How My Wife Spent Mothers Day







I really like my wife. I love her, of course, but I like her. For the past two years, she has given away her mother's day. We went out to breakfast and she got some presents. The thing that she really wanted to do, however, was to bless somebody else. We bought ten dozen roses (please do not think we need a deduction in salary: keep reading) and handed them out in the park where we have led worship and Bible studies. These ladies could not have been happier had they been given a new car! Somebody cared about them and was giving her time to them.

I really like my wife.

Mothers Day






Marta Picuasi (peek WAH see) is a dynamic believer who lives in Otavalo, Ecuador (She is the lady wearing the gold necklaces). She and her family have been incredibly kind to us and helped Julie and Katie to get the "NON tourist" price on the outfits they wore on stateside assignment last year. She and her family have several booths each weekend at the Park and sell all sorts of goods. Those who come on volunteer trips this summer will probably meet her in her hometown on our tourism day.

A Rose By Any Other Name




Ecuador is a major producer of roses, but that does not make them less valuable. Sure, they cost less than in the United States, but the impact is much the same. We went out and bought ten dozen red roses for under $20. Yes, twenty United States Dollars! These ladies who work at the Parque Elejido were as thrilled as they could be to receive a Mother's day gift. One lady just lit up as Julie approached with the flowers. She said, "It is Mother's Day and I just knew I would see you!" She is one of the Christian leaders among the workers, and we then went out together giving the flowers and ministering to the ladies.

English Bible Class

In this past year, Julie has been teaching an English Bible Class at a Christian School in South Quito. She goes in each Tuesday and works with 4th, 5th and 6th graders. Jul teaches a Bible lesson in English and then goes back over it in Spanish with the children. It has been a great deal of fun. Speaking as her husband, it has been awesome to see the children react to her. Better than class time is breaktime. The children pile up on her lap and all around her and ask her how to say one word or another in English. God has given her some great gifts and she is passing them along.

A Few Good Men

Marcos is a truck driver. Six days a week, he travels the serpentine road from Quito (10,000 feet above sea level) down to the coastal city of Guayaquil. Several weeks ago, Marcos and several other men enrolled in a class we were teaching at his church. They learned to use the Jesus film as an evangelistic and discipleship tool. By showing a portion of the Gospel of Luke and them leading a discussion, they know how to help men get the answers for themselves from God’s Word.

Has this training been a benefit to Marcos? Marcos has been robbed 3 different times while driving his truck. Once, a gang drove up beside him, shot Marcos and his helper in order to steal their truck. Marcos´ helper was killed and aside from his gunshot wound, the subsequent crash left Marco with a mangled leg. Can you imagine then, what a help his men’s group was to him the very first week of training? That very week, Marcos had been offered a large sum of cash to go to a truckstop and leave the keys in the ignition. Having men to counsel with him and reinforce his decision not to give in to temptation may have saved his life. Many times, drivers in this type of arrangement are killed to both save the fee and eliminate a witness.

Due, in part, to this training, Marcos was able to help his wife and teenage daughter take the step of baptism. They were baptized along with 5 others on Easter morning.

Pray for Marcos and these other Few Good Men who are standing up for Christ. One of the other men from the group just got work on an oilrig in the jungle. Pray for Javier, that he will be able to use the Jesus Film DVD in leading Bible Studies with these men.

Jesus Film

"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." In our day and age, one of the ways we "hear" is by "seeing." This Easter week, we had the chance to share the Jesus Film a couple of times. For those who do not know it, the Jesus Film is the Gospel of Luke in dramatic form. It is produced by Campus Crusade for Christ and is an awesome tool for evangelism. In another post, we will explain how we use if for discipleship, as well.

We showed the film at "Jesus is Lord" Baptist Church and the place was packed! We filled every seat and then every space. People were outside by the end. I was priviledged to bring a short message at the end.

The next night, we showed the film at a new work called ¨Rock of Zion¨ in Guamaní in South Quito. Turnout was low, as it was cold and raining, but people did come. Pray that seeds planted will grow.

We are sure thankful for people in Southern Baptist Churches who give every week for us to be here. In particular, we remember the investment by Dayspring Fellowship in Durham, North Carolina. They gave years ago for the projector we still use. Thanks to all for your gifts and prayers.

Visiting the Prison.

We have recently been to the prison in Quito to deliver food to someone who has been arrested but not yet charged with a crime. In this type of jail, the prisoners do not receive food unless friends and family deliver it. We have been overwhelmed by the incedible need of these families. When the First Baptist of Royal Palm Beach group was here in November, they left health kits for us to distribute. After taking food last night, we decided to help in a different way, this evening.

Thomas and Katie packed up the health kits of a wash cloth, soap, tooth brush and tooth paste and then Thomas and I delivered them to the families who wait outside the prison gate and pass food and other items to their loved ones. We handed out forty but could have handed out eighty.

Since this was first posted, our friend is out of Prison! The district attorney's office was on strike so prisoners entered but there was nobody with the authority to release them! This one jail houses a maximum of 100 and is over 200.

God is doing great things in South Quito and we look forward to what else He will do in the days to come. One of our churches, Shekinah, is preparing to launch two churches simultanioiusly. Another, Santisima Fe is progressing with their new church in Caupicho. Maranatha is preparing for a Holy Week campaign to start new home churches and have also added a handsome 16 year old guitar player to their praise band. His name is Matthew Something-or-other.

Pray for groups that will be coming this Spring. A group from PA should be here in March, while a group from Phoenix is coming in May. Another group, Awestar, plans to do about 120-150 performances of a play called ¨Liberty¨in Quito. Camp Lamca will begin in mid May with the hosting of a Summer missionary from South Carolina and perhaps some others.

Please Keep on Praying,


PS: For those of you who follow South American Soccer :) Katie´s team lost in the finals, while Thomas´s team (in a different league, thankfully) won in a last second shootout. Pray for Bryan as he prepares for a mission trip to Lima, Peru with his Younglife group at Arizona State.

Volunteers from First Baptist Church of Royal Palm Beach, Florida are working in Quito with the Maranatha Baptist Church. Our missionaries helped with Children´s Church on Sunday and were back to Maranatha on Tuesday, helping with the English Program at the Christian school that is sponsored by the church. In just a short time, very strong bonds were formed. Pray for the Lamca´s as they visit with the families of the children in the coming weeks.

Maranatha Baptist Church is pastored by Rodrigo Terán. The church is located in what is sometimes called ¨Old South Quito.¨ The church is in an established neighborhood and has found some profound ways to reach out. One is their Christian School. With some 290 students between Kindergarten and Sixth grade, each child’s parent is required to attend the church once a month for ¨Parents´ School.¨ Our family attended this past Sunday and some 220 people were packed into the building! Another ministry is the After-school program they do with Compassion International. Some 100 children receive a hot meal and a snack, several days per week. The church also reaches out by hosting the neighborhood watch program and houses a security alarm for the barrio.

Julie is helping out at the Christian School once a week by telling a Bible Story in English. Please pray for her as she shares God’s Word and helps the children to understand English.

Who are these people and what are they doing at Arizona State? These are the Lamca's and they are dropping off Bryan, who attends the West Campus, as a freshman. He is living with Frank's brother Eric and is active in Young Life, a Christian organization. Bryan is involved in their drama team and is on a planning group for a spring mission trip to Peru. As for the little kid with the red thing in front of his face...well, we don't quite have him figured out!

Meanwhile, the rest of us are back in Quito, Ecuador. We have seen God do great things. One church, Shekinah, now has 10 cell groups and a mission church. Santisima Fe Church, has a mission called Nueva Aurora that is up and running and another in Caupicho that is just getting started.