Once more from Ecuador!

This past weekend was definitely a first ever experience for us. We hope this story will spark your desire to find new, creative ways to connect with the people who cross your path.

On November 5 we held a wedding in Arenillas for a young deaf couple. The bride's parents came to Christ when she was a young teenager. Nelly's parents were married and baptized in 2008. The challenge for this wedding was how to make the ceremony meaningful for the couple who would hear none of the music, none of the message, none of the excited conversations about plans and the actual proceedings of the ceremony.

My thoughts turned to a retired missionary friend who had visited Arenillas with us once with the intent to meet and get acquainted with Nelly. She and Nelly had connected well. Oh, how I wished Peggy was still here. An email to Peggy put us in contact with a talented young woman in Cuenca, a young dentistry professor who has adopted work with the deaf as her special ministry. She and two friends disciple about a dozen young people in a Baptist church here in Cuenca. We were thrilled when she said she would spend the weekend with us in Arenillas to help with the special ministry needed for Carlos and Nelly.

Friday evening we gathered around the family table, and Liz's gracious spirit and patience opened the way for important communication to take place. ALL of us were learning how to relate to people with a hearing handicap, and she was a significant catalyst for strengthening relationships.


At 8:30 Saturday evening, the wedding finally began.

Carlos and Nelly and Nelly's two little sisters, Gabriela and Kimberly, with mother and father seated behind them.

Throughout the ceremony, Liz was immediately at hand to interpret and help Carlos and Nelly be a part of all that happened. Their eyes were continually on Liz as she interpreted the songs and Clayton's message. Here Clayton is reading for the congregation and the couple the simple vows written out in language suited for a deaf person's understanding. They publicly signed their names on the written promises, a formality that contributed to the solemnity of the occasion for them.


Liz helped Fransisco, Nelly's father, share special regards to the couple.

Carlos, Nelly and Nelly's parents, Josefa and Fransisco.

The next morning we gathered at the river for a baptism. A baptism? Yes, Nelly and Carlos indicated that they wanted to also be baptized, even as they had observed other couples before them. We gathered together at the river to celebrate this step in their lives as well.


Liz continued signing for Carlos and Nelly as the morning meeting got underway. Her signing skills were of interest to everyone. How could her gestures communicate so much?! Yet Carlos and Nelly obviously understood. As a brief part of the Sunday baptism service, Clayton asked Liz to communicate to the church how we could be an important part in helping Carlos and Nelly and other deaf people feel loved, accepted, and welcomed into the body of Christ. She told how many deaf people are often lonely and encouraged us all to learn to sign. Many caught a new vision of a new kind of outreach for the Arenillas church.



Liz signed as Clayton gave the meditation by the river before the baptism.


Carlos and Nelly laugh as Liz's signing connects with their understanding.

Liz made herself available to the couple for interpreting, helping Carlos and Nelly stay connected with the activities. Here she signs Clayton's words as they are about to be baptized.

As we drove home from the weekend events, Liz expressed again her desire to continue a relationship with Nelly and Carlos, and to bring two other young adults along to share in a ministry to the deaf young people in Arenillas. She is eager for Carlos to meet Pedro, another deaf young man who's love and passion for God spur him to share the Gospel whenever he can.

Carlos, Nelly and Carlos' mother

We thank God and Liz for making this weekend something that connected meaningfully to the hearts of two young people who are starting on a new life venture. What can and will God do with this young couple? We hope this is but the beginning of a new avenue of ministry for the Arenillas believers. Pray that Carlos and Nelly will desire to reach out to others as their own faith in Christ becomes more sure and secure.

I promised!

I promised in my previous post that I would share some photos with you, so as I wait for another half hour to pass here in the Atlanta airport, I will share a few of my favorite photos from the summer. It's hard to choose from the many I took, and limit my choices to a few. So many good memories of times with those we love. Here are a few:


We welcomed Eva Victoria on June 15!

Grandpa plays with the grandsons -- those farm toys are so much fun!

Our anniversary was fun to celebrate with a breakfast buffet with our children.

Eva grew so fast -- she's almost three months here, and her Mommy coaxed this darling smile from her for our photo.

Jonathan, the smiling three-year-old.

Adrian's smile was too good to pass up -- riding in the van on a rainy day...

Duane and Jonathan take a quiet moment beside the river on our hike.

Jonathan and Liliana look at a book and identify letters and numbers.


On a chilly afternoon at our family weekend, Duane and Adrian cuddled together in the hammock with a blanket to keep the chill at bay.

These are just a few of the many special memories we carry home in our hearts as we leave for Guayaquil tonight. It was a wonderful summer and we are so glad we could be enriched again with times together with those we love. It was a rich summer in every way.

Thank You, Father!!

We'll be back in touch soon!

Just a quick note here -- before we head to the Chicago airport and back to "home" in Ecuador. I promise to write a new post in the next week or two. I want to post a couple of my favorite summer photos and thoughts, but there's not time right now. Please know that there will be new news soon!! Thanks for your interest!

Hello again

It has been way too long since I posted something new on this blog. In view of that confession, I will jump over the intervening months and share a quote that startled me and has me thinking.
From the Annie Dillard Reader, quoting from The Pole of Great Price, comes this paraphrased quote: To study the stars we have to go out into dark. The stars do not demand that you study them, but if you desire to experience the awe of a star-studded sky, going into the dark is required. God does not demand that you have a relationship with Him. You can skip all the hassle and effort of Bible reading and prayer and many related activities. No one is demanding them of you. But if you desire to know God, some inconveniences will be required.

-- I will refrain from putting quotation marks around those words because they are not a direct quote. The concept of choosing inconvenience and effort, even discomfort in order to study the stars and especially to know God sort of flies in the face of popular spiritual pursuit. We want it simple and easy, something we can do in the left-over moments of our lives. But it isn't to be had that way. I was glad to be reminded that the truly valuable things in life require some sacrifice (of comfort) and significant personal investment.