A Real Live Life Story

When Jor got the email that our VERY good friends, Mike and Teryl (originally from our hometown but now serving in Brooklyn Bethel) would be working for the fourth time at the branch here in EC I think we may have done a little dance and when we found out that they'd be able to break away for the weekend to visit us we probably jumped for joy!  At that point the countdown began and our excitement started to grow and grow and grow.  Jor, AJ and I have known Teryl since our early pioneering days in the congregation where we grew up.  In fact Teryl came to our hall to help us newbies out at a time when we really needed her.  Thus, there is a special place in our hearts for her and her wonderful expample of spirituality and just plain coolness.  So when she was finally in the country and called us on the landline she was greeted (2 times, once by me and once by Jor) with a crazy, shrilly, TEEERRRYYYLLLL!!!!  

This past Friday the big day had finally arrived.  And as if we didn't feel privleged enough to spend the weekend with a really sweet Bethelite couple, they brought a friend.  I'm not quite sure what (if anything) we could have done to deserve the specialness that was in store for us but there in our presence was a real live life story, Cloris Harris.  She came to Ecuador 44 years ago in 1966 with her husband as a missionary and has been hard at work every since.  4 years after they arrived Cloris' husband, Harley was assigned to the branch as the coordinator but Cloris was still a missionary while living at the branch.  For the next 16 years she made all her hours pretty much solo.  I mean she had the support of the congregation and everything but she was without the usual missionary partner that is such an essential part of most missionaries lives.  Tough lady.  Her work proved very fruitful with over 60 people coming in the truth while studying with her.  That's not counting all the planted seeds and progress that happended later.  Wow.  Many of our friends here, our age and younger, can say that Cloris studied with their grandparents or started their family out in the truth.  Oh, and one other thing, there was no congregation here when Cloris and Harley started out...the meetings were in their living room.

Our 4 days with our old friends Teryl & Mike and our new friend Cloris were truly upbuilding, encouraging and fun!  Thank you so much for all the stories and history lessons.  I won't soon forget this wonderful experience!

And if you're looking for more information on the history of Ecuador or Harley and Cloris Harris check out the 1989 Yearbook under the subheading "A Different Spirit in Cuenca", page 236.