Christmas greetings and New Year blessings to all of you from Ecuador!
The tidings of great joy are for ALL people. We wish you great joy this Christmas as once again we recall that one small baby’s birth became the pivotal point of history – the world has never been the same since. One line from the Christmas carol titled Welcome to Our World by Chris Rice, a message as though sung to the newly arrived Christ Child, says: “Tiny heart whose blood will save us…” That was an event to cause rejoicing and celebration and reason to meditate.
We are grateful this Christmas for healthy, growing house churches – though not all growth is numerical or even visible. Sometimes the evidence of growth is the painful stuff that God is dealing with. But for all growth we are thankful. Early in December Clayton counted forty-five people squeezed into a living room in Arenillas for a Friday evening of worship and teaching. (The group pictured above is from Arenillas.)
We spent many hours at the computer in November, finalizing a leader’s training manual that we wrote, compiling material from various sources and writing some of our own. We were thrilled with the eager response as we taught and assigned the first modules of study and homework. Themes include basic evangelism training and how to work as teams to lead new small groups, basic discipleship and a bit of church history – who are we, anyway? Each chapter equips the believer with another facet of a strong foundation for confidence in becoming one of the Master’s servants. The plan is to study one of the 13 modules every two weeks with those who have completed a series of studies that gets them started in their walk with Christ. We are excited to see the fruit that will come from those who are now studying the manual.
"Little ones to Him belong..."
May "Christmas light" shine in every heart...
The angel’s Christmas message reminds us again – the good news of great joy is for ALL people: The little ones growing up in homes with a Mommy and Daddy who are learning how to be godly parents --( the toddler with a Bible in his lap is the son of Gualaceo house church leader, Jesus Eugenio Gomez). The older ones who have lived many years without the light of the knowledge of the glory of Christ – but whom we want to introduce to Jesus (the older man is Fransisco Castillo's father from Arenillas). And some who have special challenges (Nelly, second from right, daughter of Fransisco and Josefa, is deaf. She and her family were very excited to be given a manual to help them learn sign language. Nelly is very intelligent and learns quickly.) and many, many who are very normal. Christmas reminds us that ALL need to know of the Good News of Great Joy! A line from a missionary story I heard as a child says it well: “The Jesus songs and the Jesus stories are for everybody – everybody welcome!!”
May you personally know the “great joy which shall be to all people” that the angel announced so long ago. May the New Year bring opportunities to share it with others.
His for the Harvest,
Clayton and Thelma
Ecuador loves to celebrate! We have the national Independence Day, and we celebrate the independence day of each of the main cities. Today was the day to celebrate Cuenca's independence from the Spanish Conquistadors. We took a three hour walk to see a few of the main handcraft exhibits. Here are a couple photos from the day's events.
This bridge was a real bridge once, but a bad flood broke part of it off and it has since been preserved as a remnant of former days. It is known as the Broken Bridge. On holidays it is the site of art fairs and concerts. Today these were some of the paintings exhibited. So much to see and enjoy on an outing in our lovely city! Come visit us sometime!
This story actually began back in 2002 when Diana Sanchez , a medical student, became part of our outreach to university students. She has since graduated and worked for a while in a local private hospital. Often in her mind was the dream to continue her studies, perhaps in another country. Every so often an advanced education course is offered by the local university. In June she quit her hospital job and began to prepare for a comprehensive exam to be given by the university from which nine students would be chosen to receive a full scholarship toward a medical specialization. ONLY nine students could enter the course and those would be chosen according to their academic achievement. The test questions would be taken from six huge text books which the students needed to study independently in preparation to take the test.
While we were in the States during July and August, Diana used our house as a place to get away for quiet and concentration. Early in July she made a fresh commitment to God, saying that she really didn't know if He wanted her to move toward this specialization or not. As she rededicated her life, she told the Lord, "I will do my best to prepare for this exam. If you want me to pursue this degree, You open the doors. I can only prepare and present my resume, which isn't very much at this point. I cannot do this without You."
Diana gave it her best. She spent hours of study time, and got through the books once. She started on a second pass through the books, but there was not enough time to cover everything. The day before the exam she had reviewed four of the six. She picked up the next book and said, "Lord, I can't possibly review this whole thing. I will review chapters 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7." That same day I felt impressed to pray, "Father, You know what will be on that exam. If it is Your will for Diana to pass this exam, please lead her to review the parts You know she will need tomorrow."
Thursday, September 18, a hundred and fifty students sat for the exam. That evening Diana came to relate the day's events." Of all the exams I have ever taken, I was more calm for this one than any other. I knew I had given my best effort in preparation, and I knew I had put the whole outcome into God's hands. I was calm. Question after question I felt sure of the answer."
The test had ten questions from each of the six books. From the book she had had little time to review, the examiners had selected questions from the five chapters she had reviewed!! Diana's final score was 57 over 60!! She was one of the nine students granted a full, three-year scholarship. She was one of three chosen for a specialization in anesthesiology and intensive care. She debriefed the day with us, and then said, "This has happened only because God opened the doors for me. I want to again dedicate myself and this opportunity to study to God." It was a moment of great celebration for us with her.
October 1 was her starting date. She has been very busy with studies and the internship which is part of the study package. Besides a full scholarship, she is paid a regular wage for the hours on the floor.
Pray that as Diana continues with her chosen area of study, she can reflect the love of Christ to patients and family members whom she relates to. Often she is caring for patients in crisis moments. Pray that God will continue to open the doors He desires her to walk through and that she will be ready to walk through them.
Okay. Let me admit right up front that I am still getting the hang of this! There has been more than one frustration... from a very slow internet hook-up which has not allowed me to upload photos, to well,... I don't suppose you even want to know all the things that I'm still trying to get the hang of.
So, let's just say I'm sorry that it has been so long since we posted anything new and fresh. But I'm here this evening with a great connection, and so I'm going to do my best to get some news out to all of you!
Hope you are having a wonderful November 3 -- we did here in Cuenca today. It is actually our major city holiday -- the Independence of Cuenca. It goes back to when Cuenca gained her independence from the Spanish Conquistadors. And so each year it is celebrated in high style -- yep, even the president and vice president were here for the parade. We skipped the parade and visited various hand-craft and art fairs around the city.
So, here's a wish for better blogging days ahead! Thanks for your patience.
We arrived back in Ecuador on Tuesday evening, September 2. By the end of the week we were on our way south to Arenillas, where four couples got married on Saturday evening, the 6th. This post is about a chain of relationships and how God works to bring people to Himself.
In June 2007, Segundo and Mariana were married, the first couple to be married in the Arenillas house church. (see photo above). Even before they were married, Segundo had been sharing his faith with his family and others in his circle of relationships. He was not ashamed to testify of his new faith in Christ. His and Mariana's marriage and subsequent baptism stirred desire in others to also get married and be baptized.
Mariana's three sisters are also believers. When they saw their sister get married and baptized, they too desired to follow those steps of obedience to God's Word. But their common law spouses were not eager to follow through on those ideas. Why change what has worked thus far? they queried. Two of the three sisters already had at least one grandchild.
Time passed. Segundo and Mariana continued to reach out to others in their network of relationships. Segundo sought out his cousin and family of ten children. Each week Segundo and Mariana took the bus out to the banana plantation where the family lived and where Fransisco worked as caretaker. Fransisco and Josefa came to genuine faith in Christ. As the months passed, God continued working. On September 6 we participated in the happy occasion of the marriage of four couples. Three of the brides were Mariana's sisters with their common law spouses, and Fransisco and Josefa were the fourth couple. What a celebration!
It was a night we will long remember as four couples said their vows to each other.
Sunday we headed to the river for a baptism. All four wives were ready to be baptized, and two of the husbands. What a time of rejoicing as new members joined the Arenillas house church family. 
Boris and Segundo baptized Fransisco. He entered the water in his Sunday best -- he was giving his all to Christ -- nothing half-hearted here.
Fransisco hugged Josefa as she came up from the water. Their children gathered to hug them when they reached the river bank.In January we wrote, telling of Angelica, mother of three daughters, who faithfully attended meetings. Her husband manifested little interest in the Gospel, and Angelica ached to see him come to Christ. Her prayers and strong, quiet faith in Christ finally had an impact. Angelica is one of the three sisters whose common law husband decided to get married.
Angelica went through a lot as she quietly chose to follow Christ and kept praying for Edwin to be willing to be married and for his salvation. September 6 saw her prayers answered, and Angelica was baptized on Sunday (Edwin is still holding out on a complete surrender of his life to God). She fought back tears as she shared her testimony and then received baptism. We all rejoiced with her at this victory, and continue to pray for Edwin's salvation. 
Pray for these couples and the new commitments in Arenillas. The enemy will seek to undo what has been gained for the Kingdom of God. Please pray for their protection and continued commitment to be obedient to Christ and walk out their discipleship with Him.
Partners in the Harvest,
Clayton and Thelma
It is definitely time to get connected again.
Today I am writing from Nashville, Tennessee. Yep, that's quite a ways from Cuenca! We arrived in the States on June 30 and will travel back to Ecuador on September 2. We have been in Atlanta with Duane and Liliana and the little boys, as well as Bethany and Saulo. Then all of us gathered at Cade and Marcia's place in Nashville for two days together. Today we will head back north for the Mennonite annual conference meetings in Berlin, OH and other events in the next weeks.The last blog I wrote was about Jonathan's birth and now he is four months old. Holding him, coaxing smiles from him, realizing again and again that he has certain features that clearly look like his Grandpa Castro and many other connecting experiences have been a special blessing these last two weeks.
Big brother Adrian took to Grandpa and Grandma right away. His second birthday came while we were in Atlanta and we got to help celebrate that special event. What fun! Getting those two candles blown out was serious business!
And of course, being with our own children, now adults, rounded out the experiences as a family. I will not go into all the details, but we are thankful for the blessings of family... God is good.
Hope this finds you enjoying a wonderful summer.
This has to be a first -- well, I think so. I just wrote a blog within the last week, and here I am again! But there's a great reason for getting so excited about writing blogs. We have a new grandson!! As of 5:30 this morning, Jonathan Kole Nisly made his appearance in Atlanta, GA and Duane and Liliana are the happy and proud parents of said little gentleman. His older brother Adrian is pretty excited as well. He has showered his younger sibling with kisses, and generally seems to be quite accepting of the new brother.
What is so extra special is how God has arranged Jonathan's arrival. Being Holy Week, Duane and Liliana have "vacation" from school, and it's a good week to have a baby and some extra time to kick back and not deal with schedules and people. Also Liliana's parents arrived from Mexico Sunday night, with plans to stay around for a couple weeks and help make the transition. Monday was a good day for Adrian to get reacquainted with his Castro grandparents, so Jonathan waited patiently for that to happen. But Tuesday morning he decided he wanted to be part of the family happenings, so he arrived shortly before dawn to join the party!! I call that pretty smart timing!
And this Grandma got to see Jonathan already via skype -- and Adrian was glad to give little brother a kiss so Grandma could treasure that scene in her heart.
We bless you all, and thanks for making us proud and happy grandparents!!
We love you.
Well, I think I just might have flunked blogging 101. First of all, failure to do "homework" and second, failure to do the homework. It's a pretty basic course and I basically haven't kept up with the "requirements." And facebook -- well, let's not even talk about that yet. Mostly I get on the computer to read the mail that has come in, and to write to those who write to me.
I love to write, but when the audience is undefined, I feel a bit intimidated and tend not to get strong urges to write to the nebulous readers who may or may not stumble across this blog.
Speaking of writing. I am just finishing the book Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. It is a one-of-a-kind read. The book has no chapters. It wanders from theme to theme, as an elderly father writes "his begats" for his young son. The themes he addresses are tied together in a seemingly haphazard way yet by the end of the book, you have a picture of three generations of preachers and the strange familial struggles they faced. It's not a rush-read. It's not a book for action and drama. Yet there is that in it also. I was actually thinking this afternoon, now maybe that's a kind of writing I could do. Just rambling along. But then I immediately recognized that that kind of seeming random writing likely takes even more planning so it doesn't just ramble right off the page into nonsense. Still, writing one's memoirs is a special kind of literature and holds a fascination all its own.
So, back to blogging -- or not blogging, as the case may be. If I'm not getting around to writing new entries on my blog, maybe you could just imagine that I am working on writing my memoirs. That could be what's happening, but probably more likely it will be because I am once again at the computer typing up some Spanish house church materials of one kind or another. In the last two months I wrote up two manuals for our use. That took a bunch of time, and my brain felt pretty overloaded and ready for a lengthy break when I got those two jobs done.
Well, this is about all for this time... I managed to beat the three month deadline for writing a blog :)
Hope you are having a fine March day -- are you flying a kite? I think that's what March is for.
Christmas greetings and New Year blessings to all of you from Ecuador!
"Little ones to Him belong..."
May "Christmas light" shine in every heart...
