God still Loves Quito and we are working on new ways to show it!

Hi There! If you love Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Africa, India the way we think you do, then you will want to visit our grown up site :)  Same Frank "Chip" Lamca and Julie Beck Lamca, but with all new content and way of doing things. We are no longer with the International Mission Board but very much loving life as a professor of Christian Studies in the USA and Missionary in Peru by summer. Go to www.CrossTheFrontier.com to learn how you can be involved.

Re Direct

Don't forget.  Our Primary site is www.CrossTheFrontier.com and our Primary blogspot is www.crossthefrontier.blogspot.com  not that we are doing a lot of posting right now...

Now THAT is a No Parking Zone

I was out with volunteer Ramon Elkins and Pastor Byron Poma, today.  We were on our way to visit some of the people in the neighborhood.  Instead, they came and visited us.  We were driving up a hill and looked out to see hundreds of people lining the sides of what is normally a small drainage stream.

A silver car was down in the swollen stream and it was the entertainment for the day.  We began asking and found that, thankfully, nobody had been in the car when it went into the stream.

The car had been parked near the house in the center of the third picture.  The bank has been eroding in the heavy rains we are having and that, combined with the weight of the car burst the drainage pipes that were built into the area high on the bank.

 So all of that water combined and dropped somebody's car into the river.  Be praying for Gloria who is a member of Byron's church.  That is her house and the bank is now just three meters from her foundation and getting closer.  We passed out at least 200 tracts and Gospels of John.  Not a bad day.  Of course that was not my car in the drink!

Testing...1...2...3...

Several people have said that they cannot leave comments on our page.  Would you take a minute and try?  If you cannot leave a message as a blogger, please try it as "anonymous."  If you are still NOT able to leave a post, please email me at godlovesquito@yahoo.com and let me know.  

Thank you in advance...Frank

Can You Spot the 11 Year Old In this Picture?

It might be tempting to look at this picture of Matt Lamca, Michael Labrador, Thomas Lamca and Katie Lamca in the cloud forest near Nanagalito, Ecuador and say, "Oh Thomas must be the 11 year old."  

Our crack staff of photographic investigators, however, have a different theory.  Look at the close up of the same picture below and you draw your own conclusion of who the immature person really is.

I Do Not Know Who Pulled Me Out

Last month we wrote about Patricio.  His father, Raul, is a waiter at our favorite cafe, the Magic Bean.  I was at the Bean when Raul got the call that his son had been run over by a bus.  So many of you have prayed for Patricio that I thought you would like to hear, the rest of the story.

When Raul got off of the morning shift, this morning, I picked him up and we went to see his son.  Patricio was receiving physical therapy when we got there.  It was painful just to watch!  When the therapist left, Raul introduced me.  He remembered me being at the Emergency Room and praying for him before he was transported to the hospital.

He told me that he is strangely thankful for what happened because it has given him a chance to "get closer to God."  We spoke about where he was with God and he said that he was closer, but did not really know Him.  I had the chance to share with him this afternoon. Let me tell you that Patricio now knows that he knows God and that God knows him!

The second picture is of Raul, Patricio's wife Piedad and their son Tommy.  As we were getting ready to leave, Patricio said that God was merciful.  He let him see that he needed God and gave him the chance.  "Only the front wheel of the bus ran over my legs.  If the back ones had run over me, I would be dead. But somebody pulled me out before the back wheels passed by.  When I looked around, all of the people were away from me and I do not know who pulled me out.  But I think I know."

PS  The final picture is what my kids call a "Proof of life" photo.  They say I should throw one in from time to time just to prove I am still around.

Write Up in the Arkansas Baptist Paper

Following the mission trip over Christmas and New Years, the Arkansas Baptist Paper wrote a story about the work in Quito.  Go to http://www.arkansasbaptist.org/

Good News for the Kyrios School / Maranatha Baptist Church

There is good news for the Kyrios School.  This week they received government permission to expand their program to Junior High School.  They had already begun holding 7th Grade classes provisionally, but now can go through 9th! They are also expanding from 100 to 150 children in their ministry through Compassion International.

Feeding is Not Just For Today

Our friends from Arkansas did their final day of ministry on Tuesday.  At the Atacucho Baptist Church, they fed families once again, provided instant family portraits and shared Christ.

Does this kind of ministry have eternal value?  The people dressed in robes are a family that trusted Christ a year ago when the same group was here.  New Years Day, they publicly identified with Christ.  

The older son received a surgery thanks to this Arkansas group in August.  Ricardo was crushed in an accident but today he no longer wears a catheter.  A doctor from the United States operated on him and three others with similar problems and Ricardo is enjoying a normal life once again.

Ministries that feed people and clothe them or provide other tangible results are great.  Greater still is when the message gets through that our motivation is from Jesus.  That we care about people because Jesus cares about people.

Thank you for giving and going.

Santa Rosa Feeding Ministry

Maranatha Worship

Christmas Ministry

Volunteers from the Eastside and Southside Baptist Churches of Fort Smith, Arkansas are ministering in Quito this week. Last night we were at Santisima Fe Baptist Church with Pastor Byron Poma.

1st Picture: The aisles of the local Walmart were really crowded when the Arkansans realized they needed more bowls and spoons. If fact, it was so busy I am not sure if we even received smiley face stickers!

2nd Picture: Chalo works hard directing traffic. The group fed over 200 people and took 55 family pictures. The pictures were put in a frame that had the name of the pastor, church and phone number.

3rd Picture: The members the Arkansas team provided the food and the members of the local church cooked it. The meal was a chicken and rice stew, bread and chocolate milk.

This kid cracked me up. He walked out of the church and was waving the balloons in the air. He was dancing and singing, "I got 2 ball-oo-oons, I got 2 ball-oo-oons...and they're mine mine mine mine mine!"

Prayer Needed for Christian Family - December 28 Update

PATRICIO WILL HAVE SURGERY ON THE RIGHT FEMUR TODAY. THE RIGHT LEG HAS BEEN IN TRACTION SINCE THE ACCIDENT.

Raul is a waiter at my favorite cafe in Quito, the Magic Bean. Raul came to Christ a year ago and Julie and I have been encouraging him in his walk with Christ. This morning his 23 year old son Patricio was pushed (accidently) off of a curb and his lower legs were run over by a bus. I was at the cafe when Raul got the call and drove him to South Quito where his son was in a private clinic. I prayed with Patricio and can tell you he is hurting.

The clinic refused to do anything other than stop his bleeding and so I drove the family back up to North Quito where he is being seen at a public hospital. The lower right leg is broken. The lower left leg is shattered. The family is on there way to buy surgical screws so that surger can be done to hopefully save the leg.

So often, our biggest opportunities to serve come from being in the right place at the right time. I have not driven more than absolutely necessary since the first of December. Traffic is so bad and the number of drunks on the road is unbelievable. For some reason I drove to the Bean this morning rather than take a bus or taxi. Being transportation for a distraught family does not fit neatly into developing and carry out strategy that leads to a Church Planting Movement, but it sure is rewarding.

The Safest Place to Be is in the Center of God's Will?

The title of this blog is one of those phrases that bounce around Christian circles and that just is not true. In the past seven years of being a missionary, various members of our family have experienced the following:
• Robbery
• Mugging
• Typhoid
• Dengue Fever
• Stranded between striking workers
• Political upheaval
• Threats
• Emergency Surgeries
• Salmonella poisoning
• Being run over by a taxi
• Attending the funeral of a 15 year old who contracted a disease while serving God

Now, I am not trying to look for pity or discourage people from making a mission trip or becoming missionaries. I believe that we have been in the center of God’s will but that does not mean that we have some sort of Clark Kent superpower. We may have been protected from worse, but mostly we have seen God’s hand in the trials. Through all that we have experienced and seen with others, our faith has been strengthened and grown.

The four people who were shot near Denver on Sunday were Youth With A Mission veterans. They had no reason to believe that their lives were in danger. The ones who strike me in particular were the two mission leaders at YWAM. They had completed training and a 12 week mission assignment. Probably, their parents had prayed and agonized over their assignment and were now relieved that they were “safe.”

These kids were not safe but they were, almost assuredly, following God and being obedient to His call. When God calls me home, that is where I want to be found. Being in the center of God’s will is not necessarily safe, but it is best.

2 HP Lawnmower

Actually, it is a 2 GOAT power lawn mower. The black one is named Briggs and the tan one is Stratton. During the rainy season, they will be getting fat while making my lawn short. In the dry season...well, they will be feeding hungry children in Santa Rosa.

An Open Door!

I write as someone who is completely humbled by the way God works. If you read our blogs, and I hope you do, you know Pastor Hugo. Pastor Hugo is the man who has been feeding children in Santa Rosa. From humble beginnings, God is opening doors for various types of ministry.

Hugo called me this morning and told me of a ministry opportunity that is so much bigger than he or I! Remember the Barrio President who told Pastor Hugo that he could not feed the children at the Santa Rosa Park? Well, there is a new believer who works for the City of Quito, who heard about this. So when a Barrio President in Caminos de la Libertad complained about the situation of the children in his Barrio, the new believer knew who to contact...Pastor Hugo! Hugo said this morning, “Brother, the thing is that Caminos de la Libertad is even poorer that Santa Rosa. They have 200 children and I do not even know how we could begin.”

The book of James says that if any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men, liberally. I ask you to join with me in asking God. Do not be confused, this is not some sort of veiled attempt to ask for money. Money will not solve this one. Hugo does not have the workers to feed 200 children even if he had the money to buy the food. We need to pray for wisdom for Pastor Hugo and for the Lord of the harvest to call out laborers.

You're Looking Fine Oklahoma....Oklahoma...OK!

We love Oklahoma! Never been there in my life. In fact, I am not real sure that I have ever flown over it. We know about oil towns and flat land and tornadoes, but have never been there.

Yet, we feel like we could find our way around the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University. Our kids could swear they have gone to camp at Falls Creek. We have heard all about Shawnee and Oklahoma City and other places, as well. And Sonics! Boy have we heard about Sonics! From their burgers to the way they make their ice cubes, have we ever heard about Sonics!

For the past 7 years we have been blessed to know people from Southern Hills Baptist Church in OKC, from Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee, from Awestar Ministries and even co-workers in Peru. We love you guys. If the rest of Oklahoma is anything like you guys, it is no wonder people break out into song when they hear where you are from. Happy Birthday.

Betania Sur: A Total Failure...or Was It?

Matt Baker and I went out to Betania Sur this morning. Even though the pastor's wife called around 7 AM to tell us he had a doctor's appointment and could not let us in the building, we thought the kids would be there. They were not. Matt and I visited with Antonela who came by with her friend Cindy. They could only stay a bit.

Two boys we had not met before named Naldo and Javier chatted with us for five or ten minutes.

It was Luis, though, that made our day. He is 22 and works as a security guard. His father is an alcoholic and his mother is in the hospital. He has a deaf/mute brother who is 18 and does not seem to have had any training for life skills. Luis is basically the only support his family has and is feeling the weight of the world. He came looking for the pastor who is usually there every Wednesday from early in the morning. He was needing prayer. I thank God that Matt and I were there to pray with him.

We did not do anything we had planned. Matt was ready to launch into his study. God had us there for His purposes and not our.

Glad I Don't Fly Iberia

Pray for our volunteers from Pennsylvania. They were to finish up a great trip to Quito by flying home in the morning. Unfortunately for the second time in a few weeks, Iberia Airlines popped a tire on touchdown and the airport is closed. Add to that that the other major airport in the country was closed for repairs...well, it is a mess!

The good news is that nobody was hurt and our guys are safe and sound. A little annoyed, but safe and sound.

When Do You Get Paid?

I like payday. Most of us do. We look forward to getting that check or seeing our pay has been deposited to our account. The man wearing the Arizona State sweatshirt got paid today. He has been donating food for hungry children and today got to meet with the people who faithfully hand it out. They thanked him for supplying food to help these children. They told him how the children are now coming with some parents. That the children are being told Bible stories and hearing Christian music.

The man in the Arizona State sweatshirt got paid today. Well, at least he got a downpayment. Someday he will see the end result. How many of these children will come to know Christ? How many will raise their families to know Christ? Is the next Jim Elliot in the group? How about the next Billy Graham?

I am not giving out the man's name. He does not want to be known. Better to defer payment and take it with interest later.