The school year finally wrapped and all six of us are in the U.S. for the first time in three years. We’re looking forward to the chance to see many of you and talk face to face about our lives and yours. We have a U.S. cell for the summer (847) 284-1367. Please give us ring or send an email if you have time for a get together! We will be in MN July 4-17, driving roundtrip to Colorado July 18-25, then back in IL July 28-August 10. We will be at Palos Bible Church, Palos Heights, IL, on July 3, Hope Christian Church, Shoreview, MN, on July 10 and 16, and Trinity Vineyard, St. Charles, IL, on July 31 and August 7. Summer travel in the U.S. stretches our budget to the max, so this is a super helpful time to consider an extra gift to our ministry. Thanks so much!
TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life… ” These words Peter spoke to Jesus keep coming to mind as I reflect on this past school year, which has been one of unexpected heartbreak. From the tragic death of one of Dave’s students, to the painful departure of our pastor at La Viña, to the devastating earthquake that rocked our country and left hundreds dead and thousands homeless, we are still recovering. Yet I resonate with the rest of Peter’s answer to Jesus “…and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” We see God’s holy hand, in how he directed me (Beth) to step down from “extra” activities a year ago, so that I had more margin to navigate these challenges within our family and community. Dave has seen God’s provision in how his teacher-coach role this year has given him one-on-one time with his department staff, not just working through pedagogy, but also being a prayerful support for these teachers who influence so many young lives.
One of the moments that really stirred our hearts was when the senior class (above photo) decided to change the celebratory/leisure-focused class trip (which they had spent years working to save up for) into a service trip to the coastal areas affected by the earthquake. Character formation is slow, long-term investment, so to see the fruit of maturity in these students’ lives is an encouraging sign of the Spirit’s faithfulness. The students even decided to leave seed money for subsequent classes to take service trips, as well. The rebuilding efforts here will take years, so we are praying that other students take this charge seriously.
Our Vineyard church has also been helping earthquake survivors who have come to Quito, as well as making trips to Canoa, a town that was 90% destroyed, to assist with clean-up, aid, and psychological services (above photo). People are searching for God and asking for not only physical help, but spiritual help. Some of our church members plan to continue to visit Canoa regularly, to help with both of these needs.
There have been a lot of tears, lots of questions, lots of struggle, but we keep praying Psalm 73:25-26 “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing that I desire but you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” Thank you so much for your prayers, which lift our hearts, and for your financial giving, which sustains our work in Ecuador.
