Baptism and Church Christmas Party at Our House

One group dined in the living room.
Another in the dining room around my collection of nativity scenes.

Maria, organized the whole dinner, cooked most of the dinner, and cared for her granddaughter with total grace. Many of us could have done this in a stressed out manner, but she did it in tranquility and love!

Here's the group that was baptized.

Women serving the dinner.

It was an amazing day of fellowship: fellowship with the Body of Christ and fellowship with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as members of our church were baptized in our pool. What a grace-filled and blessed day.

Olimpia Leaves -- Hopefully Just for a Short While

A lovely group sent Olimpia off at 6 am at the airport. I'm so glad they were all there as I had to work and Mike had the flu.
Mike making jokes before he prayed for Olimpia--so he wouldn't cry!

Olimpia Dragu, our faithful missionary from Romania left in early December. The plan is that she will return to us in a few months. We miss her and have to round up an army of workers to fill her shoes, but wish her a blessed time with family and friends and that she receives the desires of her heart.

Youth Group Goes to Mancora, Peru

Our youth group recently went to Peru and joined up with the youth group from Lima, Peru. Here are some quotes from our youth group about what blessed them:

I learned that I need to be like David--humble in the presence of God. -- Fernando

Pastor Justin taught us that we need to live in the presence of God so He can give us strength, understanding, and knowledge of the Word of God and so we can understand His will and themes like salvation with God. -- Jeffrey

Just as the Spirit of God hovered over the waters at creation and created order from disorder, so the Spirit of God creates order from disorder in our lives as He encourages us, strengthens us, testifies that we are of God, seals us, and makes us spiritual -- Smith.

Pastor Justin taught us that when we focus on our sin nature, we live our lives and don't want the presence of God. We keep doing what is wrong. But God is so merciful that he never leaves us alone. But if I walk with strong convictions about God, I will be an overcomer. -- Gina

It was beautiful and cool to have communion with the Body of Christ. I liked what Pastor Julio said about how the Holy Spirit lives now in us and we need to seek the presence of God. -- Emanuel

We had the opportunity to go to Mancora, although not all of the youth group were able to go. The portion that God had for each one of us was special. As our leader, Olimpia, said, "This could help you mature spiritually." Sincerely, God worked in me and taught me things that for me were very confusing before, especially through the teaching of Pastor John. What stayed with me is that God never leaves us, despite all our errors because he is faithful! -- Isaac

Day of the Dead

Sue and Rosa in the cemetery on Day of the Dead
Gua-guas de pan (bread babies) -- a traditional part of celebrating Day of the Dead.

Mike with some of our "family"

Mike preaching in the church in Quito

Cell Group at Enrique's House

This fall, cell groups were begun at two of our elders homes. These are a few photographs from the cell group at Enrique's home. This cell group now has an attendance of around 21 people.

Mike and Enrique

Barb Hill's Visit

Barb Hill visited us in October and greatly blessed us. She was spying out the land and we pray that it is God's will that she come to work with us for a season next year.

Mike's Birthday, October 2010

The youth group came over to surprise Mike with a birthday party. And he was surprised!

Ladies and Mens Meetings

Pastor Stan teaching in the men's meeting. The speaking schedule for the men's meeting rotates, with various men teaching.
Sue is offering the women's meeting as a Bible Institute course (if desired). We saw a lot of growth from this last semester. This year's course is Esther.

Back Home Again: Pastor Stan Visits!

Mike and Pastor Stan in the church. We had some amazing messages from P. Stan and are grateful for his visit.

A study with P. Stan in our home.

Baltimore 2010

As usual, our time in Baltimore was refreshing and full of fellowship with friends from around the world. Here's Sue getting acupuncture from a Chinese friend.
And Mike sharing at a picnic of Latin-American friends.

Barb Hill, a new friend, who's coming to visit us next week!

One of our favorite Romanian friends.

And some lovely English friends!

Visit to GG in Chicagoland

We had a great, but way too short, visit with Pastor Harry's church in Elgin, Illinois.

They were so gracious as we surprised them with our visit.

Chicago-style pizza with the Weiskopfs after church.
Mike and Leon, P. Harry's right hand man.

Sue sharing the work in Guayaquil with the church.

Mike and Jesus Hanging Out in Georgia

Back on the Homefront

We flew to the states in the middle of June and are visiting family, friends, and churches for five weeks. Here's Sue with a slide show at Living Word Church in Jasper, Georgia. Living Word, pastored by Dr. Robert Self, has been a faithful supporter ever since we went on the mission field eleven years ago. Thanks so much!

Spring Semester bible Institute

We're always super-proud of the students with perfect attendance!
Look at all the students who completed Spiritual Leadership II for credit and as auditors.

All of these ladies completed Sue's course: Breaking Free.

And all of these folks completed Eduardo Valle's course!

Tungurahua (Throat of Fire)

Yesterday, Tungurahua Volcano in Baños exploded, sending up ash clouds which drifted across Guayaquil and then thankfully out over the Pacific Ocean. We were only lightly dusted by ash, although we holed up in our house prepared for an ashfall such as we've seen before in Quito.

Mike spoke to some of our Baños friends last night who said that Baños is not being evacuated, although some villages on the other side of Tungurahua are being evacuated.

May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in His works -
he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke,
I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Psalm 104:31-33

Pastor Juan Franco, Mike, and Olimpia Dragu in the Guayaquil airport ready to go to the Latin American Conference in (ta-ta-ta-taaa) Lima, Peru. We were ultra-refreshed by the messages, the fellowship, and the weather. Sue teaching, Karen Collins translating at the women's meeting.
Mike preaching, P. John Stambowski translating in one of the evening services.

Breakfast with Rachel Wilechek, Sue, Olimpia, Mike, and Karen.

P. Liege, P. Drew, Mike, P. Stan, and P. Shaller on the waterfront.

So long Cherokee!

Mike was able to sell our 1987 Cherokee last week. It had gotten to the point where it needed almost weekly repairs. So with mixed feelings we bid a fond farewell to the Cherokee. We are grateful that God brought us a buyer in a short time! We hope to buy a newer used car in August.

Peguche Wedding

The bride and groom.
In April, Mike was able to join our indigenous "family" for a wedding. As you can see he was an integral part of the food preparation! It's always a refreshing time for him in Peguche.

The Carlisle Cyclone strikes again--three years in a row!

12 people from the Greater Grace Church in Carlisle, Pennsylvania came down for a whirlwind 3-conference visit in Guayaquil, Baños, and Quito. Pastor Ray's teaching was particularly life-changing--for us and for people in the church. The rest of the group gifted all of us with encouragement, smiles, help, and love. The picture above is Sue translating for Becky as she teaches at the ladies' meeting in Quito.
The conference in Quito.

The group from Carlisle, along with Pastor Juan.

P. Ray, P. Juan, P. Justin Shaller, and Mike.

Carlisle group singing to the workers at the hosteria to thank them for their service.

The picture above shows Emanuel, a youth from our church leading a group in evangelism in Baños.

Snow-capped mountains on the Avenue of the Volcanos between Baños and Quito.

James giving an introduction, with Olimpia translating in Guayaquil.

Mike translating for Pastor Ray in a meeting at our house.