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| A recent view from our roof |
Lava is percolating under the flanks of the volcano Cotopaxi, thirty miles south of Quito. Volcanologists say this giant, which has slept for over a hundred years, could erupt any day. The plumes of smoke we can see from our roof confirm it! As we watch the English service of La Viña grow week by week, I (Beth) am reminded that so much spiritual growth is like the fire and steam inside a volcano, often unseen, but growing in power nonetheless. My prayer for our first Sunday service was just that someone besides our own family would show up! The emotional rollercoaster of hope and discouragement I’ve felt week by week (mentally reviewing whom we’ve invited and wondering why some don’t come) has shown me how very far I still have to grow in trusting God with whatever results come from our obedience. Yet while a few church services have felt quiet as Cotopaxi over the last century, we’re slowly seeing life wake up, even celebrating a good friend's baptism in a service that held 70 adults and kids. The Spanish service continues to grow, as well, and a third service (in Spanish) will be added mid-November. Praise God for that!
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| Beth baptizes a longtime friend |
Please pray with us that we keep connecting with English-speakers seeking God and a faith-community here in Ecuador. We’ve been hosting a full growth group each week and would like to see another English group open soon. We also need more musicians and children’s ministry volunteers to help out as we grow. Finally, please pray for our hearts, that whether life is quiet or an erupting volcano, we will trust God and obey his call.
P.S. We aren’t in the path of potential lava flow here in North Quito, but people closer to the volcano have been evacuated for safety. Please pray for protection and provision for the many farmers and city-dwellers near Cotopaxi. Pray also that emergency-response plans the government is orchestrating would work smoothly and effectively to deal with any mudslides, ash fall, water cut-offs, and earthquakes. Thanks!
LEVI TAKES A LEAP
Mopping up mud and feeding pigs are two activities our nearly eleven-year-old son, Levi, is looking forward to as he heads out on his first mission trip. His grandparents, Americo and Kathy, invited him along for a workshop with indigenous pastors in rural Chimborazo province, several hours from Quito. Please pray that God cultivates a servant heart in Levi, as he helps with cleaning, cooking, animal care, and the kids’ club run by the local church. We greatly appreciate partners to keep him in prayer as he is gone from October 28-31. Thanks!
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| Church leaders of San Bartolo, Chimborazo, where Levi will be an all-purpose helper |
A big high-five goes to those who have donated to our car fund. We are nearly a third of the way to our goal of $10,000. Our Trooper has been getting extra miles the last few months, as Dave runs the unofficial church shuttle for the Viña English service. This Sunday he made five trips back and forth from church. Please considering making a tax-deductible gift toward this project here, adding a comment that it's for the car fund. Thanks!
