Kindergarten Graduation-Ecuadorian Style

Six weeks.  We have been home for six weeks.  In that time El Refugio has hosted three work teams.  A team of almost fifty from Illinois, one of about twenty-five from Wyoming and we currently have a family team here from North Carolina.  Needless to say we have been running a bit crazy.  Danielle and Jonathan have been a huge blessing to Howard and I,  helping wherever we need them too.

Even though we have been crazy busy with work and day to day operations, we have managed to have some very fun times where we were able to celebrate the normal traditions many of us celebrate.

Although we have kids the age of our Program Director Juan Carlos and his wife, Courtney, we have become very good friends with them.  We have loved doing life and ministry with them here in Ecuador, part of that includes attending many of their kids events.  One of those events was their second daughters graduation from kindergarten.  

For Howard and I this happened to be another marker in our journey.  The Cevallos children attend an Ecuadorian school near El Refugio.  Last year when we attended Marlis graduation (oldest daughter) we didn't understand much of the ceremony and what was being said.  I am happy to report that this year, at Lily's graduation it was as if someone had hit the "translate" button and we were given access to the speeches which were made.

Over and over we are so thankful for our time spent at language school and daily reap its benefits.

Danielle, Mary, Lili - the Graduate and Howie

Marli, Lili's big sister and Mary watching the graduation

Lili's class performed a song and she had a solo

Proud Dad and Mom, Juan Carlos and Courtney with Lili, along with Lili's teacher

Howie had "Caleb duty", (Lili's younger brother) I think he actually looks like a body guard

Caleb explaining to Howie why it is okay for him to go play in the fountain :)

God is good all the time. All the time God is good.

Before we returned home to Ecuador, we were able to spend one final weekend with all our kids and grandkids at Pismo Beach.  One thing we have learned by living so far away, is that when we have family time, we are intentional and fully present.  As a family, we simply spent time together, we played, built a campfire, flew some kites and savored every single moment.

People have said to us more than once, "I could never do what you do and leave my kids, family or life."  Unintentionally, they are suggesting the decision to choose the life as missionaries is easy.  That some how we have detached ourselves or simply have a dead, stone cold heart.  They don't mean to imply that, but in reality that is the pink elephant in the conversation.  

Goodbyes are the most difficult thing we have to go through.  Our hearts are split, truly cut in two.  We would love to be near our kids and daily engage in their lives.  We love what we do here in Ecuador. We love the ministry, we love the roles we play in the lives of the people here.  We get to see God do amazing things on a daily basis.  And that is why we are able to do what we do.  God.  Through His power and provision, through the work of His spirit in us, not of our own accord.  

That makes some people nervous.  If I choose to follow God will He "make" me leave my family and serve in a distant land.  The answer quite frankly is, maybe yes, or maybe no.  The point that needs to be understood is "it is worth it."  You can trust God with your heart, more importantly with your life.  So often, we observe people exercise a control over their lives that they simply do not possess.  We have watched our kids grow fiercely independent and even though it's been messy at times, they are figuring out who they are and working out their own salvation.  Our daughters are amazing Moms, tears come to my eyes when I reflect on how completely different they are and yet such good Moms.  They love their children, more importantly, they love their husbands.  We have watched God provide over and over for our kids who are single, and even though as the song says, "Everybody knows it sucks to grow up" they are doing an awesome job of figuring out who they are and what role they need to play within God's plan.  

With all that said, we are now home in Ecuador.  Here we go...below are some pictures from our final weekend with our family.

Do you know how hard it is to get twelve people to all smile at once?

Anchor, our grandson (Bridget and Steve's boy) was in constant motion the entire time

Maemae, our granddaughter (Nicole and Jay's girl) loved the sand

Danielle and Mackenna (Bridget and Steve's daughter) loved the water, even though it was freezing

So, see the cup in Jay's hand? (Nicole's husband)   Well, he had just pranked me.  I won't go into details but suffice it to say,   I  fell hook, line and sinker and all of us laughed 'til it hurt.

Nothing like a day at the beach

Nicole with "baby Larry" as we affectionately call him.   What a beautiful reminder that there is always new life, new beginnings and new seasons.  Instead of mourning the close of our time, we look to the future expectantly.

A family tradition of ours is to "salute the sunset".  God blessed us with a picture perfect sunset.

Now the Real Learning Begins!

Have you ever felt like you have fallen off the grid for a bit?  For the last two months that is what we were able to do and it was such a wonderful experience.  On April first we flew to Guadalajara, Mexico to take an intensive language course in Spanish.  Probably one of the hardest, best things we have ever done.  We had a supporter ask us if we thought seven weeks would really make that big of a difference.  Absolutely.  Now though, the real learning begins as we head back to Ecuador and implement the many things we learned.  Our goal really was quite simple, we wanted to learn how to speak without sounding like cavemen.  I think as time goes on we will see we now have the tools to accomplish our goal.  Our days were filled with grammar, vocabulary, phonetics, interpretation and translation.  Howard and I both had our "a-ha" moments where something became clear which we had clearly muddled up.  We are thankful for the time spent in Guadalajara and for the people who made it possible so we could participate in this language school.

Devotionals started each of our days while we studied at the Harvest Language Center.  This time included our language teachers and all the students who were studying at different levels.  In this picture five different mission organizations are represented.

On Mother's Day our whole group got together and ate at one of our favorite taco stands.  

Jasson, Kim, Kaleb, Noah and Micah Farmer are with UIM Aviation (United Indian Mission) and graciously took us along with them whenever they went sightseeing.  This photo is at Lake Chapala, Mexico

Deb Duncan and our paths crossed very briefly at school, but we were touched by her courage to quit her job in Texas and attend seven months of language school so she would minister in Autlan, Mexico.  As we continue on this journey, we are amazed at the people we meet who have answered the call of God on their lives, in order to impact the kingdom for His glory

Howie just liked this sign when he was out touring the city of Guadalajara, simple message but true.

Language School

"Where He leads me I will follow;
I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way."

     As many of you know Howard and I have been in the states since the first of the year for "Home Ministry Assignment."  We sent out a newsletter detailing the plans we were pursuing and what we were hoping to accomplish by being in California.  One of those things was the desire to attend language school to get our level of Spanish from Intermediate to Advanced.  We had a general idea of what we thought that would look like and we had "plan B" (Mary did:) in case that didn't work.  Then God spoke up and in the last two weeks His plan has emerged and it doesn't look anything like we thought or had imagined.  

     Long story, short.  In just the last two weeks, we were given the name of a school in Guadalajara, Mexico called "Harvest Language Center".  We filled out the 3 page application, the 7 page evaluation (in Spanish) and bought plane tickets for April 1 - May 18th.  The school cost half of what the school was we had originally looked into in Ensenada.  In the last 5 days the amount for the total cost has been donated, schooling, housing and plane tickets.  

     Due to all these circumstances we truly feel God's hand in our lives and the direction He is leading us.  Simply put, we are the grateful recipients of his provision and care.

After a night's rest, we realized the above picture is really how we feel about what all God has been doing in our lives.  His blessings are truly pouring over us with a majesty and intensity that has left us breathless.  The only appropriate response is to stand with our arms opened wide to receive His blessings.

God's Wonderful Provision

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quite you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."  Zephaniah 3:15

Many of you know I play the piano, but what you may not know is that since we have moved to Ecuador we have tried several times to buy a piano.  In Ecuador pianos are like cars, they hold their value very well and tend to be expensive.  These last five years have been the longest stretch in my life to go without a piano in my home.  Last week I got an email from a friend in Quito saying they had to move and was I interested in her piano.  You bet I was, yet I knew our financial circumstances.  So I said to her, "We can only make payments, and we can't start until we return in June."  To which, she said, "Great, and we'll arrange to have it moved to your house, it will be waiting for you."

I can't even describe the joy I feel, just knowing that piano is at home waiting for me.  And then I was reminded of the verse God had given me right before we started our home ministry assignment, which is above from Zephaniah.  He was reminding me of every promise in that verse:

~He is with me

~He will save me

~He will take great delight in me

~He will quiet me with His love

~He will rejoice over me with singing

And to prove it, He sent me a piano just waiting for me at home.