The Jesus Film Outreach!

Hi Everyone! I'm praising God for the FUN I've been having lately. The other volunteer, Joy and I have been able to get out quite a bit this week and I feel like I even know my way around the city now. (Although, we did get lost the other day...it took us an hour and a half to find the film developing store. Ha!) :) Anyway... I have to tell you about an AWESOME experience I had last night. Through the hospital ministry called Altas Cimas we met a guy that works for Samaritan's Purse. His name is Franklin and he's in charge of the projects that Samaritans Purse does in this part of Ecuador, although I guess he travels all over with them. But anyway, last night (Saturday) we went with him and a small group of people in a small town in the mountains called Penipe (about 45 mins from here) to show the Jesus film in an area that was affected by a volcano that erupted about two or three years ago. It was incredible! We drove onto the football field in the middle of all of the houses, without giving them any notice and started unpacking. In fact, some of them walked up to us and said "Hi, how are you? What are you doing? Are you guys camping?" :o) It was funny.. We set up the screen and sat on some giant stairs to watch the movie. IT WAS FREEZING COLD! The lady that I sat next to went to her house and got blankets to share with us. The people were so kind and welcoming. I would guess about atleast 30 people, maybe more came to watch the movie with us. Great turn out considering one person told me that about 40 people live in that little sector. It was great actually... I don't mean this negatively, but they seemed to me like the hicks of Riobamba. They were wearing their rubber boots and flannel shirts, some had ponchos and they were kind of rough around the edge. They were smoking and laughing and when we went to sit with them they were drinking whiskey- and kindly offered us some! They insisted it would warm us up. :) One of the guy volunteers drank some from a plastic cup, but I don't think he realized what it was until after he was already drinking it. They just offered him a cup, he drank it, and all of the Ecuadorian men started laughing really hard. :o) It was great! Anyway...we watched the movie and then Franklin shared his testimony and invited people to know Christ as their personal savior. He prayed with them and invited all that had invited Christ into their hearts to stand up and come to the front so he could pray for them. EVERY single person stood up and went to the front. PRAISE GOD for that kind of response! They kept thanking us over and over for coming and asked when we would return. There aren't any churches in that area, but Franklin will be working near that area with Samaritan's Purse for a few more years, so he invited them to visit any time. OH! by the way... one cute little old man was telling me about some gringos he knew...a missionary from MAINE named Nancy Jackson I think it was...does that name ring a bell anyone?? I thought it was an interesting connection. :)

When the volcano erupted people lost everything. The people were moved to refugee houses and the government said they would rebuild the houses for them, but they still haven't done it. So Samaritan's Purse is building 100 houses for the people so they can have their own houses. While we waited for the guys to set up the screen for the movie, Joy and I chatted with a woman who lived there. I asked her about what happened when the volcano erupted. With tears in her eyes she told us how without much notice the volcano erupted. They had heard that there was a chance it could erupt, but didn't really expect anything. Until one day the soldiers came up the side of the mountain telling everyone to leave quickly because the volcano was going to erupt. So they went to their houses to round up their animals and things. They were too slow! People died from the heat as the lava ran down the mountain. Hundreds of people just ran with nothing. They had no way to get money, no place to stay, only the clothes on their back. Most of them traveled far away to stay with family. But imagine.... most of these people are farmers with crops and animals. In an hour they had to leave it ALL behind. I tried to think of what that would be like for our family if our farm was destroyed. My dad especially would be crushed (me on the other hand...would that mean no more picking raspberries all summer??? :oD - just kidding...it would be horrible!) The cool part was that I've given to Samaritan's Purse before- operation christmas child and buying animals for people with our IV group. It was so awesome to see the how it all plays out on the other end. What a blessing! And it is SOOO incredibly beautiful up there. There's no way to describe the beauty of the mountains here. It's amazing... I have some pictures, but they don't compare even... I would recommend a trip to this part of the country! Especially if you like to hike. :o)

Anyway... I have a LOT of homework that I need to catch up on so I need to get going. Keep sending me e mails! I like hearing from you all! :o) Until next time....

PS- two more girls came today. They'll be volunteering for 6 months!!! yikes..that's a long time. But they're from Grand Rapids, Michigan! Ha! I have some family out that way and my grandparents used to like in Grand Rapids. :) Iiiiit's a smaaalll world aaaafter all.