Friday was women´s day at Lote Tres. More than 30 women from the Lote Tres community shared in teachings, a craft, a lunch meal, and good fun together. The joy in all the women´s faces was much evident! You will have to ask for stories.

One of the highlights for me was to teach a lesson from Psalm 23 and combine that with sharing a practice I began last fall of keeping a list throughout the week of things I see to be thankful for, places and events where I see the hand of the Good Shepherd. Did you know that He doesn´t just "follow" us passively, but rather "pursues" us as an active, caring God (Psalm 23:6). It was a good experience to work with our translater (Mandy) and see a bit of interaction at the end of the sharing time as well.

Yersterday, Thursday was very productive. We finished painting the inside of the church, built walls for the office of the pastor and this milk coop office. got half way through making a foundation for a water tank that will supply the milk house.  Sue, Kim and Diane spent the afternoon with teachers teaching math skills, sharing ideas about art for kids and school and goal setting.  We are all learning new skills like mixing cement, building a block wall, paving the road with stones and dirt, speaking Spanish and even a little of the indiginous language of Ketchua (sp?).  We are physically tired from the demanding work but our hearts are full, God is good.  Our hosts are very hard workers and patient with us as we learn new skills.

Pray with us as we have a kid's program with puppets, skit, crafts and games this afternoon.  At 9 Friday morning we're hosting a Women's day with cooking a traditional American meal (beef stew), making a craft, a devotion time, door prizes and matching women from River Falls (thanks MOPS women!!) with women in Lote Tres for prayer partners.  As I write this I can hear traffic and roosters :)  .Looking forward to the day!!

Wednesday breakfast and it definitely looks like hump day.  Yesterday we all went to the school.  Many played with the kids outside in the drizzle and many came to the meeting with the teachers.  It was wonderful to see the faces of three teachers, two who have been here since the first trip.  I was smothered with hugs and smiles - truly a homecoming.  There are now seven teachers at the school.  This is because the school is now a state school rather than a Covenant school.  This has really been an improvement as they have improved conditions and student/teacher ratio.  They are free to continue teaching Christ - so the curriculum hasnt really changed.  All seven teachers are Christians and all seven are delightful.  Diane and I are going back today and tomorrow to address Math instruction and behavior modification.  Diane holds her own very well in Spanish!  I'm so jealous!  Next time I'll know more.  Adios!  I miss you mi nietos!  Sue

Today we started a cobble stone road to the church and milk house, met with leaders about progress with the milk house project, visited a local farm, started painting the inside of the church and enjoyed spending time in the community. Rain held off today! It is a blessing to be welcomed so warmly by the church family in Lote Tres,

Geno getting the food ready

What a beautiful morning!! We all were blessed with seeing the Cayambe volcano.
Such a gloirous sight to start our day! Our team is ready to go up the mountain and get to work today. Our plan is to possibly do construction and/or painting.

Hobo Dinners

This afternoon we plan to learn about the agriculture in Ecuador...very exciting.  The plants and vegitation here is wonderful...its wonderful to see green. :) Plus the seeing the Rose greenhouses are amazing.  Here is to a exciting day of being with our team and having open hearts with our Ecuadorian friends.

Kim Langlois

Our bus stuck in the mud!

Laura Schatz
Saturday: We had the opportunity to go to a few local markets. Paul and I did our best to bargain in Spanish, I think we did pretty well. the market was full of fresh fruit, veggies, spices, fresh meat in addition to all kinds of fiber, wood, leather goods.

Playing games

Sunday: We are headed up to Lote Tres for the first time today for church this morning and then a Mens ministry this afternoon.  We are expecting 45 to 50 men for hobo dinners on an open fire, obstacle course and a devotion. we are sing one song in English, one in Spanish this morning in church - so glad the guitar made it!
Thanks for your prayers.

Diane Peterson
Wowza!  What an amazing trip so far, and we're only on Day 4!  Our first adventure was being rerouted from our destination (Quito) to the nearest city - Guayaquil, because of weather.

Mark Gabriel leading games

When we first arrived in Guayaquil, we sat on the airplane for 2 1/2 hours while they tried to decide if we should go back and try another landing.  At 3:00 a.m., they decided it was time to let us off the plane.  We went into the Guayaquil airport and waited another 2 hours while they figured out what to do with us! At 5:00 a.m. we were driven in taxis and vans to a nearby Holiday Inn.  Yay!  Creature comforts for this girl who loves luxury destinations!
We finally arrived in Quito and three in the afternoon and were bussed to our hotel in Cayumbe. . . 36 hours after we left our homes in River Falls.  God is faithful - we all just knew He was either protecting us or orchestrating something for our benefit.  Keep those prayers a'coming!  Spirits are still very high and we owe that to our prayer warriors!

Well.... the flights went well until approaching Quito, Ecuador. We came upon too much fog and so diverted to Guayaquil, Ecuador - about a half hour away. There we spent the night, or rather the early morning, at a Holiday Inn. And then proceeded on to Quito in the afternoon. Mandy, Ricardo, and Gabby (Merge leaders here to facilitate our time in Ecuador) met us with the bus and we traveled onward to Cayambe, our home for the next week. So very glad to be here! Doing  well and ready for the next steps in the adventure.

Sue Kimball:
  God has soooo been with us every step,  Through every long wait and set back there has been a sweet sweet spirit that would make you all smile and say "God certainly is there.  Even the pilots and crew noticed and stood at the door to thank everyone for their patience and kindness.  There were other teams on the plane also.  God's hand is big and gentle.

Andrew Ertsgaard:
This has truely been an adventure here in Ecuador from the long flight too the beautiful bus ride to our hotel has been a wonderful expierince. I love this bueatiful country and the warm weather we have been having so far. I can't wait to see what God has planned for us this week and I also can't wait to meet our sister church tommorow. I pray you all at home are having as wonderful weather there as we are having here. May God bless you all.

The journey now is just inches away as we meet for one last time and get ready for Ecuador. There is packing for our check-in baggage: distributing supplies for our interaction times, stuffing shoes and boots that won’t fit in the carry-ons, weighing each bag (keep it under 50 lbs!). Having fun, laughing off our anxieties, seeing sparkly eyes all around. Then there is the sit down with Mark K. Final instructions. Final pieces of news. Final questions. OK, maybe not the last questions, but there is this sense that we are “at the edge” and about to step off. Talk about alive! This is good.



And God is good. On Sunday, we took a long look at Psalm 115, verse 1. And wanted to have this be the theme for our adventure.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.



Pastor Todd shared that we can go because of the Lord’s love and faithfulness. That is what meets a real and deep need within. This is the great gift that we take with. And so we go with a confidence and an anticipation of the Lord’s leading and providing greatly in this good journey.

(Stayed tuned. There is more news coming!)