Ecuador Update Team #2 - Day 1 & 2

Day 1:

First of all, our team wants to thank everyone for their prayers. We are very tired and your prayers and encouragement, and strength from The Holy Spirit have kept us going today. As we wind down our first full day here, our hearts are very full as The Lord has answered several prayer requests that have been on our hearts over the past several months. 

First thing this morning, our team split into four groups. Bruce, Laina, and Paola went to visit Estela who has been in the hospital with gall stones. She is not a believer but her sister trusted Christ on a previous trip. Please be in prayer that she will come to salvation in Christ, and that her gall stone surgery will be successful. 

Olga, Julia, and Heather went to Maria's for a Bible study. When we arrived, Maria had chosen some scripture she wanted us to study with her. It was about........tithing. She has a heart that desires to give her best to Him. We were able to read scriptures with her and teach her how to give a tithe and what an offering is. During this meeting, we found out that her husband trusted Jesus just yesterday when her pastor came to visit! Praise The Lord!! Be praying for her and for his growth as a new believer.

Jane and Carmita went out and invited several people to a Bible study at our apartment tonight. We had 9 of our Ecuadorian friends at our Bible study and had a sweet time of study with them. Bruce spoke about the importance of assembling ourselves with other believers. One of our friends who had been waiting to be baptized, Guillermo, has been baptized in church here. Another praise report!

We were also able to visit with an old friend and eat some of her delicious empanadas! We thought about you Scott. 

As always, our calendar is filling up very quickly and we are excited for opportunities to share His love. 

Praise Him for what He's been doing in the lives of His people, and for their faith in action even in our absence, which is our ultimate goal. Pray for strength and encouragement for our very weary team. We are looking forward to a beautiful morning of worship tomorrow. -Julia Roberts

Day 2 Update:

Buenas noches! 

"Pure and undefined religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress..."James 1:27 

Day 2 was extremely busy! Our team started off the morning by dividing up to worship at 2 of the local churches. Both messages centered around following Christ in this new year. We are so thankful to be starting our year off in Ecuador sharing His plan of salvation! 

After church, we went to the market in Cayambe and purchased some food for the elderly people that Paola is ministering to. I just want to say that what we saw today can never be unseen. This heart of mine was moved to tears. These people have nothing. I'd heard stories from the previous teams about our friends Pedro, Amelia, Maria, and Jose, but I'm telling you that you just can't fully grasp the gravity of the situation until you've experienced it. We brought them chicken and they began to eat immediately. I don't believe I've ever seen a human this hungry. We also purchased some goods that they will be able to cook in the future. The picture below is our friend Pedro. He said today he believes he's about 100 years old. Please be in prayer for Paola as she continues this much needed ministry. 

This evening, we enjoyed a night of worship at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with many of our oldest and closest friends here in Ecuador. It was so heartwarming to see many of their beautiful smiles.

Our calendar continues to fill up and we are squeezing in every opportunity we can to share the gospel. Pray for us as tomorrow will really kick things into high gear. Our first team leaves at 6:30 in the morning for our first appointment, and things get busier from there. We thank you all for your prayers, believe me, they are felt! Keep them coming! -Julia Roberts

Our Sunday School lesson today was about missionaries and traveling to tell people about Jesus, so we talked about our ministry in Ecuador and prayed for the team in Tabacundo right now. "All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name." 
-Psalm 86:9 -Bridgette Cook (FBC Bowling Green)