Posted in Ecuador

We have been having problems with our school computer this week. Consequently, son Josh has had to use mine. I've hardly had a chance with it all week! I'm pretty fed up with all the problems and we have decided to replace the old with a new laptop. I'm not sure how or when but it needs to be soon!

The past two weekends have been really good ones for me. We had a volunteer group down from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There were only six in the group that turned out to be a really good group to work with. We thoroughly enjoyed the time they were here. I even got to get out of the house for some ministry opportunities which doesn't happen too often for me.

The first weekend they were here I accompanied them to a village outside of Guayaquil where one of our house churches meets. We did some sharing of the gospel to those who live in the neighborhood of the church that meets there. There is nothing so fulfilling than being able to share God's love with someone and see them respond!

The road to this village is often impassible because of the rains. It's not a paved road and the rains have turned it into a long mud pit. We were told it was passable the weekend we went. I'm wondering what it looks like when they declare it impassible!  We drove and slid through mud that was as deep as the tires on our vehicle.  There were also large "ponds"  in many sections that made it difficult to determine just how deep they were.  We kept to the edges and just had faith that we could get through. I felt like I was on an episode of "Amazing Race!"

During the week I was unable to accompany them because of school. However, last weekend afforded me another opportunity to go with them as we ministered to those who have been severely affected by the flooding. On Friday, Guy went out with them as they traveled by canoe to areas that have been isolated to deliver food packages. During their time there they saw a woman with her children living in a small one room "house" where half the floor was gone. On Saturday son Josh and I went with them as they returned to build a floor for this family. Only  two or three people could actually get up into the house (it was too small to accommodate any more) so the rest of us stayed down below.  I helped mostly by handing up materials to those doing the actual building.  We actually built floors and walls in two houses whose families had been abandoned by the father. The houses were in the middle of a huge lake caused by the flooding. We were in water up to our waists bringing materials from the canoes to the house. We were there in the water for 5-6 hours working.  It is so sad. I don't know how these people live like that.  Those that don't have boats just sit on the ladder going up into their house or in the doorway with nothing to do all day. They have no way to work or get food.

Below I have some pictures of our experiences. Dh put together a video of pictures that I'm posting as well.