tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67241514839026759042024-02-19T17:35:13.588-08:00Life on the LineWe are on a journey. A journey that has taken us to the center of the world. We have received a calling to live in Ecuador this year, ministering with the staff of the Church of the Nazarene's Seminary in Quito. This is a record of our "life on the line."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-46079555990337538602013-08-18T05:41:00.001-07:002013-08-18T05:41:18.585-07:00Waorani Video<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FKoJQRfbNY0?rel=0" width="600"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-82595719399035551882013-07-26T09:25:00.000-07:002013-07-26T09:25:38.883-07:00"Reunion Tour" ScheduleHey friends & family,<br />
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This will be our last blog post from Ecuador! Because in less than 72 hours, we'll be on an American Airlines flight bound for Miami, with a final destination in Indianapolis. We wanted to give you all our schedule for where we're going to be and when, as we'll be touring several cities during the first few weeks of August to say many THANK YOUs and to give testimony to the work the Lord has done with and in us this past year. So here's our schedule of where we'll be, and we truly hope to catch up with many, if not all, of you over the next few weeks:<br />
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July 30-Aug 1: <b>INDY</b><br />
Aug 2-7: <b>BOURBONNAIS/MANTENO</b><br />
<b> </b>We're speaking at <b>Manteno Nazarene Sunday morning, Aug. 4, in both services.</b><br />
Aug 8-10: Moving weekend: <b>INDY to WILMORE, KY</b><br />
Aug 11-13: <b>WILMORE</b><br />
Aug 14: <b>Speaking at Sciotoville Nazarene that Wed. night.</b><br />
Aug 15-18: <b>BELLE, WV</b><br />
<b> Speaking at Belle Nazarene Sunday morning, Aug. 18.</b><br />
Aug 18-19: <b>FAIRMONT, WV</b><br />
<b> Speaking at Fairmont Central Nazarene Sunday night, Aug. 18.</b><br />
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From there, we hope to be returning to Wilmore to settle into our new home before orientation for the first year of seminary begins the week of Aug 26-30.<br />
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Please shoot us a message on Facebook, email us, or give Ian a call or text at his number (which is the same as it used to be; Hillary's is changing) if you'd like to get together. We know it'll be kind of a tight/rushed schedule, but we really hope to see many of you when we're in town.<br />
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Once again, we want to say a huge <b>THANK YOU</b> to all who have supported us this year. It has been a wild ride, and we look forward to blessing you in our return as you've blessed us during our time abroad. <span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0in;">¡Dios les bendiga!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-76623642336065620822013-07-21T18:56:00.000-07:002013-07-21T18:58:13.099-07:00Wrapping UpWell, <b>we've just wrapped up our last semester with the NILI (Nazarene International Language Institute) program here in Quito</b>, dropping our last group of students off at the Quito airport yesterday morning at the slightly early hour of <b>3AM</b>. (See below for the<b> highlights video</b> from the semester.) Much has transpired this last semester, which began in late May, and we'd love to tell you all a bit about it.<br />
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For starters, <b>we had the unique experience of sort of switching places with the two other NILI staff members we've worked alongside of this year.</b> That is to say, Jen & Lucy--the two primary NILI staffers--spent about 3 weeks in Indianapolis for the Church of the Nazarene's General Assembly, while Hillary and I continued to operate the NILI Program here in Ecuador. This meant quite a bit of extra responsibility for Hillary, especially, who oversaw weekend homestays for our students with Ecuadorian host families, taught a culture & ministry class in Jen's absence, and hosted a couple of fun girls' nights at our apartment. (While Ecuadorian and American girls came over to watch movies and paint their nails, Ian went off to the NILI office to watch sci-fi shows by himself; it was a good compromise.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our NILI co-workers, Jen & Lucy, at General Assembly in Indy.</td></tr>
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A fun anecdote about "switching places" with Jen & Lucy.... While Jen & Lucy were staying in Indianapolis, Ian's parents--who live in Indy--were able to hook up with them and have a meal together. Lucy, who has never left Ecuador prior to this trip, apparently fell in love with Golden Corral, where they all ate together one night. Ian's parents actually used our car, a little 1998 Ford Taurus, to transport Jen & Lucy to dinner. <b> So while we were here in Ecuador working with NILI, our Ecuadorian friends were in Indianapolis riding in our car and eating with our parents! :-)</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hillary's whole family with us in Quito.</td></tr>
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During the past few weeks, we also <b>received a visit from Hillary's parents, Mark & Marcia.</b><br />
It was a joy to have them hear in Ecuador with us, and with Hillary's sister, Lauren, who also lived here in Quito for 4 years before returning to the States with Hillary's parents at the beginning of July. Together we had fun touring Quito, and a couple other nearby locations. Their visit made home seem not quite so far away.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating our 5-year anniversary (& Hillary's parents' <br />
31st also) at <i>restaurante</i> <i>Vista Hermosa</i> in Quito.</td></tr>
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During their visit,<b> Hillary and I also celebrated our 5 year anniversary! </b> We wouldn't have dreamed 5 years ago that we would be celebrating that anniversary in Quito, Ecuador, but we had a special night out in the colonial part of Quito with Hillary's family, celebrating 5 wonderful years of marriage.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anniversary dinner in beautiful colonial Quito.</td></tr>
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Well, our time as volunteers here in Ecuador is quickly coming to a close. <b>As a matter of fact, as of tomorrow morning we will be one week out from our return to the States!</b> Our flight back to Indianapolis begins<b> Monday morning, July 29th. </b> We are excited to come back to family, friends, and a meaningful future in Wilmore, KY as Ian begins seminary at Asbury and Hillary returns to her work as a social worker. <b>Pray for us as we wrap up our time here,</b> that things would end well, that we would have the time and opportunity to say goodbyes to everyone (goodbyes are a BIG deal here), and that the Lord would help us through this upcoming and probably challenging transition time. <b>We're looking forward to visiting many friends and family members back in the States in just a couple of weeks. We'll be visiting Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia in a whirlwind "reunion tour" during the first half of August. Stay tuned for our final post, when <u>we'll list our schedule</u> for where we'll be visiting upon our return home.</b></div>
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Once again, it seems appropriate to say a big <b>THANK YOU</b> at this time to all who have supported us through finances, prayers, and encouragement over this past year. You have been used of God in our lives, and we look forward to seeing many of you very soon!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-47617760029297074312013-06-17T14:57:00.002-07:002013-06-17T15:21:09.362-07:00Video Tour of Seminary CampusSo, for nearly a year now we've been living on the campus of the <b><a href="http://www.stns-nazareno.org/">South American Nazarene Theological Seminary</a></b>, and while we talked during our first week here about how we wanted to get some video of the campus to show everyone back home so y'all can visualize where we live... <b>we're just getting around to that! Oops.</b> Hope you enjoy this brief video tour of our campus; it truly is quite beautiful....<br />
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<iframe width="600" height="400" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lNlXWcbKaew?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-20857855553146392892013-06-11T20:14:00.003-07:002013-06-17T15:16:02.899-07:00Work & Witness Projects<b><a href="http://workandwitness.nazarene.org/">Work & Witness</a> </b>is the great short-term missions branch of the Church of the Nazarene. The Work & Witness program brings teams to places of need all across the world to participate in construction projects for churches and communities, to minister to kids and the poor of those areas, and to give members of the church an opportunity to see how the church functions outside of their own culture.<br />
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Ecuador regularly brings in Work & Witness teams, usually from North America, to work on such projects in this country. Lately, Ian has been blessed with the opportunity to do quite a bit of work for and alongside of the Work & Witness Coordinators for the North Andean Field, <a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Fischer-Line-Newsletter.html?soid=1108948661784&aid=RfM_zun5k4E">Jon & Shirley Fischer</a>. The work has been diverse, rewarding, and often outside of Ian's comfort zone. Here are some of the highlights!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting the walls of a mobile chapel.</td></tr>
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Part of the work Ian was assigned included helping to construct and paint a <b>mobile chapel building</b> for a church plant here in Quito. There are over 20 of these simple metal structures being used by Nazarene church plants and small churches throughout the country who have, for whatever reasons, been unable to build a permanent church building for their congregations. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture of the outside of the mobile chapel structure.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside of the mobile chapel structure (no roof yet).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the front door, from inside the mobile chapel.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plasma cutter is awesome!</td></tr>
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At times, Ian has just been handed tools he's never worked with--including this <b>plasma cutter</b>--and been asked, "Wanna learn how to use this?"<br />
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While this shot makes it look like he is doing hard work, Ian is in fact simply <b>cutting his name</b> into a piece of scrap metal for the purpose of learning how to use this new contraption.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of the Point Loma girls and Jon Fischer, the <br />
W&W Coordinator, gathered around a 5 ft. hole we dug <br />
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A couple weeks back, Ian actually traveled to a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuar_people">Shuar Indian</a> village near the town of <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=palora,+ecuador&hl=en&ll=-1.274309,-77.997437&spn=2.981717,5.410767&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.735377,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Palora,+Morona-Santiago,+Ecuador&z=8">Palora, Ecuador</a> to work alongside of a Work & Witness team from <b>Point Loma Nazarene University.</b> This group of about a dozen Californian college girls worked harder than many men digging holes for footers and pouring the concrete for the foundation of two buildings the Church of the Nazarene has partnered with Compassion International to build in this remote community. Ian worked with part of the team on the construction efforts, while others ministered to the children of the village.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerNWCjk6YmXNmXfwl5yeo5Rta9VUP5ipaTuqQCmOi-f1gCIB2yRg-NmNg7i0dRveEeZ3Nefpgun6XYx4wIKgN3W9x7LYxqPj_LpcUtWdEbnzmGZJFPZVckfftpzWP9ejq5JaJveyff5H2/s1600/i01133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerNWCjk6YmXNmXfwl5yeo5Rta9VUP5ipaTuqQCmOi-f1gCIB2yRg-NmNg7i0dRveEeZ3Nefpgun6XYx4wIKgN3W9x7LYxqPj_LpcUtWdEbnzmGZJFPZVckfftpzWP9ejq5JaJveyff5H2/s320/i01133.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Ecuadorian men, Harrison (a friend from the seminary)<br />
and David, mix cement while a few of our Point Loma girls <br />
prepare to wheel it over to the holes we dug for footers.</td></tr>
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Recently, there's been quite a bit of <b>welding</b> that has needed to be done around the Work & Witness shop on the seminary campus (actually, to prepare the support structures for the building the Point Loma team was constructing in the Shuar Village near Palora). One day Ian was asked, <b>"Do you wanna learn how to weld?" </b>He said, "sure!"</div>
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The first day welding, I (Ian) remember turning to Harrison, an Ecuadorian friend who was teaching me how to weld, and I told him, "You know, if we were in the States right now, I wouldn't be able to touch this machine on my first day. In fact, we'd probably have to have people with special certifications talking to me about welding for several weeks before I ever picked up the electrode and started to weld." I remember that he looked at me, <b>and with one word he summarized the difference between North American and Ecuadorian culture: With a perfectly straight face he asked me, "Why?"</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBaNgRResrFEbtcdSCYwExM-NS0WV-GL4UNZ3QDtmNtBlYGLTcKrwOXPDsnao0GcblUqPbpjvUDiZBWn1JiJNxVFbEZk7-Ob9bFlJNqjJV1FYSL3U_lcKSNLNiSWLlcjWSmKV7qb9k3Ac/s1600/DSC07788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBaNgRResrFEbtcdSCYwExM-NS0WV-GL4UNZ3QDtmNtBlYGLTcKrwOXPDsnao0GcblUqPbpjvUDiZBWn1JiJNxVFbEZk7-Ob9bFlJNqjJV1FYSL3U_lcKSNLNiSWLlcjWSmKV7qb9k3Ac/s320/DSC07788.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the welds Ian has made.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Ian welding... yeah, for real.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHRVXblyoZ_nZn0L2nrJOzaZubmk-yyWWnimhwYuG9C0zuXGcqziIpvCyrW9t88QbaxkiBSodVlVpKcg7gnmoxzOIe6tXwMDZcI4hyphenhyphenxEm0b23GHmWAgZpQ7Z6Hl6_ZjGBpeByYfEXtDtR/s1600/DSC07789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHRVXblyoZ_nZn0L2nrJOzaZubmk-yyWWnimhwYuG9C0zuXGcqziIpvCyrW9t88QbaxkiBSodVlVpKcg7gnmoxzOIe6tXwMDZcI4hyphenhyphenxEm0b23GHmWAgZpQ7Z6Hl6_ZjGBpeByYfEXtDtR/s320/DSC07789.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To a professional welder, these are probably not pretty welds.<br />
But they've held together!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to weld.</td></tr>
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The work Ian has been asked to do as of late has been very rewarding. It's a blessing to be able to serve, not only in the ways we thought we would, but in exciting unexpected ways as well. Working alongside Work & Witness here in Ecuador--being on the <i>receiving </i>end of short term volunteer teams--has given us a more complete picture of how our church works around the world. <b>The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed... a mustard seed that includes a 26-year old learning how to weld in an Ecuadorian workshop.</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-62249384447481959472013-05-21T13:48:00.002-07:002013-05-21T19:11:20.722-07:00Next Chapter...So on our previous post, Hillary mentioned that we have some exciting news about our next chapter of life after we return to the States in about 10 weeks. We're thrilled to announce that <b>Ian has been accepted into <a href="http://www.asburyseminary.edu/">Asbury Theological Seminary</a> on a full tuition paid "<a href="http://www.kffdn.org/default.asp?L1=PMP&L2=KernScholarsInitiative">Kern Scholarship</a>,"</b> so we will be moving to the small community of <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Wilmore,+KY&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.808514,86.572266&t=h&hnear=Wilmore,+Jessamine,+Kentucky&z=13"><b>Wilmore, Kentucky</b></a> when we return.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmmwASJ4EnA_Q0QW5rPsyw_XYeaxgxzUV26WHLYRzvoa2q7eAT610rZ-QC12GJCSvMWdeK9qdkAcEs_Dv3W3e_fLjP4_e_ON1O61K8OcaJ-hGVObNNhQ2vVRthDFFzYmBFuY3P2qWZWWf/s1600/seal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmmwASJ4EnA_Q0QW5rPsyw_XYeaxgxzUV26WHLYRzvoa2q7eAT610rZ-QC12GJCSvMWdeK9qdkAcEs_Dv3W3e_fLjP4_e_ON1O61K8OcaJ-hGVObNNhQ2vVRthDFFzYmBFuY3P2qWZWWf/s1600/seal.png" /></a>When we originally accepted the call to come to Ecuador, returning to begin seminary was not what we had in mind after our year of volunteer service. Last August, however, just a few weeks before we left to come to Ecuador, Ian received an unexpected, though very clear, call into pastoral ministry. As we discussed as a couple what this would mean for us, both of us were led to the conclusion that Ian should attend seminary in preparation to fulfill this call. We had actually just visited Asbury a few days prior to Ian receiving this call; at that time, Ian was investigating their Ph.D. in Biblical Studies program. The funny thing was, as we left that campus visit I (Ian) specifically remember turning to Hillary and saying, "I'm not sure I'd pursue a Ph.D. here, but if I were someone looking to pursue a Masters of Divinity seminary degree this is certainly the place I would do it." <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Z8Y49lFW7GO_cckrcCGyYWrzReqCPxjxnvwuqVyZLPvHk3z52QerSxjKeWoZuSjUzdH3qQd6tgLb5wkx8IzvwyXinxQ7OOd7xNudc3SnPpgBupoyNRf9YMs1_1WmY4USus8H7GtqMjO9/s1600/housing1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Z8Y49lFW7GO_cckrcCGyYWrzReqCPxjxnvwuqVyZLPvHk3z52QerSxjKeWoZuSjUzdH3qQd6tgLb5wkx8IzvwyXinxQ7OOd7xNudc3SnPpgBupoyNRf9YMs1_1WmY4USus8H7GtqMjO9/s320/housing1.jpg" width="320" /></a>As the Lord led us through a series of confirmations when we were considering our move to Ecuador, he also led us through a series of confirmations concerning Ian's call and our decision to move to Wilmore, KY in order to attend seminary. This sense of confirmation has only grown even as we've been on the mission field here in Ecuador, and the Lord made his intentions for us very clear just a couple of months back when <b>Ian was interviewed for and received a full-tuition scholarship to attend Asbury</b>. The scholarship even includes a small stipend to cover some of the cost of our housing--a brand new 2-bedroom townhome that the seminary has set aside specifically for us. We're not sure how else we could have made it happen without this financial support, so we give thanks to the Lord for his clear call and provision.<br />
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So, as we return to the States at the end of July, after this final NILI semester comes to a close, we'll be packing up all our stuff (still all stashed in a bedroom in Ian's parents' home) into a moving truck and heading to a <i>very</i> small town (about 3,000 people) in central Kentucky to begin a <i>very</i> different kind of chapter of life than the one we're currently living. We're<i> </i><b style="font-style: italic;">very</b> excited, as are our parents--both sets living only about 3.5 hrs. away from Wilmore. The community at Asbury truly seems to be a beautiful one, and we look forward to forming new relationships with the neighbors in our community who come from some 30 different countries, growing fruits and veggies in the community garden there, and finding new ways to more deeply plug into the ministry of the church. <br />
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Pray for us as we pass through the culture shock that most certainly comes with any move back to one's homeland after a year abroad, but especially as we transition from a Spanish-speaking, South American city of 2 million to a predominately white, English-speaking small, rural Kentucky town of 3,000. :-) <b>We have done our best to follow our Lord and Master, Jesus, as a couple these past 5 years of marriage (June 21st is our anniversary!), and doing so has always proved exciting, interesting, if not also often unexpected. As our time in Ecuador wraps up, we are preparing to follow him into this next exciting chapter. Thank you all for your prayers and support!</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0Wilmore, KY, USA37.8620226 -84.661610537.8118836 -84.7422915 37.912161600000005 -84.5809295tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-66338735681120570952013-05-05T16:22:00.001-07:002013-06-17T15:26:10.795-07:00NILI 16 Highlights Video Hello dear friends and family! We are so thankful to have just
finished up our second semester with NILI! This past week was jam-packed
with final activities. Monday afternoon we had a "Reverse Culture
Shock" workshop with the students, Monday evening I led our final
women's Bible study with NILI and seminary students, Friday the NILIs
presented their final projects, and just this morning (at 3 AM) we
dropped the NILIs off at the airport, U.S.-bound -- just to name a few.<br />
During our going-away luncheon yesterday with the NILIs and their
roommates, Ian shared a video he'd made with highlights from the
semester. We thought you might like to see it as well!<br />
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As always, thank you so much for your prayers and support! It's been
such a blessing to serve with the Church here in Ecuador, but as the
time draws nearer for us to return home to the U.S., we're growing more
and more excited. And actually we have some great news to share with you all about
what we'll be up to next when we return so keep your eyes open for our next
post!<br />
Many Blessings,<br />
Ian & HillaryAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-56407388519578385602013-04-19T10:56:00.001-07:002013-04-20T11:22:57.269-07:00An Unexpected (Jungle) Adventure Two weeks ago our NILI group left the seminary campus in Quito and headed down out of the Andes Mountains East into the Amazon Jungle. It was to be our last trip of the semester... Little did we know it would also be the most surprising and adventurous of all!<br />
This was the trip into the jungle that Ian had accompanied NILI on last semester, and this semester I (Hillary) had the privilege of going to help. Me, Jen, Lucy, our four traditional NILI students, our NILI professional family, and our Latina guest Andrea all packed into the Sprinter Friday (4/5) and traveled to Riobamba, a town still in the Sierra just over three hours South of Quito. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: small;">That night we tried "chanco," a very popular local dish, which is basically meat from an an entire pig, baked whole. After we overcame our timidity at the sight of it, we dug in -- and it was absolutely delicious!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18JTr61nevZlSfDszae18FeYRQg1VOTp-nzKBPZnVD6w_wB7PkUGv13a4VXpQgCPFpCbuVC64f-pi7lgo-eJyfyHKGrTAvKi4ufLYBx6hKOBiIzt8g2xyV31jWuvfv_TZg9EGShKNIqc/s1600/DSC06599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18JTr61nevZlSfDszae18FeYRQg1VOTp-nzKBPZnVD6w_wB7PkUGv13a4VXpQgCPFpCbuVC64f-pi7lgo-eJyfyHKGrTAvKi4ufLYBx6hKOBiIzt8g2xyV31jWuvfv_TZg9EGShKNIqc/s320/DSC06599.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying "chanco."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where we bought our dish.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="font-size: small;"> On Saturday, we drove to the base of Mount Chimborazo, an inactive, snow-capped volcano, which Ecuador boasts as it's tallest mountain. It's summit (20,564 ft) is actually the farthest point on the Earth's surface from the Earth's center. Our goal was to climb from the first refuge to the second on the mountain (not a great distance but at that altitude, still quite the hike!). Because we were up so high, it was difficult to breath and everything we carried seemed to weigh much more than usual. It was a great challenge, but the views along the way were breathtaking.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the first refuge, getting ready to start our hike.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning the ascent.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the beauty.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopping for a quick break.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the second refuge! (And the snow line.)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Saturday evening we participated in a youth service at the Riobamba Church of the Nazarene, and Sunday morning we attended worship with that same congregation. It was a blessing to be able to participate in the life of our director's, Lucy's, home church.<br />
After service, our group left Riobamba for the jungle, making a quick pit stop in Ba<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ñ</span>os along the way for some water fall sight seeing and hiking. The first waterfall was "Manto de la Novia" (Bride's Veil), a beautiful double cascade, which we saw from the distance and up close by taking a "tarabita" (cable car) across the valley. Then we hiked down to a huge waterfall called "El Pail<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ón del Diablo" (the Devil's Cauldron). The sound of the water crashing down into a pool below was almost deafening it was so powerful.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Manto de la Novia" Waterfall (with the cable car line on the left).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">After hiking to the second waterfall.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At "El Pail<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ó</span></span>n del Diablo" waterfall. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x11yBOjDMuNJs66Oeehq9ARrSA6y9bPCiCsN0YK24vtWfahuNKNFx1fQaiauL8-IAPQ0Jmbq1UnA6MLzlEV74dwEZix6vKLXfoXifpZnERs-MI11Ac0dqZpRRoADWQLZH0qi6RcihxA/s1600/DSC06927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5x11yBOjDMuNJs66Oeehq9ARrSA6y9bPCiCsN0YK24vtWfahuNKNFx1fQaiauL8-IAPQ0Jmbq1UnA6MLzlEV74dwEZix6vKLXfoXifpZnERs-MI11Ac0dqZpRRoADWQLZH0qi6RcihxA/s320/DSC06927.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the cascade from the distance.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Monday through Wednesday we stayed in Shell, border town to the jungle and home of the Nate Saint house, which was the base for </span>Jim Elliot's, Nate Saint's, and their three missionary partners' "Operation Auca" in the 1950's. Monday morning was our day to fly into the jungle to meet members of the Waorani tribe: the people responsible for martyring these five missionaries but who ultimately came to know the Lord through the continued evangelism efforts of the five widows/their families.<br />
We took a small, four-seat airplane to fly about 20 minutes into the jungle, and when the plane landed in the clearing on a little grass landing strip, we were immediately greeted by the entire community who had come out to welcome us. Members of the tribe took us up to their church, where several people (including Dewu, the oldest member of the community) shared their testimonies of how God had changed their lives -- though they were once a very violent people, now that they know God, they live in peace. (In truth, the Waorani were some of the most joyful people I have ever met! Every sentence was accompanied with a smile -- and usually also with a giggle or laugh.) Dewu read several verses from his Waorani New Testament and then we sang "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" together. It was a very special time.<br />
I also had the chance to sit down with Dewu and talk with him (through an interpreter from Waorani to Spanish) for a few minutes. With pride, he told me about how they were widening the landing strip for bigger planes. The landing strip seemed to be the community's greatest pride, and it was telling how he measured time by "before the landing strip" and "after the landing strip."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXalTvrmaYXFcg17Y1XHZZDkCRbwgg9QwsWfkzAgFCcN6nK29ZwDE2NOcVRXV_n2yXDqi96PLSZT8nPSKF78LvSglUIA-yCIVxH35uFw9Ne3U5aLOHyHS8PyYtzLMwa2g2jyVUYKMpzg/s1600/DSC07000-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXalTvrmaYXFcg17Y1XHZZDkCRbwgg9QwsWfkzAgFCcN6nK29ZwDE2NOcVRXV_n2yXDqi96PLSZT8nPSKF78LvSglUIA-yCIVxH35uFw9Ne3U5aLOHyHS8PyYtzLMwa2g2jyVUYKMpzg/s320/DSC07000-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being welcomed by the community after landing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IVlipseD2MTAJpQFiqcCwSupMtY7Z0Q8NSmUPUDW4wjptuOXfQDhsVHap_JQY8sLsnqq_Xi2dKhLhCyyITK9HLCxMqeMOjeedLeOmlLl-13mgLlHzwbBfIP3KG7pETWWOAvRNyYm1eo/s1600/DSC07002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IVlipseD2MTAJpQFiqcCwSupMtY7Z0Q8NSmUPUDW4wjptuOXfQDhsVHap_JQY8sLsnqq_Xi2dKhLhCyyITK9HLCxMqeMOjeedLeOmlLl-13mgLlHzwbBfIP3KG7pETWWOAvRNyYm1eo/s320/DSC07002.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the landing strip.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTR_MGV9XvWZiliUHx9L11B_Z8l-qCPzSBNOMZCs8Gj_cEe9Lcce34ewWXFvxtSFD8-bzATP-zIiaFsEQjUFTdRtQ696IO3WHvevei8C4vN6PJAx3FnBUeB9pTiWaiU2_AoDv9cvC0gs/s1600/DSC07008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTR_MGV9XvWZiliUHx9L11B_Z8l-qCPzSBNOMZCs8Gj_cEe9Lcce34ewWXFvxtSFD8-bzATP-zIiaFsEQjUFTdRtQ696IO3WHvevei8C4vN6PJAx3FnBUeB9pTiWaiU2_AoDv9cvC0gs/s320/DSC07008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the church.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHL4v0TI0opKOIsseyIliIyIN3SY0zdDg5dMZwPsuqiRo1Ed3GqQgdevn4eV9wOa4KNjcp1rxCxFAhQQo81nrYSzt7-Rv4TmBjtiZdlVohzEKC7dTrTxhQlh2Oil-HOtRvthYyaOvJKM/s1600/DSC07014-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHL4v0TI0opKOIsseyIliIyIN3SY0zdDg5dMZwPsuqiRo1Ed3GqQgdevn4eV9wOa4KNjcp1rxCxFAhQQo81nrYSzt7-Rv4TmBjtiZdlVohzEKC7dTrTxhQlh2Oil-HOtRvthYyaOvJKM/s320/DSC07014-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NILIs and our brothers and sisters from the Waorani tribe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIAA1iR_Qj4K8jNxuG9d96W_KmKyLHDt8PF5vf8AoCAhEFGm6rWZrLYxNRwPvybaUJMnuF8OrBXJBwtlI6ZKHntzqytkFdW0zL4jw9H4odjfid9CA2YVB1Xt9998toLQwo3XSh9-Fnkk/s1600/DSC07020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIAA1iR_Qj4K8jNxuG9d96W_KmKyLHDt8PF5vf8AoCAhEFGm6rWZrLYxNRwPvybaUJMnuF8OrBXJBwtlI6ZKHntzqytkFdW0zL4jw9H4odjfid9CA2YVB1Xt9998toLQwo3XSh9-Fnkk/s320/DSC07020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Dewu, oldest member of the community and leader of their church.</td></tr>
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After about an hour and a half with our new friends, we headed back to the radio room (the only form of communication with the outside world). We were told that a pilot would be coming to fly the five of us out then, but we waited... and about three hours later still no plane had come. It had rained heavily earlier so we thought perhaps this had delayed our flight, and then we heard that the airport was closed due to bad weather in Shell. At dusk we finally heard the faint sound of a plane fly in, circle twice, and then fly out again. (We found out later that a pilot had tried to come and get us but was unable to land due to fog and a wet landing strip.) And at that point, because it was rapidly getting dark, we knew we'd be spending the night in the jungle.<br />
Mincayai, a dear women who was both nurse and radio operator for the community, invited us into her home to stay. Actually even before it was completely dark, she'd offered her home to us. Earlier she'd carried a dead chicken to the radio room and said "Here's dinner if we need it!". And so we ended up having a great chicken and rice dinner that night. We ate by candle light since there was no electricity, and there were no bathrooms -- just a covered hole in the ground outside. But we had good food, beds with mosquito nets, and great company. We had all we needed for the night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqc_sEQiGTujSV6iBumCR03QJrT6VU4UT8FFU7Ta9et8doqnS5e0P8erhiwRP2Pb8TqHNkzZ6op6gIn2hZzGAbH3TucpMwdAbFjxoBhvRsIXChEol2s-dJFuHHQe3jcaiSpASI5jbIH78/s1600/DSC07032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqc_sEQiGTujSV6iBumCR03QJrT6VU4UT8FFU7Ta9et8doqnS5e0P8erhiwRP2Pb8TqHNkzZ6op6gIn2hZzGAbH3TucpMwdAbFjxoBhvRsIXChEol2s-dJFuHHQe3jcaiSpASI5jbIH78/s320/DSC07032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The soggy landing strip (with the community's school in the background). </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting outside the radio room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97d5g3QBcP0t9x5IBTVs2-aheuEFuhyphenhyphenzyUcrRw_SL22rywVj0msPwi8AU22oAgAciZr1ZnxFCJjD2-6hybrSFdoBnNNQmlOVLIZq2pFTa1mglcZvSl8mP8FIaAT9hdhq86Kt33oe7a90/s1600/DSC07039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97d5g3QBcP0t9x5IBTVs2-aheuEFuhyphenhyphenzyUcrRw_SL22rywVj0msPwi8AU22oAgAciZr1ZnxFCJjD2-6hybrSFdoBnNNQmlOVLIZq2pFTa1mglcZvSl8mP8FIaAT9hdhq86Kt33oe7a90/s320/DSC07039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candle light dinner in Mincayai's home.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivBNWcUu-cyP-eK7U5KDZI8T7-R_YzkK-XUo5nIKrCiwN1T1H_t4Pa5EC8v4sFDty3DC4E6_QHQsCINjPoryQsbHn1yKP1frVIklGsVQ_cJfHDhtSwsMi2adE-ZxJZ_pUl6LgALpHdkA/s1600/DSC07040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivBNWcUu-cyP-eK7U5KDZI8T7-R_YzkK-XUo5nIKrCiwN1T1H_t4Pa5EC8v4sFDty3DC4E6_QHQsCINjPoryQsbHn1yKP1frVIklGsVQ_cJfHDhtSwsMi2adE-ZxJZ_pUl6LgALpHdkA/s320/DSC07040.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The five of us with Mincayai (in the morning after breakfast).</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The entire Waorani community was so gracious to us while we were with them. Several people waited with us at the radio room the whole time that we were there (over four hours in total); they never left us. And Mincayai took us right into her home as if we were family, giving up her bed even so that we would all have a place to sleep. We were so grateful for their kindness and hospitality. Truly, the Lord had protected us and provided for us in a huge way.<br />
Around nine the next morning, after a breakfast of "maduros" (fried bananas), we walked out to the landing strip and were met by our pilot and plane. It was hard to say goodbye, knowing we may not ever see these friends in this life again, but we were so thankful for the time we'd had together.<br />
The rest of our time in Shell, our group enjoyed going white water rafting down the River Puyo and going on a jungle hike -- so there were still lots more adventures in store! We even managed to fall out of our boat while rafting and get attacked by wasps on our hike (it was pretty exciting!). <br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our white water rafting crew.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before going on the jungle hike (in our rubber boots).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopping for a jungle "spa" (river mud exfoliate)!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqOM3kCasAVF6eVfA-W6i7TC0kwKf0WWBQNCHhdsZFGJZJU8Y26gA_G0ZeLZUp4EWr5-DQkHpaJmZ9P_QLRuXWc1wRTPhvFgoQZyux0Lf_iUiqAPAWdcNUrJhPRi3-uFt_XVz2rbgDbA/s1600/DSCN1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqOM3kCasAVF6eVfA-W6i7TC0kwKf0WWBQNCHhdsZFGJZJU8Y26gA_G0ZeLZUp4EWr5-DQkHpaJmZ9P_QLRuXWc1wRTPhvFgoQZyux0Lf_iUiqAPAWdcNUrJhPRi3-uFt_XVz2rbgDbA/s320/DSCN1248.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful waterfall at the end of our hike.</td></tr>
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After our jungle hike, we spent the afternoon in a Quechua / Shuar village, where we had fresh fish (steamed over the fire in banana leaves) for lunch and practiced our blow gun shooting skills.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Quechua / Shuar village where we spent our afternoon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRkX4vTQwFOFVeOaRi032aAhDqNWtEAY3XIznllqeiGdeHBCq5OdSYFvPUi58Sj9zR6xI4gsLok1kSvKYBdEABUjWg6MTkIG2wYOu1VzULHqnTRNdtTrn9e2jQwXGB41ZpMdbDXbnXJ0/s1600/DSCN1273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRkX4vTQwFOFVeOaRi032aAhDqNWtEAY3XIznllqeiGdeHBCq5OdSYFvPUi58Sj9zR6xI4gsLok1kSvKYBdEABUjWg6MTkIG2wYOu1VzULHqnTRNdtTrn9e2jQwXGB41ZpMdbDXbnXJ0/s320/DSCN1273.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh fish for lunch (under the watchful eye of a pet parrot).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImN8v3jgl19WBBATtQZMARl1EmgD5dSzZJEVdC-W9jchiSLPJJ_-rO2VQf2ccj8gzlRHP0vDGHwRvmVOzfXqs11F-c7kweHok3u-1uQVJ1SV8yKY33zz5l5pU_dzQ7qvibkW-o8L8jQQ/s1600/DSCN1278-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImN8v3jgl19WBBATtQZMARl1EmgD5dSzZJEVdC-W9jchiSLPJJ_-rO2VQf2ccj8gzlRHP0vDGHwRvmVOzfXqs11F-c7kweHok3u-1uQVJ1SV8yKY33zz5l5pU_dzQ7qvibkW-o8L8jQQ/s320/DSCN1278-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practicing with the blow gun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before we left Shell, we also were able to visit the Nate Saint House. It was meaningful to be able to look out the kitchen window at the airstrip (now the small airport in Shell), to stand in the radio room, and to imagine what must have taken place in those rooms.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtigR40JPDMZT20f9uTuqBlt8_wPqNpBfHIWzMIX5PBFnt7xBdK1ocMLMZ4nX4t-bFk8r7JKlDF3k0s3YkoKsPNZL_xfVycskmVACRZOleLbiozNHdNe1IbIK305nLQbpElS__kxFGp7Y/s1600/DSC07103-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtigR40JPDMZT20f9uTuqBlt8_wPqNpBfHIWzMIX5PBFnt7xBdK1ocMLMZ4nX4t-bFk8r7JKlDF3k0s3YkoKsPNZL_xfVycskmVACRZOleLbiozNHdNe1IbIK305nLQbpElS__kxFGp7Y/s320/DSC07103-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting the Nate Saint House in Shell.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDror-34EjBYFzFJmqsZtcL1J98kKhLBJJWxd7215zWLQ5qa_AyAFaIBBj9y4VNGJpq_L2QAkIRleYyKv1hOfZs9-yRtYcxufchWFQ16aT7YeULlelgSI3GPnjrAVz3K-vApVLQQWdzio/s1600/DSC07106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDror-34EjBYFzFJmqsZtcL1J98kKhLBJJWxd7215zWLQ5qa_AyAFaIBBj9y4VNGJpq_L2QAkIRleYyKv1hOfZs9-yRtYcxufchWFQ16aT7YeULlelgSI3GPnjrAVz3K-vApVLQQWdzio/s320/DSC07106.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the radio room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYbRnovflyBgIP9J3VRtVjxYCbX0c7d5pj_8Gd0mekwecE56qvV7IxfW68AYilNS5IyqxG-zZwhfvYLhBJ7kJHB6YtVRrcylW53Gk51pa0VnEkCeC8gr6gc0UKvI9Kk9rk2O6VtfMwEw/s1600/DSC07120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYbRnovflyBgIP9J3VRtVjxYCbX0c7d5pj_8Gd0mekwecE56qvV7IxfW68AYilNS5IyqxG-zZwhfvYLhBJ7kJHB6YtVRrcylW53Gk51pa0VnEkCeC8gr6gc0UKvI9Kk9rk2O6VtfMwEw/s320/DSC07120.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The radio used to communicate with pilots and other mission stations throughout the jungle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsB32gleQe6FE0joxZnpJdwyOxKn5ZpQNaUUJgwOLmANo2QVk0CicW7ma3PVz7RPowCslw6T2-vMwB0KpmZwdjLplzsrKB3G_TJEwFZjtNJNozsc2JRq3bv8e4dIYGhKhr8Stfp5497w/s1600/DSC07109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsB32gleQe6FE0joxZnpJdwyOxKn5ZpQNaUUJgwOLmANo2QVk0CicW7ma3PVz7RPowCslw6T2-vMwB0KpmZwdjLplzsrKB3G_TJEwFZjtNJNozsc2JRq3bv8e4dIYGhKhr8Stfp5497w/s320/DSC07109.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The New Testament in Waorani.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Overall, the trip was a great adventure in more ways than one. It was a wonderful combination of fun and extreme sports and visiting Shell and remembering the mission of the five missionaries and their families. In it all, God protected and provided -- for which we were so thankful! It truly was a trip of the lifetime.<br />
<br />
<br />
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Hillary Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14076347295066662648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-77423784307445349482013-04-07T20:59:00.001-07:002013-04-11T16:44:36.185-07:00Semana Santa (Holy Week)<b>Those of us who have seen the symbol on car bumpers and key chains know that a fish can represent Jesus, but did you know that things like corn, beans, and melons could represent Jesus' 12 apostles? That's one of the interesting tidbits you learn when you celebrate Holy Week in Ecuador...</b><br />
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<b>...which we did, just a couple weeks ago. In fact, we just celebrated our second Holy Week in Ecuador, since we had taken our initial visit to Hillary's sister last year at this same time. This time around, however, we celebrated in a much more Ecuadorian style...</b><br />
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<b>...by making <i>fanesca</i>! the traditional 12-grain/fish soup painstakingly prepared and (sometimes dutifully) consumed by Ecuadorian families every year during Holy Week.</b><br />
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Our NILI Director, Lucy, shows our group what we need to do to prepare the ingredients for the<i> fanesca</i>. Look at all of those ingredients!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKt8mQNLIPSs_sVPQHlPYwyMuoKVgX4w1sawsA6Wm_89ezRXBhFBvKoA1yPlVq2g8Vn3Qxdef0tryj2M7sfaBedjrDG0riYUhAKCboyOqt2_svSW4wg3ux3i5DIEn5bplx6eNp1nf81TVT/s1600/DSC06341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKt8mQNLIPSs_sVPQHlPYwyMuoKVgX4w1sawsA6Wm_89ezRXBhFBvKoA1yPlVq2g8Vn3Qxdef0tryj2M7sfaBedjrDG0riYUhAKCboyOqt2_svSW4wg3ux3i5DIEn5bplx6eNp1nf81TVT/s1600/DSC06341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hillary and Ian shuck the thin casings off of hundreds of beans called <i>avas </i>(somewhat like our lima beans) to prepare them for use in the <i>fanesca, </i>while one of the girls from our NILI Professional family makes faces behind us. :-)</div>
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Hillary stands next to the massive cauldron we used to make the <i>fanesca</i>. (And by "we," I mean the kind ladies from our church who actually knew what they were doing.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRY1pvmNsFtZ2kfRYPLhG8p-NzQ2IMyWZJWdZz64aanMlN8TISuFwMHjcWE_vDYbfOD8EBIHGBIvCWYfFIglOeb50lDFNpuKPJIrb8g6Z8ZcxILKuKGGZTrPRVPjnzqgEawm_AtW4ZPGcT/s1600/DSC06509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRY1pvmNsFtZ2kfRYPLhG8p-NzQ2IMyWZJWdZz64aanMlN8TISuFwMHjcWE_vDYbfOD8EBIHGBIvCWYfFIglOeb50lDFNpuKPJIrb8g6Z8ZcxILKuKGGZTrPRVPjnzqgEawm_AtW4ZPGcT/s1600/DSC06509.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The finished product, topped with hard-boiled eggs, a sprig of cilantro, a couple of sticks of mozzarella cheese, and served alongside fried bananas (<i>maduros</i>), fried dough balls stuffed with cheese, and a fried cheese <i>empanada</i>. Graciously, the dried (and quite pungent) fish was served on the side, to be added to the soup if so desired.</div>
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<b>We also commemorated Holy Week by attending the "parade" (don't think floats; think slow, somber march of penance) called <i>Jes</i></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i><b>ú</b></i></span><b><i>s del Gran Poder</i> (Jesus of Great Power). This gloomy Good Friday (they call it <i>Holy </i>Friday here) ceremony looks, to the typical North America observer, like a Ku Klux Klan meeting gone wrong, but is, in fact, an opportunity for men and women (sometimes even children) to demonstrate remorse for sin through a difficult, sometimes grueling, march of physical castigation.</b></div>
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Don't fear! These are just the <i>cucuruchos, </i>those who march in the parade. They've inherited their KKK-looking garb from Spain, where this procession originated. The garb signifies anonymity and self-denial, though we're not sure on its exact origins.</div>
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The hoods--most of which only have slits for the eyes, not the nose or mouth--are claustrophobic, especially with the sun beating down on their dark-colored robes in the middle of the day.</div>
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Many carry full-size crosses, some even heavier than these, recalling Jesus' march to Calvary.</div>
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Others put heavy crossbeams across their shoulders.</div>
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Many go barefooted on the hot pavement of the streets of Quito.</div>
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This man has written a message to God across his chest, asking for forgiveness, as he carries a crossbeam with a nasty herb attached to it that causes skin irritation.</div>
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Some put manacles around their ankles and carry the chains with them on their march through the city streets.</div>
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This man has both barbed wire around his waist and a crossbeam covered in that skin-irritating herb on his shoulders.</div>
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Even the very young participate.</div>
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<b>It wasn't a gloomy weekend for us, though, despite the <i>cucuruchos</i>. We celebrated the Triumphal Entry of Jesus at the beginning of Holy Week and his resurrection on Easter Sunday!</b></div>
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A procession of worshipers marched down the aisle of the church shouting "Hosanna! Praise be to the Son of David!" on Palm Sunday at our church in Carcel<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">én.</span></div>
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The worshipers were followed in by "Jesus," played by one of the young boys in the church, riding in on the back of a donkey (or the backs of two of his buddies dressed up like a donkey, at least).</div>
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NILI friends gathered outside the Carcel<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">én church on Easter Sunday.</span></div>
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This is how we celebrate the Risen Lord Jesus on Easter Sunday in Quito! The lyrics of the chorus say, <i>Christ is not dead. He's alive! I feel it in my hands. I feel it in my feet. I feel it in all of my being!</i></div>
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We even made a good ol' pot roast, just like mom used to make it, for Easter Dinner!</div>
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<b>It was a special treat to celebrate all of the festivities of Holy Week with the church here in Quito, Ecuador. There is no greater time of the year to be a Christian, and we felt honored to celebrate alongside brothers and sisters who knew well in their hearts and minds the hope we have in Christ because of his death and resurrection. We hope it was a blessed Holy Week for you, our beloved friends and family back home. The body of Christ is united around the world to declare that He is alive and His Spirit is with us!</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-88698593815932606892013-03-24T19:31:00.001-07:002013-03-24T20:00:18.538-07:00New Thank You Video!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Dear friends and family,<br />
Here is a brief thank you video we made for the churches who rallied behind us
in support of our mission to Ecuador! We'd like to share it with you
all here on the blog as well -- as a way of saying a broader thank you to so many others who've
supported us and as a way of summarizing what we've been up to since
being here. <br />
God bless you! <br />
Ian & Hillary Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-3650553148990855212013-03-13T20:01:00.001-07:002013-03-13T20:07:06.653-07:00The Blessing of Friendly Visitors Over the course of our time in Ecuador, Ian and I (Hillary) have been blessed to be able to build wonderful relationships with seminary staff and students, global missionaries, and members of our local church in Carcelen. We feel so fortunate to live and take part in the community life here on the Nazarene seminary campus each day! This semester, though, we've been reminded of the blessing of our friends and family back home in the States--and of just how much you all mean to us.<br />
At the beginning of the year, we were visited by a dear couple, Olivet friends Nick and Katie, who were traveling through Ecuador on a short vacation. It was absolutely wonderful to get to catch up with them over a meal. My sister Lauren was also able to meet with us!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner with Lauren and Olivet friends Nick and Katie.</td></tr>
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Then just last Saturday evening a group of Olivet students landed in Quito. They came to spend their Spring Break as part of a Communications and Evangelism Team that would film the fifth season of "Mujer Valiosa" (Valuable Woman), a Christian TV series sponsored by the South American Region of the Nazarene Church. Joining with a communications team from the North Andean Field, the Olivet students filmed sessions of cooking, crafts, personal testimonies, and interviews with psychologists and medical doctors for the series. <br />
What made this visit especially meaningful to me and Ian was the fact that they were led by Brian and Lynn Utter, who, after returning to the States from their missions work in Argentina, began attending our home church, the Manteno Church of the Nazarene in Manteno, IL. We got to know Brian and Lynn a little bit before coming to Ecuador, and they were able to share with us about their experiences here in Ecuador while they were in language school. Seeing them was like being reunited with our Manteno church family.<br />
On Wednesday afternoon last week, the Olivet group came over to the seminary campus to host a soccer tournament and pizza dinner! This was a great time to get to know the students better. And we were also able to reconnect with one of our NILI students from last semester who was part of the group! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our soccer tournament on the seminary campus.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The games were so fun because EVERYONE played: staff, students, missionaries... everyone!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivet and seminary students watching the game.</td></tr>
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Also last week, Ian and I got to see Charlotte, a dear friend from our Olivet class of 2009. Charlotte was in Quito all of last week as the special speaker for Alliance International Academy's Spiritual Emphasis Week. Friday night we had dinner with Charlotte, her mom, Lauren, and a couple of other dear Ecuadorian friends from Alliance. What a blessing and encouragement it was to get together with these friends and hear what God is doing in their lives!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner with Charlotte, her mom Michelle, Lauren, and friends from Alliance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cream for dessert!</td></tr>
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These visits from friends have been a great encouragement to me and Ian this semester. It is so good to see such friendly, familiar faces when we're so far away from home. It helps us remember where we've come from -- and where we'll be returning to after we complete our year of volunteer service.<br />
We thank God for His faithfulness to us this year and His provision in even the small things, the blessing of friendly visitors!<br />
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Hillary Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14076347295066662648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-11457170266981392282013-02-26T12:10:00.002-08:002013-02-26T16:54:21.565-08:00A Hot and Very Meaningful Ministry Week! Two weeks ago, NILI staff and students traveled to Quininde, Ecuador for a week-long missions' trip. For me (Hillary) and Ian, it was the first time we'd journeyed West outside the Andes Mountains, down into the coastal region of Ecuador. It meant a long, curvy ride, and though we were still a good two hours from the beach itself, at the end we were greeted with 80 degree heat, humidity, and sun (a nice change from the cold and rainy weather of Quito!).<br />
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We'd chosen Quininde because the Quininde Church of the Nazarene is currently without a pastor, and <span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jeremías, </span>a seminary student originally from the town<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, has been traveling home every weekend to preach and help with the youth group. This has been difficult, since Quininde is a good 4.5 to 5 hour trip one-way from Quito, and </span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jeremías is also a full-time student. T</span>hrough our visit, NILI hoped to both support this local church and encourage our friend filling in as interim pastor. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Monday afternoon, as soon as we arrived, we jumped right into prepping the church sanctuary to be painted. In the mornings throughout the week, we worked on this painting project: painting the interior of the sanctuary and the exterior of the church's front. </span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Several members of the church also came to work alongside us. </span>The transformation was remarkable!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnVBlQZETCqWN5VPRTLY8SgUkwCRmEiQ18mWmgBdfpY2MspiN0As6jiUc4NbsnQPp97Qp5Z3ZL0PWWtFvhecSh4co410dv6jlS2Tly471wCBHx77VYiALip9JcL8lhQghv9U0MiPyxEU/s1600/DSC05378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsnVBlQZETCqWN5VPRTLY8SgUkwCRmEiQ18mWmgBdfpY2MspiN0As6jiUc4NbsnQPp97Qp5Z3ZL0PWWtFvhecSh4co410dv6jlS2Tly471wCBHx77VYiALip9JcL8lhQghv9U0MiPyxEU/s320/DSC05378.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the church (before painting)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeq24xzAcpPiMG6o6Zco216WnS3a9r3tY8zhnxJZ0JO0yyrJTKvmwY1VINGenZaJdSQWTRLsGtgI3nut8GOh6H-E-3kalfF_TwmkgOuiiSJiplxhwdHVUm3_ryfOhTeqetQSKiHcH-Tc/s1600/DSC05386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeq24xzAcpPiMG6o6Zco216WnS3a9r3tY8zhnxJZ0JO0yyrJTKvmwY1VINGenZaJdSQWTRLsGtgI3nut8GOh6H-E-3kalfF_TwmkgOuiiSJiplxhwdHVUm3_ryfOhTeqetQSKiHcH-Tc/s320/DSC05386.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working alongside members from the church to paint the outside.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXzrXMzhNfiJSNaZZ_56ZptCiMgPjRQZEfVMRvc39wV32-smFvjEw3mxJDoSLzuy8ExgUyaENE245WQ3N907lSZZoTHKgUKh-wZxiIlLNqBgS-OKnWZ5RP1j8U8vnFYJCe2qS8Oquloc/s320/DSC05543.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our group with the finished product!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5rMIDaOdBRXBg6Zu3AapdujVYLDCpCashx_H97sy2vICz1TAh6OOfr4yP2KwdN6fo3f7OyK03hyJdE6hxHr5iPFXpn0z_5o0xvGnFiVJmZkn1Pl3rEobqZlevigsIvgIRjaOInFSkLE/s1600/DSC05522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5rMIDaOdBRXBg6Zu3AapdujVYLDCpCashx_H97sy2vICz1TAh6OOfr4yP2KwdN6fo3f7OyK03hyJdE6hxHr5iPFXpn0z_5o0xvGnFiVJmZkn1Pl3rEobqZlevigsIvgIRjaOInFSkLE/s320/DSC05522.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After painting inside the sanctuary (before it was the same color blue as outside)</td></tr>
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In between painting, our group also helped clean up grass, trash, and debris around the church to prevent moisture and mold from spreading inside the sanctuary and to help prepare a space for bathrooms to be built. On our last day, we helped mix some of the first batches of concrete (by hand!) that would make up the foundation for the bathrooms outside, behind the church.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwekU-rXnx-zwNvMbmS6aO2tG5TubmJO7fBX81UaZRhWr6kb3pHHVunHAp0Na3Snu7qCjtGda36UjYGear0Qz0mX82iFDYf6S7xIrTT3UVLmwX5w8EcgChsee1DJIybD4jI8pXYW7MrQ/s1600/DSC05438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwekU-rXnx-zwNvMbmS6aO2tG5TubmJO7fBX81UaZRhWr6kb3pHHVunHAp0Na3Snu7qCjtGda36UjYGear0Qz0mX82iFDYf6S7xIrTT3UVLmwX5w8EcgChsee1DJIybD4jI8pXYW7MrQ/s320/DSC05438.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing debris from behind the church (side of the church before cleaning).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGWshhxehKl8SXBWfTYU7Rb_PvOyMF5hxI2RnJsrGStnSSQWIBkTZJHkll6gWQ8DVh0WgdM4QPujIKvSVzb4XBATdsCra2PkvcB3r3rK5T-np58egg0AnILcOpPRTCLvPiZP0rMMamCA/s1600/DSC05440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGWshhxehKl8SXBWfTYU7Rb_PvOyMF5hxI2RnJsrGStnSSQWIBkTZJHkll6gWQ8DVh0WgdM4QPujIKvSVzb4XBATdsCra2PkvcB3r3rK5T-np58egg0AnILcOpPRTCLvPiZP0rMMamCA/s320/DSC05440.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleaning a space for the bathrooms to be built.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_Gw2JRiEfSLR9-pnu2h3y32qjKG2T6q2KJ0f3BGH0r7yUsFR8qajzPUQt4MNq_p9UFi7mSap_SAGuPISspqoXklsg9Z6mcITn_TuLFjW0q30IFGxbt5BC8iq7qjymEWxQXI0PuGcNAg/s1600/DSC05512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_Gw2JRiEfSLR9-pnu2h3y32qjKG2T6q2KJ0f3BGH0r7yUsFR8qajzPUQt4MNq_p9UFi7mSap_SAGuPISspqoXklsg9Z6mcITn_TuLFjW0q30IFGxbt5BC8iq7qjymEWxQXI0PuGcNAg/s320/DSC05512.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side of the church after cleaning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxbDZDbidDbxUnWUJTjvvveBmKD3RR42llaCLRJr7onWb0TX44bge_VptT6JXiRk_vrKWx_vK2DAeZI3csewi4cq7PUuDLG5QT7cpcj_L73v-e3vKNDc-gTe8OY7YtCSHVduFSGuUKkw/s1600/DSC05515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxbDZDbidDbxUnWUJTjvvveBmKD3RR42llaCLRJr7onWb0TX44bge_VptT6JXiRk_vrKWx_vK2DAeZI3csewi4cq7PUuDLG5QT7cpcj_L73v-e3vKNDc-gTe8OY7YtCSHVduFSGuUKkw/s320/DSC05515.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixing concrete for the bathroom foundation.</td></tr>
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After working in the morning each day, we'd have lunch together at the church and then prepare for our kids' outreach/evangelism. The church in Quininde actually has a small church plant just outside of town in a large "finca" (or plantation) which produces palm oil, bananas, and cocoa beans. Our first afternoon we visited the "finca" and shared our kids' program with songs, games, and Bible stories in a large field, hoping to attract kids that had never heard of the church before.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing together in the "finca."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing a water balloon relay game (perfect in the heat!).</td></tr>
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After our kids' program (and dinner), we returned to the "finca" to meet with a Catholic family the Quininde church had been witnessing to for several weeks. (One of the men from the church who had seen our kids' program asked us to come and speak with his parents and his siblings, whom he desperately wanted to come to know the Lord.) We had the privilege of meeting with this dear family in their living room (a very simple room with concrete walls and floor and plastic chairs for furniture) that night. Our group sang several songs, and Lucy, our Director, gave a brief gospel presentation afterwards. We prayed together and then spent some time visiting. Before we left, the family presented us with hot chocolate (made from the beans harvested right there on the plantation). <br />
Then Wed afternoon, we visited the Quininde church plant inside the "finca." We presented our kids' program for the children of the church and afterwards we attended the Wed night church service with the small, adult congregation. Our group shared two praise and worship specials (in Spanish and English) with the church, and Lucy preached a brief message of encouragement.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quininde's small church plant inside the oil, banana, and cocoa bean plantation outside of town.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with the kids before our program began.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Performing our skit about Javier, missionary to Africa.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wed night service with the adults.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to share our praise and worship specials.</td></tr>
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Thurs ended the week on a high note with a very special event. Every year, the Quininde church hosts a kids' outreach event for the kids of the church to invite all their friends. Lots of children eagerly await this time of year because the church gives Samaritan's Purse (Operation Christmas Child) shoe boxes to all who register and come. It was a joy to be able to present a special program for the day (with more songs, games, and Bible stories), and at the end of the program, our group was able to help pass out the shoe boxes!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Explaining the Bible story.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water balloon relay race.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing out the Samaritan's Purse shoe boxes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shoe boxes were a big hit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loved his box!</td></tr>
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It was such a blessing to be able to join with our Quininde brothers and sisters in Christ in their ministry through the church and it's extension in the local plantation! Through our physical work (painting, cleaning, and mixing concrete), kids' outreach, Wed night service participation, and in-home evangelism, we experienced the love of God in a powerful way, and we saw Him at work in the hearts and lives of the Quininde people.<br />
We continue to pray for the lives of those we touched while there; that those in the church would continue to grow and mature in their faith and that those who heard of the Lord for the first time would seek Him out by visiting the Quininde church.<br />
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Thank you for all the extra prayers for our group during this week! Ian and I know that it's because of your support -- through your prayers and generous gifts -- that this ministry is made possible.<br />
We appreciate you all greatly! God bless you, much. <br />
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Hillary Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14076347295066662648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-17864536100888355172013-02-09T17:31:00.001-08:002013-02-09T17:34:27.626-08:00An Outdoor Market & A Beautiful Church Service Two weeks ago, our NILI group traveled about one and a half hours north to a town called Otavalo--a town known throughout Ecuador for hosting one of South America's largest outdoor markets. Every weekend, Otavalo's main square overflows with Ecuadorians from all over the country who have come to sell their goods: hammocks, blankets, scarves, wood carvings, paintings, jewelry, clothes, shoes, and just about any other type of handcrafted/purchased Ecuadorian good there is. The market is so large that the town's main plaza cannot hold all the vendors, and tents filled with goods line the surrounding streets, sprawling out in all directions for many blocks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rows of colorful hats for sale.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little boy hides under his parents' table of goods.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying on finger puppets for size.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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While we were in Otavalo, we also visited "Wood Town" and "Leather Town," two neighboring villages with crafts according to their names; Cascada Peguche, a beautiful 18 meter tall waterfall; and Laguna Cuicocha, a tranquil lake within a (still active) volcanic crater.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little ferry boat we rode around Laguna Cuicocha.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girls (NILIs, two seminary students Myrian & Mery, and me) at Cascada Peguche.</td></tr>
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Then Sunday, we were invited to attend a very small Church of the Nazarene several miles outside of the city. We passed several remote farms, climbing up a dirt road in our Sprinter van to reach the church, and we saw several members walking to church along the way. Most of the congregation were indigenous families whose native language was Quechua. Each came in wearing their Sunday best--the women carrying their Bibles in their traditional head coverings.<br />
Our NILI group was blessed to share in a Sunday morning service with these gracious people. NILI staff and students shared two praise and worship songs (in Spanish and English) as a special, followed by the women of the congregation sharing two worship songs (in Spanish and Quechua). The pastor, switching back and forth from Quechua to Spanish, preached on unity in the body of Christ and Christ's sacrifice for all the people of the world. What a meaningful time with this congregation, our brothers and sisters in Christ!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the little, rural church.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praise and Worship on Sunday morning.</td></tr>
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As I (Hillary) have reflected on this NILI trip, I am thankful for the holistic experience of NILI. Throughout the course of a regular semester, our students are completely immersed in Spanish language and Latin American culture by taking at least 12 hours of intensive Spanish classes every week--and by living on the Nazarene Seminary Campus in Quito with seminary students from Ecuador, Columbia, or Peru as roommates. NILI also travels throughout the semester, exposing students to different Ecuadorian cultures such as the coast, the mountains, and the jungle, yet always integrated in all of these trips is involvement with the local church. On a weekly basis, NILI students attend both seminary chapel services and local church services on Sundays. They are also involved in weekly ministry projects with children, older adults, and battered women at three designated sites within Quito. Through all of this, NILI very intentionally combines language study, cultural immersion, ministry, and travel to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience in which our students will encounter God in a new and very personal way.<br />
This coming week, our NILI group will be traveling to Quininde, Ecuador, to serve in a week-long ministry project at a Nazarene church there. The plan is to divide our time between physical tasks around the church such as painting and children's/teen ministries such as VBS lessons. Please join us in praying for our group as we are away from the seminary campus on this ministry trip. Pray that both staff and students would stay healthy and strong for the physical labor and the VBS ministry set out before us. Pray that our group would be united in
spirit and purpose and that we would be able to share the love of
Christ with each person we meet.<br />
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Thank you, dear friends and family, for your continued support of our student ministry here in Quito, Ecuador! We cannot tell you how much you all mean to us. <br />
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<br />Hillary Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14076347295066662648noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-35846048099967882302013-01-22T18:20:00.000-08:002013-01-22T18:20:08.937-08:00New Year, Fresh Start Hello dear friends and family. A lot has happened since our last couple of posts, and we'd love to share about it with you all! Around Christmastime we were able to share in a very special service at our church in Carcelen. The church had just finished some interior renovations, which gave the congregation an altar for the very first time! It was a wonderful celebration with worship music and dance, Christmas carols, and a mini children's Christmas pageant. We were overjoyed to share in this special Advent season with our Ecuadorian brothers and sisters in Christ.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praise and Worship in Carcelen Church</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three wise men visit baby Jesus in the children's Christmas pageant. </td></tr>
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Then in late December, Ian and I were able to come back to the U.S. for two weeks to spend Christmas and New Years with my (Hillary's) immediate and extended family in Florida. It was such a huge blessing to have this time with family!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relaxing together outside: Dad, Ian, Me, Israel (our little cousin), and Lauren</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjws2hkThhZIvoCPG5Jo-B4LNNjPvjZmWzKYAalDjEL8oIbXLheaqnkeUtuVSZdheH0Zyl7AyerSDQNTzSYqkEWO1Ljn016koytDYik-6vo0HFgSOG-OEixqVCuL18Emr5yQ4IvtAodVjc/s1600/DSC04920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjws2hkThhZIvoCPG5Jo-B4LNNjPvjZmWzKYAalDjEL8oIbXLheaqnkeUtuVSZdheH0Zyl7AyerSDQNTzSYqkEWO1Ljn016koytDYik-6vo0HFgSOG-OEixqVCuL18Emr5yQ4IvtAodVjc/s320/DSC04920.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and Twins</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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As soon as Ian and I returned to Ecuador, we got right to work preparing for our new NILI students who were coming in two weeks. We learned quickly that our roles in NILI were expanding greatly this semester! Starting next week, Ian will be teaching two classes: Christian Faith and Introduction to the New Testament, twice a week. And last weekend I (Hillary) began serving as NILI's Student Life Director, helping our students with day to day needs such as making sure they have hot water (we have a gas system) and ensuring the quality of their meals on campus, coordinating student events, and just being there to help with transitioning into another culture.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Bpvd6yXchNOBM4Dn1NwYiBHEcBc6T_AvqRioA7qMvE7kUg0XI5l-g40R21MeuUKkpvAK1qLiD1Ighf-QvKT7bu4-ld7cTG-ixxa1QD_LbWn8vdrborVet_WZN8vMVOdBFyMkTRo5QZ4/s1600/DSC04993-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Bpvd6yXchNOBM4Dn1NwYiBHEcBc6T_AvqRioA7qMvE7kUg0XI5l-g40R21MeuUKkpvAK1qLiD1Ighf-QvKT7bu4-ld7cTG-ixxa1QD_LbWn8vdrborVet_WZN8vMVOdBFyMkTRo5QZ4/s320/DSC04993-001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting with the seminary students for our NILIs to arrive at the Quito airport.</td></tr>
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Last weekend, Ian and I helped conduct the NILI orientation, discussing life on the seminary campus, safety, and cultural differences and giving tips to help guide students throughout the semester here in Ecuador. We also helped give a tour of the little "barrio" (town) near the seminary called Carcelen, and on Saturday afternoon we visited the Equator!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIASdG3P5FG6eAN-sL7_OZTZYmZ24UTKdodpvCM2Gb1W4Ymth-k3m_TXlCrIWbuVsI_0BN5nUmdXPmnAK0h1xXtvgzqYxwSLBiofZm4Ia5Mc0dgOBHrWzkvtcW46b84yR87YLwxqruwU/s1600/DSC05005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIASdG3P5FG6eAN-sL7_OZTZYmZ24UTKdodpvCM2Gb1W4Ymth-k3m_TXlCrIWbuVsI_0BN5nUmdXPmnAK0h1xXtvgzqYxwSLBiofZm4Ia5Mc0dgOBHrWzkvtcW46b84yR87YLwxqruwU/s320/DSC05005.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting the Equator with our four new NILIs: Emily, Chad, Cristina, and Raven.</td></tr>
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Sunday evening we had a blast welcoming the new seminary students and new NILIs by hosting an evening of ice breaker activities, games, and fun. We are blessed with an amazing group of students to serve this semester! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY65J-lurBKAzDsPa54U5fg-2AUiszsVG-Ld4la1_1VGpyrV32AR1Sj1zDEk62NYQUR8NsJBeTQp8W_K7OfIFec_zJ2dEe2gqr_YX4LPR3DU5_sWtWaDrnbsqIDq6ZKUjwam6xYpLBVlA/s1600/DSC05044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY65J-lurBKAzDsPa54U5fg-2AUiszsVG-Ld4la1_1VGpyrV32AR1Sj1zDEk62NYQUR8NsJBeTQp8W_K7OfIFec_zJ2dEe2gqr_YX4LPR3DU5_sWtWaDrnbsqIDq6ZKUjwam6xYpLBVlA/s320/DSC05044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Foto Loca" (Crazy Picture) from our Welcoming Party for new seminary and new NILI students.</td></tr>
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We are both so thankful for the roles we have been given within NILI this semester. It is a joy to be able to use our gifts and abilities to serve the Lord in student ministries here on the Nazarene seminary campus. This truly has been an answer to our prayers, and we look forward to what God has in store for us this semester!Hillary Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14076347295066662648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-6451771265439520892013-01-11T07:09:00.001-08:002013-01-11T07:09:08.419-08:00NILI 15: First Semester in Video Review<div style="text-align: left;">As we gear up for our second semester with the NILI Program here in Quito, Ecuador (students arrive next week), here is a look at some of the highlights from our first semester with NILI. We made this video especially for our traditional students--the four girls you'll see throughout the video--as a parting gift for them to take back and show their family & friends, but we thought we'd share it with y'all as well!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VOkePNcrD3U" width="480"></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-18086369259482520722012-12-17T11:11:00.002-08:002012-12-18T07:29:07.653-08:00CENIC, Our Sister Ministry We are so thankful to have successfully completed our first semester with NILI! A couple of weeks ago, our NILI students completed their final projects, took their final exams, took their last trip (to the Galapagos Islands!), and then headed home. The semester ended very well and all our students made it home safely. Thanks again to all of our friends and family for your continued prayer and financial support! These first few months have been full of highs and lows as we transitioned into living in another country/culture and as we've settled into our roles here with NILI. God has been incredibly faithful to us each day in our ministry here, though, and we know we wouldn't be here without His grace and without your encouragement and support! Now it's one semester down, two more to go.<br />
In addition to performing our NILI responsibilities this semester, because of the small number of NILI students and the relatively large number of volunteers, Ian and I have been serving in an on-campus ministry called CENIC. CENIC is really a sister ministry to NILI, since the monies raised by both go directly to support the missions work on the North Andean Field (Venezuela, Columbia, and Ecuador). But while NILI is a Spanish/ministry immersion program for North American college students, CENIC is a center for conventions. CENIC hosts camps, retreats, conferences, and other special events on campus, serving the Church of the Nazarene as well as other churches, organizations such as World Vision and Compassion International, and for-profit businesses.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymiQVq46eap-rMzn2J70ln0OglSUdHmI5iSvO8xtk0V8pHl-eLxW7xPOnE5Tq7GdxTkFAZlHy-mwPXhvILYI7EBDq4R0calLZXfDuLt_r_jOwXxfIup0GKh5OIbEtD4PzNFOngEEak7U/s1600/DSC03146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymiQVq46eap-rMzn2J70ln0OglSUdHmI5iSvO8xtk0V8pHl-eLxW7xPOnE5Tq7GdxTkFAZlHy-mwPXhvILYI7EBDq4R0calLZXfDuLt_r_jOwXxfIup0GKh5OIbEtD4PzNFOngEEak7U/s320/DSC03146.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CENIC's main tabernacle/convention center on the Nazarene seminary campus.</td></tr>
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We have really enjoyed serving in CENIC because the work has been so versatile. I (Hillary) have primarily been helping out in the CENIC office Tuesday through Friday in the afternoons. I answer phone calls, check emails, update calendars, and complete financial reports, summarizing CENIC's weekly and monthly income and expenses. But when needed, I have also done laundry, made beds, tidied dorm rooms, re-stocked toiletries, and gone grocery shopping in preparation for the groups CENIC hosts. (Our largest grocery run included buying 50 raw chickens, 12 bags of potatoes,15 three liters of pop, 2 carts full of fruits and vegetables, and much much more. It was quite the adventure!)<br />
When CENIC has had large groups this semester (the facilities can hold a maximum of about 230 individuals), Ian has helped several seminary students prepare for them by moving platforms and benches, setting up tables and chairs, and cleaning dorm rooms. But Ian has also helped paint and do odd jobs when CENIC was renovating several of its dorm rooms.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYoYdjj1WqXrBSpQ6zm7st3XcAHEVX9CG-XLtpenYVRm3FgWMXVbZ72RNioAR1cxPXBdTPh_tdLow09KX2tqq69g2mrLT2lbxqNCuMBPf8YtAxsHMfPJ_UXumUlYWVGhv9tRNoj-kQK4/s1600/DSC03052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYoYdjj1WqXrBSpQ6zm7st3XcAHEVX9CG-XLtpenYVRm3FgWMXVbZ72RNioAR1cxPXBdTPh_tdLow09KX2tqq69g2mrLT2lbxqNCuMBPf8YtAxsHMfPJ_UXumUlYWVGhv9tRNoj-kQK4/s320/DSC03052.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the tabernacle after CENIC helped set up chairs for the graduation ceremony.</td></tr>
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It truly has been a blessing to be able to work with CENIC this semester. Since NILI didn't have quite enough work to occupy us fully, we were very thankful to have this other opportunity to serve a great ministry. Through the conferences and retreats CENIC has held, individuals have experienced Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit. We have heard wonderful testimonies of people being saved, sanctified, and healed of very serious illnesses. Please join with us in praying for CENIC as it continues to grow, serving the people of Ecuador and bringing in funds for the North Andean Field.Hillary Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14076347295066662648noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-2936420164828285732012-11-25T17:20:00.002-08:002012-11-25T17:20:55.433-08:00Thanksgiving (better late than never)<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In
every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning
you.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">-1
Thess. 5:18</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
(Ian) recently shared this verse with our NILI group here in Ecuador, during
our last group devotional time. That time just so happened to be the afternoon
of Thanksgiving Day. I reminded our group, as they prepared to end what
has been a very challenging experience--studying abroad for a semester--that
the command here is to <b>give thanks <i>"in every thing</i>,"
not <i>for</i> every thing.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Studying
abroad this semester has been challenging for our students; living abroad for
these first 3 months has been very challenging for Hillary and I. Yet,
even during those times when we are less than thankful for our trying <i>circumstances</i>,
we have this command to give thanks. In fact, the Scriptures tell us that
"this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
will of God</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> is something that
college students and young, recent graduates like ourselves are constantly
asking about. To the question, "What is the will of God for
me?" one answer the Scriptures give is <b>"to give thanks!"</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For
what, though?</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Many things, but
the Psalms give us some of the best reasons:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Give
thanks to the Lord, <b>for he is good</b>; <b>his love endures
forever.</b> (Ps. 107:1, & many other places)</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
will give thanks to the Lord <b>because of his righteousness</b>. (Ps.
7:17)</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Let
them give thanks to the LORD <b>for his unfailing love and
his wonderful deeds for men </b>(Ps. 107:8,15,21,31)</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The
command to give thanks in the Scriptures is rooted in the character of God.
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">He is good. He is
righteous. He is faithful. Etc. Though our circumstances may
often try and tempt us, God's character remains unchanged; therefore, we
have reason to <b>"give thanks in every thing."</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are thankful for how faithful our God has been to us so far in our time here in
Ecuador.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> We are also thankful
that he has used you to bless us in our time serving here. Your prayers
have been felt. Your support has extended our reach and eased our minds.
Your willingness to send us a quick message has encouraged our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">WE
GIVE THANKS</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> for our great God
and how is has been at work through you to bless us!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-36347540956023732672012-11-16T06:20:00.000-08:002012-11-16T06:20:42.722-08:00Ministry Week in South Quito: "Los Treboles" Wed and Thurs of ministry week we were in a South Quito church called "Treboles del Sur." Like our first church, our plan was to help paint in the mornings and do kids outreach in the neighborhood in the afternoons. Unlike our first church, "Los Treboles" was nearly completely constructed, but no one had ever painted in the church before. We were amazed, though, when we arrived at the church Wed morning and saw the size of the sanctuary. It was enormous! Here are some before pictures:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtVp3CBOpYlGH-V_l9ZxPK3PgANHvwlR-hSPrZkCEd7JXYTG1ZrrMf_tXE-pE_phBc8dh8qXiDdRUoeuZFaxB6teKvlq10FhuO9eI-xMIZD7_jeZDqaxwvESJn4NesU6EdV5sobz0YX8/s1600/DSC02390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtVp3CBOpYlGH-V_l9ZxPK3PgANHvwlR-hSPrZkCEd7JXYTG1ZrrMf_tXE-pE_phBc8dh8qXiDdRUoeuZFaxB6teKvlq10FhuO9eI-xMIZD7_jeZDqaxwvESJn4NesU6EdV5sobz0YX8/s320/DSC02390.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The great arch and platform at the front of the sanctuary.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2u0TawPdEoJbcVF5CH7U2deLV_pAacBVDJwJ29r3GIz-JZjg2yHB5zaINist841fR4pTASC3jZQfbmQ5R_kOqxU8L9DVAvOcvnu7hVqomd6uwdmZIV8CVgFC5_mqPUyWS_GFctBzABvw/s1600/DSC02392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2u0TawPdEoJbcVF5CH7U2deLV_pAacBVDJwJ29r3GIz-JZjg2yHB5zaINist841fR4pTASC3jZQfbmQ5R_kOqxU8L9DVAvOcvnu7hVqomd6uwdmZIV8CVgFC5_mqPUyWS_GFctBzABvw/s320/DSC02392.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underneath the balcony in the back of the sanctuary.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Since the church had already sanded and primed all of the surfaces, we jumped right in with the painting! Pastor Miguel, pastor of the church, and Lucy, our NILI Director, coordinated the colors of the walls, columns, steps, and arch. Brothers from the church also came to help with the painting those two days, since it was such a big job. Thankfully, they were able to find scaffolding to use. So while we painted the low places, they followed behind and painted the high places.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg810V5HgdkxstM-afkovlIqI9wmOaD3Wk5hN-HsSExPjPjh0GwmhTkiYxtMpETVCPs1jXKzWN_S2xDBKtpKhL5mafOZeUkOeFHAPeev46Qpn2Fc7fNfKITj_ao3jwxYAaCJ-Szhn8pt0Y/s1600/DSC02405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg810V5HgdkxstM-afkovlIqI9wmOaD3Wk5hN-HsSExPjPjh0GwmhTkiYxtMpETVCPs1jXKzWN_S2xDBKtpKhL5mafOZeUkOeFHAPeev46Qpn2Fc7fNfKITj_ao3jwxYAaCJ-Szhn8pt0Y/s320/DSC02405.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving the walls a second coat of "durazno" ("peach").</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkM0mtgIaGoDlEflJc0bCpvxLO_u9fzmI1VT1KjYTltgd2pdd9e9yN3KPlnhiIuj_DCxBv_J3JL5NDouXwgh8Kl_Oar8f-vwUULoFkNY44JPPdCrjoG0WvL-v2szO3QITpj1FbGkkwH4/s1600/DSC02399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkM0mtgIaGoDlEflJc0bCpvxLO_u9fzmI1VT1KjYTltgd2pdd9e9yN3KPlnhiIuj_DCxBv_J3JL5NDouXwgh8Kl_Oar8f-vwUULoFkNY44JPPdCrjoG0WvL-v2szO3QITpj1FbGkkwH4/s320/DSC02399.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our brothers from the church, painting the very high parts.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJB-bZSBkSuhrc29VzlhZxtlO2g_Pzr5mvl-YsTfZGzx1g3x_uhLULod28uH5P0SnH47NfeHt6_wE5rlmxC5n4GzM4d_zE5RvR7qYPeqgd_iF4GuUMjUll16B1qwuH5aTMt3pkPDbBNE/s1600/DSC02420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJB-bZSBkSuhrc29VzlhZxtlO2g_Pzr5mvl-YsTfZGzx1g3x_uhLULod28uH5P0SnH47NfeHt6_wE5rlmxC5n4GzM4d_zE5RvR7qYPeqgd_iF4GuUMjUll16B1qwuH5aTMt3pkPDbBNE/s320/DSC02420.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Rut finishing up one of the columns.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We also had two wonderful afternoons with the kids in that neighborhood. To draw them to us, we used our little speaker to play kids music from the church a few hours beforehand, announcing every 30 minutes or so that we'd be playing games in front of the church soon. We met on the sidewalk/curb caddy corner to the church, and though the number of kids we had was smaller than the first church, we were able to spend significant time with each child.<br />
At the end of Thurs afternoon, one little boy and his small brother grabbed Ian's hand and said (in Spanish) "Come with me, I want to take you to my house so you can meet my Mom!" So Ian and I walked down the street to these little guys' house and were able to share with his family briefly about Christ and the "Los Treboles" church just down the road. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rq0b6tEwrHmg7TV8E4EcDHb6WXMiqSOlnsj4b0kvP_5eVmc4_K-ymVhNwde5wiun8nFgqdgoNvVhFE55B5hAXrLocLFJBTbKVOYiWeneEmjOQWlwSuIigpG5teyz-2phWZ3icV92yxc/s1600/DSC02435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rq0b6tEwrHmg7TV8E4EcDHb6WXMiqSOlnsj4b0kvP_5eVmc4_K-ymVhNwde5wiun8nFgqdgoNvVhFE55B5hAXrLocLFJBTbKVOYiWeneEmjOQWlwSuIigpG5teyz-2phWZ3icV92yxc/s320/DSC02435.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping rope before starting the program.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiICu3zttNqJbG0Odc7Jof0RJ1orT-ePctwghyEwa-FblCB8VnNy92J7L3t3CAgTiCfO9phGfTTOc-iWExI2ah34zXxg3bgUE0cLZPIa1rTji_pVfjoWJOMjGfAK2vocypYBPdvpxJ3tE/s1600/DSC02444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiICu3zttNqJbG0Odc7Jof0RJ1orT-ePctwghyEwa-FblCB8VnNy92J7L3t3CAgTiCfO9phGfTTOc-iWExI2ah34zXxg3bgUE0cLZPIa1rTji_pVfjoWJOMjGfAK2vocypYBPdvpxJ3tE/s320/DSC02444.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting on the curb for our kids ministry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBkefBJLjHZrFjuLyNm3FzVTYlYoz8uy9b1t41pPsteJP5lfLBuHqBTzXjlIx-w88tFEgILS6Jg3t0A-kfAbubD8B44wkB10Oleg8y7x_Pwy1X01Q8xTEpVgEfeOkFwyKtK6Fnbscmt0/s1600/DSC02456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBkefBJLjHZrFjuLyNm3FzVTYlYoz8uy9b1t41pPsteJP5lfLBuHqBTzXjlIx-w88tFEgILS6Jg3t0A-kfAbubD8B44wkB10Oleg8y7x_Pwy1X01Q8xTEpVgEfeOkFwyKtK6Fnbscmt0/s320/DSC02456.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puppets!</td></tr>
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Thurs night we were able to be a part of a service with the "Los Treboles" church. Since this church was also largely indigenous, there was lots of praise and worship in Spanish and in Quechuan. Our NILI group sang a couple songs for the church in Spanish and English, and the women of the church sang several for us in Spanish and Quechuan.<br />
Pastor Miguel thanked us for our time and service in the church, and afterwards several members came forward and presented each of us with beautiful, wool scarves. The emphasis of the service was on the body of Christ being one -- regardless of race, ethnicity, or language. After the service, the church had a huge dinner of "paella" (rice with meat and veggies). They had invited us to stay, but we needed to take our food to go since it was late and we still had a long drive back to the seminary. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHDtRLblKY9puG8ZQ_mcXcPOeSUwbqVBo2SWdHT2nrx9andnbVcGeZDathe2njzFrNeHvgv1cvth1qvuUf_vke9D-62cgG76m72JI0R6WXMH0LcX_xFw7ne4-50tY558TQsJyVJmVkSU/s1600/DSC02490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDHDtRLblKY9puG8ZQ_mcXcPOeSUwbqVBo2SWdHT2nrx9andnbVcGeZDathe2njzFrNeHvgv1cvth1qvuUf_vke9D-62cgG76m72JI0R6WXMH0LcX_xFw7ne4-50tY558TQsJyVJmVkSU/s320/DSC02490.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praise & Worship with the church in their newly painted sanctuary. (Pastor Miguel is at the bottom right in the red poncho.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTFDDZxA82jPAfvfhyphenhyphenf8_JrixEhTKVotXta7WwlHMsp4K2ZepaOTsQ5lBit7WOnVgHl-PEWjUMSmQP0mmuwQJCy_9NSlBXw73JbQ9jhF5Tlz6I3JTV6pYpah5yFvG76UmCh64OKifMBY/s1600/DSC02501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTFDDZxA82jPAfvfhyphenhyphenf8_JrixEhTKVotXta7WwlHMsp4K2ZepaOTsQ5lBit7WOnVgHl-PEWjUMSmQP0mmuwQJCy_9NSlBXw73JbQ9jhF5Tlz6I3JTV6pYpah5yFvG76UmCh64OKifMBY/s320/DSC02501.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women of the church singing in Spanish or Quechuan.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdJRhifIdRx6_sYCXkAkuTnh6zfgNLqhJN0R3-SzVuBTdaFzkA_3BE7tr1S0gI_fbfxUjt20m_76Z7TrEWyWfueOSjmt3X7HME-MkZqSMU6p7khjzBrACkX2Fz_q9VCiPZFUpZ2vCskk/s1600/DSC02505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdJRhifIdRx6_sYCXkAkuTnh6zfgNLqhJN0R3-SzVuBTdaFzkA_3BE7tr1S0gI_fbfxUjt20m_76Z7TrEWyWfueOSjmt3X7HME-MkZqSMU6p7khjzBrACkX2Fz_q9VCiPZFUpZ2vCskk/s320/DSC02505.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before going up to sing, one of the women handed Ian this little guy to hold for her. :) (The scarf he's wearing is one of the scarves presented to us by the church.)</td></tr>
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<br />Hillary Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14076347295066662648noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-19807048922629728322012-11-08T18:42:00.001-08:002012-11-08T18:45:02.794-08:00Ministry Week in South Quito! "JesuCristo Redentor" Church Thank you, dear friends and family, for your encouragement and prayers surrounding our week-long ministry in South Quito just two weeks ago. Though it was an incredibly busy and, at times, difficult week full of physical labor and neighborhood outreach, God's presence was with us, and we were able to see His hand at work in each of the churches we served. God is good! Here's a quick glimpse of what we were up to that week.<br />
Early each weekday morning, NILI staff and students loaded into our little Sprinter van and headed South. Mon and Tues we served at a small church called JesuCristo Redentor ("Jesus Christ Redeemer"). When we arrived, we realized the need. While Work and Witness crews had begun building the church, only the first floor's walls and ceiling (and the entire structure's roof) had been completed. The church was temporarily meeting in this first floor as they gradually work on completing the second floor and balcony (the future sanctuary). None of the building had been painted yet; all was bare concrete walls. So we immediately set to work at cleaning off the first-floor walls, preparing to paint and bring some life into the make-shift sanctuary.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p2pHjIZXif2uk50kn7N3pF_sduPrPOjQo4cAJMIlUVEl7M2rzFSpIPP6hR0ao2PzSO8bQJwKP4kETw4rubFATdF-mQrgcEyOsD_WcapHlMKIFawoDj0CHG5OqWVos9ZQt1KksfZrC9s/s1600/DSC02205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p2pHjIZXif2uk50kn7N3pF_sduPrPOjQo4cAJMIlUVEl7M2rzFSpIPP6hR0ao2PzSO8bQJwKP4kETw4rubFATdF-mQrgcEyOsD_WcapHlMKIFawoDj0CHG5OqWVos9ZQt1KksfZrC9s/s320/DSC02205.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting and praying with District Superintendent Pastor Hernan (left) & Pastor Jorge (right), pastor of the church before beginning our work there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr7y-57L5yN1PY7eGp8NspHbOutQBSBc4kHIaNuImLbbKY-kK14JnHwPeRL2HePvJ9YOfczMRHm01d4i2tJ0yjEWv9Xd86IxoC4vMQhzEk2UawqmhocGv8v5uTO_if_W1DMwxnGRQE6U/s1600/DSC02207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrr7y-57L5yN1PY7eGp8NspHbOutQBSBc4kHIaNuImLbbKY-kK14JnHwPeRL2HePvJ9YOfczMRHm01d4i2tJ0yjEWv9Xd86IxoC4vMQhzEk2UawqmhocGv8v5uTO_if_W1DMwxnGRQE6U/s320/DSC02207.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning to paint! The concrete walls really sucked up the paint; we had to use several coats to cover the walls well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdkE_UZ_XxCd_KyP7AGWD3iis_pHdMZ9tckrBQDouG-DT9zYdC4xsrQkhnDvAT26-no3WOdQiq3rFrSkxHxf1p-o0CJosWXCqo8sOauv6H1s1ejwRp9hqIUVAC5vcxchUKA1A0uNCQZE/s1600/DSC02217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdkE_UZ_XxCd_KyP7AGWD3iis_pHdMZ9tckrBQDouG-DT9zYdC4xsrQkhnDvAT26-no3WOdQiq3rFrSkxHxf1p-o0CJosWXCqo8sOauv6H1s1ejwRp9hqIUVAC5vcxchUKA1A0uNCQZE/s320/DSC02217.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleaning off another wall before painting.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> After a quick lunch, we donned our NILI t-shirts and walked around
the neighborhood, inviting any kids or families we saw to the local park, where
we were going to host a kids' ministry that afternoon. At first we were a
little disappointed because we had only seen a few kids in the area, but we
headed to the park, set up our things, cranked up our kids' music, and started
playing frisbee, soccer, and jump rope. By the time we ended our program that
afternoon, we had about 50 kids total! It's amazing how</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> music and games</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">in
the park</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">drew so many</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">people</span> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_f9CtRKvluQjBxdABgfkrx1nnxitHGQHdUh_wSCeOGFrEUG1eXYt5e4hWaQmPDSQ-uTLhFgBOCowCdpzoTriSVOcvV6bXrFfT_mJGpRW1Ml4zlRtSHMmeBXtps5GiJLgEIB6TzgD5Rv4/s1600/DSC02268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_f9CtRKvluQjBxdABgfkrx1nnxitHGQHdUh_wSCeOGFrEUG1eXYt5e4hWaQmPDSQ-uTLhFgBOCowCdpzoTriSVOcvV6bXrFfT_mJGpRW1Ml4zlRtSHMmeBXtps5GiJLgEIB6TzgD5Rv4/s320/DSC02268.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning how to pray.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VUAC1anO6cSBIgPyQgIwHXkxxu2LdN5SV6Swo2dfeC7V2eJ8TRn5-y1HJOL5-Xv2HM2NpylEdasspKO_rzBLg3zinpXm4KimvsCNN_Zjic02xI5fLuhrWnjA6N-FXAbNu2VYVKOBFi4/s1600/DSC02273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VUAC1anO6cSBIgPyQgIwHXkxxu2LdN5SV6Swo2dfeC7V2eJ8TRn5-y1HJOL5-Xv2HM2NpylEdasspKO_rzBLg3zinpXm4KimvsCNN_Zjic02xI5fLuhrWnjA6N-FXAbNu2VYVKOBFi4/s320/DSC02273.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for fun!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> During our second morning at JesuCristo Redentor, we finished the
painting work by painting the columns inside and painting the front, outside wall of the church. The end result was pretty stunning!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCENjxIL1ZDKf_h467ekEOdk_pz748iZ5UaYjrkfgDTL4Eyf1GPVj_RpSekJgq7VDPc23h6jkK7J6wZaICT_c6WVU9ZTo-6fwHPp4iW1xfzLf0fIi-p9z5qkPsolnVbHlibaPU-0aGMwU/s1600/DSC02333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCENjxIL1ZDKf_h467ekEOdk_pz748iZ5UaYjrkfgDTL4Eyf1GPVj_RpSekJgq7VDPc23h6jkK7J6wZaICT_c6WVU9ZTo-6fwHPp4iW1xfzLf0fIi-p9z5qkPsolnVbHlibaPU-0aGMwU/s320/DSC02333.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the church after the front wall was painted.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Eyc8Z9xVq-KtfPv8pEilhmGosjTVi6L-mb-guwtpR8y7P-OapFdy0479EE4dyAevbktZ34u8jYxraw30JXA-TUKqBa_VWVVfFxvbzlds_cyB6wmFcTijdR2eHmGUqwqbKl49K63HPXA/s1600/DSC02293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Eyc8Z9xVq-KtfPv8pEilhmGosjTVi6L-mb-guwtpR8y7P-OapFdy0479EE4dyAevbktZ34u8jYxraw30JXA-TUKqBa_VWVVfFxvbzlds_cyB6wmFcTijdR2eHmGUqwqbKl49K63HPXA/s320/DSC02293.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ian finishing up the columns inside.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> That afternoon, we also had another kids ministry in the park with games, songs, puppets, and a short skit. Lots of parents came the second day, and it was great to get to share with them about why we were there and what we were doing with JesuCristo Redentor Church. Some of them even committed to visiting the church in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then Tues evening we were privileged to get to share in a service with the congregation of the church where we'd been working. It was wonderful to worship with these folks in their newly-painted sanctuary! Because the church is largely an indigenous church and because our NILI group had prepared several songs to share with them, we worshiped together in English, Spanish, and Quichuan. The pastor preached in Spanish, emphasizing that though we represent two countries and three different languages, we are all one as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ!</span><br />
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One of the English praise & worship songs we shared with the church: "Glory to God Forever"</div>
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One of the Spanish worship songs the church shared with us: "Here are my hands, I will praise you"</div>
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One of the Quichuan worship songs the church shared with us.</div>
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Hillary Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14076347295066662648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-68137251347574691042012-10-21T16:19:00.004-07:002012-10-21T16:22:53.137-07:00Leading by Serving Ian and I (Hillary) have been blessed to be a part of several ministries here through NILI and the Nazarene Seminary. One of my favorite parts of serving with NILI so far, has been leading our NILI students in our weekly service projects. Every Monday afternoon after lunch, the four NILI students and us staff members load into our Sprinter (our little van) and head to either the Extreme Response day care in Zambizo, the city's garbage dump, or to Betania, a local home for older adults.<br />
The day care in Zambizo was begun by a non-profit organization called Extreme Response. Extreme realized the great need when they saw the 300+ people living and working in the city's garbage every day, surviving on what they found in the trash. Now, Extreme not only offers day care services to the preschool aged children of Zambizo workers, they also provide family counseling, hygiene classes, education assistance, and more. Their story really is an incredible one (to read more about it, visit: <a href="http://www.extremeresponse.org/projects-partners/quito-dump-program/">Extreme Response & the Zambizo Dump Day Care</a>). <br />
Usually during our visits to the Zambizo Dump Day Care, we lead the kids in singing, Bible stories, art projects, puppets, games, and English lessons. During our last visit, we used the Creation story to help teach the kids their numbers in English and Spanish.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going through the days of Creation to teach numbers one through seven.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing "Memory" game with numbers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for the next activity!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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If we're not at Zambizo on Monday afternoons, then we're usually serving at Betania, the local home for older adults. Betania was founded in 1970 by a group of evangelical women who wanted to provide meals and shelter to seniors without family in the Quito area. It really is a wonderful ministry to these seniors who have no one else to care for them. Here is a little video glimpse of Betania, though the video is a bit dated and renovations to Betania have taken place since then: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMFmu69qZmw.">Betania Video</a> <br />
When we go to Betania, our primary goal is to just visit with the residents there. Often we talk, read the Bible together, read stories, paint the women's finger nails, and do art projects. On our last visit, we did a Fruit of the Spirit art project and read the story of Lazarus. I sat with a group of older women who wanted me to read the story over and over again they were so moved by it. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kayla helping one of the women with her art project.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Listening to the story while finishing their art projects.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miranda reading a story to one of the women.</td></tr>
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</xml><![endif]--> It is always an exciting time when we're serving on Monday afternoons.
From rounding up energetic little ones at Zambizo to catching pigeons that
sometimes wander into the cafeteria at Betania, we're always kept on our toes! </div>
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One neat story we have from Betania is from our first visit there. Jen had told
us about Gloria, one of the dear women residents there, who loves sharing her
testimony with everyone she meets. Gloria tells everyone about how she is able
to walk again after the Lord healed her legs a few years ago. She also tells
them that what she is looking forward to most is seeing Jesus in Heaven. Once
we arrived at Betania, Ian and one of the NILIs went back to Gloria's room to
visit with her. As soon as Ian (with a full beard) walked into the room, Gloria
exclaimed "¡Jesús! ¡Jesús!" ("Jesus! Jesus!"). Ian
quickly introduced himself as "Ian," but then ministered to her as I
think Jesus would have, listening and encouraging her throughout the afternoon.</div>
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In addition to helping the NILIs with their service projects at Zambizo and Betania, Ian and I have also been helping with CENIC, a ministry here on the seminary campus that raises funds for the Church by facilitating events for local churches on campus. We hope to post more about our work with CENIC very soon.<br />
Also, this coming week, we'll be taking the NILI students to Southern Quito to work in two indigenous churches there: painting, doing kids ministry, and participating in worship services through song. We'll also be traveling to Latacunga, a small town south of Quito, on Saturday, in order to do a large kids outreach event there in a local park. Please pray for us as we travel and minister there! We'll look forward to seeing all God has in store for us; we're expecting great things.<br />
Thank you SO much for your continued prayer and support! If we can be praying for you in any specific ways, please let us know.<br />
Many blessings!Hillary Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14076347295066662648noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-64170835338234260472012-10-08T19:15:00.001-07:002012-10-11T20:36:10.477-07:00Journey into the JungleA couple weeks back, I (Ian) had the privilege to travel with the NILI students toward and into the Amazonian Jungle in the east of Ecuador. We spent about 5 days outside of Quito, mostly in the cities of <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Riobamba,+Chimborazo,+Ecuador&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.735377,86.572266&oq=Riobamba&t=h&hnear=Riobamba,+Chimborazo,+Ecuador&z=13" target="_blank">Riobamba</a> and <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Shell,+Pastaza,+Ecuador&hl=en&sll=-1.673485,-78.647992&sspn=0.093172,0.169086&oq=Shell,&t=h&hnear=Shell,+Pastaza,+Ecuador&z=15" target="_blank">Shell</a> (you can click on the names of the towns to view them on Google Maps). This is one of two major travel times scheduled for the NILIs each semester. The other trip is one to the Galapagos Islands at the very end of the semester--a trip Hillary and I will not be participating in this semester.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/116109056939119173573/JungleTripPics02?authkey=Gv1sRgCOL69Iae-M7BiwE#" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MkeENl_1VY-IYX082R4Is0paQhJCANff4y6WaX9sZft3O8mXQ8iy_jrr80YhPXe5_zQhQBqRgLaXEf2eHagGjZZqED9uxjdqr6T2a6eVuVcrpRwLS1BSpQM2kh4p2Rm2ZX5nKZNyC5e7/s320/DSC01906.JPG" width="231" /></a>The trip to <i>the Oriente</i> (as "the East" is called in Spanish) was full of fun, adventures, challenges, and spiritually significant moments. I thought I'd share some video clips that highlight our time. I've also loaded an online picture album that you can link to by clicking on the picture to the left of this paragraph. Hope you all enjoy!<br />
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When we first arrived in <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Riobamba,+Chimborazo,+Ecuador&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.735377,86.572266&oq=Riobamba&t=h&hnear=Riobamba,+Chimborazo,+Ecuador&z=13" target="_blank">Riobamba</a>, we sat down to a nice meal of <i><b>chancho</b></i> (pig). A meal consists of some ladies--who have been gnawing on the pig during the afternoon--ripping a hunk (in our case, a leg) off of an entire fried pig and serving it to you with toasted corn and a kind of salad. Kyle, one of our NILI volunteer staff, told me that if I would take my video camera around to the ladies selling the <i>chancho</i>, they would all greet me with beautiful greetings and vie for my business. It wasn't so....<br />
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Around 6am on the first full day we spent in <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Riobamba,+Chimborazo,+Ecuador&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.735377,86.572266&oq=Riobamba&t=h&hnear=Riobamba,+Chimborazo,+Ecuador&z=13" target="_blank">Riobamba</a>, our group left to visit the nearby mammoth (relatively inactive) volcano called <i><b>Chimborazo</b></i>. At<b> 20,564ft.</b> above sea-level and very close to the equator, <b>the summit of <i>Chimborazo</i> is the point on earth furthest from the earth's center.</b> Though our group certainly did <i>not</i> summit this behemoth, one of the highlights of the NILI experience is a hike up <i>Chimborazo</i> to about 16-17,000ft. Enjoy this brief clip of our students climbing <i>Chimborazo</i>...</div>
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...and here's another brief clip of some <b>wild alpacas</b> we saw on the <i>faldas</i> (skirts) of <i>Chimborazo</i>....</div>
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Later during the afternoon of that same day, our group drove about an hour outside of <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Riobamba,+Chimborazo,+Ecuador&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.735377,86.572266&oq=Riobamba&t=h&hnear=Riobamba,+Chimborazo,+Ecuador&z=13" target="_blank">Riobamba</a> in order to get a good look at the <b>often-active volcano called <i>Tungarahua</i></b>. I'd love to share that <i>beautiful</i> view with you....</div>
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After leaving the city of <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Riobamba,+Chimborazo,+Ecuador&hl=en&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=37.735377,86.572266&oq=Riobamba&t=h&hnear=Riobamba,+Chimborazo,+Ecuador&z=13" target="_blank">Riobamba</a> on Sunday afternoon, following <b>services at one of the Nazarene churches</b> in the city, our group traveled about 1.5 hours to the east to the town of <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Shell,+Pastaza,+Ecuador&hl=en&sll=-1.673485,-78.647992&sspn=0.093172,0.169086&oq=Shell,&t=h&hnear=Shell,+Pastaza,+Ecuador&z=15" target="_blank">Shell</a>. (For those who are familiar with <b>the story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and the other three missionaries martyred in the 1950s by Waorani natives</b>, Shell is the town their missionary work was based out of.) </div>
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The highlight of our time in Shell was certainly our brief visit to meet members of the indigenous tribe known as the Waorani in the jungle--a trip we made by half-hour flights in very small (6-seater) planes. This is a little longer video segment highlighting what it took to get there....<br />
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...oh, and landing was no small task either....<br />
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Though our visit with a few members of the Waorani lasted only about an hour, they greeted us as brothers and sisters in Christ. The first members of this tribe to be converted experienced their conversions under the ministry of the widows and families of the martyred missionaries from the 1950s. The entire tribe has been converted since. <b>The older man in the blue basketball shorts is <i>Dewi</i>, one of the men who participated in the raiding party that killed the missionaries in the '50s. He is now one of the first men to live to be a grandparent in this previously war-ravaged tribe.</b> The members of the tribe performed (and invited us into) a traditional dance... which we only found out afterward was <b>actually a marriage ritual.... :-)</b></div>
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We shared a brief but special moment with the Waorani when we sang a fimiliar hymn in the three languages represented in the small Waorani church that day--English, Spanish, & Waorani....</div>
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And finally, just to remind you that we currently live in a country with <b><i>many</i> volcanoes</b>, here's a shot of some channels carved by lava flowing down the side of the volcano <b style="font-style: italic;">Tungurahau. </b>They were formed just a couple weeks before we arrived. (You'll see one on the other side of the guard-rail at the very beginning of this shot, and one later in the shot.)</div>
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Well, there's a taste of our trip to <i>El Oriente</i>. It was certainly one of the fun highlights of the time here so far. We're hoping and expecting that Hillary will be able to join me on the trip next semester when we take the next group of NILIs. <b>Continue to keep the next semester of NILI in your prayers, as we're hoping to have more students apply for the program very soon.</b><br />
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We love you all and covet your prayers! We hope to share in an upcoming blog about some of the great ministries we've been able to participate in over the past couple of weeks. Until then, enjoy these videos and our <b><a href="http://engagemagazine.com/content/missionary-profile-ian-and-hillary-cole" target="_blank">interview with Engage Magazine HERE</a>.</b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-20701151132394517112012-10-03T12:48:00.001-07:002012-10-03T13:20:28.883-07:00Missionary Profile: Ian and Hillary Cole | engagemagazine.com<a href="http://engagemagazine.com/content/missionary-profile-ian-and-hillary-cole"><img alt="Image" class="imgp_img" height="320" src="http://engagemagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/imagepicker/32/Ian%20Cole%205.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; float: left; height: 367px; margin: 5px; width: 275px;" title="" width="239" /></a>We´ve been featured in a recent missionary publication by the Church of the Nazarene. Click on the picture to check it out, and thank you for the continued prayers!<a href="http://engagemagazine.com/content/missionary-profile-ian-and-hillary-cole" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Missionary Profile: Ian and Hillary Cole | engagemagazine.com</a> <a href="http://engagemagazine.com/content/missionary-profile-ian-and-hillary-cole" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-2987176552796067192012-09-27T20:06:00.004-07:002012-09-28T11:01:01.726-07:00Photo Update!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Hello, Friends and Family!</div>
Lots has happened since our last blog post, and we're hoping to fill you in on some of the highlights through several pictures!<br />
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We are so blessed to be a part of a wonderful, Christ-centered NILI
staff, and we have enjoyed getting to know them better these past few
weeks! Upon our arrival, NILI treated us to ice cream. :)<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV43meLKvwxLbYf4zg-VqzrpakstHWXreIKw2UzkhQ22eZRzqiA0EYbC89xi-hcxnVaFXX8zR3kRUBu0N1_8pUovdxw_ky2J1oRo3DoVuRWlE5wI1XhegvGyENiPrTwn98VmuQaOy5f2w/s1600/DSC01464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV43meLKvwxLbYf4zg-VqzrpakstHWXreIKw2UzkhQ22eZRzqiA0EYbC89xi-hcxnVaFXX8zR3kRUBu0N1_8pUovdxw_ky2J1oRo3DoVuRWlE5wI1XhegvGyENiPrTwn98VmuQaOy5f2w/s320/DSC01464.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucy Olivo, Director of NILI with her husband Pastor Salomon and
their little boy David Israel (or "Davidcito")</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdIKRMsrO6pTGQsVvBSSLRsqA2qbQwB5aFL1WsnWVklwDsXpqXe5VT5BVX01dCB-d5xysWPh1chdt6eLKKTmpWOLl5nWcVBDa07afDz7W88oxFiRd3GdTTi5c2z0dm81-OVcjEgL7bcg/s1600/DSC01460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdIKRMsrO6pTGQsVvBSSLRsqA2qbQwB5aFL1WsnWVklwDsXpqXe5VT5BVX01dCB-d5xysWPh1chdt6eLKKTmpWOLl5nWcVBDa07afDz7W88oxFiRd3GdTTi5c2z0dm81-OVcjEgL7bcg/s320/DSC01460.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jen, Assistant Director/Ministry Coordinator of NILI; Jana,
Student Life Director of NILI; and Kyle, Accountant & Secretary for
NILI</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28AsfeI6zkWwu3wGcOzyxVt6-Uwmq9s0iIROK94iQtNZ8jY0pyW6AoUq0YV6WhvVX1xQqFICnXJIu8fRl9HnbNZhvBYVI9hiPia36F-QSVIHJuhxeKqamYVtRpfoOsZ3CUVY6uq28KEYr/s1600/DSC01461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28AsfeI6zkWwu3wGcOzyxVt6-Uwmq9s0iIROK94iQtNZ8jY0pyW6AoUq0YV6WhvVX1xQqFICnXJIu8fRl9HnbNZhvBYVI9hiPia36F-QSVIHJuhxeKqamYVtRpfoOsZ3CUVY6uq28KEYr/s320/DSC01461.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And you know these people. :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We've also gotten settled into our little apartment! We are truly thankful for this space to call our own. It has everything we need (dishes, blankets, towels, etc), and it's been a great haven for the two of us when we've needed it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCTg7G9jTMa3vpS8bjX591ScXonqHUBWGUp_UM69d7Wt3vADMm-GIt5fFLFjcm6kBRDF8j0qbx0hOe8NUNJvH876CpW67sJAdGkfc4XSCnNlKoY1tjvnhgkYfp5LpkzUxsTNVshhnWLs/s1600/DSC01469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCTg7G9jTMa3vpS8bjX591ScXonqHUBWGUp_UM69d7Wt3vADMm-GIt5fFLFjcm6kBRDF8j0qbx0hOe8NUNJvH876CpW67sJAdGkfc4XSCnNlKoY1tjvnhgkYfp5LpkzUxsTNVshhnWLs/s320/DSC01469.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Our kitchen, where we make and eat our breakfasts
and dinners. (Mon - Fri we eat lunch in the small cafeteria on the
seminary campus with the seminary staff and students.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O-e9_uOP6pm1asLJI5CIOMRLNeS4o5ZrUnyyiPWLntNMJwCrSfqyKIuerToXyv3T265fvoxh3SHROfbaWwvDWdp_9DNIoKU1YJ6J66Lyv-ua2WzWp9CP-dqZxYsOi_exjSgys2OXNs-B/s1600/DSC01476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1O-e9_uOP6pm1asLJI5CIOMRLNeS4o5ZrUnyyiPWLntNMJwCrSfqyKIuerToXyv3T265fvoxh3SHROfbaWwvDWdp_9DNIoKU1YJ6J66Lyv-ua2WzWp9CP-dqZxYsOi_exjSgys2OXNs-B/s320/DSC01476.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of our living room from the kitchen. No TV, and we haven't
missed it! It has been wonderful reading, journaling, and spending time
with others while here.</td></tr>
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Ian and I also have our own office space in the NILI office on campus. This is where I have been working in the mornings, and Ian has been working in the afternoons. (The classroom where Ian takes his Spanish classes is right around the corner from here, and the CENIC office where I work in the afternoons is downstairs.)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfLUdEFAAiZovQYdkk9iCZU0u1-qUBSr4pYFGr_aWG6V_h4x4RmD9cXKk2omGF6N9RB6q-28QMK7ikLbFMq7q7V4EJHknKKN1YOWkRJoz0N5oqPJgcegYZueRrCPM0Dk3hHg9JgrTkb8/s1600/DSC01508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfLUdEFAAiZovQYdkk9iCZU0u1-qUBSr4pYFGr_aWG6V_h4x4RmD9cXKk2omGF6N9RB6q-28QMK7ikLbFMq7q7V4EJHknKKN1YOWkRJoz0N5oqPJgcegYZueRrCPM0Dk3hHg9JgrTkb8/s320/DSC01508.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Our office welcome. We've been welcomed with open
arms by all of the seminary staff and students here, but especially by
NILI staff members.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KrtEQ0sVyDP8vC6xRLtKzRFj9w3EPrGe8pL3iRCc4vFCRpiq0biZPML6wGa9BHxzZK1adKLLbLM0IoK5OGF3UtJESo8HJkGDjcHCLF1YQo6ypFWssDYNWzNi30jA6zLcwFANFUHzMgk/s1600/DSC01510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KrtEQ0sVyDP8vC6xRLtKzRFj9w3EPrGe8pL3iRCc4vFCRpiq0biZPML6wGa9BHxzZK1adKLLbLM0IoK5OGF3UtJESo8HJkGDjcHCLF1YQo6ypFWssDYNWzNi30jA6zLcwFANFUHzMgk/s320/DSC01510.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Our office space with NILI. Note the small
"NO English" sign hanging on the bookshelf. As staff, we've been asked
to help enforce the Spanish-only policy for students to help ensure that
they are being fully immersed in the language while here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A couple of weeks ago, Ian and I helped take the NILIs to the TeleferiQo, a cable car that scales one of the mountainsides of Quito, in order to get a view of the city from above.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzD0ill0VAOfDTcYsswjb3xc8aLc3U5IRVgGKkGvwCSnMBlJPR7b4v_3_BnGlXdnOr9DuZMlSlEsVkxAqqK9hGUYbeboKF5_yddvaNo3smtz7LmlGUN60c8lonB9Vb77Y4vBo-jNzZ7o/s1600/DSC01649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzD0ill0VAOfDTcYsswjb3xc8aLc3U5IRVgGKkGvwCSnMBlJPR7b4v_3_BnGlXdnOr9DuZMlSlEsVkxAqqK9hGUYbeboKF5_yddvaNo3smtz7LmlGUN60c8lonB9Vb77Y4vBo-jNzZ7o/s320/DSC01649.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Quito and active volcano Cotopaxi in the distance.
(Cotopaxi is one of several active volcanoes in the Andes Mountains near
Quito though none pose any immediate threat to the city.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaJJ0v6tp7QorLcbjuBZbef5ubSzZSFZMLPWOuzVE7Qly8fYEFL2M0N0idXTjvMWdaS9fle82Y2Vrl0ZT5y8qtZdref6wmQkXIRorYteRMc7JGReII9RHhqplRzpioA-UiM_E2bshu8w/s1600/DSC01639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTaJJ0v6tp7QorLcbjuBZbef5ubSzZSFZMLPWOuzVE7Qly8fYEFL2M0N0idXTjvMWdaS9fle82Y2Vrl0ZT5y8qtZdref6wmQkXIRorYteRMc7JGReII9RHhqplRzpioA-UiM_E2bshu8w/s320/DSC01639.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Our NILI group: Elysha, Kayla, Lanea, and Miranda
with seminary students Christian and Cristina. We try to encourage the
NILIs to spend time with seminary students as much as possible to build
strong relationships and to help their Spanish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One weekend, we helped NILI staff surprise the students with "La Gran Carera." What they thought would be a boring workshop, became an "Amazing Race" through Quito! And yet they still (hopefully) learned how to navigate Quito's public transportation systems: the goal of the activity.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe-04ju6LjTF8sHhYRDA1eDtFvxfzTPaZg6PSU4JgGr-hC53nn_3gisUDjoR_2rmoS9gX1L-1Rlaj6NqRPGX0v_4tW8XLUWSDr9O_Be1Bga8nymAKe9cYSIVZSmkuLz8wQtkNc9GqV68/s1600/DSC01708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe-04ju6LjTF8sHhYRDA1eDtFvxfzTPaZg6PSU4JgGr-hC53nn_3gisUDjoR_2rmoS9gX1L-1Rlaj6NqRPGX0v_4tW8XLUWSDr9O_Be1Bga8nymAKe9cYSIVZSmkuLz8wQtkNc9GqV68/s320/DSC01708.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NILIs Miranda and Lanae with seminary students Meri and Nancho</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOzOlLU4ITJ3tbP8I9_g86SAwobXtYvsv-sMQjs4-OMuwGM7CWUdSed8_VMHY7HlvBBvBl4U7LsQNjj5l-mJsoaEs3cMx0VmxwmtdJu7-qa-fYkIAOK4Zm4TW6nPnYypMC3DSgaG2LDwr/s1600/DSC01713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOzOlLU4ITJ3tbP8I9_g86SAwobXtYvsv-sMQjs4-OMuwGM7CWUdSed8_VMHY7HlvBBvBl4U7LsQNjj5l-mJsoaEs3cMx0VmxwmtdJu7-qa-fYkIAOK4Zm4TW6nPnYypMC3DSgaG2LDwr/s320/DSC01713.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NILIs Elysha and Kayla with seminary students Jeremias and Priscilla (the winners with their prizes!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I (Hillary) have also really enjoyed getting to know the NILI/seminary girls better through fun activities such as painting pictures, cooking/baking, and staying up late playing games during pajama parties. I hope and pray that this shared fun will be the foundation for deeper relationships and spiritual growth in the future.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wnUOV1H8nTd-qsaskbj3xZB0Xp9pRC2UlCYI9gHh2C4V2POwidcX3Pt8IE12X3eHNK5HEg7oV3LkkNkj8lBD2micxWClDHJM258AzukC3Lt574tZMj7HTRwiKF_aQ2v4e6HLG58JW-w/s1600/DSC01716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wnUOV1H8nTd-qsaskbj3xZB0Xp9pRC2UlCYI9gHh2C4V2POwidcX3Pt8IE12X3eHNK5HEg7oV3LkkNkj8lBD2micxWClDHJM258AzukC3Lt574tZMj7HTRwiKF_aQ2v4e6HLG58JW-w/s320/DSC01716.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Pajama party with the NILI and seminary girls on campus.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the most meaningful experiences so far has been Ian's trip with the NILI's into the jungle just last week. We hope to write a longer blog reflecting on this trip very soon!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHz06UhAFoSZzJg2QJYXELP5ex-glVeV2Bs1HeXLVz2Ws9bAOoNFqVfwvFejxBzMI3aqiocpnZGXxQ8S6SZ0pbA2oMRcjC3_fQRK5cPd-mITKx1npM336OLhOjHdnOjP90aFQkJpqQOE/s1600/DSC01765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHz06UhAFoSZzJg2QJYXELP5ex-glVeV2Bs1HeXLVz2Ws9bAOoNFqVfwvFejxBzMI3aqiocpnZGXxQ8S6SZ0pbA2oMRcjC3_fQRK5cPd-mITKx1npM336OLhOjHdnOjP90aFQkJpqQOE/s320/DSC01765.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Our date night before Ian left with the NILI's for a week in the jungle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support! We cannot tell you how much it means to us to have our friends and families behind us. We've shared our testimonies with the NILI staff and students over the past few weeks, and we've told them that your support has been one of the ways in which God has confirmed to us that we are where He wants us this year. And God has been so faithful to us thus far! We've encountered challenges we didn't expect, but He has been here with us, and our understanding of missions and ministry is deepening as a result (more on this in our next blog). We are so thankful for you! And we continue to lift you up in prayer each day.<br />
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As our brothers and sisters here in Ecuador say, "Dios le bendiga" (God bless you)!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-17517386096085213542012-09-08T18:04:00.002-07:002012-09-08T18:07:21.585-07:00Quito--One Week In<div style="text-align: left;">
As our first full week in Quito is coming to an end, we find ourselves slightly exhausted, curled up on the couch in our apartment, preparing to make some "Horchata" (an herbal tea), reflecting upon the full and exciting week we've had. </div>
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After a fairly low-key weekend, during which we had the opportunity to settle into our apartment here on the seminary campus and get our bearings in our <i>barrio</i> (neighborhood), we jumped right into responsibilities first thing Monday morning. Although our responsibilities for this semester are shaping up to be different than those we expected, so far we have found our work here at the Seminario Teol<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">ó</span>gico Nazareno Sudamericano (South-American Nazarene Theological Seminary) to be both very challenging and very rewarding. We have found that flexibility and a positive attitude are necessary prerequisites for missionary work!</div>
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This week, Ian began intensive (4-hours/day 4-days/week) Spanish training in a Spanish-only-speaking classroom. He is taking this course alongside the 4 NILI (Nazarene International Language Institute) students on campus this semester. The course has been very challenging, and Ian is probably only grasping about 50-60% of what is said by the instructor at this time. Nevertheless, his Spanish is improving daily both inside and outside the classroom, and for now this is his primary responsibility--to learn Spanish so that he can fully participate as a staff member with the NILI program. His responsibilities also include shadowing Kyle, another male volunteer with the NILI program who has been with NILI for about 2.5 years now.</div>
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While Ian was beginning Spanish training and shadowing responsibilities, Hillary began work with CENIC here on campus. CENIC is a branch of the seminary's ministry that provides conference facilities to local churches, youth groups, and other Christian groups. We were unaware of CENIC before we arrived, but it seems that we came at just the right time to lend a helping hand to this ministry. Hillary has begun acting as a staff member at CENIC nearly every afternoon, helping to create monthly financial reports and facilitating weekend conferences. The business CENIC generates helps to financially support the broader mission of the Church of the Nazarene in the North Andean Field (Ecuador, Columbia, & Venezuela), as does the NILI Program.</div>
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This past week has already held many surprises & adventures for us. We've located a phenomenal <i>panederia </i>(bakery) in our neighborhood of Carcel<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">é</span>n called "Pytter Pan." (<i>Pan</i> means "bread" in Spanish.) Large, freshly baked loaves of cheesy bread cost less than a dollar, and tasty sweet bread loaves are packed with raisins and custard! :-) </div>
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We've also been reminded of how <i>fuerte</i> (strong) the sun is at the equator. Every day we slather our faces in sunscreen, only to return in the evening with slightly pink foreheads. Since it's also currently the dry season in Quito (May-September), the strong sun and dry grass create an environment where random fires spring up throughout the city. On any given day, 10-20 small fires catch (sometimes as a result of something as simple as the sun reflecting off of broken glass in the streets). Most of these fires burn out quickly and seem to cause little distraction to residents of Quito.</div>
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Not only is the sun strong, but the altitude in the city of Quito (about 10,000 feet) takes a toll on visitors during their first few days here. After about 5 days, Ian joined some men on campus to play basketball one afternoon. After 45 minutes of game time, those accustomed to the altitude were still going strong while Ian was panting underneath a shade tree. After basketball he slept for 3 hours and still woke up a little woozy. :-) (He's doing fine now!)</div>
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In order to climb even higher, we traveled with the NILI students on Friday up to the top of one of the mountains that surround the valley-city of Quito on a cable car called the "Telef<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">é</span>rico." At 13,000 feet we had an incredible view of the city (and airplanes!) beneath us. Check out the video below for a cool panoramic view of the city and surrounding mountains and volcanoes!</div>
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Many adventures and surprises already, but the best surprise of all so far has been how well our friendships with the NILI staff (and other seminary staff & students) have developed. We love the people we are serving alongside of here--Jana & Kyle, two other young Mission Corps volunteers with NILI; Jen, co-director of NILI and Mission Corps volunteer, and her Ecuadorian husband Harry; Lucy & Salomon, an Ecuadorian couple who are director of NILI and pastor of our local church in Carcel<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">é</span>n, respectively. These and many other staff and students here on the seminary campus have welcomed us with warm embraces and we feel at home among them.</div>
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We look forward to getting a chance to take some video of the seminary campus and the folks we work with soon so that we can share with you all in our next blog post. Continue to pray for us as we move forward in our ministry here in Ecuador (specific prayer requests are listed on the right-hand side of this blog), and we will continue to thank the Lord for your support and encouragement!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RnjXbd8Exy4?fs=1" width="459"></iframe> <br />
Be sure to turn the volume down on this video; it was windy up there!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6724151483902675904.post-58138809809579500952012-08-31T10:33:00.002-07:002012-08-31T10:33:38.358-07:00We're here!Thanks to all your prayers and support, we've made it safely to Quito! After getting into our apartment late on Wednesday evening, spending the day with the staff of the NILI Program yesterday, and finishing our unpacking this Friday morning, we are finally beginning to feel settled in. This weekend has been given to us as a relaxing "acclimation" weekend. We're thankful for it.<br />
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We'll be back with updates, pics, & video soon!<br />
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God bless!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708776536802558939noreply@blogger.com0