Thanksgiving

We'll be spending Thanksgiving weekend in Quito with Pastor Juan and Norma. We need to have the yearly meeting of the "Mission" here in Ecuador. We are a legally recognized church at the moment thanks to Pastor Hadley and his work here years ago.

According to Pastor Juan - who is the President of the Mission - there are some possible issues with our continuing legality:

1) Someone used our legal status to bring "missionaries" into the country from Columbia;

2) the president is upset with the churches here because they were against the new constitution which opened the door to legalizing abortion and homosexual marriages. He has already not renewed the legal status to some large evangelical churches for this reason.

3) We've moved the location of the church in Quito several times. Since many people look at the church as a building and not as a Body of believers, this appears shady to some.

Please pray that we are able to continue with our legal status.

Beach Trip

The same weekend we were in Quito, Gloria and Olympia took the Youth Group on a retreat to the beach in Salinas - about three hours away. They returned refreshed and energized and are now preparing a drama for the Bible Club Christmas party. Since most of the parents of the children do not attend church, we are planning this as an evangelistic activity.

Fruit

When in Quito last weekend, we had the pleasure of seeing Alejandra. Mike met Alejandra eight years ago when she was in Voz Andes Hospital. He led her to the Lord, and later her family followed in this decision. Her mother and sister have been faithful in the church all these years, but Alejandra chose a rockier, wandering road. What a delight it is to see her firmly in the church again - what a mature Christian she is developing into.

Hi, from all of us in Iglesia la Gracia.

Bible Study with the Godchildren

We went to Peguche for "Day of the Dead" and had a wonderful time with our indigenous "family." One of the highlights was having a Bible study with our godchildren around the kitchen table after a lunch of three ears of corn.

We also spent a day with the church in Quito. Here we are with Pastor Juan, Norma, their daughter, Maria Belen, and Romina, a girl who started attending Bible Club and who is now running Bible Club, along with Maria Belen.

Heeeeeeeere's Johnny!!

Johnny lives near the church and has Down's Syndrome and a pigment disorder. Our church is in a rough neighborhood and Johnny has grown up the butt of many jokes and unkindnesses. He finds our church to be a haven; he attends every event and helps out with cleaning and setting up and taking down chairs. He's a valued part of our Body.