Friends and Training Camp

I guess life in Ecuador is a LOT slower than life in the "land of good and plenty!"  I just can't find time to blog.  I have so much to blog about and don't even know where to start.  I may start with more recent items and throw in some out dated things here and there.

Recently we were able to visit some great friends in Anderson, IN.  We got to know Phil and Sue Mercer when we were scrounging up support 12 years ago.  Phil was a pastor at a local church and we had some similar interests that helped us build a friendship.  We have watched their family grow and move and now go through a health crisis.  Phil has been quite sick with what they now think is an autoimmune disease.  While he's doing much better now, than in more recent months, I'm sure they would still appreciate your prayers as they figure out their new "normal". 

Because we were going to be in Anderson and our son is a HUGE football fan (he has no favorite team - just favorite players), we decided to surprise him with a side trip.  If you are an Indianapolis Colts fan, you know that their training camp is held at Anderson University.  So, literally, 2 miles down the road from the Mercer's is Anderson University!   It was fun to be so close to the practice field and see how big some of those players are! Josiah said that he didn't "need" anything for a long time after getting Andrew Luck's autograph!  So, I guess we're set for a while!!

This is why it was so amazing that Josiah got Andrew's autograph!  He didn't stay and sign for very long and there were just a "few" people calling his name!

Andrew Luck (#1 draft pick)

Chris Rucker

Antonio Fenelus

The crazy fans!

Olivia was slightly bored during the practice!  She was trying to play a game in the shade!

The Love of Friends

We are about to leave to go back to the US for our third furlough.  (MAF has a 4 year rotation; 3 1/2 years overseas and then 6 months of furlough.)  This is why I have been posting so much to the blog.  I'm working on a blog book for our furlough and would like to include everything from here before we leave.

When you leave on furlough usually you are pretty ready for a break.  Living in another culture can be draining and stressful.  I don't know why, but this "term" has been the best yet and it's the first time that it's been hard thinking about leaving our lives here.  One reason it's hard is because of good friends - both Ecuadorian and American.

Some of those friends include the Martins.  The Martin are from Texas and they had a Texas Longhorns magnet on the back of their car.  A LONG time ago we stole it and put a sticker over it that said "We love the Irwins!"  We put it back on their car and unfortunately they noticed right away.....but, they love us soooo much that it has stayed on the back their car!   Too funny!  So, now we're taking orders - in case you would like your own bumper magnet to profess your love of our family!!  : )

Father's Day Party

Our church held a Father's Day party for our couple's Bible study.  We had a taco bar and it was so fun to see many people eat tacos for the very first time!  Quite comical!  We played games, ate, laughed and heard a devotional about fathers.  We are going to miss these friends as we prepare to go on furlough.

Magdi, me and Alexandra

Trying to pass a candy from top to bottom through your clothes.  Let's just say that the women wear tighter clothes then the men....so we lost!  : (

Wilson and Magdi

Our fearless leader - Reinaldo

Miguel and Alexandra

Nancy trying to tie a necktie on her husband Franklin for a game.

Franklin modeling his tie!

Jaime modeling his tie.

Nankamo andAida

Gilberto and Silvia

What's in the bag?

Sometimes Chad comes home from flying with some interesting stories.  Last Monday he came home with this video of Omene....

The reason I'm sharing this video with you isn't because it's cool to show pictures of an anaconda.  No, I would like to share with you what God has done in Omene's life since this video was recorded a week ago.

When Chad was in the community Omene came and said they had caught an anaconda trying to steal their chickens.  He wanted to know if Chad wanted to see it.  While he was showing him his "prize" he also told Chad that his side was hurting.  The week before he had fallen from a bridge and Chad told him he had probably broken a rib.  Chad promised to send some medicine back to him.  (Omene lives in the jungle where there isn't a doctor or pharmacy.)   That was Monday.

On Thursday we were visiting Dixi in the hospital and walked by the ICU room (it has a large picture window so the nurses can watch whoever is in the room) many times as we took Dixi outside for some air.   We noticed that there was a new patient in the room that looked extremely bad, but didn't think much more of it.  As we were leaving, I told Chad that the man looked like he was Waorani.  Chad looked more closely and realized it was Omene!  He had all kinds of tubes and machines hooked up to him and was hard to recognize.

It turned out that his pain kept getting worse so he asked for a flight out - still thinking the whole time that it was just his ribs.  By the time he got to the hospital he was almost dead.  When he fell he lacerated his liver, which then began filling with blood until it couldn't hold anymore.  He had to have two surgeries to repair his liver and to our surprise we found him sitting in a chair without any machines attached on Sunday!  The doctors say it's a miracle.  They said that if it would've been you or I and not a strong indigenous man, we would be dead!  It's amazing that he flew out just in time.  God's protection couldn't be more obvious.

Omene is a believer and knows the power of God....especially now!  Do you?

Los Nenquimo

Gilberto and Silvia are good friends from church.  When we celebrated Valentine's Day (friendship day too) we all drew names and gave gifts.  Well, we gifted a frame and photos to the Nenquimo's - can you believe it's taken us this long to get to it?!!

If you know the story behind "Beyond the Gates of Splendor" or "End of the Spear,"  then you have heard of Mincaye.  Gilberto is Mincaye's grandson and his Waorani name is actually Mincaye too.  They are a super sweet family and we love to laugh with them!  They are constantly smiling, so it was funny to see them get super serious when we started taking pictures!  We had to keep reminding them that it wasn't supposed to look painful!

Grants

When we first moved overseas Josiah was 5 WEEKS old!  Right before we left Ohio we had Josiah dedicated at church.  My (Andi) dad prayed and had everyone in tears as he prayed that God would provide grandparents for Josiah wherever we went.  God is faithful.  He provided grandparents here in Ecuador that were the BEST!  Not only were Ron & Margie Grant great surrogate grandparents, but they were/are great friends.

Of course, you guessed it, the reason for this post is that we had to say goodbye to the Grants.  Saying good bye so often is definitely a not so fun part of being a missionary.  Ron and Margie have been such a big part of our life in Shell, so we kind of never thought they would leave!   The only thing good about the timing of their departure is that we are about to leave on furlough ourselves and have that to look forward to instead of being so sad. 

Ron and Margie came here 14 years ago as "short term" staff with MAF.  Margie was a teacher and principal at Nate Saint Memorial School (NSMS) and Ron was our base maintenance guy....the guy you call when something goes wrong at home! They planned to stay for one year.   They both "served" well.  I don't think we will even realize how much they did, until we return from furlough. The have left some big shoes to fill.

The Grants have been with us in the good and the bad.  We've laughed A LOT and played A LOT.   They have been the answer to many more prayers than just the one that Andi's dad prayed.  Now they are heading to another MAF program in Lesotho Africa.  We will miss them, but we couldn't be more thankful for the years we got to spend with them. Thanks Ron & Margie for some great memories and for adopting us and our kids. 

Ron and Margie visiting Olivia on her birthday!

Ron's Birthday hat

The Grants hosted their own going-away party with a BINGO bash!

Unfortunately (or fortunately!) this gag gift, that has been floating around for a VERY long time, has found a new permanent home with Anna!!

The "official" bingo rules!

Josiah presenting Margie with a going away gift from the kids at school.

Our small MAF gathering.

Our last night together.

Playing games....we even let Ron win!

Megan & Danny

We were able to take some engagement photos for Megan and Danny recently.  Megan is a teacher here with the Casa de Fe orphanage.  She met Danny here and they are planning to be married in the fall.  They are so cute!  Wish we could be here for the wedding.  Congratulations you two!