Do you have a Llama in your front yard?

Our resident Llama and Alpaca are moved all over the property so they can graze. For the past two months or so they have been stationed in our front yard. Every once in a while, when I am walking home I have one of those surreal moments when I realize I have taken for granted something which is unusual, as usual.

The same can be said for my spiritual journey. I take for granted my salvation through Jesus Christ and completely minimize what He accomplished on the cross for me and those who would choose to believe. Recently, what God has been patiently trying to teach me is to focus on the benefits that are mine because of the cross.

My devotional from "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young, said this, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Me you have everything you need, both for this life and for the life yet to come." I have been challenged to live in a way that this is something I understand with my head and also with my heart. The devotional, which is written as if Christ himself were talking, goes on to say, "Don't let the impact of the world shatter your thinking or draw you away from focusing on Me. The ultimate challenge is to keep fixing your eyes on Me, no matter what is going on around you. When I am central in your thinking, you are able to view circumstances from My perspective." I need to learn this so desperately to switch from my earthly perspective to a heavenly perspective.

52 Years Walking Around on the Planet

Holgar and Howard working on Casa de Pedro

As Howard said this morning, "Hard to believe I am 52 years old, where does the time go?!" Of course we have now entered the time in our life that each birthday is a celebration because the alternative is...well you know. God has been and continues to be faithful each day of our lives.

In the last six weeks we have had three very different groups. The LiFTERS from New York who started the work on our climbing wall. Leader Mundial where we hosted 32 men from 12 different countries for their annual summit. Then this last weekend we hosted the La Red Convention where 60 youth pastors from Ecuador came for their annual convention. We witnessed first hand where God ministered too and encouraged each group as they met together and sought Him. We also were affirmed as a team that God is using each of us in our specific roles to provide the programming and facilities to accommodate each groups specific needs.

In the midst of all these groups we also hosted the spring Quito Quest Teams. One of those teams requested they do a work project which would benefit one of our workers. Immediately Howard thought of Pedro. A little background first. About three months ago Pedro told Howard he needed to replace his roof. So one weekend he and some of his family removed the old roof (basically sheets of tin). In the process one of the side walls of his house collapsed. Pedro saw this as an opportunity to "extend" his house out by three meters. The next Monday Howard asked him, "You do realize that now your roof is not going to fit because of the increased size?" No, Pedro says, "hadn't thought of that." Howard and the other workers decided to step in and help rebuild the wall and also help Pedro figure out a new roof. They got that accomplished, but the inside of the roof was still not complete. This is about the time the Quito Quest team arrived which was a huge blessing because Pedro was out of funds and I think getting a little weary. The team spent an afternoon working on the inside portion of Pedro's roof. With the inside of the roof finished Pedro and his family now have a roof that will withstand the onset of the rainy season and added insulation for warmth.