La Casa de mi Padre

Well, VBS is finished now, and we are grateful for that. The last three weeks were absolutely draining in many ways. But I would not have changed it for the world! Our team was pretty commited to the vision and our kids were excited to be part of it. They do see how we, as a family, have a calling to tell others about Jesus. Samuel got to do puppets and, to be honest, he is pretty good at it. The kids laughed at what he said which was an encouragement. Rebeca, on the other hand, enjoyed more sitting with the rest of the kids, helping them with their crafts and mostly, setting a good example of behaviour. We are so blessed.

I will never be able to do justice to Matthew´s wonderful organization skills. He planned, organized, encouraged, challenged and had fun with the team. He did an excellent job leading us in this project. Thank You, my love.

The theme we used was "La casa de mi Padre" (My Father's house). We talked about creation, Noah, the life of Jesus, us being the salt and light of the world; and finally our home in heaven. We had a theme song, which goes like this, more or less:

My Father's house I want to know,

My Father's house, will be a safe place.

My Father's house, in there I will live.

My Father's house, forever with Him!

I think all of us, adults and kids, liked this song and its tune. Ironically, though, we had a tough reminder that this Earth is full of sin and imperfect. We all should be looking forward to being with Jesus for ever.

One of the VBS locations, was the street. Matthew rented a large tent to protect us from the rain. We set up things in a way that we were facing a house that belongs to a church family. On the other side of the street, live two "kids" all by themselves. Well, they are 25 and 23. They have been locked in the "house" for decades. They are victims of abuse since they were very young. Neighbors say that they used to go to Kindergarten, but all of a sudden, they were locked in the house, tied to their beds and never went outside again. They lived with their father, who died. Then their mother came in the picture but didn't stay with them. To this date she sees them every other day, gives them some food and leaves again, locking the house from the outside. If you saw them, they are so skinny and have not developed mentally. The first day we had VBS, they came out to their little yard and started clapping to the songs. Later, their mother came and locked them inside of the only room they have. We didn't see them again.

The words of the theme song were painful to sing, yet hopeful. We know that today, their house is nothing but the horrible place where they are victims of an abuse I could never imagine would exist. But one day, those kids will have a safe place to live for ever, when they are called to His presence to live in Our Father's House. May that be very soon.

Ecuador?

Between July 11 and 20th, Matthew joined a team of 22 others from Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, near Atlanta for a weeklong trip to Ecuador. There, we joined missionaries Steve and Carol Thompson and their team at Camp Chacauco where we were able to help in three main areas. First, a medical team of nurses and prescription drug helpers spent time in a town called Montalvo, helping diagnose and assist with basic and common ailments as well as sharing about God's love for the people. The rest of us were involved in a three-day Bible school right on site at the Montalvo church for around 70 kids on the largest day. Finally, in the afternoons and all day Thursday we helped in construction back at the camp with building some roofs on a new building for housing the camp staff (which currently stays in dorms).
A few highlights:

• Being one of very few fluent Spanish speakers, I played guitar, taught verse and lesson for VBS all three days. I also got to interact in a small group format with the kids as they rotated from games to crafts and application time.

• On Wednesday, 7/16, played guitar and preached at a weekly service in a tiny village 8400 ft high. The full group was 50 or 60, but the locals were about 15 to 20. Got to sing songs from my childhood and have folks sing along



• Met a believer who owned a shop next to the equator and asked me to pray for her family right then and there in the store. The HCJB radio program she was listening to was an instant giveaway. She was thankful that I was able to pray for her husband who has only recently begun attending the Evangelical Church in the "Middle of the World" (what they call the equator, since the actual word for equator is the same as the counry's name).

• Went to a university function to support the daughter of one of the pastors as a foreign contact who might be interested in supporting a business idea she and a team created as a project. I discovered that I'm actually a british investor seeking to assist in the exportation of Ecuadorian fruit to the UK (and USA).

• Daily view of an active, ash-spewing volcano called Tungurahua and occasional glimpses of how it has impacted, climate, culture, topography and even religion in this area.

• Learning to use a nail gun w/ the two-by-fours and sundry pieces of wood.Seeing 50 ecuadorian youth divided up into four teams have a talent night with skits, songs and special numbers.

• Getting to wear a patch on my right eye for 24 hours due to a few pieces of sawdust getting stuck behind my eyelid. I noticed it when they came in but it was one of those things you figure they'll come out on their own. The second morning after, my eye was swollen and red and it was decided a doctor should review it. He flushed it out with saline and I felt immediate relief. However, he wanted to make sure all inflamation was gone and eye was fully healed, so I got a shot on my behind and a patch on my eye.

• Having opportunities to share about God's goodness and plan for each life with a number of people in my travel back to Chicago: on the plane from Quito to Atlanta, on Atlanta's railway (MARTA)...

Now it is off to Mexico. Stay tuned!