Stephanie's Graduation

Mike attended Stephanie Barriga's graduation this week. We still don't get the educational system here . . . this is the first of three graduations that Steph will have this year leading to her bachelor's degree.

Church Anniversary/Valentine's Supper

Alfredo worked through his vacation and many nights and weekends to oversee the remodeling and painting of the church.
Maria, the blonde in the center, oversees the hospitality committee. We don't even have to think about events anymore. Maria does the thinking for us.
We can fit about 10 more chairs with the remodeling and the praise team has more room too.

Fall Semester Bible Institute

Here are the students (A cheerful bunch, aren't they? Ecuadorians have a tendency not to smile in photographs.) who finished one or two courses: Mike's Biblical Perspectives and Olimpia's Victory Over Iniquity.
There was a special 5-week course between semesters on evangelism taught by Enrique Plaza. These students earned study Bibles by completing all the course requirements.
Jeffrey and Joel presented a skit on evangelism for the church. Joel's objections and questions had Jeffrey really searching for answers!

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