Ecuador 2009 "A Guy Thing"

Monday, February 9, 2009

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Heading Home

We head home today.

We spent Friday driving back to Quito and learning about the ministry at El Refugio. -www.youthworld.org.ec/refugio.htm

Wow! God uses this ministry to train national church leaders and students. What another great place to bring a short term team to serve.

As we come home today our hearts our full and we are excited to see our kids and spouses.

We look forward to giving our report to the people at the Moorhead campus on Feb. 8th. at 9:30 AM and at Triumph West on Feb 22nd at 9 AM

Thank you for your prayers. We ask that you would pray for travel mercies as we head home and for faithful fruitfulness as we begin our journey of global citizenship.

"A Guy Thing" Team

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Day 4 at the orphanage work site. The floor of the septic tank is completed and today we work on the forms for the walls. Weather has been perfect for building. Overcast and not much rain. Sore muscles and not much sleep- heavy on great sharing and tons of laughter and encouragement.
Today we tour the MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) hanger and also tour the Nate Saint house- home of one of the 1956 martyred missionaries.
We can´t say enough of how much we appreciate your prayers.

P.S. We are having problems loading pictures while we are in the jungle. Will add somemore once we are back in Quito.

¨A Guy Thing¨ Team

Gringos in the Jungle

We are on Day #3 at the orphanage. Today we pour concrete for the septic tank on the property site. Muscles are sore, hearts are full, and we laugh a lot.

Thanks for your prayers.

We are safe.

We have enjoyed meeting missionaries.

We miss our families and our brides.

See U Sunday!

Pastor Kirk and the men's team

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

We´re Still Alive

We have jumped into work with both feet and lots of mud/gumbo! We dug a trench for seven hours under a water pipe in order to make way for a future road on the orphanage property.
We didn´t get much sleep last night and are a little sore but ready for the hard work ahead of us.
Today we are going to pour concrete and work with machinery.
We are laughing. We are learning from missionaries. We are having our hearts touched and challenged. Thanks for your prayers. We send our love to our brides our kids and our many praying friends.

¨Its a Guy Thing¨ Team

Saturday, January 24, 2009

First full day in Ecuador

What a full day.

We learned a ton about the ministry of Youth World which is serving as our hosts.

We also visited a powerful worldwide ministry which is the radio station HCJB. HCJB stands for Heralding Christ Jesus' Blessings

We also were able to meet some incredible young men who God is making into young leaders. This ministry is Casa Gabriel and it is a home for former street boys.

We finished our night by talking about faithful fruitfulness and reciprocal partnership. We not only give but we receive many blessings.

Thanks for your constant prayers

"Its A Guy Thing" Team

Prayer Itinerary

Friday January 23, 2009 - Pray for travel mercies as a few of our team members fly out of Minneapolis, MN via Atlanta, and on to Quito Ecuador. We will arrive late into Quito, around 11:00 pm. Pray that we make our flight connections and all our luggage arrives safely. If our luggage doesn't arrive all at one time, pray that our team would model grace, patience and f-l-e-x-i-b-i-l-i-t-y.

Saturday January 24, 2009 - Orientation day with Youth World, the ministry with which we are working. We will also visit Old Quito this day and get a "Big Picture" view of the city, the people and the culture. Pray that our team will be eager to learn about the culture. Pray for our health as we adjust to the altitude and the different foods we will eat.

Sunday January 25, 2009 - Today we worship at Carmen Bajo Church which serves as a site for Compassion International. After the service we will travel 5 hours southeast of Quito via bus to the orphanage in Shell. Pray that we, as a group, would be united in Holy Spirit. Pray that we would be able to adapt to changing circumstances and that we would be flexible to changes in a cheerful and humble manner. Pray that God will give each member an "aha" eye-opening moment.

Monday January 26 - Thursday January 29, 2009 - We are partnering with the ministry La Caso de Fe Orphanage in Shell. We will be working long days at the 7 acre orphanage complex on a variety of construction projects. Pray for safety, energy, no equipment breakdown, laughter and health. Pray that our hearts will be shaped for faithful fruitfulness. Pray that our families back home won't worry too much about us...but that they will miss us!

Friday January 30, 2009 - We travel back to Quito today, Pray for us as we say good-bye to people that worked with us. Pray for the health of our team and protection from sickness. Pray that we will have a cheerful and humble spirit. We have our final debrief of our trip. Pray for our team that we will see the blessings God has resourced us with in order that we might be a blessing to others who serve and minister overseas. We'll head north of the equator to La Hacienda (which means Place of Refuge) retreat site. Pray that we will process and write down all that has taken place in the 8 days we have been in this different culture. How do we best communicate what has taken place in our lives to those we love? We will have an evening communion service in the mountains.

Saturday January 31, 2009 - Today, we head home. Pray for protection from theft and that going through customs will go smoothly. Pray for travel mercies and some sleep on the way home. We thank the Lord for our families that await us.
Sunday February 1, 2009 - Yes, it is Super Bowl Sunday, but our team will have their heads spinning as they re-engage/re-adjust to life back home in Fargo - Moorhead. Pray for the families of the team members as the guys share their hearts with their families and fatigue on many levels will settle in.

Sunday February 8, 2009 at 9:00 am - Pray that this time of sharing during the Sunday School hour would plant seeds in the hearts of other men and students to participate in an upcoming mission trip in the future. We would love to have you come and join us!