1 Year + 2 Days Living in Ecuador

I had planned on posting a "1 Year in Ecuador" blog on the actual anniversary date of my arrival but what can I say??  Life has been busy.   

Last Wednesday the Chinese Group made a semi-last minute decision to get to all of our expansive territory in order to invite everyone to the up-coming Convention in Guayaquil.  In other words, another jungle trip!  We split up into two groups.  The Muñoz Family, Paola and Ivan would take Loja and a couple of close by jungle towns leaving Macas and Sucua - both in the jungle for Amanda, Jenny and I.  Us girls left Thursday night, preached Friday and had SUCH a great time staying with Jenny's family in Mendez and visiting our brothers and sister there that we ended up staying till Monday.

Both service groups left with a couple of goals.  One, of course, was the invitation work and another was to obtain phone numbers of interested Chinese people so we didn't have to wait another 6 months just to talk to them.  And both groups came back with a good report.  We talked to one Chinese man who said that he will attend the convention and we got 3 phone numbers.  We also had some nice conversations, read scriptures and left literature.  A highlight for me was talking to a Chinese man living in Macas.  I was forewarned that in the past this man had not been very receptive so I conjured up a good attitude in order to take my turn witnessing.  He ended up listening, taking the tract and giving us his phone number.  And when we walked away....he was stilling reading the tract!  Always a good feeling.  

As for the other group, well, they had tons of success too!  I'm not quite sure how many but sounds like they got a ton of numbers and found a lot of interest.  One of the sisters in our group is even thinking of moving to Loja for a few months this service year to cultivate it.  

Now on to some good news regarding the Spanish field in the area.  We stayed with Jenny's Grandparents who live in Mendez, a small town about an hour away from Sucua (also a pretty small town).  Kind of recently and up until now Mendez has had all of their Public Talks and WT studies in town but interested ones and brothers and sisters from Mendez have needed to travel to Sucua to attend the other meeting.  However, starting last Friday this small group is now able to attend all the meetings right in town - a real blessing.  The meetings are in the front room of a house that belongs to some unbaptized publishers.  We had the experience of being at this first joyful event - so great!  There were 28 in attendance including a handful of students.  The area really needs help.  It has a HUGE territory that up until recently has basically been worked but just a couple of people - Jenny's Grandparents.  It is wildly fruitful and includes lots of Shuar people.  Jenny's Grandma studies with 7 different Shuar families (no clue how many other studies she has).  So, not only is the area beautiful but so is the work.  

We had so many more adventures - too many to post but hopefully the pictures on Picasa will help fill in some of the blanks.

Yes.  There are Chinese people living in the small towns of the Jungle.

Mendez Meeting

Marilu came to the meeting all by herself - too cute!