October 5th 2009
Well our first day out there went reasonably well. It was hard and part of me feels a little discouraged but God did some cool stuff too. We met the nationals we’ll be working with on the ride out there today. There are two guys, Edison and Jose Vicente and a couple, Gustavo and Shirley. Edison and Jose have both spent time in prison where they got saved. Pastor Jose is the prison warden. He used to work over in Portoviejo but he got transferred to Bahia.
Gustavo and Shirley are a great couple who are on fire for God. They go out and share the gospel and they take their two daughters who are 8 and 9. Gustavo is going to be my national and we will work together all week.
Well the first day was interesting but tough too. We don’t have any strong local leadership in place and there isn’t a clear plan and I am supposed to lead our team and I’ve never done this before. It was a tough spot for me because I’m not a jump in there, go get ‘em type leader.
I have a great team though. I’m working with three godly women, Gail, Mary and Noreen. They have mature Christian walks and have been on e3 campaigns before. They are always laughing and having fun. They don’t really need me to do any leading. I feel like they are the ones training me.
Because I’m new I got paired with the best translator on our team. Most of the translators are young students from Quito. They are maybe 15-16 years old. But my translator in Andrew. He’s probably in his twenties and has done e3 campaigns before. He likes to joke around too and he fits right in on the team.
Well the first house we went to I was nervous and didn’t quite know what to say. We talked with a family who was marginally interested. They stood up on their porch while we stood below and tried to share with them. The husband was listening and tracking with me but the wife was rather stand-offish. He prayed to receive Christ but I have no idea if he really has saving faith.
Then we talked with a young guy named Gregorio. He was running a small corner store in front of his family’s house. He listened to my story and I could see that he identified with some of what I was saying. He prayed to receive Christ but I don’t know if he got it either. In Gregorio’s case though I believe he is experiencing some Holy Spirit conviction. He looked scared but he wanted to hear about what we were saying. I think God is working on his heart but I don’t know if he is there yet.
Well Monday afternoon the team went out again after lunch. It is really hot here. The sun is pounding down pretty good. I got in a discussion at lunch with Teresa and her family about what we are doing. They are great people- very nice. She is feeding us lunch and letting us use the restaurant. I wanted to make sure we know where she was at. We had a very good conversation, probably a couple hours long. She is staunchly Catholic but understands that going to church and giving money is not real faith. I asked her if she died and was standing before God and had to give a reason why she should get into heaven, what would she say. She wasn’t real clear about it but she also didn’t say she would go because she is a good person. I don’t know where she is at but it was a great discussion. While we were talking with her her little boy asked about the evangecube. It was great because then I was able to use the cube to share the gospel with the whole family. But because of our discussion it didn’t feel right yet to ask if they wanted to pray to receive Christ.

Part of me felt guilty talking with them so long while the rest of my team was out sharing. I felt I should be out there too but I also felt like someone needed to invest in Teresa and her family. I briefly got out to share again with one more person, I guy named Sandro. He said he had talked with a missionary before and had prayed so I wasn’t sure what to do. We had shared my testimony with him and the evangecube but then I wasn’t sure how to proceed. My teammate Mary helped me out and asked if he wanted to make sure he was going to heaven. He wanted to and prayed to receive Christ.

My other teammates had similar days with a number of people making professions of faith. It was kind of a tough day and I’m feeling a little discouraged. A number of people prayed to receive Christ but it’s hard to know if they really got it. The leading was hard too and I’m not sure what to do out there. I’m lacking much motivation to get back out there tomorrow. Obviously I’ll go but this has been hard for me. I think my key verse now is Hebrews 12:3. “Consider him(Jesus) who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” I just need to remember what Jesus went through and not get weary and lose heart.
There was one really cool thing that happened Monday. At lunch our driver Tito started asking Noreen about the evangecube. All our translators were resting so Noreen tried to explain it to him as best she could. Then Noreen realized that Tito wasn’t a Christian. We all thought because he knew pastor Jose and worked with him at the jail and was helping us this week that he was a believer. Noreen shared as best as she could and then Tito indicated he wanted to pray to receive Christ! Shirley, one of our national workers, realized what was going on and she came over and helped lead him in a prayer to receive Christ. It was awesome! Even without knowing Spanish, Noreen was able to share the gospel with Tito using the pictures on the evangecube and he gave his life to Christ. God is awesome! Talk about using us despite our limitations!
Randy finally got in today. He’s in rough shape. He’s really sick and he’s been stuck in airports after his flight got cancelled. First he missed the first couple days of the campaign and then he has to deal with feeling rotten. It must be tough for him because he lives for this stuff.

Did I mention where we are staying? The week before we were supposed to arrive the government shut down the hotel we were supposed to stay at in Bahia. So they had to move us and we ended up at this awesome hotel right on the Pacific. Apparently it’s about the same cost. My room overlooks the pool with the Pacific in the background. All day long we hear the waves crashing on the beach right in front of the hotel. They serve us breakfast at a large table set up on the patio. Today we saw dolphins or porpoises swimming around out there while we ate. It’s pretty nice. Penny Peterson said this is the nicest place she’s stayed at in South America. We’ll take it. Thank you God!

October 4th 2009
So here I am. I’m excited, I’m scared. Again I woke up at 4:00 and couldn’t get back to sleep. I’m scared that I won’t be equal to the task but God reminded me that even as I sit here looking out at the roaring waves of the Pacific and listening to the sound of the crashing waves and worshipping God for his greatness and power, even as I do that God reminded me that he loves me. He has already accepted me even if I fail. I’m not here to earn any standing with him. It makes me want to run to him and cry out, “Abba, Father!”

I am nervous/scared but I also want to see God use me. I believe he will use me, but over and over I have to remind myself that it’s not about me. Yes I am inadequate but that doesn’t matter because it’s about God’s power not mine.
We’re going off to visit a church this morning before we tour our mission points. I’m excited for Aaron. He will be working with a different pastor at a different church and he already knows he will be giving the morning and evening messages. He’s probably a little anxious but God has laid a message on his heart and he’ll do great. It’s sad that Randy isn’t here right now. His flight got delayed, hopefully he should arrive tomorrow.

Well Sunday was a nice day. Our pastor took us to visit a church here in Bahia. In a way it reminded me of Crossroads. They meet in an open building with large speakers set up in front and upbeat praise and worship music. It was a large church, probably 150-200 people. It was funny, before the offering one of the leaders gave a short message about giving. She talked about Malachi 3:10 and 2 Corinthians 9:8. It’s definitely a little different tactic than we would use in the U.S. After church the people went down to the beach where they had some baptisms. It was fun to watch.
We got to go out and visit our ministry points today. The other group working with pastor Jose Cevallos will be in a suburb of Bahia called Fanca. The living conditions are a lot different than in the U.S.
The houses typically have concrete pillars in the corners with narrow brick walls in between and a concrete or steel roof. The windows are wide open with bars over them. Typically there is no glass. Many of the houses are made all out of wood. Some are up on stilts, some have thatched roofs. There is a lot of garbage around and stray dogs wandering everywhere.
We also traveled out to my teams mission point which will be about an hour and a half inland in a city called Calceta. It will be a long ride there and back everyday in the back of a pick-up truck. We go past quite a few towns and a larger city called Tosagua to get there. It’s odd that we have to go so far each day but God must have a plan. Pastor Jose grew up in Calceta and has a heart to reach this city. I’m guessing there are around 25,000 people here. We will focus on one neighborhood outside of town. There is a restaurant on a corner that will be our base of operations (the restaurant is a thatched roof over a concrete pad next to a house). The lady who runs the restaurant is named Teresa. She grew up with pastor Jose and is going to help us and feed us lunch every day.
We met the nationals who will be helping us. A guy named Tito is our driver. It will be tricky because Pastor Jose won’t be able to work with us out at the mission point since he has to work as the warden of the prison in Bahia. I’m anxious and nervous to see how it goes when we get out here to do evangelism, but it was nice to see where we will be working first.

October 3rd 2009
After a lousy nights sleep in Guayaquil and a long bus ride we are here in Bahia de Caraquez. We had a very exciting afternoon seeing the city, meeting our teams and translators, and the pastors we will work with. Our team has a very exciting assignment. We will be working in a new area to evangelize and start a church there. We have no idea if this church has any members or leaders yet. Pastor Jose Cevallos will work with us to establish the church and watch over it when we are gone.

I’ve got a great team to work with, two sisters Mary and Gail and their friend Noreen. They are experienced campaigners who know each other out in California. It is scary and exciting to see how tomorrow will go. If I focus on me then I feel nervous and woefully inadequate, especially to break new ground to take the gospel to a new area. But it’s not about me. Being worried if God will work because I’m inadequate gives me too much credit. All the power is His. Lord increase my faith.

I am excited, I believe he is going to use us to do something cool. It is interesting that God sent me here, and our team, instead of encouraging, strengthening and training an existing church, will be focused on planting a new church… I’m not sure what His purpose is there but let’s find out.

October 2nd 2009
Well we are on our way. It has been a smooth trip so far. I have an awesome seat on our flight from Miami to Guayaquil. It is a beautiful view out the window of a full moon out over the ocean with some scattered clouds and the occasional flash of lightning. God made an amazing world.

I am excited and scared for Ecuador. We have a good team of 18 people. Many of them have been on several trips before. It is the first time for Derek and his dad Howie from Fond du Lac so it is fun talking to them because none of us know what to expect. I hope I do a good job and God uses me. It will be interesting to see who is on my team. I am anxious to meet our pastor and church as well. I hope we make a good connection.

September 29th 2009
So I was reading again about Abram’s faith in Genesis 15 and it’s clear that Abram also had a lot of doubts. But he believed God enough that God credits him with righteousness. It sounds like the key is that Abram took his doubts to God. So what am I doubting?

Will I be able to preach well without preparing?
Will I hear (and follow) the Spirit’s voice to know what to say and do in each situation with each person?
Will I be a good team leader?
Will I make the right decisions?
Will I impress Don and Randy or let them down?
Will people think well of me or realize I don’t know what I’m doing?

Abram took his doubts to God but then he believed God. God what are you saying to me in these areas?

I believe God is going to use me. I don’t know how some of these things will work out and that’s okay. It’s not really about me anyway. It’s about God. As Randy would say, if God can use a donkey to speak to someone he can use me. I don’t need to worry about impressing anyone else because God is already impressed. He already loves me. He’s excited for me, he’s cheering me on. I don’t have to be perfect (and it’s probably better for Ecuador if I’m not). God will use my mistakes too. If God uses me despite my mistakes that’s an encouragement to our national workers too. They don’t have to be perfect, God will use them too!

That’s a great reminder to stay vulnerable, share my mistakes and fears, model being a humble imperfect servant who believes God and gets used by God anyways.

God please help me not to make it about me. Please help me let go of my desire to please people and perform well. Let me be a good servant. It’s about you and it’s about them, not about me being the star or getting the accolades.

September 28th 2009
Ecuador! Well it was a crazy day today. We (Randy and I) got to share at church about the coming trip and a lot of people were interested and excited about it. Then we had our trip meeting this afternoon with Aaron and his son Matthew at Randy’s house. Then we had small group tonight. Tabby has been juggling the kids all day but it has been nuts.

But what a day! God poured in some finances for the trip after Randy and I spoke. Someone gave Randy $100 after church. Our small group took up an offering and gave me $111 and then a person from church left a $500 check in our mailbox! It was amazing. Aaron didn’t have all the money yet for him and his son to go. Now I get the privilege of helping support a teammate. This is a great way to build the unity on the team. Aaron sounded excited when I talked to him tonight.

(10/15 Update: As it turns out God had a big plan and we were a part of it. As of Friday, one week before the trip, Aaron and Matthew were short several thousand dollars towards the cost of the trip. But on Friday he got a $500 check, and some other money came in. I told him Sunday night about what God had provided from our end and that night when he opened his mail he had another check for $1000. By Monday God had provided around $3500 giving them all the necessary funds with about $60 extra! Wow that was pretty cool and we got to be a part of it!)

There is so much to do and get ready for, I’m worried about getting it all done. I’m excited for the trip but also scared and nervous. What will I say? Will I do a good job? If they ask me to preach will it stink or will God use it? How will I do being a team leader when I’ve never done this before? There are a lot of questions. I believe God is going to do a good work in me and through me but the unknown aspect is scary. I hope I do a good job and represent him well.