Wow, my first blog ever!
Hola to everyone and much love! I am so happy to tell you that we are all alive and well here in Ecuador. We miss you all back home. Yesterday was quite an incredible day. Relationships with Luis, Julio, Dario, and Oswaldo are starting to blossom. I’ve been working construction with them on the cabin that Amy, the kids, and I will eventually be moving in to. The guys are all so very helpful, kind, and generous with their time, effort, and smiles. They are by far the hardest working humans I have ever had the opportunity to observe. They are multi-talented, very skilled, and if they don’t have something on hand to complete the job….they build it. Improvisation is their friend. They waste no time unless it is on me and my poor, poor spanish language aquisition. Luis and I worked on the (calefon) hot water heater for an hour or so yesterday. We decided that a block in the plumbing line was causing a pressure issue and not allowing the valve to release the propane pilot light ignition for heating the water. We removed the blockage and….. Eureka! We’ve got hot water now after three weeks without. High fives with Luis! I enjoyed problem shooting with him inspite of the language barrier. It was a humbling, but a good experience.
Amy has been swamped with keeping house, kids, and ministry updates in order. She’s a trooper! I’m glad she’s good at all that ’cause I’m not. No car means no drive thru. There aren’t any drive thrus anyhow. Everything to do with feeding the family is labor intensive and takes tons of planning. From getting groceries to food preparation…it’s a major undertaking. Madeline and Abigail have been a tremendous help with household chores and “Elijah watch”. The girls and Elijah have spent several evenings playing with the Davalos kids. Their realationships are starting to open up as well. It’s nice to watch them laughing and smiling so much. Two interns will be arriving on Saturday. They will be here for the year. We are looking forward to meeting Keri from North Carolina and Tyler from California. We are starting language classes on Friday with Eunice at the hostal in Misahualli. Excited! We are also planning to start a weekly outreach to the peoples in Pununo…a ten minute walk from the cabin. Please pray for this outreach.
“For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the Lord, your Redeemer.
Isaiah 54:7-8
I know He loves me…He loves you…seek Him!
Eric