Learning that wonderful Español!

Guayaquil—Bible institute students, Juan Carlos, Diana, Nino have started their third and final year of theological studies.  Pilar has suspended her studies for one year due to the birth of their fourth child.  Pilar will continue in her third year next May and will graduate with her sister Hilda in January of 2014.

Missionaries in training—Isaac and Amy Thompson as well as Jim and Lori Rice have started their second trimester of Spanish language studies in Costa Rica.  Pray for them, as the second tri is the toughest.  It is an avalanche of new verb tenses combined with the irregularities and nuances of the language.  At this deeper level, there is often nothing one can compare these things to in our own English language.  It is truly the deep dive into becoming bilingual. 

Lighthouse Church—We showered our mothers with love and honor on Mother’s Day.  Each received a rose bouquet.  Mishell just gave birth to a son three weeks ago and that beautiful baby was in church for the first time last Sunday. Holidays have in the past cut our attendance by 40% or more, but ninety people were there.

Hines HM/GC time—Tom and Lydia will be traveling to the USA May 20.  They will attend General Conference.  In late June and early July they will be traveling on Home Ministries.  Planned visits on HM will be:

·         July 1, Colby WC, KS; am service

·         July 1, Sharon Springs WC, KS; pm service

·         July 8, Denver First WC, CO; am service

·         July 15, Concorida WC, KS; am

·         July 15, Phillipsburg WC, KS; pm service

We hope to see some of you during our Kansas/Colorado visits.

Ecuador Updates will be less regular during the next two months due to our travels and being out of country. We will return to Ecuador July 25.

Blessings

Wonderful Warfare!

Heritage Team—A ministry team from Heritage Wesleyan in Rock Island, IL. ministered to our people April 28 to May 6.  A primary focus for this group was the women’s prison, where they visited five days straight with several women making commitments to Christ and multiple opportunities to befriend and show Christ’s love to them. A computer and printer was donated to help the inmates who are studying online. More beds were donated. Dr. Ochoa, the director commented that he is seeing improved behavior overall since the Voices of Hope ministry began in August of 2010.  Praise God!

This team also visited in homes, spoke to our youth, counseled couples and  Ben Moncivaiz preached both Sundays at the Lighthouse. 

Guayaquil—We had a Saturday morning breakfast and fellowship time with our pastors and the Heritage team on April 28.  It was a wonderful time where Pastor Ben Moncivaiz shared devotional thoughts and brought uplifting words of encouragement.  This was followed by a quiet but powerful prayer time.

Thanks to a donation by the Kansas Wesleyan Men combined with funds raised by the local Fortin Church, this Guayaquil congregation has a new roof on their building.  Together we can do great things!

Cuenca—There is so much to report about Lighthouse Church I can only make a feeble attempt to cover it in this brief venue. 

Ben Moncivaiz was our guest speaker for two Sundays and really challenged out people to serve.  It was last May that Pastor Ben challenge our congregation to win others for Christ.  It was a joy to report 96 new believers in this past year.  Adding to that those who came to Christ during the week of the team visit we counted 107 total new believers! Attendance the last two Sundays was 106 and 99.

Last Sunday, some 45 adults came forward to commit to full obedience and service.  Each was anointed with oil as a symbol of the sealing of their commitment.  Wow, what will God do through these dedicated believers?  We will soon see a great harvest, I know.

Demon warfare—In the last few weeks we have been confronting many manifestations of demonic oppression in families of the church.  Some have found wonderful freedom from the fears and terror their experiences have brought upon them.  Just last evening Lydia and I visited a young family of the church.  As Paco asked questions about their recent experiences of the recent apparent demon manifestations in their home, such as footsteps on the stairs, moving chairs, voices, shadows and spirits brushing against them, Lydia pointedly asked Paco what he had in the house that would give the demons a sense of right to be there.  He admitted that he had dvd’s with horror movies that he believed did not please God.  Lydia said, “In case there is any doubt about anything, just throw it out.” She continued, “When you get those things sorted out and thrown out, then call us and we will come to have a cleansing prayer for your house.”  Paco agreed then we left.

About 30 minutes after leaving Paco’s house, our phone rang.  I answered and Paco said, “OK, Ximena and I just threw out the DVD’s, when are you coming?”  Tonight we will talk with a few couples from the house church group that meets on Tuesdays.  We will be at Paco’s house this week to do the cleansing prayer.  Amazing!