TIST

As we were coming into Quito Tuesday night I was looking out my plane window and saw this. Well not this exactly. I didn't have my camera with me. It was awesome. My first real sighting of a volcano that had lava flowing out of it. I was able to see the snow on the top and the smoke coming out of it.





While flying out of Quito to Cuenca we spotted three more volcanoes. Some had snow on top and were not active. At this time there is a volcano that is active and causing evacuations South East of Quito. 

Another thing I saw today was a bus leaving with all our luggage in it and we were not on it. That story later.

Leaving On a Jet Plane

 

This next Tuesday we will be boarding a plane to Quito. This time no one will meet us at the airport, we will be on our own. I remember last year thinking there would be no way on this earth that we would be able to get around Quito by ourselves. Not only are we making it on our own but we are meeting another couple who will be entering Quito for the first time and helping them get settled in.

The Ranch Dressing mix, chili powder, taco seasoning, chocolate chips, Reece’s, and McCormick’s seasonings are packed. I packed clothes that are all one size smaller, hoping I can get into them after a few weeks. The Thrift Store was kind to me. 

There are many things I am going to miss.

 This school year Rebecca’s children will be in the States so we will be in Loja without grandchildren there. I will miss instant internet service, bathtubs, family and friends, trees, trains, thrift stores, tap water, going barefooted,Dr. Pepper and understanding what people are saying to me.

These are things I will not miss.

Hot Weather

                                                                                                                                                       

                                               
                                                                       

Driving

                                       
                                            

Television News

                                         
                                 



We will be preparing for the school year as soon as we get back to Loja. School starts the second week of September. This next year will be a little different than last year as we will have two new teachers with us. The teacher to student ratio is one that any teacher would envy. 

We will be able to spend more time in language study and serving in our church. Terry and I are excited to see what God has in store for us this coming school year. Keep us in prayer this next week.

Winning the Baggage War

 

Terry and I have purchased our plane tickets and have been able to locate medical insurance for the next year. I have rolled up clothes to be able to get an idea of how many I will be able to take back. Maybe I have gone a bit overboard at the thrift store.

 I have boxed school curriculum many times to see how many books I can get into boxes. I have no idea why, because the books have to be put in the suitcases.

Last year when we left we were allowed two free pieces of checked luggage. This year we are allowed one piece and will have to pay 60 for the other. Now I have to decide what is worth 60 dollars for me to take, if they would allow Dr. Pepper that might be worth it.

 I am going to put the unimportant things in the free check in, and the really important things into the one that is going to cost the 60.oo,that way I feel a little better about spending the extra money on an extra suitcase to take extra stuff. 

I also plan on layering my clothes. I read somewhere online that if you layer your clothing you will have more space in your suitcase for more stuff. This is my plan, stockings, swimsuit, long sleeved tee shirt, short sleeved shirt over long sleeved Tee, light sweater, leggings under jeans with a skirt on top of that and hiking boots as they are too heavy for suitcase. I will also need a knitted hat as some days are chilly so I will wear one to keep the chill off on the plane. My hoodie will be tied around my waist. If the plane gets to hot I will be able to take the sweater, short sleeved tee, and the skirt off and roll up into my hoodie for a pillow.  

Now I need to figure out how to layer Terry.

Conflicting Emotions

As we get closer to the time to leave the States (August 21) many are asking me if I am ready to go back to Loja. I smile and say yes. Sometimes when I am alone I wonder if I am really ready to go back.

I have conflicting emotions. I love Loja, the people, chasing trash cans, teaching beside Terry and working in our small church we attend. I like the simple life we have there. There are people who need to know Jesus there.

In the States I love being with the lambs (grandchildren) , spending time with our parents and fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I enjoy the small town life, thrift stores and Dr. Pepper.

We will be leaving parents who are getting on in years and I feel a responsibility to them. Our grandchildren are growing up so fast and I love being able to be a part of their lives. It is hard to look at our house and see someone else living in it. Sometimes I think of the job Terry left and the security that it gave me. To be honest it would be nice to stay here.

But I know I can’t depend on emotion or my desires. I have done that many times and made wrong decisions.  God asks of me to obey. He didn’t say if you feel like it or even if you’re happy about it.

The emotions are conflicting but I know that God will give us peace and contentment in obedience. He did last year and he will the coming year.

Pray and Support

Terry and I will be returning back to Ecuador to teach another year. We feel that this is what God wants for us until he tells us otherwise. I am looking forward to chasing trash cans, losing weight, walking in the rain, and teaching.

The last few weeks have been busy. We have been visiting with family and friends, traveled to Arkansas and will be in Illinois in a few weeks. Several churches have let us share about our work in Loja. It has been wonderful to be able to be with our grandchildren for the past weeks.

Please pray for us as we start getting ready for our trip back to Loja. Pray for good airfare rates and that we are able to obtain the medical insurance needed. Pray that our house rents as the renters are moving.

We need people to pray for us each day, support us financially, monthly or with one time gifts. Please consider being prayer partners for us. Please email or message us so that we will be able to contact you when we have prayer needs and so that we can also pray for you each day. At this time we are at 62%. Thank you to those who pray and support us.

Financial support can be sent to:

http://www.gatewayglobaloutreach.org/index.html

Go to donations and down to our ministry site

Or mail to

Gateway Global Outreach

PO Box 591

West Chester, Ohio 45071-0591

Terry and I are now in the states. We are enjoying the grandchildren, seeing family and friends and just relaxing. We had a great flight back with no problems. While waiting for our flight out of Atlanta to Dayton was annoyed at the news on the TV. A year without knowing what the weather is going to be and who might or might not be the president was nice. We have news in Loja but we just don’t understand it yet. Weather is unimportant news in Loja. No one lives their lives around it. They live their lives in it.

            When we walked into the airport parking lot I saw the trees and open space and thought to myself, God help me hate this place. There is not a lot of open space or trees in Loja. On arrival to Renee’s home we found that we needed to make an appointment with an eye doctor because Terry had been seeing big bees while walking in Quito. They were following him around in Dayton. He had a torn retina and we had to have that fixed. Then we got a call that the air-conditioner in our home we are renting may have to be replaced. God was helping me not like this place.

It has been good to be able to share the work that we are doing with churches and friends. Pray that we will get all the support for the next year of service. Pray for our family as there are some major decisions that have to be made. ­­­­Pray that we are able to get all the school curriculum that we need to take back with us. Bottom line pray for us.

So far I have been able to cross off some of the things on my Bucket list.: Long soak in bathtub, buy bathing suit, Sonic Strawberry Shake, trip to thrift store, eat barbeque lays chips, lemon heads, and drink Dr. Pepper and cuddle with my lambs.

           

It has been almost a year since Terry and I boarded a plane in Dayton and started the adventure of our lives. When we boarded that plane it was with much excitement, but also fear and wondering if what we were doing was truly God's Will.

This morning during the church service I noticed a few things had changed in my life since this adventure began. First I found myself singing in Spanish. No, I didn't know what the words meant but I was singing anyway. I was greeting people a little more naturally. You know the kiss on the right cheek, and I was truly meaning the words Buenos Días. The hugs I give are less uptight and I mean them. I was able to read the Bible Story and understand most of what it was saying. 


This school year is quickly coming to a close. We have seen great strides in our students in their education as well as their spiritual lives. It has been a blessing to hear them sing the old hymns and pray in our prayer circle each morning. They have earnestly prayed for Pastor Nadarkhani and that God would free him soon. They have prayed for the children in Ghana who are being sold into slavery. They have prayed that God would open the door so that El Sendero would be able to open on Saturday nites so that the young people of Loja would be able to have a safe place to go,  and that they would also be able to have a chance to hear the gospel. It has been exciting to watch their expressions as we told them the news that the owner of El Sendero has said that for one Saturday next month El Sendero would be allowed to open.

Pray for us as we prepare to go back to the States for two months. We will be visiting with family, sharing our work in churches and raising support for another year. We don't know what the future is for us but for now God has told us to stay and minister here in the school. The decision to stay was not near as difficult as it was for us to come. The prayers and support of our prayer advocates and support advocates have been a blessing to us and to the work here in Loja. 


This time when we board the plane back to Loja from Dayton I won't have the fear of the unknown and the unsureness of God's Will. This is where God wants us.