MOVING!

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De Rodillas- August 26

Rob & Titus met more than ten years ago while serving at First Baptist Church in Forest Grove, Oregon. Two young visionaries, each with a passion to reach the lost, it was no surprise they became fast friends and dreamed of working together.

While the Lord took the Karch family to Quebec and ours to Ecuador, He has allowed us the opportunity to work together in a unique way.

This year Eglise Ecclesia in St. Jerome, Quebec (planted by Rob & Martine Karch and team) sent its very first mission team to Guayaquil to work with 60 boys and girls. The team put on five services, built a room in the new house for more boys at Shalom, scraped and painted at the girls home and hosted two QUEBECUADORIAN style birthday parties (phew!). Much of our time the last month was spent preparing for their trip and working alongside them. Their message "God made YOU and YOU are special" was well received and much needed! They were also able to share with us in Shalom's first baptism. The baptism, which was initially to be held at the home with a small backyard pool, was held at a local water park (which was donated for the afternoon). Thirteen boys "took the plunge" and we pray that each one will continue to deepen his relationship with Christ. While we know that the 60 children the team ministered to were impacted and changed, we also pray that this experience impacted the eight team members from Quebec, and that they in turn will return home to cast the vision to reach the lost all over the world, to their church. In addition to the pictures below, the team put together a short video of their time here. Watch the Video! [Rob & Martine Karch are also WorldVenture missionaries, you can support their church planting movement in Quebec, Canada by clicking here:Church Planting in Quebec.]

What's coming up:


We're going to be making a major transition in the upcoming month. While we'll maintain our relationship with Shalom, and continue with weekly services and jiujitsu, we will be turning our focus to what lies ahead.

David

Diego

Bryan

Pray:



. . . for continued growth in the Lord for the 13 boys who were baptized.

. . .for weekly services, jiujitsu and discipleship with the boys at Shalom

. . .for clear leading and open doors as we head a new direction

. . . that the Lord would raise up teammates to join us here in GYE

. . . for physical, spiritual and emotional health for our family.

June 2010 Update

"I don't want to be here any more. I don't like people telling me what to do. My mom's new boyfriend says that I can come work for him in selling things in the Bahia and he'll pay me. Then I won't have to go to school and I'll have my own money to spend however I want."

"David, its important that you study. You and your brothers are safe here. You probably aren't going to get paid. He's just going to use you. Stay."

Too late. The bait had been cast and the victim took it, hook, line and sinker. There was no reasoning with David. He saw freedom. We see chains. David's mom has been involved in prostitution, he has 5 siblings two of whom lived with him at Shalom. Sadly we know that when the truth is revealed and when he realizes his home life hasn't changed, David will return to a life on the streets; perhaps taking his two younger brothers Misael and Axel with him.

This enticing offer is nothing new. It is cleverly offered to children and families all over the country every day. "Send me your child, I have a job for them. I'll pay them well, he's wasting his time at school, he'll have a better life, I'll send the money to you to help support the family." An estimated 7 of 10 of the children we work with have been exploited in some way for financial gain. Some are sent to the street to shine shoes, or sell candies, wash windows, or to beg. Others find themselves in the dark world of the sex trade with little hope of escape. Certainly not freedom, certainly not a 'better' life.

This months highlights:

Katie & Brady Bonnell and Stephen Folden (Titus' brother, sister and nephew) came to visit. We travelled to Loja for the dedication of the new church building for Semilla de Mostaza, planted by WV missionaries Leonardo and Lourdes Calva. It was an exciting time filled with many activities as well as time to reconnect with friends and fellow missionaries we got to know in our time spent living there.

Titus has been teaching a series on the Armor of God during his weekly youth services at Shalom, and it has been going very well.

There have been some hiccups in maintaining the discipleship groups for the boys who want to be baptized, but they're back on track now and the the baptism will take place some time in July.

Katie & Stephen put their gifts to work with the boys and enjoyed time playing soccer, teaching guitar lessons and teaching the boys about dental hygiene.

Sadly we've said goodbye to 5 of the boys from Shalom this month and not under good circumstances. Please be praying for David, Misael, Axel, Daniel & Marco.



There are 3 more lessons left in the Armor of God series, he'll continue with jiujitsu as well as with the discipleship groups.
Other stuff:
Please continue to pray for the situation with our neighbors. Pray that we will not grow weary in battle! We continue to build relationships with our neighbors, focusing primarily on two families, the Powcholongs and the Sanchez family. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work in their hearts.
 
Family News:

We continue to battle illness, now the major challenge is thanks to the volcanic ash that continues to be in the air. Sofia continues to love school, and is facing some language barrier challenges. Please pray for her as she works through the frustrations of not being able to communicate what she wants to. Look out world, here comes Mateo! Mateo is walking everywhere now and into everything. Titus is extra warm with his soft neck brace that he'll be sporting for a month or so along with physical therapy for his herniated disk. We celebrated our 7 year anniversary this month and for an extra special treat got to go out in the evening with no children a few times while our visitors were here. (thanks Katie and Stephen!)

Shoes for Shalom

Just a few pics from the delivery of shoes for the boys at Shalom thanks to the students and families of Emmaus Christian School in Cornelius, Oregon.

Jiujitsu

Ten boys will continue with weekly Jiujitsu training in town.  Jiujitsu gives a great opportunity for the boys to learn discipline, to respect authority, value themselves, self-control and to just plain have a good time 'rolling around.'

Wax on, wax off. . .

In order to reach kids who have been neglected, abused and abandoned you must first develop a relationship of trust with them.  They trust no one but themselves.  It takes time and effort to do this.  Many of you know that most boys aren't interested in sitting down and having a heartfelt conversation, but they do talk when they are working. . . work projects at Shalom are three-fold, they 1. help the home in a physical way, 2. teach the boys skills and trade and 3. allow opportunity of discussion, discipleship and 'counseling.'  Below are some pictures of recent projects.  

painting sealant on boards for bunk beds (anti-termite)

fixing some of the beds

Electronics. .. working on a busted stereo

Blessed is the man. . .

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the streams.  It does not fear when heat comes its leaves are always green.  it has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.  Jeremiah 17:7-9

Here are a few pictures of the weekly services at Shalom, focusing on the scripture above.  

adding leaves to their trees

coloring the roots

the 'empty' plant with no roots