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Monday, March 2, 2009
It is hard to believe 2 weeks have flown by so quickly!

After finishing the training workshop in Manta on Wednesday, the team headed to the airport for the short flight to Quito. It was a good thing they did, too. The next day we learned that the road they would have taken had they driven (as planned) was washed out by the heavy rains and we would have been stuck waiting to get through.

The Quito training on Friday and Saturday went very well. The 1st day we saw 40 people attend, with another 6 who called and begged to be able to come the 2nd day to learn what they could, even though they had missed out on Friday's sessions.  
Again, we were struck by the diversity of the group and were challenged again to be in prayer for them as they use their puppets for outreach in their neighborhoods, in classroom settings, and some in missions as they minister to the different people groups who live in the jungle region of Ecuador.

Thank you for your continued prayer support throughout this trip. A great many children (and adults) will be impacted for Christ as a result of the part you played in this ministry!


Thursday, February 26, 2009
This past weekend (Saturday through Tuesday) was Carnivale in Ecuador. Carnivale is a holiday time for everyone and the kids are all out of school.  It is not uncommon during this time to see people ride down the street throwing water balloons or cups of water at people, or spray cans of foam at each other!  Most people use this time to take a short vacation. When our team arrived in hot, sunny Manta on Monday, the beaches were packed with people. However, the holiday did not keep away 42 people who decided they would rather attend our training than go on vacation.

The team had a great time with this energetic group.  They were impressed by their wonderful creativity as they were with the group in Guayaquil. It was a joy for them to meet Liz, Luisa and Luz.  They called themselves the "L" group since their names all started with the letter L. They traveled about an hour each day to join us and were so excited to use their new puppets in their ministries.
 
Then, there was Evelyn. She is a pastor that has also been directing a weekly television show with a different pastor as the guest each week. She wants to find a way to incorporate puppets into the show to appeal to more people with the message of the Bible. Who knows what God may have in store!

Last night the team flew from Manta, where the temps were in the 90's, to Quito where we were greeted by temps in the middle 50's. It was quite a change!  After the team spends the morning preparing for their last workshop on Friday and Saturday they will join Neptali and his wife, Margot this afternoon for their weekly community children's program they conduct here in Quito.
 
Please pray for the team to finish strong and accomplish all that God has planned for them to do in Ecuador. Also, continue to pray for those who receive the training and the ministries they represent. Most importantly, continue to pray for the many children who will be reached withthe gospel!


Monday, February 23, 2009

After having a great time making puppets and learning basic puppetry skills on the first day of training, the participants were divided into groups. Each group was assigned a short skit to plan and perform for the class the next day.  Saturday the participants returned to show off the costumes and props they had come up with to enhance their program.  It was fun! The creativity was definitely flowing!

The groups were so anxious to perform their skits for each other they refused to stop for a break.  As each group gave their presentation, it was a true blessing to be able to encourage them in how well they were doing and offer suggestions to help make their program an even more effective means of reaching children.  A big part of our purpose here in Ecuador is not only to teach them new skills, but to build up these servants in their childrens' ministry.

If only you could be here to meet people like Hector, a 15 year old young man who is so excited to be able to use his new puppetry skills to teach the preschool kids he works with in his church. 
 
Or, you could meet Alberto, a grandfather who ministers to all of the kids in his church by himself. He had never sewn anything in his life and had a hard time making his puppet, but could not have been prouder of the end product. He is excited to introduce his new puppet to the children he teaches. 

Pray for these men as well as the rest of the class. They have a heart for God, a deep passion for reaching children for Christ and a desire to learn everthing that will help them do that most effectively.
 
On Monday the team traveled 4 hours to Manta, a coastal city which is located northwest of Guayaquil on the western shore of Ecuador. it is sunny here and the water is beautiful!  Please continue to pray as they lead another Puppet Ministry workshop on Tuesday and Wednesday before flying to Quito Wednesday night.


Friday, February 20, 2009

Hello from Ecuador!

Any time we get a chance to help build up others who are faithfully ministering to children, it is a great day and today was a great day! Our team is in the City of Guayquil, in Southern Ecuador, We are training teachers for puppet ministry. Today was our first day of training and it was exciting to see 38 people attend the workshop. After giving them a brief introduction to ministry with puppets, they got to make their very own puppets! For some, it was the first time they have ever sewn anything, but for others, it was a piece of cake! The looks on their faces was priceless as they watched their new puppets start to take shape and personality!

Tomorrow, they will return to learn more basic puppet skills and brainstorm ways they can use the puppet to effectively reach children and adults (after all, EVERYONE loves puppets) with the gospel. They will also be working in groups to prepare for their FINAL EXAM which consists of planning a short skit with props and presenting before the rest of the class.

Please be in prayer for these wonderful groups of God´s servants as they begin to implement what they have learned into their ministries!

Thank you for your continued prayers on behalf of our team.

Quito Training Pictures Below Friday & Saturday, February 27 & 28, 2009
Manta Training Pictures Below Wednesday, February 25, 2009