Click here to view as Webpage

Dear Ricardo and Beth,

Ricardo and I got home late Sunday night from Quito, Ecuador where he was presiding over the Annual Meeting for the Ecuador Mission District. What a weekend it was! Thank you for your prayers. One person told us, "This was possibly the best annual meeting we've ever had." We thought you might appreciate a brief report so I broke it down into a pictorial report of a few highlights.

WORDLESS SERMON: (pictured above) The head pastors in the Mission District, understanding the significance of their example, decided to demonstrate what it means to be servant leaders. They put on their aprons and served the whole community lunch after the joint service on Sunday. What a great sermon they preached through their actions!

RAPT ATTENTION

Ricardo taught about Going Deeper with God on Saturday morning and there was an overflow crowd. When we realized there were about 20 people sitting out in the vestibule, I took my computer out so they could see the slides even though they couldn't see the speaker. I was amazed. Despite many distractions (a woman got sick in the middle of a session, a bird flew in the window during prayer, children were playing in the next room), these people were taking notes and responding to God's invitation to be more closely connected to Him.

EMOTIONAL ORDINATION

Pastor Jose Rivadeneira was ordained on Sunday morning. Ricardo said that because he does it so often, the ceremony has become routine. Pastor Jose's ordination reminded us what a precious ceremony it is. Perhaps you can see the tissue at his wife's eyes?

On Saturday he gave his testimony. Jose said that his wife prayed for him for years and in response, he put locks on the doors to prevent her from going to church. One day, in the midst of a drunken state, he heard a voice say, "this is the last time you will be drunk. Get up and go to church." He went to church and heard the message. Then because they were holding a prayer vigil that night, we went home and cleaned up in order to return. When his wife learned he was going to church she worried that he was going to church to cause problems. He had to assure her that his motivation was pure and he was going to listen. He said, "on November 12 I became a listener and in March I accepted Christ, was baptized and preached my first sermon!" 21 years later, Pastor Jose is the third ordained pastor of the FMC in Ecuador. It began with the faithful prayers of his loving wife and his obedient response to the Holy Spirit's call!

FAITHFUL SERVICE

This is Pastora Mariana Mafla and her husband of 45 years, Don Jaime Andrade. We had the privilege of hearing their story over lunch (I'll tell that story in another opportunity - it is a great example of God's prevenient grace).

Mariana is the Mission District Leader in Ecuador and has been the head pastor of her church for many years. This weekend she and Jaime will begin a much needed three month sabbatical. Please pray for them as they take this time to be refreshed, refocus and be reconnected to God, themselves and one another. Also prayer for Pastor Antonio Rodriguez who will serve as Interim Mission District Leader and for Damian & Lucy, two lay-leaders who will be leading the church during her absence. As Ricardo says, one of the extra benefits of a leader's sabbatical is that it gives emerging leaders the opportunity to explore their gifting as well. May God be glorified in Ecuador during this sabbatical!

We left our home on Friday morning at 3:45 a.m. to travel to Ecuador and got to our hotel at about 9 p.m. Friday night after an evening service. We were in meetings all day Saturday. All of that coupled with the high-altitude of Quito, we were understandably exhausted by dinner time on Saturday! We went to a restaurant just a short walk from the hotel. When we arrived we found paper table clothes and a jar of crayons on each table. Taking a few minutes to color while waiting for our food provided rest for our souls...just another example of how God knows what we need and always provides!

Finally, we want to ask you to be in prayer for our friend and colleague, Pastor John Jairo Leal. His sister Daisy is in the hospital and doctors have said their is nothing more that they can do for her. Please pray for the whole family as they pray for the miracle of healing...either here or in heaven.

As always, thank you for your faithful prayers and for the opportunity your partnership gives us to share the stories of God's faithfulness in Latin America. Next week we hope to report from Paraguay and would appreciate your prayers for that trip and especially for the meetings Ricardo will be leading.

May God continue to be glorified in your lives,

Ricardo and Beth