The team at the Middle of the World.

Nicole and Deanna.

Phil and I, presenting a guitar to Benjamin, a Secoya Indian.

Nicole and I.

Working.

A girl from vacation bible school at the church.

Kyle Zehr working.

Steve Smith.

Segundo and I, preparing for the walls to be put up.

I would like to thank First Assembly of God, Normal, Il, for coming to Quito,Ecuador and working on the church in Condado. It was a pleasure to have my home church come and work with us, as many of them I had been on previous trips to Ecuador with. It was also great to have my girlfriend, Nicole come on this trip, as it was her first time in the country of Ecuador. The church was a great blessing, as they were able to paint rooms, tear down a retaining wall, put up some interior walls inside the church and cut some metal bars for the entrance of the church. Thanks again for your monthly support and prayers. Phil and I, will be traveling to the jungle in September for 4-5 days, this will be a short trip. Then in October we will be traveling back into the jungle for a longer stay.  We will be having another construction team on the coast in October.

School Assembly.

Eduarda.

A house made of bamboo. Area where we ministered.

The Group from Quito.

The Group.

Sunset.

Another sunset.

I had good intentions of posting a blog a few weeks ago, and I was able to post some pictures before my computer decided to completely die.  We had a team coming in the next day so I didn't have any time to write.  We just got back from Salinas on Tuesday where we worked with an Arkansas A.I.M. team, Ambassadors In Missions.  The team consisted of several youths from the state of Arkansas and 15 kids from our church in Condado.  This was a great opportunity for them to go with us and to be apart of an evangelism team.  We were able to minister in various schools and parks throughout the towns of Salinas, Libertad, and Santa Elena.  

As we continue to travel this summer, I have had a lot of time to think on long bus rides and in airplanes.  I've been thinking about the grace and love of God.  The verse in Titus 3:4-5 describes it perfectly, "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.  

Paul writes, "and he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."  We are no longer our own but we are indebted to Christ, to do whatever he has called us to do.  No matter how big or small the task, we are to do it because He saved us by His grace and love.

Please continue to pray for us as we still have a few teams left this summer.  We will also be going to the jungle in September.  Please be in prayer for my Grandmother, as they took a tumor out of her pancreas and it was cancerous.  Please pray the tests come back cancer free for her 2 month check up.  

Thank you for your continuous prayer and financial support.  Without you this could not be possible.