Team H.O.P.E.

almost home!

2009-08-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

530PM
We've arrived in New Orleans!! Already loaded up in the van, gassing up & picking up drinks. See you soon!

:)

Kathy

Back in the US!

2009-08-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

We've made it to Miami and will board flight to New Orleans in a little over an hour. We are in good spirits and ready to get HOME! I just had a slice of cheese pizza & a cold Dr. Pepper. Greg, Mike & Dana are listening to their Ipods, Richard is napping, the girls are catching up on their social lives, and everyone else is stretching their legs, getting voicemails or just people watching.

I will miss this group. I boarded the plane a week ago with near strangers; I'm coming home with amazing new friends. I feel so blessed and peaceful. I thank God for this wonderful experience and am looking forward to more.

See you soon!

Kathy

Goodbye, Quito

2009-08-02T02:53:00.001-07:00

4:50am

We are all checked in & sitting at the gate in the Quito airport. Everyone is excited to come home! Yesterday was a great day; drove through the countryside to an ecological preservation. Visited a family farm for a wonderful lunch (homemade pizza!), a nature hike & zip lining! We learned about some of the native plants & trees from their resident "forest engineer." We also rode a series of 6 zip lines, which I personally was very apprehensive about! But it was soooo fun and not a bit scary! Ms. Nell even rode 4 of the 6! She loved it! Flying past tree tops, through narrow green corridors and over lush green fields was awesome!!! Everyone should do it at least once!

This week was an enormous blessing for me, personally, and I know it has been for the other team members. Thanks to everyone for their prayers and support. I am so happy to have gotten to know my team members so well on this adventure! I know we've formed friendships that will last a lifetime.

Barring any delays, we will arrive in New Orleans at 5ish (not 6 like I previously wrote). Tack a couple more hours on for us to arrive in Brookhaven.

Have a great Sunday morning!

Kathy

Unexpected Blessings

2009-08-01T04:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, was an incredible blessing from God - and totally unexpected. (Why do not we believe that God will do this all the time? I think if we as Christians expected more out of God and showed more faith, then we would see more miracles. But, that is another story.)

Earlier in the week, due to scheduling problems, buses, interpreters, etc., we didn't even think we would be at the church yesterday. Normally these trips arrive on Saturday, have a day of worship and acclimation, then 4 work days, then Friday is a day of traveling around the country to see its culture and normally some tourist stuff. The way our trip has worked is that we had dates picked out to include an extra day. We don't fly home until Sunday and that gave us an extra day. But the interpreter was not scheduled to work on Friday, no cooking was planned. No kids were supposed to come. But God had other plans.

We told Tom earlier in the week to make something happen for us to work and stick with what we thought was the original plan. So, he had construction team lined up to work for half of the day. We were all ready to mix some more concrete. (We were mixing about one ton at a time BY HAND, and have probably mixed 10 batches this week!). But God had other plans.

Before we got off the bus, we prayed as a team. I said, or rather God literally said through me, that Great things were going to happen. I called on that during our prayer. Remember, at this time we were all mixing concrete. But as we unloaded the bus, and got ready, some of the children showed up. Anita, the pastor's wife, asked us if we could come up with a lesson for them. We said sure, and it was some of the older kids as well, so Mike and I volunteered to teach again. (Darn, I sure was going to miss mixing and hauling a ton of concrete - Ha!)

As the kids came into the room, they kept coming, and coming, and coming. We had about 45 to start with. Mike and I looked at each other and said, "Ok, God you wanted this, show us what to do." God led us to the story of the Israelites seeing, then taking the promised land based upon his promise. Characters of Moses and Aaron, Joshua and Caleb, and Rahab, were all central to the story and gave us a chance to even include crafts like a faith reminder as a necklace and actitivies like marching around and shouting "Jesus." That sure got the attention of the guards at the park around the corner as well as the shopkeepers that we marched by. But it also go the attention of other kids. We had every table full when we left to go to the park a block away, but God had other plans.

When we got back to the church, we had about another 35 to 40 kids. They were everywhere. Standing, sitting in each others laps and just singing and praising God. Some of them had been there before, and some had not. I heard from three different kids, "This is my cousin, can he come in?" Well we kept going.

I learned earlier in the week that God wants us to never forget to offer salvation through him to the students. So as we got close to finishing, we went back to Romans (I know for sure, now, why God has had our Sunday School class study Romans for the last few months.) And as the pastor came, and as we actually asked if anyone wanted to be saved, the group started moving. First one girl of about 16, Erika, that Mike and I had been praying for. Next a girl of about 15 that was carrying her little brother that Mrs. Nell had been praying for, then another boy of about 10, then I lost count. We ended up with 15 students praying and crying and asking God to be their Saviour. We were almost speechless. Well we were, but God wasn't. God had other plans.

Oh, by the way, the construction team actually got more done without us, and had the workers outside crying and praying with them!

We hugged and cried and prayed and danced and shouted and sang, and God was smiling. Without a doubt, this was his plan for the day, this was his plan for this trip, and once we got the devil out of the way, God called his children to him. What a joy and what a honor to have been a part of it!

Thanks for your prayers and your support, and God has used them to serve his purpose here in Quito this week.

Praise be to God!

Richard

Saturday morning

2009-08-01T04:14:00.000-07:00

6:15am

Today will be a day of fun. We'll travel a couple of hours to Cloud Mountain to give us a chance to see the Equadorian countryside. This is a beautiful country and I'm definitely looking forward to the ride. I also hear talk of a zip line on Cloud Mountain....hmmmmm. Stay tuned!!

Yesterday was another amazing day! We had some scheduling snafus and weren't sure if we were going to be able to work at the center on Friday. (By the way, the name of the center is Dulce Refugio..."Sweet Refuge.") The team decided if there was a way we could work, construction and/or bible school, we wanted to do so. We went yesterday morning thinking the whole team would work construction as we didn't expect many children to be there.
6:15am

Today will be a day of fun. We'll travel a couple of hours to Cloud Mountain to give us a chance to see the Equadorian countryside. This is a beautiful country and I'm definitely looking forward to the ride. I also hear talk of a zip line on Cloud Mountain....hmmmmm. Stay tuned!!

Yesterday was another amazing day! We had some scheduling snafus and weren't sure if we were going to be able to work at the center on Friday. (By the way, the name of the center is Dulce Refugio..."Sweet Refuge.") The team decided if there was a way we could work, construction and/or bible school, we wanted to do so. We went yesterday morning thinking the whole team would work construction as we didn't expect many children to be there.

Turns out roughly 85 kids came through the center. Before lunchtime, 15 or so more children professed their faith in Christ. Read that sentence again, please.....on a day when we didn't expect to even be at the center we had a bigger than normal turnout and God moved many more children His way. I was working outside again and it's so humbling when you walk in, all
hot and dirty, to feel such a warm presence and hear what has happened.

This is my first mission trip and it's still a little daunting to take on the task of witnessing to anyone, much less young people who speak another language. I am so thankful for the members who are called to do this and who answer that call. They've done a wonderful job listening to God's direction in their hearts.

More to come! Have a wonderful day in Mississippi,

Kathy

2009-07-31T20:07:00.000-07:00

Click here for photos! These are pics I've taken. More to come from Jennifer.

Kathy

VBS Update from Richard

2009-07-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

WOW!

What a couple of days in VBS with the youth group. We have had about 50 different teenagers and it has been phenomenal. The first question out of our mouth was "We are going to talk about Jesus - Do you guys know Jesus?" We had four young ladies, all around 16 to 17 say, "We know who he is, but he is not our saviour."

We were taken a little off guard, but made changes on the fly and all of a sudden this group of Methodists got a little bit more evangelical.

Praise God that after a day and a half with them, we had six teenagers make a profession of faith. We also had one mother and daughter ask us to lay hands on them and to pray for them because the daughter was in an abusive relationship with a boyfriend. She was scared and wanted God's protection.

What a joy to see God move. To see God change lives. To see God offer Hope. To cross so many cultural and language barriers and to have such fun serving God. What a joy!

I will never have a trip like this again, or work with a group in a setting like this, that I do not share the plan of salvation, and ask if anyone is being led to make a decision.

Praise God! What a couple of days.

Thursday morning

2009-07-30T04:49:00.000-07:00

7:20 am

Good morning, friends! I apologize that I haven't updated in a while, we are moving non-stop. After work, it's hard to resist the chance to get out and see the city! Quito has a beauty about it and I can't wait to assemble photos to share with you.

Yesterday was an amazing day for our team. We had some issues we needed to work through and with prayer and communication were able to do so. It was a turning point for our team. There is a renewed solidarity and renewed openness to God's presence amongst us. Even on a mission trip, Satan and old human nature can get in the way!

After typing that paragraph, I can't say it's coincidence what happened during bible school. Mike and Richard were working with the 12-18 year olds when some announced that they didn't know Jesus. Of course, that completely changed the tenor of their lesson! Mike immediately brought in the help of the pastor and other team members. Richard snuck out and gathered the construction team together for a quick prayer.

I was on the construction team yesterday and can't tell you how cool it was to put down a bucket of wet concrete and link arms with my dusty friends for prayer. We prayed for the kids inside and the adults ministering to them. You could feel the presence of God with us. It was rejuvenating and touching all at the same time.

The children who didn't know Jesus left knowing much more about Him and were very receptive to Him. Out of this wonderful development came even more good news. Three other children decided to take the next step and profess their faith in Christ! I know! It's awesome! The same group returns this morning and I know more wonderful things will happen!

God really moved some mountains yesterday. There were mountains within our group that could have created mountains between us and the kids. Both barriers were removed yesterday. How fun is that?

Today, more concrete work outside and more sweet kids inside. Please continue your prayers for us today. We love and miss everyone!

Kathy Harrison

Tuesday morning

2009-07-28T03:15:00.000-07:00

5:31am

Looking forward to another day at Villaflora! We'll have the same group of kids this morning as we did yesterday morning. I can't wait to see them! And I can't wait to see their reactions to the tie-dye shirts they made yesterday!

Our construction crew today will be mixing concrete and filling in some massive holes. Please keep them in your prayers for endurance....or the wisdom to come inside when they need a break! It's a good refresher for them to come in and sit with the kids for a while - both parties thoroughly enjoy it.

The weather has been perfect. They say it's been unusually hot here the past week or so...but it's perfect compared to the high temps & humidity you guys back home are probably experiencing! Low humidity here, not too hot, not too cool. The shade is absolutely perfect. We are closer to the sun here than home but don't worry - precautions are being taken!

Pray for good health for everyone. Nothing serious but we've had a few members have a rough morning here and there. Dana, bless her heart, had a bad day yesterday and remained at the hotel. She rejoined us late in the afternoon for a walk to the market, dinner, and the after-dinner fellowship & devotional. She's back to her hilarious self!

Jennifer has been taking pictures, of course, but we've not been able to sit down and transfer them over for posting. I've posted a few of my own pictures but we'll be adding much, much more very soon (hopefully today). Stay tuned!

Thanks for your support from home! We love knowing we can communicate back to you daily via the internet. Keep your comments coming!

God bless,
Kathy

Photos from the equator

2009-07-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

Click here to see pictures from our trip to the equator yesterday. More coming soon from construction work & bible school!

KH

Monday

2009-07-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

8:30pm

Today was a fabulous day! It was our first day at the Villaflora center, working construction and bible school. We worked with two wonderful groups of children; one in the morning, the 2nd in the early afternoon. We took their photos ("smile big!"), painted t-shirts & bags, tie-dyed shirts and made cruz necklaces.

All of this fun, of course, was accented with English & Spanish bible stories. The performance of the day came from the Team HOPE Troupe - consisting of Greg, Ricky & Mike re-enacting the David & Goliath story multiple times to allow for a few different Davids to slay the giant (Mike)!

The guys were right outside the door, coming in to help us out with the kids when they needed to take a short break. The kids were so fun. They just smiled and hugged us and thoroughly appreciated everything we had for them to do. Katie, Alex & Stacey had them singing Jesus Loves Me & other songs, and playing London Bridge.

The guys made great progress outside, getting more done today than expected!

Afterwards, a few of us went to the market and the Calhouns & Richard spend some time in "Old Town." Now we are congregated on our floor, telling tales & massaging sore shoulders. Soon we'll have the evening devotional and turn in. Tomorrow is another big day!

More pictures soon.

Kathy Harrison

message from Bethany

2009-07-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you for helping us get to Ecuador and make a difference. Please continue to pray for patience and plenty of energy to get through the week. Our team is starting the week off very tired, but in good humor. This is a great team, and I am blessed to be here. Thank you to all.
A special hello to my family. I love yall and miss yall lots.

Message from Richard

2009-07-26T18:20:00.000-07:00

Incredible day getting to meet some of the people in Ecuador and visit to the Middle of the Earth - the equator.

Beautiful country and great weather.

Also great worship service this afternoon.

Tomorrow, we begin construction. Tying rebar to build columns that need to stand up to earthquakes. No Problems.

Can't wait.

Message from Alex!!

2009-07-26T18:13:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody... today was an awsome day. we to the equator and stood on either side of the earth!! it was so cool and we did so many experiments to prove that it was the middle of the earth.. and later we went to church at momma yoli's... and i found the cutiest babies and when i had to leave they didnt know who the baby belonged to and she started crying it was so sad.. and all the little kids followed us to the bus... and some of them cried when the other team left.. then we came back and ate supper.. and tomorrow we start bible school!!!!!!!!:)

Settled In

2009-07-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

What a great day it's been! We began at 2am, traveled to New Orleans, then to Miami for a 7ish-hour layover, then on to Quito. Other than a gate change, we had no complications. We're very thankful for an "uneventful" day of travel. Everyone has been in high spirits and truly enjoying each other's company. Now everyone is making their way to their rooms for some much-deserved rest! Tomorrow will bring us to the "Middle of the World" monument and museum as well as to church services in a church built by SIFAT.

Tonight in our team meeting Richard Baker asked us what we are thankful for. The immediate response was twofold: thankfulness for this team God has assembled and the spirit we feel in our midst; also praise was lifted to God for leading Mr. Alton years ago into his involvement with SIFAT. Mr. Alton's history with this organization and the relationships he's cultivated within our church has laid the essential groundwork for this and other mission trips. And as always, it's a blessing to see the young people we have here with us. This is Stacey's first mission trip and we can see her excitement. Katie & Alex are not newcomers and how wonderful to see their warmth touch other travelers even before we get to our destination.

**The team sends their love to friends & family! And a SPECIAL thank you goes out to Mr. John Shakleford for driving us to the New Orleans airport in the middle of the night! And thank you to Mr. Charlie Campbell for meeting us in the church parking lot just to wish us well as we drove off. Thank you for your special support, Mr. Charlie & Mr. John. We all appreciate both of you!

And thanks to our home team for your continued prayers and support. We appreciate and thank God for each and every one of you.

Click here to see photos from today.

-Kathy Harrison

Arrived in Quito

2009-07-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

We have safely arrived in Quito and are congregated for dinner. Everything went smoothly entering the country and transporting team & luggage to the hotel. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers during our travel.

More info coming later. Suppertime!

leaving Miami

2009-07-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

Boarded & about to shut the door! We will arrive in Quito roughly 6PM. Remember, its the same time zone!
Kathy

waiting....

2009-07-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

245PM
The team is patiently waiting for our flight to Quito to board. We have card players, movie watchers, book readers, quiet gazers, and Katie has befriended a lady & daughter from Quito. It's been raining steadily since we arrived in Miami but it hasn't created any delays. Next stop, Ecuador! Stay tuned.

posting comments

2009-07-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

In order to post a comment to one of our blog entries, you may have to create a Google account. It is free to do this. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause!

Kathy

Miami Airport

2009-07-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

To see photos of the team hanging out in the Miami airport, click on the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=127024&id=109702356893&saved#/album.php?aid=127024&id=109702356893&ref=mf

2009-07-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

Team HOPE! Taken a couple weeks ago at the cookout we had at Richard Baker's house.

Lots more pictures coming soon!!

Miami

2009-07-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

10am

First leg of the trip completed! We are in Miami for a 6 hour layover. Everyone has grabbed a bite to eat (pizza at 9am anyone?) and some of us are preparing to catch some ZZZs. Bethany has already started, Greg is reminiscing with photos about the last trip to Ecuador, and Jennifer is breaking out the camera. Dana is taking a brief medical history of everyone. Richard is talking about native dishes we can try in Quito. Why is he asking about cholera?

Everyone is in good spirits and excited about the week ahead.
Stay tuned!

P.S. The time stamp on these posts are not accurate. I'll try to remember to manually enter the times.

Kathy Harrison

New Orleans Airport

2009-07-25T03:10:00.000-07:00

We are all checked in and through security! We are excited and ready to go! Ricky and Stacy have joined us so our team is complete. Flight leaves at 6. See you in Miami!

test

2009-07-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

Test post from mobile device.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 40 (0 Days Left!!)

2009-07-24T06:25:00.001-07:00

Friday, July 24, 2009

Wow. Today is the day we have been waiting for. We travel tonight.

Today as we make final preparations, a million things are running through our minds. But as we travel, I am reminded of John Wesley’s three simple rules. First, Do no Harm. Then, Do all the Good you Can. And Most Importantly, Stay IN Love With GOD!

Let’s remember these rules as we go throughout this trip. If we evaluate every action, every reaction, every purpose of what we do, we will be the Christian God wants us to be and we will honor him with our service.

See y’all tonight.

Submitted by Richard Baker

Weather in Quito vs. Brookhaven

2009-07-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

Quito: 62°F/50°F
60% chance of thunderstorms

Brookhaven: 88°F/63°F

40 Days of Prayer - Day 39 (1 Day Left!)

2009-07-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 23, 2009

We leave tomorrow night! Wow. I am trusting God to allow us to experience him like never before.

The next 60 hours or so will be trying. Finishing up last minute details at work and home before we leave are always stressful. Normally, everything that can go wrong, will go wrong – about 4 o’clock tomorrow afternoon. We will have problems at the airport – something – we can count on it. We will have a long layover – bad food – rude, nosy, or loud seat companions on the flights. But if we are ready, God can use us through all of those. If we handle the adversities that will arise with a Christlike spirit, then He will be glorified!

So, Today, (although I rarely do this), let’s pray for patience. Patience with our co-workers or bosses or clients. Patience with our family. Patience with each other. Patience with workers we will encounter and patience with other travelers. God will give us the peace to not only endure distractions and delays, but to relish them and to use them to his Glory.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 38

2009-07-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Today let’s pray for JOY!

Seeing this rain should make all of us here happy. Even though the day is gray, I can just almost hear the grass and plants, and my garden, soaking up God’s nourishment to them. (Isn’t it amazing how much better God can water the garden than we can?) But we should be celebrating.

We should also be celebrating on this trip. The GOD we serve is in control. He is and owns everything! No matter what problems we face here at home – work, finances, relationships, family, sin – God will prevail. I like to think that you are happy because of something, but Joyous in spite of everything. That is what we need to portray as we travel; and maybe even exhibit more here at home. Our salvation and the grace that comes from God is beyond human comprehension. It does cover every aspect of our lives. Let’s remember that on this trip. No one will be attracted to Christ if we, as his followers, don’t show something different than everyone else. Smile. Don’t get hung up on little things. Smile. Love each other. Smile. Laugh out loud. And remember, even with all of our problems, most of the people we will encounter on this trip would give anything they have to just have the chance to live where we are.
See you guys tonight at church.
Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 37 (3 Days left)

2009-07-21T05:59:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

God, please give us a servant spirit as we travel.

Today, let’s really focus on the fact that we are going to serve. We are not vacationing. We are not in charge. We are not in control. We are submitting ourselves to serve God in his time, where he wants, and how he wants. Remember that it may be nothing like what we have planned. We may all haul blocks. We may all hold hands. We may all do nothing but pray. But let’s remember that we are His servants. Period. Make that be at the forefront of our minds as we travel. Let’s put our own agenda, our individualism, our sense of self importance and self righteousness aside and just SERVE CHRIST.

2009-07-21T05:39:00.000-07:00

Basic Facts about Ecuador

Name: Republic of Ecuador
Independence: May 24, 1822 (from Spain)
Type of government: Democratic Republic
Area: 256,370 sq. kilometers
Population: 13,927,650
Capital City: Quito (population 1.2 million)
Principal cities: Guayaquil, Quito, and Cuenca
Official language: Spanish
Currency: U.S. Dollar

Today's Weather in Quito, Ecuador vs. Brookhaven, MS

2009-07-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

Quito:
68°F/50°F
50% chance of T'storms

Brookhaven:
88°F/65°F

2009-07-20T07:55:00.000-07:00

Ecuador's flag looks similar to those of Colombia and Venezuela, but don't say that to an Ecuadorian, as the bandera tricolor (tricolor flag) is a powerful patriotic symbol with Ecuadorian people.

From a very young age, starting in preschool, children have a day dedicated to the flag called "Jura a la Bandera" or loosely translated Pledge to the Flag, and on historical holidays that demark important days in Ecuador's history, the Ecuadorian flag is proudly displayed in the majority of homes throughout the country.

The Ecuadorian flag has a high place in the hearts and the psyches of the Ecuadorian people.

Source: www.ecuadorexplorer.com
Submitted by Kathy Harrison

40 Days of Prayer - Day 36 (4 days Left)

2009-07-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 20, 2009

Today, Let’s pray for god to grant us humility.

Lord, please prepare us to serve with a humble spirit. Allow us to be kind, thankful, unassuming, and Christlike in our interaction with each other and with the people we encounter on this trip.

Remind us that we don’t have all the answers and that we are nothing without you. But that through you, all things are possible. It is you, not us.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 35 (5 Days left)

2009-07-20T07:50:00.001-07:00

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Over the last 34 days, we have prayed for all of our team members, the people we are going to see and the trip in general. All of those are obviously a large part of what we are doing, but as much as anything is the transformation that occurs within those of us on the team. God can use this as a life changing act of obedience on our part – if we let him. So, today we start praying for our own relationship with Christ.

Lord, please forgive me for sins in my life. Please cleanse my heart and make me a vessel for you. I pray for the renewed joy of my salvation. I ask that you make that moment of my conversion anew again in my life. Remind me of the treasures you have in store for me. Please give me the strength to honor you on this trip, and father, please do not let me cause another to stumble because of sin in my life.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 34

2009-07-18T09:27:00.001-07:00

Hola ninos and ninas,

Sabado, Julio dieciocho, dosmilnuevo

El Dia treintacuatro – seis dias izquierda

Porque de tal manera amo Dios al mundo, que dio a su Hijo unigento, para que todo aquel que cree en El, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna.

Today, let’s pray for the language barriers to be broken. Pray for God’s love to cross all obstacles and use us to communicate his message.

I have a bonus for the first one to tell me what the above sentence is.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 33 (7 Left!)

2009-07-17T07:50:00.001-07:00

Friday, July 17, 2009

Yep, we travel one week from tonight. Can’t you feel God moving?

Today let’s be in prayer for all of those people we will come in contact with as they serve us on this trip. The airport personnel, the staff at the hotel, the restaurants we will visit, the shop keepers, and the clerks wherever we are. Pray that we will be respectful, that we may share Christ with them through our attitudes, our smiles, our courtesy, and our patience. Pray that we will be ambassadors for Christ as we travel. Americans have a bad reputation in so many parts of the world for their arrogance and pride – and yes this even includes Christian groups traveling. Pray that we will respect those we encounter and learn from them. Pray that we will be on the lookout for ways to minister to those serving us.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 32

2009-07-17T05:17:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Yes – only 8 days left! Wow!

What a blessing it was last night to worship with the Hope for Africa Children’s Choir. What joy and energy! (What an understatement!) It was great to see them dancing and singing and great to see some of our own dancing in the aisles at church. It also was great for me to sit next to Pastor Richard – and hear him talk about his young son back home. Also I am so proud that my son was as comfortable with him as someone he had known before last night. Isn’t it awesome to see God just confirm that we are brothers and sisters! What a joy it is to serve a God that is bigger than all of us and to serve a God that controls the whole world! Really makes me think about Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Congo, and Sudan –(5 countries in United Methodist Conference that has the orphanage for these children.) Maybe one day we will have a mission trip to serve with them and to worship together in their church. Sort of gets you fired up about sharing Christ all over the world.

Speaking of that – Today, let’s pray for the medical work that we will be a part of in Ecuador.

Pray for all of the workers coming from the states. Most of the medical team will be coming from Tennessee, but Dana and Lisa will I am sure be a part of it. And if this trip is true to form of every other one I have known about, some of us with no medical background will be right in the middle of that ministry. Pray for God to heal those that are sick. Pray for God to bless them with a new life. Pray for God to allow medicines and the staff to work for him. Pray for traveling mercies with medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Also pray for the health of the team members. We have such a limited time to spend in country and let’s ask God to allow us to spend it all serving and worshipping together.

Don’t forget the packing party tonight.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 31 (9 to go)

2009-07-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Today, let’s pray for the children and youth ministry on this trip.

Lift up our workers. Lift up the local workers. Lift up the small children. Lift up the youth. Pray for God’s message to cross all of the barriers and reach those it is intended for. Pray that throughout this entire trip, that we will be mindful of our influence on the children and youth of this culture. Help us to represent Christ in a manner pleasing to him. Help us to also represent our country also. Let us be the loving, kind, helpful, and respectful Christians who are full of God’s love and spirit.

Let there be lots of laughter and lots of hugs! God can use those to do glorious things.

Speaking of children – don’t forget the children’s choir from Africa tonight at church. Should be great.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 30 (10 to go!)

2009-07-14T06:35:00.001-07:00

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Today, let’s begin to pray for things in country. Today let’s pray for the construction work. Let’s lift up those locals who we will be working with. Last year, God had a plan for Oscar that we, nor the Pastor knew about. In fact, we had a number of hurdles to overcome to include him, but God used him. God used us to hopefully reach him. Pray for this year’s Oscar. Pray for us to have our eyes and our hearts opened to God’s leading and to be ready when the opportunity arises.

Pray for the actual work. Pray for the safety of the workers. Pray that the supplies and tools will be available and that we will be able to be good stewards of the money used in the construction job. Pray for the vendors that we will buy materials from. Let God speak to them through a simple business transaction. Pray that we will accomplish the amount of work that God has in store for us. Pray for his will to be done.

Submitted by Richard Baker

Where in the world is Quito, Ecuador?

2009-07-14T05:38:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

You can "grab and drag" the map with your mouse to get a good idea of where Ecuador is in relation to Mississippi. Or click "View Larger Map." You can also navigate using the controls in the top left corner of the map.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 29 (11 to go)

2009-07-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 13, 2009

Today, let’s continue to pray for those who had originally planned to travel with us, but who are not able to. Today, let’s pray for Glenn Howell and his wife Lou. Glenn is Greg’s father and a true example of living his faith, and going where God calls him to go. From prisons to churches here in the US to all over the world. Glen has just returned from Honduras – is going to Alaska and is going to Nicaragua in the next couple of months. It is obvious the passion with which he serves God and the passion to share the gospel he instilled into his children and now, even grandchildren.

Let’s lift him up and pray that one day, we will all be able to travel together

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 28 (12 to go)

2009-07-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 12, 2009

What a blessing it was last night to visit together as a group with our families and friends. Thanks everyone for bringing everything and I hope no one left hungry.

Today, let’s lift up Charlie and Linda Campbell. Charlie and Linda are a vital part of our church’s mission ministries. He is our district UMCOR coordinator and has traveled extensively in that role and on other mission trips. In Nicaragua last year he was our construction coordinator and was even pretty easy to room with - as long as we got to sleep before he did – HA! Even though Charlie, nor Linda, are going to travel with us this year, we know they are praying and lifting this effort up.

It is amazing how close I personally feel to Charlie even though we don’t spend much time together now. Our lives don’t cross much outside of church services, but after serving together on a trip like this, you are just different. You learn things about each other. You see good and the not so good in each of us. The devil tests us. He tries to break us apart over petty things. But God is in control. The bond we have as brothers and sisters in Christ is more than sufficient to keep us together. Our team will be victorious in the end.

Things like last night help God build a team out of us. Continue to pray for all of us and I promise, we will all make friends on this trip that will change our lives forever.

See you at church.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 27 (13 to go)

2009-07-11T07:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Two weeks from now, we will be almost to Miami. It is amazing how close it is. I found a number of posts, videos, etc. about where we are going by doing a google search of sifat in Ecuador. Had a youtube video of mama yolis and a lot of stuff. Pretty good to get us in the right frame of mind. Check it out.

Anyway, today, let’s pray for The Barry Family.

Sherry has been a big part of planning for this trip as well as working at events. Unfortunately, (at least we feel unfortunate) she is not going to be able to travel with us. But again, we have to trust that God has a reason for her staying in the States. Lets pray for that reason to be clear to her.

Let’s also pray for Lee, Cameron, and Alison. One day I fell that all of them will be on a traveling team with us.

Lastly, I hope to see everyone tonight at the cookout. Please come if you can. 6 at my house at Enterprise. If you need directions or get lost, call. My home is 601-835-2742. My cell is 601-320-0591. Very informal. Bring chairs if you have them. I have about 10-15 but chairs would be great.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 26 (14 to go)

2009-07-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 10, 2009
Today let’s pray for the Underwood family.

Don and Sarah play such a large role in the life of our church family. Unfortunately, Don and Stone’s being a part of the traveling team this year did not work out either. They would have been an incredible addition to our team but as we have been saying, God can and will use them right here at home - if they let him. Pray for God to continue to bless their family. Pray that God will continue to put missions opportunities in front of them and pray that he will keep them motivated to be a part of our mission efforts, even if they never feel led to be a part of the traveling team.

Remember the cookout tomorrow at my house at 6. See yall then.

Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 25 (15 to go!)

2009-07-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Buenos Dias,

Como Esta? What a blessing it was last night to visit with those in the Spanish class with Mrs. Spearman – wow, what a joy she is. 84 and still going strong and really enjoying helping us. Who knows, she may can even be part of the traveling team next trip.

Today, let’s pray for another family who had originally tried to go on this trip, but it did not work out. Don Perkins and Whitney.
Don has been on a number of trips before with our church and with others. He and his parents, Mr. Bill and Mrs. Betty have been a vital part of the mission efforts of our church for years – as long as I have been in the church and even much longer. This year just did not work out for him to go. Whitney has been involved in many youth projects as well. They both have been to SIFAT and would be a great addition to the traveling team, but as we have been saying, God has a reason for them to stay home. Let’s pray for God to make that clear to them and to reveal his plan for their lives.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 24

2009-07-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Today, let’s pray for Dave Becker and his family. Dave was an incredible blessing to me last year on our trip. He and I began a friendship as we planned the trip that has blossomed into a relationship that I pray God allows to continue for the rest of our lives. This year, Dave has not felt led to travel with us, but he has been in prayer for the team. Let’s return the favor.

Let’s pray for Dave and his walk with Christ. Let’s pray for Dave’s work situation. (It is still very unstable.), let’s pray for Kayla, Dylan, and Carson. Dave’s job responsibilities have increased dramatically over the last year as well as those at home. Pray for God’s blessing on his family and pray for the assurance that only God can provide.

Don’t forget Spanish tonight at 5:30 and the cookout Saturday night at 6 at my house.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 23

2009-07-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Wow – 17 left sounds close! It really is going to be here before we know it.

Today, let’s pray for the Leggett family. Last year, Keri and Laura were an incredibly important part of our in country team. Their spirit and their love for Christ and the people of Nicaragua were evident to everyone on the trip. This year, even though they are not able to travel with us, let’s don’t forget how God is using them. Pray for God’s hand to be on them and to protect them. Pray that God’s will is for them to be here this year and that he will open doors for them that they have not even thought about.

One of my favorite corporate slogans of all time was from GE. It was at Epcot and it said, “If you can dream it, we can do it.” But one of my favorite verses of scripture when I am down, or when I need to be reminded of how great God is or that he is in control, is Ephesians 3:20 – “Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we can ask or imagine, according to his power at work in us,” God wants to do even more than we can dream! We cannot comprehend how many blessings God has in store for us and we cannot comprehend all the ways he can use us, when we let his spirit work through us.

Pray that his spirit is working in our team and that he will do even greater things than we can imagine, and pray that he uses Keri and Laura in the same way here at home.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 22

2009-07-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 6, 2009

Today, Let’s pray for the Kavitz family. Even though Keith and Michael had to back out of traveling with us, let’s pray for them as well as Linda.

This family has been a great blessing in our church and very active in so many areas. Pray that God will work out the scheduling as well as any other thing in their lives that will allow them to maybe travel with us on the next trip. And if God only wants them to be involved here, planning, and working, and being part of the support team, then let’s praise God for that.

Our tendency is to try to get the most numbers we can in any endeavor. That is how things are done in our world. But let’s remember that in God’s world, he can use the smallest or the largest – and anywhere in between. Our Sunday School lesson the last couple of weeks has been on Romans chapter 14 dealing with not judging and choosing to not offend your brother or sister. God is in control and it is not our place to do his job or to worry about if someone else is doing their job or not. Likewise, it is not our place to tell God who needs to be on the traveling part of our team. He has a plan. He needs people here. He needs people in Ecuador and all in between. Those members who have had to back out may have an incredible blessing here at home and God may have great things for them to do that only God knows about. Pray for them to be aware and discerning and to listen to God as he calls.

Don’t forget the Spanish class with Mrs. Spearman on Wednesday night and the cookout Saturday night at my home.
Richard T Baker III

40 Days of Prayer - Day 21

2009-07-08T07:01:00.001-07:00

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Today let’s pray for the Shackelford family.

Even though other family concerns have arisen that are keeping them from traveling with us, there is no doubt that John, Kathy, and Katie are all a major part of our mission team. Please lift them up and their entire family as well. Pray for God’s hand to comfort them and to guide them. Pray for the good health of their entire family. And also pray that they will be a part of the next traveling team.

Pray for each of them individually. John. Kathy. Katie. Also pray for Eric. Rex. Stephen. This family has been such a wonderful part of our church family and words cannot express what they mean to me personally and I am sure to many others. Let them know we love them and that we appreciate them.

Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 20 (only 20 to go!)

2009-07-04T06:26:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July! Have a great one.

Three weeks from now, we will be traveling. Wow. It is getting close.

Today, let’s pray for the our country and our leaders. As we celebrate our freedom today, and how our country has been blessed, let’s remember what our country started as. Let’s remember the principles of liberty and the biblical principles that have allowed our country to prosper. But let’s also remember that we as a nation are not living up to those same principles anymore. Pray that our country will turn back to God. Pray for his intervention.

We just have to look around the world to see how blessed we have been. But also, there have been many instances of “superpowers” throughout history who have turned from God and whose civilizations have declined and even been destroyed. Pray that ours will not. Pray that he will restore our nation.

See you tomorrow.

Submitted by Richard Baker

Positive Power of Prayer (Oh look! Accidental alliteration! I LOVE that!)

2009-07-03T07:29:00.000-07:00

We've been posting daily prayer for 19 days now, for specific families and specific needs. In this morning's post, Richard comments he could feel God's presence yesterday when his family was the focus of our prayers. Day 12 was "my" day for prayer and it was asked to also lift up my entrepreneurial endeavors. I've had my moments of doubt, but each time I'm close to despair, I have another breakthrough and each time I have another breakthrough, I look up and say (usually rather loudly) "thank you." I can feel the effects of others' prayers for me.

How about you? Have you noticed through this process (or another situation) the positive effects of prayer? Post your comments, please!

40 Days of Prayer - Day 19 (21 to go)

2009-07-03T07:19:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 3, 2009

Today lets pray for the Corsons. Ken and Sarah have definitely been an incredible team as they have built SIFAT into a global ministry. And Tom as the current executive director is furthering God’s work, building upon the foundation laid by his parents. Tom will also be in Ecuador with us on our trip.

This family has given everything and devoted everything to serving Christ. Pray for them and their ministry. Pray for the concern they must have right now for their friends, associates, and brothers and sisters in Christ in Honduras with the political unrest there. Give them a peace that reminds them God is in control everywhere.

I also have been overwhelmed with a feeling to pray for some specific physical tangible need they have. I don’t know what it is, but pray that God will meet all of their needs now.

Also, Thank you for the prayers for me yesterday. I could definitely feel God’s presence more than the day before.

Submitted by Richard Baker

Spanish Lesson Tonight!

2009-07-01T05:45:00.000-07:00

At 5:30pm in the old fellowship hall, we'll have a very basic Spanish lesson followed by our regular members' meeting at 6:30.

See you there!

40 Days of Prayer - Day 17 ( 23 to go)

2009-07-01T05:42:00.000-07:00

Wow – what a blessing it was yesterday to run out of fish and deliver 425 plates. It is so amazing to know that God is in control of everything and that he is definitely in this trip. Thanks to everyone who worked hard selling, planning, cooking, serving, eating, and lifting up this event. You could just feel the excitement building about the trip as we were together as a team. Those times together are about much more than the money we raise. They are vital for the health of our team and God is using these times to make a team out of us. Please continue to pray for that and we hope everyone can be at more meetings over the next 23 days. (I like saying that) Remember that we have a cookout planned at my house next Saturday, July 11th at 6:00 in the afternoon. It is for anyone affiliated with this trip (not just the traveling team) and their families. Again, God can and will use these informal times to prepare us for this trip. Something special happens to groups when you break bread together and we are excited about that time. See you there.

Today, lets pray for Lisa Calcote.
Lisa is no stranger to our church family. She is Lana Phillips sister and they are daughters of Brother Lloyd and Mrs. Ann Calcote. Lisa grew up in the ministry and we are very excited about having her on this trip. Pray for her to be used as God sees fit. Not only her medical skills, but her spirit to be willing to God’s urging. Lisa has been on other mission trips, but this will be her first with our church. Also pray that if God is willing, that Lisa could become a permanent part of our church family.

Submitted by Richard Baker.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 16

2009-06-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Today lets pray for Elizabeth Smith. Elizabeth is the granddaughter of Sid Beasley. She is new to our church and planned to travel with us, but had to back out. She has a strong desire for missions and lets pray for her passion to be fueled by her role here at home this year. Let’s ask God to really make her become a part of our church family and if it is his will, have her be part of our traveling team next year.

Again, it is amazing how many people have to be involved in order for a trip like this to occur. MANY more people are involved behind the scenes here at home, than the number on the traveling team. Everyone is vital to the full mission that God has called us to. Let’s all continue to pray for everyone.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 15

2009-06-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 29, 2009

Don’t forget our Fish Fry tomorrow afternoon from 3 – 6. We need all the help we can get and we need to sell all the fish we can.

Today, let’s pray for Ricky and Stacey Hagenson. Ricky and his wife Shona live in Purvis. I think he has own forestry business and Stacey runs track. Ricky’s father is also a Methodist minister, he has been on mission trips with Greg to Nicaragua and not sure where else. He has a son that is working in Shreveport not sure what his name is. This is Stacy’s 1st mission trip. Let’s lift them up. They are breaking frontiers by coming to join our church members and going across international borders to Ecuador. I don’t know which would be more challenging. Let’s pray for God to blend all of us together and have a cohesive, singular focus – Serving Christ. Ages, backgrounds, tasks assigned, personality, etc. all should not matter. Lets pray for God to make sure they don’t.

I am really starting to get excited. It is getting close.
Submitted by Richard Baker

40 Days of Prayer - Day 14

2009-06-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Today lets pray for Joy Jones. Joy has been planning on this trip for a while, but just in the last couple of days, she has had to back out of traveling with us. I feel that we need to especially pray for Joy. Let’s ask God to work in her life like never before and to heal or take care of whatever has caused her to have to not travel with us.

For those of you who do not know Joy, she is a good friend of Alex Calhoun. Lets pray for her and her family. This would have been Joy’s 1st mission trip. She is a student at Howard University in Washington DC as a fashion major, she will do a Exchange program with a college in San Francisco this next semester. She is a junior in college. Her parents are Faith and Derrick Martin, her brother Michael Faith has her own business as a voice teacher and has The Focus performance Group, which is made up of kids from all over the state. Derrick D’Mar is the drummer for Little Richard and is working on making a name for himself in the music industry. Lets lift up all of them.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 13

2009-06-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Today let’s pray for Alton and Nell Ryan. It is hard to find words to describe Alton and Nell when it comes to our trip, to our church, and especially to missions. They just plainly – are missionaries. As long as I have know them, they have traveled all over the world serving God and sharing his love. From eastern Europe to Africa, to South America – almost from the North Pole to the South – and this year again on the equator – they have been or are planning to go on mission trips. What a testimony to their life and to their commitment to Christ.

Lets pray for them. Lift up their health. Ask God to make their bodies strong to go along with their love for him. Ask God to use them for many more years on this earth to spread the Good News.

I can’t help but believe that there are people whom they have encountered who would be like the story Mrs. Sarah Corson told us a few weeks ago. To them they look like Jesus. Praise be to God.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 12

2009-06-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 26, 2009

4 weeks from tonight we will head out. It is amazing how fast time goes by.

Today lets pray for Katherine (Kathy) Harrison. Katherine is a fairly recent addition to the traveling team. She will be responsible for all of our team communication between the traveling team and the part of the team here in the States, and will pitch in with the VBS, Construction, and Medical teams as needed. She will probably do some of everything. She has created a blog, set up information on Facebook, and I am sure will be doing emails as well. This is a vital part of keeping the entire team together. Pray for her and for technology. Things like down servers, satellite problems, power outages, etc. are all ways that the devil may try to separate us as a team and as a church. We know that he has no power to separate us from God, and he knows that as well, but he will try to divide us. Pray for all of that to work the way it is supposed to and pray for Kathy to figure out alternative and creative ways to get around obstacles that will arise.

Also pray for Katherine’s new business ventures. She has started a number of internet based and service businesses, and as so many of us know, the economy is slow to respond right now. Business startups are trying in the best of times and can sometimes feel overwhelming in slow times. Pray for God’s direction in her life and for her to have wisdom and discernment as she makes decisions.

Again, let’s all work to force ourselves to really prepare our hearts and minds to serve as God is calling us to.

Yummy Fish Dinner!!

2009-06-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

Team Ecuador is selling tickets for fish plates for only $7 a plate! If you are interested, get in touch with one of our team members or place a comment to this post. The dinners will be available for pickup on Tuesday, June 30 from 3-6pm at Brookhaven FUMC. You'll have a great dinner and you'll be supporting a great cause! It's a win-win. :)

40 Days of Prayer - Day 11

2009-06-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

Today lets pray for Dana Lambert and her family. Dana is our contribution to the Medical mission on this team. She also will probably do construction and VBS and whatever else comes up. Her attitude and desire to serve has been a blessing and has been evident since we began planning this trip. Please pray for her that God will use her to help heal people – both physically and spiritually.

Also pray for her family here at home. Larue and Hayden and Lilly. It is no telling what her house will be like with three kids left alone for the week (Ha) and we know without a doubt that they will miss her.

Lets also pray for future trips that Larue will be able to go. He also has an interest, and we know that in God’s time, there will be a way for him to be part of the traveling team as well.

Follow us on Facebook!

2009-06-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

Team Ecuador is now on Facebook! Friend me: facebook.com/harrisonkat and I'll send you an invite to join Team Ecuador's page! (If you choose, you can always "unfriend" me and still receive updates from the Team Ecuador page)

There we'll post photos from Ecuador and have a little fun while spreading God's love!

40 Days of Prayer - Days 1-10

2009-06-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

I'm catching the blog up on our 40 days of prayer. After today, the daily prayers will be posted, well, daily! These are being distributed by team member Richard Baker.

Day 1:
Today, please pray in general for this entire trip to come into focus. Help us to remember why we as a group are going – why we are Christians in the first place – why missions are important as part of our personal and corporate walk with Christ – and why we personally decided to go or not to go. These are all serious questions, and as we answer them, pray for God to reveal himself to us anew.

Day 2:
Today, lets pray for our Church - First United Methodist Brookhaven, MS. Our church has gone through ups and downs, and we need to pray for it to stay true to our mission in our community and around the world. Pray for our staff, our members, and for our Pastor. In my life, it seems the more I work to follow Christ, the harder it gets. It seems the more the devil fights. Pray for the devil to be removed from our lives and from our church. Pray that his power be bound. Pray for Christ to shine through. Let’s look at each of our own lives and pray that God is using us to further his Kingdom and that we are truly honoring him with our lives and with our service through our church. Pray for our church to be the light that God calls it to be to the Lost and the Broken. Pray that we choose to serve rather than always wanting to be served. Pray that God will open our eyes to needs and then give us the desire and the resources to meet them. Pray for healing of any broken relationships that are hindering God’s blessing on this church. I really believe that God has something special for this church and also believe that Missions is the key to where we go as a church.

Day 3:
Today lets pray for SIFAT. This organization that started 30 years ago is definitely changing the world for Christ. For those of you lucky enough to meet the Corson’s and to hear Mrs. Sarah speak on Sunday – WOW! She definitely makes you want to be involved with them. Let’s lift them up. Not just this mission we are going on, but all of their work. Their staff, their board members, their graduates, anyone associated with that organization. It is amazing to work with people who have given everything to serve God. Let’s just lift them up today.

Day 4:
Today Let’s pray for the exact mission we are working on. Let’s lift up the staff at this church. Let’s lift up the members. Let’s lift up the children.

The name of this project is Dulce Refugio..Sweet Refuge. We will be building the first floor of a three story building which will house classrooms for the children in that community. These children are in a program, partially funded by Compassion International with whom SIFAT is partnering. In this program the children can come to the church when not in their public school classes, have a meal, receive tutoring, and be nourished in a safe environment while their parents are away from home trying to earn enough to support their families. This is in an urban setting but is one of the poorest areas in all Quito.

This year, all teams will be working in new areas for SIFAT and with different churches....again, based on selected proposals from our 2008 Ecuadorian graduates. The construction project is at Villaflores in an Assembly of God church. Anita Flores, the pastor's wife, is the SIFAT graduate.

Day 5:
Today lets pray for the team from Tennessee and Oklahoma that will be joining us. As of today, they have about 15 people going as well. Together, God can work wonders. The leaders name is Nelson Wilson. They are from multiple churches around Tennessee, with the largest group being
from Nashville. They have traveled together as a group on mission teams for years. Lets lift up them for their logistics, and all of the things they will do to get there. They will primarily lead the Medical team and we will stay at the same hotel.
Let's pray for our team to be open to them and for them to be open to us.
Let's be able to show the world that our bond in Christ is able to overcome
small things, like where we are from and what we look like. Whether it is
Tennessee, Oklahoma, or Ecuador.

Day 6:
Today lets pray for The Leaders in Ecuador. Their president is Rafael Correa. Ask God to work in his life. For him to become a Christian, if he is not. For him to have wisdom and discernment. Pray for the National Assembly (similar to congress), and the National Court (similar to our Supreme Court). Again, ask God to convict them and lead to their salvation and for their actions to glorify him.
Pray for the people of the country. The country has approximately 13 million people, has a literacy rate of 93 percent and is roughly the size of the state of Nevada. Quito is the capital and the second largest city with approximately 1.5 million residents.

Day 7:
Today lets pray for our Pastor, Wayne Webster. We are thrilled to have Wayne reappointed to our church for another year and we need to lift him up. We know that Wayne has had numerous personal issues dealing with the health of his family, and has continued to serve and to seek God’s will for our church. Even though he is not traveling with us on this trip – he is definitely still the leader of our church and we need to lift him up.

Day 8:
Today lets pray for Mike, Jennifer, and Alex Calhoun.
-Jennifer is our mission coordinator for the church and our trip leader. It is an incredible undertaking to lead a group on a trip such as this and lets pray for her to have wisdom and discernment and patience (even though we don't have to try to test it! Ha). She has to handle hundreds of details that most of us will never see. Jennifer will also be the team photographer. All of us were moved last year by her talent and were amazed to see how photos can tell a story sometimes better than words can. Lets pray for her.
-Mike has to live with Jennifer through this and lets pray for him. Mike has committed his life to service in our church. He has also been our mission coordinator and along with Alton and Greg, has served on multiple mission teams over the years. He has also served in numerous capacities and on teams that have worked with SIFAT. He has served for probably the last 10-12
years with our youth, with 4 of them being on staff at our church. He has a large task of handling a cross cultural teenage only group for the first time and lets pray for God to use him to reach these teenagers in a way that no one else has.
-And Alex has to live with both of them. Lets lift Alex up as one of only three remaining youth going with our team. This will be Alex's second year in a row to travel internationally and she will be surrounded by students wanting a glimpse of her life in the US. Pray for God to give her the spirit to represent Christ and the courage to share her faith.

Day 9:
Today lets pray for Greg and Katie Howell.
-Greg was our trip leader last year and has been an instrumental force in the revival of missions in our church. His passion and leadership have touched us all. He is also traveling on multiple other trips this year, including back to Nicaragua.
-Also lift up Katie. She has just returned from a trip and will be going back with us. It is such an encouragement to see a young lady who gets such joy from sharing God’s love.
-Let’s don’t forget to also lift up Luke and Amye who aren’t able to go this year, but who we hope can make it with us next year.
Obviously this whole family just loves God and wants to share his message of salvation to the world. Lets pray for them and ask God to continue to keep that passion alive and to bless them in their efforts.

Day 10:
Today lets pray for Bethany Piper and her family.

Bethany is a great addition to our traveling team. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Maybe next year, her husband Michael will be able to travel with us as well. But there is no doubt that he has been a big part of our preparation and planning for this trip and is a vital part of our overall church effort. We are so glad to have them back in our church family (They never really left) after living away for a few years. This trip is just one of many mission minded activities that they are active in. Lift up their two children, Colt and Gracie as well. They won’t like mom being gone for that long. So they are giving as well for this mission to be successful. It is amazing and humbling when you really think about how many people really are involved or touched by this trip. It is a reminder of how fast and how far we can spread God’s love when we choose to. He can and WILL use each of us in ways that we can’t even imagine if we will just let him.

Spaghetti Lunch at Brookhaven FUMC on June 14

2009-06-11T07:47:00.000-07:00

Join us this Sunday for a fundraiser spaghetti lunch hosted by Team Ecuador. You'll have a delicious lunch for the whole family, great fellowship and learn more about the team and our trip.

Look forward to seeing you there!

KH

Welcome!

2009-06-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Team Ecuador's blog!

We are so excited to have this new platform to communicate & connect with our church family! We'll update periodically as the team prepares for the trip. Once in Ecuador (July 25-August 2), we'll update daily.

Bookmark us, follow us or put a sticky on your computer. Whatever helps bring you back often! And feel free to post your own comments! This will be a fun & exciting adventure and we are looking forward to sharing it with you.

Kathy Harrison
Team Ecuador