Ecuador Trip Report 2006

1. Ecuador Trip Report2006 Campaign (Part I) 14-21 July Camp (Part II) 22-30 July Welcome everyone and especially to our visitors. I had the recent privilege to lead some wonderful Christians for two weeks in the work of the Lord in Ecuador. Ecuador is in South America and as it’s name implies lies on the Equator. We flew out of the Okaloosa County terminal to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. As most of you know, most of my background has given me extensive experience in military briefings and I intended to bring you our information this evening in much that same manner. But as my wife would have it, she wanted me to bring out more of the emotion of our trip to share…..

2. So here goes. Out of all the photos that we came back with, this is the most difficult one for me to show you. You see, when I look at it, I see the tough streets, young children trying to make a living in a very third world country and most of the time I think, “Lord, this boy could have been me, why did you change my life and am I where you have chosen for me?” Tonight I want that to be our theme, as you follow our trip, I want you to ask yourself, “Are you in the footsteps that Jesus chose for you?”

3. Ft Walton Beach Team Members Ricardo Morales Jeff Powell DeAnna Morales Don Littrell Adrienne Morales Spencer Otto Danielle Morales Jonathon Morales Briana Batts Denise Depino (former member) Teri Elkins Howard Hamilton Leonardo Siezar Doug McCown Lisa Arredondo Dennis L’Orange Jodi Pilot Niceville Team Members I believe that the Lord worked hard to make these individuals choose the footsteps that brought them on this trip. Some (indicated in black) for two weeks, and those indicated in blue for one week. And I believe that Satan challenged us with Leo’s visa and he had to return home the very night we arrived, but as you will see, the Lord worked everything out for good. Others that walk different footsteps were behind the scenes, Brother Ben Acock, Sr., Tammy McCown, Jimmy Johnson, Allison Seright, Nicole Morales, and many more of you that contributed clothing, toiletries, luggage and glasses.

4. Quito Central Team Members Catherine Hidalgo Enrique Romero Evelyn Romero Quito South Team Members Elizabeth Vinueza Wendy Vivas Veronica Andrade Kelly Vivas Fausto Sierra Santiago Cevallos Preaching in Esmeraldas: Marcelo Lopez Esmeraldas Team Member Juan Pablo Quinonez Camp Nurse: Magdelena Caiza (Non-member) There are lots of Christians around the world that are choosing their footsteps each day, and we had the privilege to work with these members from the churches in Ecuador during this trip. Again those in black supported us for two weeks and those in blue for one week. We did have a nurse that was not a member of Church, but she attended many of our Bible Study sessions and we hope that a seed was planted.

5. Each year our team begins some quality time together in travel mode, and we have a little fun in the process of getting to really know each other!

6. Country Map Our mission took us directly into Quito, which is the second largest city in Ecuador. There are several great Christian efforts that are on-going. The Quito school of preaching, led by brother Kent Marcum, is in the North of Quito. There is a large congregation in Quito Central and that is where brother Enrique Romero, the Niceville sponsored missionary, works from. The newest congregation, Quito South, is led by several elders, one of which is Jeff Powell’s new father-in-law. The Quito South congregation grew out of the Quito Central congregation and both are continuing to grow. Our team did not spend much time this trip in Quito, we quickly got on the road to Esmeraldas, on the northern coast to spend our first week.

7. As we traveled down out of the cool mountain air, the weather on the coast is very much like that of North Florida this time of year. Very HOT and HUMID. The main difference is that there is no air conditioning!

8. Campaign This year we planned to rent one floor of this home, but after our arrival, we ended up using most of the home to house the 18 folks on our team.

9. Even though these were close quarters, we were only 5 minutes away from the church building and I think I can speak on behalf of all the team, we all appreciate the comforts of home more than ever!

10. Sunday morning worship with the Esmeraldas congregation started our first week. (Left Top). Brother Marcelo Lopez, from the Quito North congregation on the left bottom, was the guest speaker that taught at our week-long gospel meeting. (Left Bottom). Juan Pablo Quinonez is one of the brothers from Esmeraldas, active in leading singing. (Right).

11. If you recall from last year, one of the projects that we left uncompleted was the installation of new doors and windows on the church building. As you can see from this and the following couple of photos, this brother from Cuenca, Nelson Beliz, definitely walks in the footsteps that God gave him talent. He completed some beautiful work.

12. From the work on the window replacement….

13. to the work on the doors….

14. And finally the incredible work on the pulpit which included storage room, all work was hand crafted.

15. Back to the Bible • Set of 13 Lessons • Each Bible Study Began with Lesson 1 • Progress at Individual’s Pace • Left Materials for Studies to Continue • Individuals Encouraged to Search the Scriptures Daily We followed in the footstep that we started the past two years, continuing our Bible Studies with the 13 lesson set of Bible basics.

16. Remember how I ask you to question the footsteps that Jesus has ask you to walk in. We each have our own battle with Satan, but I believe that he built his church to bring his soldiers and His servants together. Where do you fight the battle for souls? Where do you serve? Take a look at some of the places that we visited. I am sure that you will find yourself wondering just as we did, “how do we make a difference?”

28. I hope the faces you now see, will show you the BLESSINGS, the THE JOY OF THE LORD, and the HOPE OF SALVATION brought by sharing the gospel.

40. Our Efforts In Esmeraldas Focused On Maturing Faith • 2 Members Restored • 4 Baptisms • Held 4 Men’s Leadership Training Classes • Held an Education Workshop • Held a Ladies’ Class • Visited Shut-ins

41. Our Efforts In Esmeraldas Focused On Maturing Faith • Provided Curriculum for 5 Congregations • Puppets • Glasses • 200 Bibles • Clothing

42. I have to tell you though, after a long week of work, even Christian footsteps slow down. Our return bus trip to Quito was pretty quiet while we all re-charged.

44. An important part of re-charging is food. And many of our team members had some new experiences, from drinking out of a coconut to eating my favorite dish, encebollado!

45. But some experiences have no words….

46. So let’s move on to our trip to the mountains of Ecuador and continue with the second week.

47. Sunday Worship With Cayambe Church of Christ We worshipped with the Cayambe Church of Christ in the little town just north of the camp.

48. Camp Bellevue Camp Then all focus turned to a full week of Bible Camp for ages 12-24.

49. Cayambe Christian Center You will remember that we hold the camp at the Cayambe Christian Center which is sponsored by the Bellevue congregation in Seattle, Washington and the Twickenham congregation in Huntsville, Alabama. Facilities continue to progress, the final touches on many of the cabins were complete, the first of the children’s home complex was complete, and the new medical and auditorium building was well under way.

50. CampSetup This year’s team worked extremely well together and we set up camp registration in record time!