San Francisco


We traveled to San Francisco today, not the one in California but a suburb of Quito. I am having a hard time wrapping my arms around the geography of this place. Partly because it has been so cloudy and rainy so I can't see and also realizing that at 9000 feet, pretty much any direction is down... Today was sunny so as we headed towards our destination, a vast expanse opened up as we descended a switchback that definitely had me hoping the brakes were in good shape. The picture doesn't do it justice...
There was a lot more 'down' after the town you see here. 

Our morning started with a training of local church workers. They were so engaged and asked great questions ( one of the team so they were like the Bereans in Acts). So eager to hear and learn. Even so, two of the older men made commitments of faith and then asked to be baptized. After lunch, we broke up into teams to do home visits. I had the opportunity to lead a convenience store owner to Christ standing in the street and talking through the bars on her window. Our next visit was to the mayor of the town and his wife who had given property to the church to build a meeting place with homeless shelters on 2nd and 3rd stories ( building below in process)


 And our last visit was to an elderly bachelor who had multiple Bibles but also literature from a cult who visited him every Sunday. We were able to pray with him for faith in Christ alone.

The Ecuadorians are such a joy to meet and talk with but it is so frustrating with the language barrier. During our supper,  I sat with one of the ladies who asked great inciteful questions during the training time. Jocelyn and her mother, Maria with Maria's son, Jayden. Her husband,Daniel was working and Maria is expecting their third child. 

I love their smiles. Tomorrow we headed to another small town for a health clinic. These one seems to be a little less organized. I had asked our team leader about how effective the follow up by the local church was. She indicated that they do great follow up and our weeks effort is like a shot in the arm energizing the local church with what it would take several months to accomplish on their own. 

A few pics... a little 8 year old who was so shy she hid behind her momma, but when 6'7" Kenny knelt in the middle of the road and shared Christ with her, she accepted and spontaneously came out and gave him a hug....

Teresa taking advantage of the situation and sharing Christ with the kids.

and a diagnostic nightmare...

Blessings and thank you for your prayers.

Bryan

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