Enjoy the Journey!

Our family made a trip south in Ecuador to the small town of Patate to get the needed paperwork for our visas and for the visas of our BRAND new teammates Laura Fouser and Lynell Smith. We were able to stay at the ministry property of some other missionaries. It was a blessing to see a new part of the country. The paperwork process is incredible. A dear friend called it a "remarkable process,” and it is truly an accurate expression. We praise the Lord that the paperwork is done and on to the next step. We started the paperwork process October 27. After 3 days in Patate, we received the papers on December 23! Except…they were not notarized correctly. We submitted the papers on December 27, received them back on Wednesday, December 29, and happily headed over to DHL to mail to Sao Paulo Brazil. “Sorry, our computers are down until Monday.” Oops. Unfortunately Quito has a driving restriction and Wednesday is my day to stay out of the city after 4 PM…therefore we went back to Quito on Thursday, found a different location and mailed them… What? $49 to mail a stack of papers? Remarkable process!

Merry Christmas From our Family to Yours!

Christmas time was a real joy for our family.  We enjoyed our time together as a family, reunited as Bethany was home from the Word of Life Bible Institute.  We also really enjoyed opening all of our familiar Christmas ornaments and decorations.  It had been 5 years since we were able to decorate with our own special treasures.  The kids analyzed all of their ornaments that they receive each year, looking at each one as if it were the very first time.  This year's ornaments seemed to be centered around FOOD - Jordan got a donut, Bethany a cute little cupcake, Amanda a ball covered with glittery things, and Lukas, well, he had to get an ice-cream ornament of course.  Jeff and Deanne got ornaments this year as well. Jeff's was a handmade llama, and he made Deanne a COFFEE themed ornament by filling a glass ball with Coffee beans, a mini spoon and a packet of sugar!  So fun!

Visitors From Texas

Mr and Mrs Mossman came to Ecuador for their Christmas  vacation.  This was a great opportunity for us to meet our advisor with Lighthouse Academy.  Mrs. Mossman helps missionaries all over the world with their curriculum and grades for their children's education.  It has been a great blessing to meet them in person.  We are praying for them as they look to the future of what the Lord is directing in their lives.  It was their first visit to Ecuador and we shared a great day together.  We did some shopping in the artesan market, had lunch in a Ecuadorian restaurant, and showed them our new church property.  Our kids were so excited as they brought a WHOLE bag of American candy treats.  Jeff and Deanne enjoyed the Starbucks coffee they brought!  One of our traditions here to to take people to this picturesque photo spot.  We call this our "prayer spot" as it is overlooking Cumbaya and the whole Tumbaco Valley.  We ask our visitors to pray for the ministry and for the people of the Valley we have claimed for Jesus Christ.  Thank you for your prayers!