoming a reality in front of our eyes.  Less that one year ago, we had never heard about Houses of Happiness (orphanage) nor Campamento Amistad Con Dios, never met the board, director nor even considering Ecuador.   The Lord's timing is perfect in that HE chose us and our good friends the Brocks at this place, now to plant our lives for the purpose of building up the body and spreading  the Gospel through the camp.   

        Please, continue to pray for our families: on this side as we continue to develop relationships, learn language, plant seeds in the community and at the school (AAI), while selling houses, moving stuff, getting kids ready for college and changing addresses on the Brock's end.

        Let me provide a quick update on the progress of the camp.  Since we put in our new paths, we have had many downpours (@ 4 inches in 5 hours) which has made most non-functional.  I am in the process of using a backhoe to dig a trench and culvert system to divert the massive amount of water that flows across and down the 25 acres.  In addition, we are making great progress on the Cafeteria (Multi purpose building) which will house and feed our groups this year.  We have completely wired the structure, hung all the lights, reinstalled hot water lines for the showers, added an extra shower for both the Men's and Women's side and tiled all four. We are in the process of picking out the appliances for the kitchen to make it functional.  We just purchased the iron and tubing to construct the beds and tables.  Also, as of this week we added the electrical line for the breaker box from outside the camp to the first structure.  That enables us to receive power from the transformers to run power to the rest of the camp.

         We are grateful for and looking forward to the teams that are coming.  It was also encouraging to host our first team from Brook Hills that provided a second Christmas for our kids!  Join us in celebrating HIS provision for our lives and the camp needs.  Fingerprints can be found on each piece of material that is bought, each person that builds something here and the kids from the orphanage whose needs are cared for and about by people they will never meet!

 Genesis 1:3

 Psalm 51:7

 

1 Corinthians 3:9-10

 

Luke 4:18-19

Colossians 1:24-27

'Hasta Luego'

"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 

1 Cor 3:11

Simple wisdom comes in many forms but when delivered through the yoke that God intends, it carries a lot of weight.  Since September, I had been struggling with 'completion' and 'scheduled construction' anxiety of the camp.  In addition, I began to feel isolated with little connection and without local contacts to support our work.  My friend and ministry partner, Ronnie Brock, in his familiar approach, reminded me that we are not building a camp but constructing one.  The difference between the two is that our foundation is in HIM, and those relationships HE chooses to give us is how we will be able to build and accomplish it!  Two weeks ago I began to trust in HIS timing and provision after Ronnie shared this with me.  The God of the universe is more than capable to fight our battles...

"The earth is the Lord's and everything in it.  The world and all those who live in it.  ........Who is this King of Glory?  The Lord is strong and mighty, the lord is mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O you gates, lift them up, you ancient doors and let the King of Glory come in.  Who is this King of Glory?  He is the Lord almighty......"   Psalm 24

In addition to our camp and ministry needs, I had been praying specifically for needs within our family.  Four long months of worrying, watching and waiting gave way to two quick weeks of seeking, submitting and studying which in turn led to the following:

*  We found two local nationals as interns this summer (built in interpreters).

*  Ronnie and I discovered that an important contact with Compassion International lives right here in Conocoto.

*  We found multiple ways to plug into three different church plants right here in our valle.

*  Finalized a rural ministry site while picking up a good friend along the way.

*  Found a potential sports ministry partner to host teams/camps from Ecuador and the US.

*  More donors and giving on both the DMP and personal end (one we never met before).

*  Connected and made friends with 5 new families for 5 days at the beach (we found a 20 foot bridge over a canal - it was a sight to see a dozen American kids, Ann and I, jumping off the bridge while 50 Ecuadorians looked on taking pictures - also our kids have chosen to jump into life here with both feet literally and figuratively by not keeping one foot on the bridge when it comes to relationships).

*  We found a reasonable SUV for both the camp/school transportation to purchase (our third driver in 4 mos. informed us last week his taxi broke down and would not be able to take them for over a month).

*  Commitment to a multiplying church and home bible study for our family.

*  Encouragement from hosting our first group of the year and life long friends: Ronnie and Callie.

 

HIS provision is overwhelming when we trust in HIS timing and plan for our lives.  Life is difficult. Problems are real.  Solutions are complex.  Who and what do we turn to? 

06/01/12, 12:36:43

As I travel home on the bus today, the date and time flashes across the electronic banner above the drivers head.  The date is confusing because the day here always proceeds the month.  Don't we always confuse our days and months according to how long we think something should take or God to act?  More importantly, time is not static. We are one moment closer to eternity.  One of the clearest examples: 6 kids have been buried in 6 months in our cemetery.  Each as a result of a car: riding or being hit.  Superficially, our nature immediately focuses on poor/inadequate supervision, parenting and/or driving. In reality, its a result of one man's sin that entered the world.  His disobedience can only be reversed and made right by one mans obedience!  Adam's choice is washed clean in Jesus' blood!

Our family made several observations during these funerals.  The sound of the dirt hitting the coffin is deafening.  It clarified the reality and finality of the moment.  Also, we all help in shoveling dirt to fill up the ten foot deep hole.  The family won't leave until that takes place.  It is the most physically demanding thing I've done in my life and normally takes 6-8 people, 45 minutes to complete the task. Then, the grave is crowned to sit the flowers on and the family says thier final prayers.  At the last funeral where we know for sure that the child and family were Christ followers, the phrase 'Hasta Luego' was repeatedly heard several times.  Although we did not know this child in life, I am certain we will meet and 'see him later.'  It's the uncertainty of knowing the five other children's location that brought us here.....

 

suficiente..

Have you noticed, striking a balance in life is not easy.  Either we are too full to too empty.  All too often we fall short in maintaining a level that sustains, motivates, encourages and moves us forward.  As our lives here in Ecuador progress, our hope and prayer is that our actions and words be enough (suficiente) to impact those to come to Christ whom the Lord has placed in our lives.  We are doing our best to release those things that are unnecessarily holding us back and embracing that which propels us ahead.  That word suficiente alone can't change our circumstances but can change how we live through them if we stay focused on that which is behind it.....

As the result of prayer, the Lord provided three different people to provide suficiente funds to keep the electricity projects going through January.  In addition this shelter, thanks to input from my friend Ron Woody, will provide a much needed break area for our teams that come, workers in the fields in the foreground, orphan's using the facility and for our families to host kids/adults from the surrounding barrio's and from AAI.  I had just the right suficiente recycled items and materials on hand (frame cut from tree's on the property).

   Although resourceful, our southern culture doesn't hold all the cards when it comes to BBQ.  Ingenuity comes in many forms but when I saw this on the bus line, I've never seen a more practical way to feed a fire.  Simplicity is the mother of all invention and HIS knowledge is suficiente when resources are scant.

Our new church vision is suficiente: "One family of God united to build a new society to impact the gospel for the Los Chillos Valle, the country, Latin America and the World" 

Pastor Miguel's (Ecuadorian look-alike to Cosmo Teresi) new mode of transportation.  HE has provided suficiente experiences to keep us laughing and the orphans talking!

The rest of this Jamingo (minus the head and feet in the bag) will be suficiente to feed all the orphan's for Navidad!


HIS plan to plant our lives in Ecuador has been suficiente to simultaneously reach the abandoned and apathethic........Ann's Christmas program is found at the following links (if interested):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuXyhHdig7Q,   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ff9Sl2aHjs  .  Go to the beginning and end of part 2 for a personal message from Ann. 

HE has given suficiente people, experiences, resources, grace, mercy and skills to all of us to reach the world for the spread of the Gospel................. 

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"       2 Corinthians 12:9 

Lost and Found

We lost one set of challenges with people, my kids and our marriage in the US .....and found a whole new set of others (physical security, accepting cultural differences and pulling together).

We lost a dog that quickly became part of our family.....and found he lost his life doing what he enjoyed the most - chasing Jamingo's (in the Llama family).

We lost daily contact with a Faith Family who we love, knows and pleases God and has reached out and supported us......and found one with the exact same vision, has embraced our shortcomings and rivals the former's impact.

We lost a ministry to the poor in the US where they run not to God but all other refuges first.....and found a culture that is either stuck in the cycle of real poverty or in love with a new found materialism embraced, learned and exported by us.

We lost neighbors, friends and people of God.....and found the same in Marco, Marcelo and Sylvania in one culture and Brent, Lois and Sara in another!

We lost daily images of our life that were predictable, made sense and practical......and found pictures burned into our memories that are both funny, profound and sometimes hard to reckon with......  See for yourself.......

This guy to the right regularly rides our bus line and 'performs' for money.  I was caught off guard when he took some down time to catch a butt and a beer at our bus stop while reflecting on the days challenges.......

 Your guess is as good as mine......

Kids at Artesan's market playing with paint chips from the wall behind them!  Proves that we generally make the best of any/all situations we are in!  FYI.  There is no equivalent ministero for OSHA in Ecuador.....

Here's what you get from 80 years of hard work, good genes and clean living.....I'm having a hard time just playing 1 hour of soccer a week!

At 46 and after 15 years absent from the classroom, I was reminded why I fell in love with this woman so quickly 18 years ago.........

Thank you Brock Family for inviting us to join you on this journey and adventure!  We are eagerly awaiting your arrival, praying for each of you and asking God to make His presence know in your transition!  Your place is ready and we can't wait to see you here!  We are honored, thankful and humbled you chose us to experience it with Y'all! 

"God resist's the proud, but gives grace to the humble."     -James 4:6

...to the Glory of God

Yesterday, I was reading some commentary on Daniel.  The lessons were so clear, plain to see just in the first half of the first chapter!   Some quick background, these 'selected' young men in whom there was no blemish, good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.  They were to have the same food and wine prepared for the king, intended as a special honor.  The king changed his name Daniel (meaning God is my judge) to Belteshazzar (meaning Bel’s prince).  In addition, they were to have three years of training for them.   The purpose of the food, names and education was simple. This was an effort at total indoctrination, working to make these young Jewish men leave behind their Hebrew God and culture. Undoubtedly, Nebuchadnezzar wanted to communicate to these young men, “look to me for everything".

But, Daniel "purposed in his heart he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies" - he went on to explain the spiritual basis for his stand.  He made up his mind beforehand that he would not compromise.  His protest was courteous and courageous.   He made a polite request, showing discretion while making a stand for God.  Self-denial must be sought.  Daniel and his friends knew this would cost them something, yet they were willing to do it anyway.  The test must be boldly put.  Its important that people know what you believe by what you say and do so there is no confusion to who God is!  Why bring all this up.......
 
The king Nebucadnezzer used the same strategy as satan uses on both believers and non-believers today, enticing us into the world system:

*Feed on what the world offers
*Identify (“name”) ourselves in reference to the world
*Educate ourselves in the ways of the world

Without going into detail, I willingly participated in all three above.  It left me empty, without purpose and a separation from the living God the size of the Grand Canyon!  In the eyes of the world, I seemingly 'had it going on.'  That's until the gospel traveled to me as intended by God from the beginning of time...through His people.  Filled up, with a different purpose and with Him and His people walking alongside me, the path and environment looks different.  See, we tend to focus on the practical, reasonable and temporal things in life using words like religious, spiritual.  This world blinds us to the distinction between the difference of being a 'new creation in Christ' and the natural state we were we were born into and inheirited thanks to Adam.  So, plainly, coming to Christ is the result of the work of God for the individual, not the individual for God or himself!  It's easy to get sucked in on both sides of God's Kingdom!  His power is available. 

This weekend, the PE teacher on the foundation will be using our facilities, minus power and water, for a retreat.  He asked me to speak to the kids on friday night about my relationship with Christ (in spanish).  Sure, I will give them some details but I will do my best to encourage them that:

- This world no longer defines me by my abilities, weaknesses , successes, failures nor by any name
- No king, president, political party or movement will garner my worship or affection
- Whether in the valley or on the mountaintop, I will 'look to Him for everything': from humility to strength
- Our address posted on the outside wall of the Campamento is both temporal and temporary
- I will choose to live this life not for me, but 'to the Glory of God'.  I am grateful He gives me that freedom, without compulsion!  That alone demonstrates the stark contrast with His plan and the world system.

"even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many"
-Matthew 20:28