Quito Medical Team Day 3

On day 3 we  left early this morning to travel 2 hours north of Quito to a small town named Olmeda.  It is located  near the base of the volcano Cayambe.  The pastor Jose Burgas was a man I met a year ago while we were at Carapungo.  He pleaded with us to come to his church last year but we were already obligated to the other churches.  I told him that if God would allow, we would come this year.  I am now so thankful that God did allow us to go to Olmeda today.

This church has been in existence for about 15 years and has struggled for most of that time.  There has been such an oppressive pressure on the church primarily from the predominate religious group here in Ecuador.  Church members have even had rocks thrown at them when they would gather together in the local park for worship. 

When we first arrived Pastor Burgos told us that they tried to burn the last medical team that came here. 

We were able to hold the medical clinic in the local school in Olmeda.  Once we set up the people slowly began to arrive.  There were 12 members of this small congregation that came to help with registration and do the evangelism.  Three young men drove a van around the small town all day to bring in the people. 

We were amazed that at the end of the day we had seen over 300 people.  All of these people who came for medical attention heard the Gospel message.  All were touched by the love of Jesus.  The church members could not quit thanking us for coming and sharing with their church.

After we finished the clinic about 5:30 we headed over to their small shack church building to see where they meet together each week to worship.  As we all gathered inside this tiny chapel, Pastor Jose again thanked us for coming and shared his vision for reaching this area for Christ. 

At the end of the day we came to be a blessing but instead again found ourselves on the receiving end of God’s blessing.  I told Pastor Jose and the members that we would continue to pray for them and if the Lord wills we would be back next year to serve alongside them.  Please pray for this church.  The name of this church in English is “House of the Lord, Heaven’s Door”.

Continue to pray for the medical team as well as we are starting to feel rather tired from 3 straight long days of clinics.  We left at 7:30 am today and arrived back at the guest house after 8 pm.  We want to remain strong as we have two more days of clinics to go.  We will be at our partnership church Maranatha tomorrow and on Saturday,

Quito Medical Team Day 2

We returned today to the same church we were on Tuesday,  Iglesia Luz del Norte.  When we arrived we had patients waiting in line for us.  I was so proud of the way our mission team worked together to see so many people today.  Our final count was over 400.  So far in two days we have seen over 700 people.

One highlight of the day was accompanying Dr Butcher to a home of one of the members of the church.  This lady (Gladys) has an adult son who is crippled and homebound.  It was a blessing to see Dr. Butcher treat him and then I was able to pray for the family.

Another highlight was accompanying Dr Stewart and our excellent translator Abner Monterosso as we got to visit the local hospital (clinic) sponsored by the christian radio station HCJB.   We were able to meet with one of the doctors and have a long conversation about their ministry.  We were then given a tour of the facilities.  They were open to our request for allowing patients that we see to come over to their clinic for additional medical services, ie, xrays, tests. etc.  I am so amazed at how God continues to open additional doors of ministry for our teams year by year.

We are enthusiastic about our plan tomorrow as we are to travel 2 hours north of Quito to the town of Cayambe.   We anticipate a large group of folks waiting for us as we arrive in the morning.
Thanks to all of you who continue to pray for the team.

First Day of Quito Medical Team

We arrived in Quito at 9:30 Monday night.  We made it through customs with only a small hitch.  The customs agent at the airport attempted to keep a couple of our bags of medicine because of some incomplete paperwork even though we had done everything on our end to make sure that all papers were in order.  Through much prayer and persuasion and a second trip to the airport we finally were able to get all the meds.
The first day of clinics went very well.  We were able to touch the lives of 315 people with the love of Jesus at Iglesia Norte de Luz in Carapungo which is located about 30 minutes from the guest house.
The people were very responsive to the Gospel message and very appreciative of the medical attention.  Many of the patients were those that we had seen the last two years.  It was good to renew those relationships with the people here in Quito.  We look forward to tomorrow as we go back to the same church for a second day of clinics.  Pray that they will be just as responsive and we will continue to have good health and strength to do the Lord's work.
Thanks to everyone for your prayers.  They are much appreciated.

A Fitting Finale - Youth Choir Mission Trip Day 5

Today was a fitting finale to a trip we will never forget. Thanks to everyone at home for praying for us and keeping up with our updates from San Antonio. Today we sang for people with different kinds of needs. The state hospital and state school where people had severe mental and physical handicaps, yet displayed a joy in the Lord and a longing for Him that we all should share. Then the grand finale of the trip - a worship service at the Church Under the Bridge. The people of this church, though many of them are homeless and have very little by the world's standards, they were rich in love for the Lord and showed their kindness to us. They are a congregation that loves to worship the Lord, and are very responsive in worship. Our students led with all their heart in singing, playing their instruments, preaching, and praying with the people of this congregation. It was a powerful time of worship and many responded to the Lord tonight. We are thankful for the opportunities we have had on this mission trip. Many students have learned to share their faith for the first time. Others have grown in their boldness to share their faith. We have all learned to see the needs of those around us and to be prepared to meet those needs in Jesus' name. Yes, tonight was a fitting finale. It was a night of worship, and that is what has defined this trip. We give thanks to God - He is good and His love endures forever.

Youth Choir Mission Trip Day 4

It has been a blessed day of ministry in San Antonio. After a time of sightseeing at the Alamo this morning, we spent the afternoon at the Hector Garza Adolescent Treatment Center. It was a Divine Appointment for us today. As our choir worshiped, walls were broken down and hearts became open to the Gospel. It truly made 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 come to life for me today. "But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you." As we proclaimed the truth of the Gospel through music today, hearts were open, and we saw this scripture revealed before us. Many accepted Christ for the first time. Others, who had made Christ their Savior earlier in life but walked away were drawn nearer to Him and challenged to walk closely in the Word and in prayer. Some fell on their faces in worship, and the secrets of their hearts were revealed. It was a special time of ministry as our students shared their testimonies and shared God's word one on one with other students - for many it was their first experience sharing their faith in a one on one situation. It was a day we will never forget, and one that will spur us on to do more and share more. Thank you for your prayers. The Holy Spirit did the work and we got to be a part of the harvest today. To God be the glory!

Youth Choir Mission Day 3

It has been a wonderful day in San Antonio. After another day of working and serving on Saturday, we were ready to come together this morning with the people we had been serving and worship. Our students led the service, from prayers to scripture reading and sharing testimonies, along with wonderful singing. To God be the glory! It was a moving service for the church, and the best part was a young man making a profession of faith in Christ! Thanks be to God! The people of Baptist Temple have made a lasting impression on our hearts as we pray we have displayed the likeness of Christ to them. We covet your prayers as we sing five times over the next two days. As the trip progresses our opportunities to share the Gospel in small group setting increases. Pray for strength and stamina as we all are a little weary. Pray for our voices to remain strong, and for our hearts to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have in Christ. We are thankful to be here serving, and for our church family who is praying. Thanks be to God.

Youth Choir Mission San Antonio

This was the first full day of working on the field in San Antonio. Our church host, Baptist Temple of San Antonio provided wonderful work experiences for our students, both on the church grounds, and with some of their members who needed a helping hand and a kind word and the encouragement of a visit in their home. Our students were touched by the needs that they saw, and the way their work and their visits were encouragement to other believers. We look forward to worshiping with the church family at Baptist Temple on Sunday. Tomorrow night we have our first concert. We will sing a pregame concert at the San Antonio Missions baseball game. We are excited to proclaim the name of Jesus in song before so many people, and to have the chance to visit with them during the game. Continue to pray for us as we go. Everyone is a little tired tonight, and we need to keep our strength as we are getting to the busy singing days of our trip. The Lord has been mighty and we trust Him to bring a great harvest as we sing and share His word.