"Oh, the Places You'll Go!" Dr. Suess

Danielle and Jonathan both were able to come home for the summer and help us out with groups.  I thought you might be interested in seeing a re-cap of some of the things they did when they weren't working.  (All quotations on the photos are from Dr. Suess "Oh, the Places You'll Go!")

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."
Danielle was able to tutor Deanna and Natali with their Algebra, something I could not do in English, much less Spanish

“Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all.” 
Danielle made an aphgan for Dany and Katy's wedding gift

“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. 
Painting the pink room tan

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.”
Jonathan helped with the painting project

“Things may happen and often do to people as brainy and footsy as you”
Danielle and Jonathan figured out how to make home made pretzels!

“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!” 
Jonathan was taught by Howard how to weld a bell for the camp

Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
A view of the bell from the other side

“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!” 

La Boda de Dany y Katy ~ Dany and Katy's Wedding

Howie, Mariana, Katy y Dany

First I have to tell you about Dany and our history with him.  When we first came to El Refugio, Dany came about the same time as an Ecuadorian facilitator/intern for one year.  We had absolutely no communication with him for two reasons, our lack of Spanish and the way he spoke Spanish using slang and how fast he spoke.  Over the course of time, we learned Spanish and he learned English.  Howie and Dany developed a close relationship, and we have come to view him as our "Ecuadorian son".  

To give an example, when we were preparing for our furlough Howie decided to make wooden magnets for our supporters.  Eighty of them.  They were little discs and he wood burned the Refugio logo on each one.  Dany found out and each evening he would show up at our doorstep with his wood burner and help Howie out.  They would talk and you could tell by their conversation, they shared many common interests.  

One evening Dany was telling us that he was going to propose to Katy his longtime girlfriend.  So we started brain storming with him about what that would look like, conspiring with Israel (another Ecuadorian friend) and two other missionary friends we put together Dany's proposal day and evening. 

After that we were busy preparing to leave for our furlough, but before we left Dany and Katy asked Howie and I to be their Padrinos at their wedding.  While they were asking us, I was very aware this was a matter of great importance and honor and I think our question was, what does this mean?  Basically, they want us to be their spiritual mentors and encourage them in their relationship with Christ and each other.  Absolutely, that is something we can do, in fact would love to do.  

So on July 7, 2012 Dany and Katy were married here at El Refugio and Howie and I were honored to be their Padrinos, which meant much to my dismay that we were walked in after the parents and we got to sit at the head table.  What a blessing to be a part of their wedding day and to witness them commit their lives to each other and to serving Jesus as their Savior.

Dany y Katy as husband and wife

First dance

Seated at the head table while Israel acts as Master of Ceremony

Los Padrinos!

"Rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents" Luke 15:7

Zip Line at El Refugio

     This last weekend El Refugio hosted an Ecuadorian church for a weekend retreat.    After the weekend was over, I asked one of the facilitators how the weekend had gone.  The following is what he related to me...

     The group arrived early Saturday morning, even before they arrived we knew this group had some particular issues they wanted to address.  Really, they were no different from many of the youth in North America, had the same struggles with sex and alcohol.  The leaders wanted to be very proactive in dealing with these issues because they were affecting the group and their behavior.   

     After dinner, Byron who is on staff with El Refugio took the group to the outdoor chapel and preached to them from 1 John 4:13-15.  These verses say, "We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  and we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  If, anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God"  Basically he challenged them by asking a couple of questions, "Would they acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God?" and "Did they want God to live in them so they would be in God?".  He then gave them some time to pray and think about what their response would be.

     After some time had passed, Byron and the facilitators proceeded to take the group up to the zip line.  Remember this is at night, no full moon, completely pitch black.  As each person landed on the other side of the valley, they were asked if they wanted to commit or recommit their life to Christ as their personal Savior.  

     22 people from the group said Yes!  Oh and did I mention it was raining?  What was great about this is, many of the young people were crying and their noses were running, but with the rain you couldn't tell.  So they had complete freedom to repent and confess and not worry what the others from the group would think.  

     Santi, the facilitator I talked too said the difference between the group on Saturday compared to Sunday was like night and day.  We know, as believers that is because of what verse 13 says, "because he has given us of his Spirit."  This was a group that had responded to the call of God in their lives and therefore been extravagantly redeemed.

Morning Devotions

One of Howard's goals was to be able to start a Bible Study with the workers here at El Refugio.  As a result of our time at language school, he came back feeling confident enough with his Spanish to be able to do this.  While we were at school, each of us were responsible for a short devotional and then time of prayer.  After seeing this modeled morning after morning, Howard realized rather than a deep inductive study, this actually would be perfect for his time with the guys.  

Starting with the first morning he returned to work,  Howard gathers with the guys, they take turns reading a devotional and then have a time of prayer.  He has been so encouraged by their response,  many times during the day while they are working, something from the devotional will come up and Howard has been able to use this to speak into their lives.  When he first started this time, at the end he would just pray for the day etc. but as time has gone on, the guys have become more comfortable sharing prayer requests and then have even started praying for one another.  

Howie, Holgar, Pedro, Aurelio and Enrique behind

Holgar's turn to read on this particular morning.