Following the Son

On Saturday we finally had the opportunity to volunteer with Happy Dogs Cuenca. This is a group of Ecuadorian veterinary doctors, vet students and vet techs that work with an organization called ARCA (I don't know what it stands for). They set up places in different neighborhoods where they can go and perform spay and neutering on the dogs and cats in those neighborhoods. On Saturday there were four people that performed 70 surgeries. We were there until they were working on the 62nd animal. Debi was working on sterilizing the instruments and getting them to the surgeons... read more

Some of you may not know what the Samaritans Purse Shoebox is. Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. Part of that is the Operation Christmas Child Program. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. In November each year people form all over the United States put together shoeboxes with items for needy children all over the world. The boxes are all ... read more

On the first of August a group of eight missionaries from Calvary Chapel Miami came to Cuenca to conduct Vacation Bible School (VBS) and do outreach around the city. The five women were scheduled to stay with us. When they arrived at about 7 in the evening our first comment to them was, "We hope you don't have to shower, we don't have any water". The water had been off for several hours. After fixing dinner for them, the water came back on. BUT, our water heater decided to quit on us. Quick phone call to Braulio, with a request that he bring his brother Emilio (a great handyman that has so blessed us in our home). Fifteen minutes later they came and after about twenty minutes he had everything taken care of and we had ... read more

In June we had Pastor Kevin O'Neil, founder of Calvary Chapel Cuenca, and Pastor Drew McIntyre, Calvary Chapel Alpine, CA come and stay with us. Pastor Drew taught the Way of the Master (street evangelizing) to all who were interested on the evenings of the 15th to the 17th - the Ecuadorians at the church and the gringos at our house. Then on Saturday the 18th about 20 of us, mostly teens went to Parque de la Madre to hand out tracts and talk to people. Since I don't speak Spanish very well, I would just walk up to someone, say "Para usted (for you)" and hand them a tract. The Ecuadorian people are so gracious that they rarely say no when something is offered to them. But there was one woman who was fast walking ... read more

Wow, I cannot believe that it has been four months since I posted anything on this blog. And there have been so many things happening here. Maybe I can use that as an excuse. So I have a lot to post, over ten events, so I will probably break it down to each month. First of all, continuing in April we had a beautiful full rainbow practically over our house. Then I have pictures of our local street sweepers. They are dedicated young men and women that come through the neighborhood with brooms, dustpans and pushing a trashcan on wheels. No trucks kicking up all the dust and dirt. The color of their uniform changes for some reeason, sometimes it is orange or lime green. I haven't been able to figure out the schedule or reason ... read more