To my friends and family, I apologize for not
writing in so long. The days go so fast, and it seems to me that there is
never anything new to write. My days are filled with learning
Spanish(which is going very slowly) laundry(which is hard to get dry here with
the rain and humidity) and cleaning my house(which is on a very dusty
road). There are 3 church services a week, and I teach English 3 days a
week. I do want to share a very special experience.
I wake up every morning thanking God for bringing me here. I do love it, although sometimes it is difficult for me. I am thankful 3 of my boys are with me now. They are helpful to me in many ways. Several months ago God gave me a "vision" of walking down a dirt road in Ecuador and talking to the native people. Well, the other day this dream became a reality. We were invited by a friend of the family to go see her parents' farm. I wasn't sure what to expect. We took a taxi to a small village not far from my house. It dropped us off about 2 miles down a dirt road. We started walking (Aracely, our friend, and her mother were with us). As we were walking down the road, with jungle on both sides of us, I thought, This is my dream. It was exactly like I pictured it before I even saw a road like that. 3 native children followed us for a while. One was giggling the whole way and talking about us. After about a mile we turned off the road and went down a muddy path into the jungle. It had been raining for 2 days so it was slippery and messy. Next time I will be prepared with boots and leggings. I have so many insect bites on my legs, they don't even look human. Anyway we walked about 2 miles and the scenery changed a few times. First it was fields, then trees. We walked so far I thought, there cannot possibly be a house in here. The mother asked me, "How do you see the land?" It was so beautiful to me that I could hardly answer.
We finally came to parts of clearing where there were fruit trees planted. Banana, mango, lemon , plantain, papaya, also corn and green beans. Then I saw the house. It was a native house built with plank boards and a tin roof. Other ones I saw on the road had thatched roofs. Aracely cut us some sugar cane to suck on, and we walked down to the river. It had been raining, so it was muddy. She said when it is clear, they swim in it.
We went back up to the house and she invited us in. I was afraid I wouldn't get to see the inside of the house. We walked in and it was beautiful in a very simple way. I can easily see myself living in a house like that. The kitchen had a fire ...pit, more like a table to cook on and a few pots hanging on the wall. No running water or electricity. There was a candle on the table and a Bible wrapped in plastic to keep it clean. I just loved it there.
On the way back to the main road, I didn't get to talk to anyone but there were people in their yards that I did say hello to. They all stopped and stared. I'm sure they were wondering where we came from, since the road leads nowhere. My family was alone by then. I would like to go back, her father invited us any day. I can picture myself sharing the Lord with the people of the village. It was a beautiful day and I am very thankful that I got to go there. I could only think of the Bible verse that says God gives us above all that we ask or think. That is exactly what happened that day. There are many people there who have so little materially, but more importantly they need a Savior who is worthy of their praise and worship. Please pray that if God wants me to minister there He will open the door.
Lord willing, I will be going to the orphanage the end of this week. I love to go there, I wish I could go more often. I realize what a ministry it is to just hold babies. Paul will be working on helping to build the new orphanage again this week.
Please keep us in your prayers. I get discouraged so easily, also I battle loneliness, which is unusual for me. Pray that I can learn the language and that I will be more outgoing. Please prepare your children to go into God's harvest field, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.
Love, Joyce
I wake up every morning thanking God for bringing me here. I do love it, although sometimes it is difficult for me. I am thankful 3 of my boys are with me now. They are helpful to me in many ways. Several months ago God gave me a "vision" of walking down a dirt road in Ecuador and talking to the native people. Well, the other day this dream became a reality. We were invited by a friend of the family to go see her parents' farm. I wasn't sure what to expect. We took a taxi to a small village not far from my house. It dropped us off about 2 miles down a dirt road. We started walking (Aracely, our friend, and her mother were with us). As we were walking down the road, with jungle on both sides of us, I thought, This is my dream. It was exactly like I pictured it before I even saw a road like that. 3 native children followed us for a while. One was giggling the whole way and talking about us. After about a mile we turned off the road and went down a muddy path into the jungle. It had been raining for 2 days so it was slippery and messy. Next time I will be prepared with boots and leggings. I have so many insect bites on my legs, they don't even look human. Anyway we walked about 2 miles and the scenery changed a few times. First it was fields, then trees. We walked so far I thought, there cannot possibly be a house in here. The mother asked me, "How do you see the land?" It was so beautiful to me that I could hardly answer.
We finally came to parts of clearing where there were fruit trees planted. Banana, mango, lemon , plantain, papaya, also corn and green beans. Then I saw the house. It was a native house built with plank boards and a tin roof. Other ones I saw on the road had thatched roofs. Aracely cut us some sugar cane to suck on, and we walked down to the river. It had been raining, so it was muddy. She said when it is clear, they swim in it.
We went back up to the house and she invited us in. I was afraid I wouldn't get to see the inside of the house. We walked in and it was beautiful in a very simple way. I can easily see myself living in a house like that. The kitchen had a fire ...pit, more like a table to cook on and a few pots hanging on the wall. No running water or electricity. There was a candle on the table and a Bible wrapped in plastic to keep it clean. I just loved it there.
On the way back to the main road, I didn't get to talk to anyone but there were people in their yards that I did say hello to. They all stopped and stared. I'm sure they were wondering where we came from, since the road leads nowhere. My family was alone by then. I would like to go back, her father invited us any day. I can picture myself sharing the Lord with the people of the village. It was a beautiful day and I am very thankful that I got to go there. I could only think of the Bible verse that says God gives us above all that we ask or think. That is exactly what happened that day. There are many people there who have so little materially, but more importantly they need a Savior who is worthy of their praise and worship. Please pray that if God wants me to minister there He will open the door.
Lord willing, I will be going to the orphanage the end of this week. I love to go there, I wish I could go more often. I realize what a ministry it is to just hold babies. Paul will be working on helping to build the new orphanage again this week.
Please keep us in your prayers. I get discouraged so easily, also I battle loneliness, which is unusual for me. Pray that I can learn the language and that I will be more outgoing. Please prepare your children to go into God's harvest field, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.
Love, Joyce
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