Our Last Day in Ecuador - Hasta luego!

The mission trip began in Quito on December 30, 2014 and ends here today on March 17, 2015. Our plane leaves at 11:30 pm. We will leave for the airport between 7:30 and 8:00 pm. In the evening, it should only take about 40 minutes to get to there.

On our way to the Quito airport - our mission trip is complete.

 

We should arrive in Atlanta, Georgia at 5:45 am and depart for Minneapolis, Minnesota at 7:30 am, arriving at 9:10 am. Our daughter Lori Redman will meet us and probably our granddaughter Ingrid. We will linger in Minnesota for awhile and hope to travel to Florida before returning to the UP.

Ingrid - "Inggy" at her second birthday

 

Our stay in Minneapolis will give an opportunity to visit the Ecuadorian Consulate to try and get an extension to Walt's visa. Another but shorter mission trip is scheduled for July. Yesterday, Walt visited the immigration office for the fifth time and was given one more requirement.

We have been blessed with new friends, a better understanding of the Ecuadorian believers, and so far, with good health and safety. The US Embassy does periodically send out warnings to the American citizens in Ecuador. Only a few days back they warned of a demonstration against the government and advised us to stay away and avoid becoming a target for the frustrations. Also, a short time back, we were advised of an attempted armed robbery of a foreigner in Guayaquil.

There is also an underlying civil unrest here and an election as been suddenly called for two weeks from now. The president is going to address the people on Thursday via all of the media forms. Some people are on edge as to what will happen after his address. It is a good time for us to leave.

Thankfully we have always had Christian escorts and have not had any problems.  So we are happy to return to our country, family, and friends.

The Flag - Our symbol of freedom and safety

 

Back in Minnesota, the snow is gone by now but the flag still waves and stands for freedom. We have a lot to be thankful for as citizens of our nation. We can still freely go to services and worship the living God who has given us the hope of eternal life through His Son and many gifts and blessings. We have the freedom of worship and assembly.

Even though we at times see dark clouds attempting to form on the spiritual horizon of our country, and in this world we have a God who is all powerful and who hears our petitions in behalf of our nation and its citizens.  Many of our citizens recognize the battle for freedom and the right to continue to worship as Christians in a predominately Christian nation. May God give a time of awaking in our country when our fellow citizens will seek for the peace of God through the forgiveness of sin.

Unless something really exciting happens on our trip home, this will be our last blog post. Of course, you can return to it as many times as you wish and read it again. We hope to publish it for ourselves as a keepsake from the trip. Many have enjoyed following it. We hope it was useful, and for the benefit of giving an insight into the lives, joys, and struggles of our Ecuadorian brothers and sisters in faith.

Surprisingly, individuals from many different countries have viewed the blog. If you are one of those individuals and who is not familiar with how we believe and would like to know more please visit the following site: www.llchurch.org

Hasta luego!

Walt and Avis



Who reads the blog?

Ever wonder how many other people are reading the blog? Today Walt did a check of the statistics. There have been over 15,000 "page views" of the blog from various countries since we started making posts. Some of the countries will surprise you. We're not sure what a "page view" means for sure, but guess that it is the number of times the blog has been visited.

Over 15,000 page views as of March 16, 2015. Over 20,800 total.

 

Viewers from many different countries.

  

Bar chart showing the top posts by readership.

 

Walt and Avis

Chiquicha Services and Farewell Dinner

We departed Riobamba at 10:30 am on our way to Chiquicha for services and for a special farewell meal of encebollado mixto prepared at the home of Patricio and Sonia Martinez.

Milton, Alicia, Pamela, Eylin, Katherine, Ariel, Avis, and Walt rode in the Milton's truck. Edgar, Fanny, Adriana, and her baby took the bus to Ambato where Patricio picked them up with his truck. They wanted to be at the last service.

The family of Victor Sanchez - Sandra, Jeremy, Kelly, and Monica - joined us for services and lunch. Edman Freire also joined us.

The service text was Luke 12:13-21, "Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Temporal inheritance can cause family strife and obscure the more important inheritance of life eternal.

Miguel translates for Walt

 

Monica, Sandra, Kelly and Jeremy

 

Fanny, Alicia, Sonia

 

Milton and Eylin

 

After services, we enjoyed the meal of encebollado mixto along with other side dishes. It is a costal dish which contains different types of fish, yucca, shrimp, and other vegetables. The diner can add onions, popcorn, tomatoes, and fried bananas.

Katherine, Patricio and Pamela prepare supper.

 

Yucca is one ingredient.

 

Shrimp is another.

 

Avis and Pamela dice "cebollas" - that is onions.

 

Miguel and Milton shell the shrimp.

 

We drove to Ambato to catch the bus back to Quito, our last bus trip. It was a two and one half hour ride to the terminal slowed by a traffic accident and fog. On the trip Walt befriended a boy of about ten who was interested in who Avis and Walt are and where they are from. Walt gave him a copy of El Periodico Misionero de Sion or Siioin Lahetys Lehti in Spanish.

He was with his father and four siblings. Walt mentioned that they have fourteen children. One of the siblings relayed the message to the family sitting in the back of the bus, "They have fourteen children!" Walt said they also have twenty-six grandchildren. The same sibling relayed that message too. "They have twenty-six grandchildren!" When the family exited the bus the boy called back to Walt and Avis "Have a good trip, our new friends."

Walt and Avis

Quito - Final Service and Farewell

We spent much of the day resting from our ten day trip. With us are Veronica Ayala and Pamela Martinez.

The communion service started at 5:30 pm at the Panizo home. The text was taken from John 6:41-51. Jesus is the bread of life. No man can come unto Him unless the Father leads him. Living faith and the hope of salvation are gifts.

Approximately twenty people partook of communion. Walt remembered the congregation in prayer to the heavenly Father that each and everyone would be preserved in faith and that God would give them the courage and strength to do the work of the Kingdom in Quito and all of Ecuador.

Walt noted that one of the goals of the trip was to get to know the Ecuadorian culture, trials, and temptations better. Certainly a better understanding has been gained but not a perfect one. He assured the congregation that Jesus Christ who came as a human being and who experienced life as we do perfectly understands the doubts, temptations, joy, and sorrows of each of us.

Anita was thankful for the trip.

 

Juan expressed his wishes for a speedy return.

 

Pamela and Veronica were sad to see us go.

 

Genoveva and her daughter Paty.

 

L-R: Teodoro, Alex, Piedad and Miguel

 

Following the services, a farewell supper was served. Alex Panizo then presented Walt and Avis with a picture of the Quito Congregation members as a remembrance. He said that they wanted the Lampis to always remember them and keep them in their prayers. Walt thanked the congregation for the gift and wished all a safe journey to heaven. "If we don't meet in this life anymore, then one day in the glory of heaven we shall meet again."

Avis offered her wishes for God's blessing to the congregation. She stated that she doesn't understand the language but has cone to know the congregation through the Spirit and promised to remember them in pray.

Alex presents a going away gift to Avis and Walt

 

Teodoro mentioned that the trip meant a lot to the Ecuadorians and repeated Avis' thoughts that even though it is a challenge to understand the language of each other that through the Spirit we have come to know each other.

Teodoro - "The trip meant a lot to us."

 

It was the last service of the mission trip. Tomorrow Walt and Miguel will make one more trip (the sixth) to the immigration office to try for an extension to Walt's visa which will allow him to return in July for a short mission trip. Tuesday at 11:30 pm, God willing, we will depart Ecuador for the United States.

Walt and Avis



Bible Class in Riobamba

During the day we made a trip to Chimborazo in Milton's truck. Unfortunately, it was foggy with ice particles pelting us so we couldn't see the top of the mountain.. Walt did get some pictures of the "headstones" which have been placed in memory of each climber who has died while attempting to conquer Chimborazo. There are dozens of them.

Entrance to Chimborazo

 

One of many headstones of mountain climbers killed while attempting to climb Chimbarozo.

 

One of a variety of headstones.

 

Two more of dozens of headstones.

 

Miguel, Avis and Walt

 

Miguel

 

In the evening, we gathered for a Bible Class lesson on the Ten Virgins, Matthew 25:1-13. We "walked" our way through the verses asking questions on content and then on how it applies to our life of faith. The lamp represents faith. The oil is the Holy Spirit. The bridegroom is Jesus Christ. The bride is the congregation of God.

Ariel

 

Miguel

 

Eylin and Adriana

 

Avis, Eylin and Adriana

 

Walt y su amiga Katherine

 

Walt and Avis thanked the believers of Riobamba for their support and friendship during the mission trip. Several believers expressed their thoughts about trip and thanked Walt and Avis for their patience, sacrifice, and for opening the Word of God to them though services and discussions. Miguel said it has opened his mind, and he must now think about his life as a believer.

Walt mentioned that he had suggested to Milton to go once per week to the hacienda area and teach a Bible Class lesson to the indigenous people. Even though they are few they need the comfort of the gospel. Milton is willing to do it and suggested he would use the LLC calendar texts as the basis for classes. Edgar said he knows Kechwan and volunteered to help with the lessons.

It is our last time in Riobamba. Tomorrow we will travel to Chiquicha for services and then back to Quito by night fall.

Walt and Avis

"Don't forget us." - Juana Roso Salazar Lluman

Services at the hacienda la Merced were very small as only  two indigenous women came making a total of nine. It is unknown why others did not come. It could be intra-indigenous community issues. Nevertheless, we were able to visit with the two sisters and it was uplifting.

Juana Roso Salazar Lluman (i) and Maria Natividad Obando Remache (r)

 

Maria Natividad Obando Remache is 45 years old and the mother of two children. Her son, Alex, is 18 years old and her daughter, Maria, is 14. Both attend school in Colta Lake. She said she works at home caring for the cows, sheep, guinea pigs, dogs and cats.

Her day starts at 4 am when she begins to prepare breakfast for the children and get them off to school. During the day, she also works in the field with the crops of which they have corn, oats, and hay.

She has been in faith for 14 years. When asked whether the believers discuss matters of faith among themselves she asked, "Yes." She also confirmed that they preach the gospel to each other.

Juana Roso Salazar Lluman is 32 years old and not married. She lives at home with her parents. Her father must work in Guayaquil to make enough money. She doesn't have any children so she doesn't need to awake until 6 am. She, too, has been in faith for 14 years. She agreed that the believers talk about faith matters among themselves and use the gospel for comfort.

When asked how the LLC (translated to them as Igelsia or Church) could help them, Juana answered, "Don't forget us, continue to send ministers." Juana also asked if two Spanish-English Bibles could be brought for her and Maria.

Walt also asked about Sunday School possibilities for the indigenous children. Both agreed that there are not many children in the area. Many families have moved to find work.

A devotion was kept based on Matthew 14:15-24: a great supper was prepared and many people were invited but none wanted to come and many excuses were offered. The Lord of the house instructed his servants to go into the streets to find guests for the supper and later into the ditches and hedges to call the poor, blind, maimed, and halt.

Avis, Alicia, and Katherine listen to the services.

 

Avis, Juana, Miguel and Maria

 

Those that have a personal need for forgiveness and peace are the poor, maimed, and halt. Maria and Juana walked in the dark for one half hour to get to the services. The long day was taking its toll on both of them but they stayed for tea and bread and a visit before Milton brought them home in his truck.

It was the last time we will be at the hacienda on our trip.

Walt and Avis

From Guayaquil to Balspamba to Riobamba

We were up at 5 am and left shortly after 6 am. We stopped in Babahoyo for breakfast and headed to Balsapamba for services. The early start also helped us avoid giving any further donations to the "highway men."

While eating breakfast, we found out that the ladies of Salinas would not be there today so there would be no services in Salinas. Yesterday they said there would be there, but now they are all travelling to Guayaquil for a conference on weaving sponsored by an Italian group.

So we headed to Balsapamba for services with the Domingues'. When we got there all was quiet. We decided to wait for awhile, and it was a good thing as Uvalde soon returned from feeding the pigs.

We held services using the text Matthew 7:24-29, a person who hears and lives by the sayings of Jesus is like a wise man who builds his house upon a rock. The house is able to withstand the wind, floods and rain. The rock is Christ.

Uvalde Dominguez - first believer in Balsapamba

 

Miguel translates.

 

Pamela Martinez, daughter of Milton

 

After the services, we visited briefly. Uvalde didn't have any questions. The day was hot so Milton suggested a swim in the river that ran through town. He and Miguel had suits. Walt didn't but went wading. The water was cold, clear, and fast moving. Walt noticed the glitter on the stream bottom and started a crude panning operation. It is filled with gold colored flakes! Walt suggested to Milton to return and pan some sections of the river to verify if it is really gold. When we got  back to the village Milton related what Walt had thought to Julia Domingues. She said a "technician" had been in the village just in the past week and had thought the same thing - it is gold. It would be ironic if it is a major gold find as the villagers have lived right next to it for a long time and have made their living picking bananas.

We continued our ride back to Riobamba stopping on the way for a small snack of pork, pig skin, banana, potatoes, and bean combo. We shared it as it was only meant to keep the hunger pains down until we could find a suitable restaurant.

A common find at the grocery store.

 



Llamas - a few of many which we see when crossing over the mountain.

 

The camel of the mountains

 

An odd looking animal.

 

Later over supper we reminisced about the gold. Walt told Milton he could be a rich man. Milton said he would buy a helicopter and the next time Walt comes he will transport him to the services it in, and as a bonus we will avoid the "highway men."

Walt and Avis