Merry Christmas!!!

For those of you who read our latest blog entry, you'll remember we didn't have the greatest trip to Quito.  We can't complain though, as we did get something accomplished.  You have to be happy for even small victories some times.  While Chad will be grounded for the time being, we can see light at the end of the tunnel.  We will have to head back to Quito again, to finish paperwork, but the process is much more straight forward now that we have the resident visas in our passports.   Some people have asked about what that means exactly and the easiest way to look at it is that it's like having a "green card" in the U.S.  We aren't getting Ecuadorian citizenship, we are only getting legal resident status that gives us the right to work.  With that status it is unlikely that the aviation authorities can keep  Chad from flying.  The new (two years old) constitution here says that a legal resident as every legal right to work in the country and can not be discriminated against based on ethnicity.  

So we'll wait on God's timing for all of the paperwork to go through and trust Him for the outcome.  We know He doesn't "need" us here, but we haven't felt a peace about leaving yet.  We really feel a couple more years would be ideal for the program and for us as well.  We appreciate your support and prayers so much.

Blessings and Merry Christmas from the Irwin Family!!!!