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.

Betania Sur: Then There Were Three

This past Wednesday, three came to the youth outreach. The first week there had been just one boy. Matt Baker "took off the training wheels" and taught the group by himself. It is one thing to know how to order food or get on a bus and quite another to have spiritual conversations. Way to go, Matt!

Visitors From Up North

So you thought Al Roker from the Today Show was the only visitor to Ecuador this week? Doug Pilot and Tom Fogg are coming this evening for a vision trip. Doug is the Associational Missionary for the Association of Baptist Churches in Central Pennsylvania. Tom is pastor of Westmont Baptist Church in Johnstown, PA.

As for the picture of Arch Spring? Well, it is from my home of Sinking Valley, Pennsylvania. It really has no relation to this blog other than I always enjoyed it. By the way, I have not yet seen Al Roker, but should probably bump into him at the Magic Bean if he stays here long enough.

Betania Sur: One

We began the youth ministry today with one. One 15 year old boy who wants to grow in Christ. We hope others will join him, but if not, we will be faithfull to help this one boy grow. Marcelo has been to everything we have ever done at the Betania Sur Baptist Church and we look forward to what God will do in his life.

He lit up when we told him about the "prize." He will get a point for coming, for memorizing the verse of the week, inviting a friend and getting good grades at school. When a member gets 50 points, we will be going to see the Aucas play soccer. Pray for Marcelo and the other boys in the neighborhood to seek God's best for their lives.

The Magnificent Seven

No. Not those Magnificent Seven! For the past two years, every time that we have had an event at the Betania Sur Church in Guamani, South Quito, there have been some people we could count on. The seven boys that my dad led to Christ two years ago, keep coming around. On October 31st, we will be launching a ministry to them that we hope will be a model for youth ministry in Quito.

Matt Baker is our Journeyman missionary who specializes in Children and Youth Ministry. Pray for Matt as he begins this ministry. I will be with him in the beginning to help with language and culture issues. Matt will be teaching the Purpose Driven Life. Pray for these youth and especially the boys, to know God's purpose and rule in their lives.

More on the Feeding Ministry

Well, we are "Back in Business" of distributing food to the children of Santa Rosa. God has been so good in providing a place and workers, not to mention the food.

Julie was in her element being "Mommy" to the little ones whose food was too hot.

Food from Phoenix...Well, Sort of!

A few weeks ago, we were praying about how to help a local church in their dreams of feeding the children in an extremely poor neighborhood. At the same time, our son was heading back to Arizona State and he and I were looking at churches online. I called a few and at one of them, the pastor called back after lunch. I explained that I was a missionary in South America and yada yada yada…

He asked, “Where are you exactly?”

I said, “Ecuador.”
He asked, “WHERE in Ecuador?”

I told him Quito and he said, “Wow! I just got back from lunch with a church member who is FROM Quito and frustrated that he does not know anyone he could have help him with feeding poor children! Do you know anyone who works in the Center part of the city?”

I wish I could have seen his face when I told him that South and Center Quito has been my ‘turf’ for the past two years!

The church member (he has asked not to be named and so we are honoring that request) from Phoenix owns a restaurant in Center Quito that is managed by his brother. He would be willing to provide 100+ lunches on Saturdays if we could coordinate the distribution. There are two pastors who have taken up the challenge and today, one of them began the feeding. He had requested 30 lunches to start and over 60 children showed up. We had enough for all of them!!!

We (the International Mission Board) provided 2 coolers for the chicken with rice and soup. It was all they needed to get going. People often ask what we do. Well, this is some of it. And really, all we are doing is being a bridge between two worlds. Thank you for giving and make it possible for us to be here.

By the way, do not worry about the little boy making the face. I think his food was just a little hot!

Food For the Body and Soul

1st 2 Fotos: Little girl enjoys the food.

3rd Foto: Pastor Hugo is from Chiclayo, Peru. He is leading several churches and Bible studies. He had come to me looking for ideas on how to help these children. A day or two later, I spoke with the pastor in Phoenix and things were under weigh.

4th Foto: Katie (12 years old) sits next to a six year old who is malnourished. Katie said the little girl’s arms are like two of her fingers.

5th Foto: Thomas’s shirt says “Major League Believer.” He is a major league good guy!

More Fotos of SL Refugee Relief

Top Foto: It was slim pickins at the Civil Defense Warehouse. The meat on the floor is being cut up and parceled out to the 10 shelters around the small town.

2nd Foto: Our team shares with refugees. Many wanted to tell their story. They were incredibly grateful for the help.

3rd Foto: Ben Haley is really our official baby holder, but he let me have a shot at it. I think the girls name is Jocelyn. She got left out of the distribution first time around, but finally got her Jesus book. She is one, and probably will not be able to read it for a while.

Bottom Fotos: Edwin Smallwood and myself really enjoyed the chance to exercise without even joining a gym!

We left I-town at 7 a.m. with a police escort. We appreciated the help last night but thought it was unnecessary in the light of day. I was wrong, We got to San Lorenzo without incident at 10. The local police got our supplies and us to the civil defense center. They were very low on just about everything and very glad for what we brought.

What did your gifts buy? Our contribution was 100 blankets, 20 cases of powdered milk (makes 960 liters), 800 pounds of peas and 1100 pounds of potatoes. About an hour later, we were visiting in a shelter and saw one of the bags of potatoes being brought in-no sense that it was just going to sit around in the warehouse! We visited 2 shelters and met with the mayor. We handed out Gospel of John and presented Bibles to the mayor and police. I mentioned earlier that I was glad for the police presence. Since Saturday there have been three murders, including a policeman!

At some point in the day, I was interviewed by the local radio station and asked why we had come (very few, it turns out, had). My response was that as Christians, we have to do what we think Jesus would do in the same situation. There are very few evangelicals in the part of the world we were working and your gifts made it possible for the love of Christ to be shown in a real and tangible way.

Closed-captioned for the people of Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee, OK: You left a HUGE suitcase full of medicines after your mission trip here to Quito. Those meds are now in the hands of the community health officer for SL. They will be distributed to the local inhabitants in the coming few days.

We left in early afternoon and are back in I-town.

Top Foto: Christine Haley stands behind the truck of supplies. Think that milk and beans and potatoes are safe?
2nd Foto: Edwin Smallwood (IMB), local Pastor German, Christine and Ben Haley (IMB), Enrique Patehoja (Civil Defense) and Pastor Joselito from Quito at the Civil Defense warehouse in SL.
3rd Foto: 2 hours after we delivered the food to the warehouse, the potatoes got to this shelter at the Agricultural High School.
Bottom Foto: Some 70 people are crammed into the municipal hall. Bunkbeds were brought in but it is a not a comfortable situation to say the least. Everyone was given New Testaments and children received picture stories about Jesus.
Frank "Chip" Lamca, August 28

We arrived in I-town at 7:30 p.m. Our pastor, Ramiro Teran, is from I-town originally and called ahead to find us a hotel with a closed-in parking lot. We met with the provincial Colonel of National Police. He sent four officers with us including a Lt. to the mercado. They even bargained for us! They escorted us back to the hotel where the Colonel and the Governor of the state were waiting for us. The president will be here tomorrow but we are pulling out for SL at 7 a.m. with a police escort.

Top Foto: We had wall-to-wall security. Thanks to this man, the Colonel of Police for the state where I-town is located.
Bottom Foto: Governor thanks Edwin and Joselito for the material help of milk, in particular.

Chip Lamca, Monday August 27

When Did You Clothe and Feed Jesus?

Please pray for Chip, Ben and Christine Haley, our team members from Quito and another missionary. They are leaving Quito to help bring needed supplies to an area that has been hit by disaster. Your prayers are much needed for their safety and for the success of the mission. 1600 people are waiting for bedding, milk, rice and cook pots. They are also taking along 1000 copies of the Gospel of John. Pray also for Pastor Herman and his congregation as they minister to the people. They are using funds that are given through the International Mission Board's Hunger and Disaster Relief Offering.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[f] you were doing it to me!’ NLT Matthew 25:34-40

Photos From Our CoWorkers in Peru

The Following is a Reprint of a Recent Volunteers Newsletter

Thank you for your prayers as we worked in South Quito, Ecuador. I mentioned in my previous letter that “flexibility” was our watchword, and that certainly was true!

All segments of the Team had a very good week. The Medical team saw over 1,200 patients and filled 5,000 prescriptions. Dentist Chrissy pulled 70 teeth during the 5 days of clinic. Dr. John taught seminars on Baptist Beliefs and Baptist History to classes of 90+ pastors.

We worked with IMB missionaries Frank and Julie Lamca and their children—Bryan (19), Matthew (17), Katie (12) and Thomas (11). It was wonderful to get to know all of their family.

On Sunday, we divided up into 4 groups and participated in the worship services of 5 churches (one group did 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.).

I went with a group to Central Baptist Church, where I gave a short testimony and sang, both in Spanish.
Our VBS team, which started with 9 members, and by switching and borrowing, ended up with 7, conducted not just 2, but THREE Bible Schools each day! Shannon led the VBS team, which ended up comprised of: Jill, G. C., Mary Jane, Dorraine, Pam and me. Also working with us were Julie Lamca and 4 MK’s (missionary kids).

We split up in the mornings and did Bible School at Nueva Aurora (as planned) with tremendous help from the members of Santisima Fe. The second location was La Bretaña (desired by the missionaries, but not planned until Monday afternoon).

Jill (music), G.C. (records and refreshments), Pam (crafts), Katie Lamca (recreation), with MK Cody and me as rovers, worked with Pastor Mario (Bible Story) at the cell church in La Bretaña which meets at his house. We had about 30-40 children each of the 4 mornings.

In the afternoons, all of the VBS workers led up to 60 children at Pastor Mario’s church, Betania Sur (Bethany South).

Here is how God answered the specific prayer requests in my previous letter:
I was surprised and pleased with the amount of Spanish I could speak and understand. ¡Gracias a Dios! We had many miles of safe travel, which included a few close calls which we vowed not to discuss, so as not to concern our families. We are so glad that you were praying! We had a few instances of people feeling bad, but no one had to miss work. We were thankful for general good health. I slept well enough to feel rested. We had a midday break, eating our sack lunches in the van. I think that we did a good job keeping up our stamina in the afternoon sessions, although I think that all of us would agree that the second group of children was more challenging than either of the morning ones. It was so great to see the church members that I met last year! They remembered me and gave the warmest greetings! I believe that our presence was an encouragement to each of the churches where we had VBS or clinics. We also enjoyed our time with the IMB missionary families so much.

All of the IBC team members got along so well, and we made new friends of those we didn’t know before. Each person, from age 17 to age 82, fulfilled a special role very well. God took care of my family at home. The kids spent quite a bit of time together and certainly enjoyed themselves.
Whenever I return from a mission trip, people want to know how many were saved. Many seeds were planted, and the Gospel was certainly presented, both at the clinic sites and in the Vacation Bible Schools. I don’t know, however, how many people accepted Christ. We may never know, here, but we will someday.
Please pray for these people we encountered:
• Maria Isabel—a young mom who came to VBS at La Bretaña each day.
• Jennifer—a 12 year old from New Jersey (!) who just showed up on the block where we were teaching VBS, in answer to our prayers for another translator.
• Pastor Mario and wife Marta—as they minister at two sites, and open their home to reach their neighbors.
• Pastor Byron and wife Nieves—who are expecting their first child in October and minister at Santisima Fe and Nueva Aurora.
Immanuel will continue the partnership with South Quito for next two years. Please pray for the plans for future journeys and for the relationships formed in these first two trips.
Each of you who prayed was an important part of our mission trip! Thank you again for praying!
Love, Cheryl <><

Way of the Sun.

What a summer, it has been! Our family hosted two large groups from Oklahoma. First, Awestar Ministries came and performed somewhere around a hundred dramas. Several church starts have developed from this work. Second, a group from Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma came with 23 people. One man led seminary classes, another goup conducted medical clinics in 4 different churches (somewhere around 1200 patients including 80 tooth extractions...ouch!) and their VBS did 3...yes, 3...VBS outreaches per day averaging about 50 children at each location.

On the Arizona end of things, 3 young ladies from Grand Canyon University taught English and led a Compassion International Project. We were happy to be able to help them get here and get set up.

Tomorrow, Bryan sadly goes Back to Arizona State. We so appreciate him and his brothers and sister. They are awesome missionaires. We saw two very clear incidents this summer and they point back to working with their first missionary ¨uncle¨seven years ago (Ken Bowie). I could almost hear Ken´s voice. Katie was with a group at a church handing out toys. She told them, ¨Better to go into each individual Sunday School Room and hand them out there. That way, nobody gets doubles and everyone gets something.¨

Matt was with a medical team while I was out setting up for the next day. Somehow, too many patients had been admitted and the team was looking at a 11 PM exit time! Matt told someone, ¨We better do some triage. Sick people only get to see the doctor. Everyone else needs to be sent to the team of nurses and given anti parasite medicines and vitamins.¨ The team heard him and got home to supper by 7:30.

I cannot wait to see what God does with these kids.

SOMETIMES PLAN "B" IS GRADE "A"

This morning, Julie and I had the rare (summer) opportunity to go out for coffee, together. We left the house just before seven and enjoyed a nice breakfast at the Magic Bean Cafe. Around 8, we got a call from our Awestar team that they would not be able to do the three dramas that were scheduled. You have to understand that events in latinamerica are either 1) not planned at all or 2) planned to the hilt. The pastor with whom were were to work today, is the second type. When I called him, he was obviously disappointed, to say the least. That was when I went with our Plan "B."

Actually, I had not even known that I had a Plan "B" until that moment. I called our son, Bryan. I said, "Drag your brother out of bed and bring the instruments to the 'Bean'." A few minutes later, they were there and we took off in the car for South Quito. En route, I called Lyndi and Nicole. They are summer missionaries working with on of the churches in South Quito. In a few minutes, they were in the car and we were headed up the hill to Jesus is Lord Baptist Church. We explained to the pastor that we were "the group" and he could not have been happier. They played the guitar and drums and sang some songs in English and Spanish. Matt and Lyndi gave testimonies and I taught a Bible lesson and the pastor preached. We had a good turn out and our minutes and minutes of practice were not wasted!

Sunday on the Equator
Our Awestar Drama Group went on Sunday morning to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World). It is a national monument and is the traditional location of the equator. Just to be fair, the later went to Intiñan (Path of the Sun) where GPS indicates that the equator is located. At both locations, which are only 400 meters apart, they presented a powerful drama. People were very responsive.