Retreat with God at Greenwood Furnace State Park

Tuesday afternoon:
Lord, I give you this time and place for the purpose of knowing your heart, your plans and your purposes for my life and for the life of our church. I give you complete and unlimited access to my mind heart and soul.

Tuesday evening:
I struggled getting the fire started with wet wood. I did a lot of fanning to get the wet wood to burn. Lord, might this be what you are calling me to do – to fan the flame – in my life and in the church’s life?

How do I fan Lord? By blessing! Actively blessing! Don’t just wish them a blessing, but seek tangible ways to actually bless them. Begin by praying everyday – “Lord, make a blessing to someone today!” And then watch for opportunities. Watch how God uses you to bless. Bless Judy! Bless your children! Bless your church family! Bless your neighbors! Invite others to join you in praying this prayer. It will become contagious and spread throughout the community!

Wednesday morning:
There was only one other camper in the campground. On Wednesday morning, he invited me over for coffee or tea. “Lord, I came here to be with you not other people.” A few minutes later, we were sitting around his campfire. He was 62 years old and retired. He and his wife come here two weeks each year and it’s close enough for his wife to travel to work each day. I shared that I was a pastor and was here to spend time with God.

He asked if a skunk visited me last night. I told him it scared me to death. It was dark and I was sitting by the campfire when I suddenly saw a shadow move behind me. I turned and there was a skunk facing me less than five feet away. I jumped. It jumped. For a brief moment, I froze and watched it turn. I was terrified, sure I would be sprayed. But the skunk walked quickly away. I grabbed the flashlight, went to the car and shut all the windows. A few moments later, an owl started to howl. Suddenly, I saw another shadow beneath my feet. By instinct, my foot went flying into the air sending my flip-flop flying higher in the air and landing in the campfire. I quickly picked my flip-flop out of the fire, grabbed the flashlight and began looking for other creeping creatures of the dark. It’s amazing how spooked one can get when you are alone and your imagination starts to run wild.

After about an hour of sharing stories and laughing together, I returned to my campsite ready to listen to God.

Wednesday evening:
I was lying on my hammock behind my campsite down by the stream when I heard someone making noise at my campsite. It was my neighbor with two hot meatball sandwiches. What a blessing! Are you trying to teach me something Lord?

Thursday morning:
I woke up early and didn’t see anyone stirring at my friend’s campsite. I built a fire, cooked my breakfast and heated water for tea. An hour later, my friend dropped by and invited me over for tea. Since I had already had two cups of tea, I declined the invitation. “Be sure to stop by before you leave!” he said.

Thursday afternoon:
As I was washing the dishes and preparing to leave, I sliced two of my fingers deep enough to cause the blood to run off my hand onto the ground. I ran to the water pump and after washing them off, they were still bleeding. Who else to go to but my friend? He found some iodine and band aids. I felt like a little boy as he carefully treated the cuts and put the band aids on. “You have been like an angel to me this week”, I told him. “God gives us what we need,” He said.

God, I came here to listen to you. In words, you told me to fan the flames by blessing others. And then you showed me how to bless by example!

First, you showed me that blessing begins with bold invitations and giving one’s time. My friend blessed me by boldly inviting me over for tea and sharing his time with me.

Secondly, you showed me that blessing is sharing acts of kindness to one another. My friend blessed me by giving me two hot meatball sandwiches.

Thirdly, you showed be that blessing is helping someone in need. My friend blessed me by being there for me when I cut my fingers.

I was waiting for words of instruction Lord, but you gave me so much more. Thank you Lord! Thank you camper friend!

Home Again

Wow! It's been almost five days since we returned to the states. Our flights home Friday night and Saturday were tiring but went well. Thanks to Judy's parents for picking us up at Kennedy airport!

We are still adjusting to the American culture and way of life. Our trip to Ecuador clearly helped us have a clear break from church and church responsibilities. We return to New Holland with a new perspective and renewed vision of church and mission.

Some of my routine spiritual disciplines of contemplation, prayer and scripture were interrupted at times on the trip. But I found myself acquiring new spiritual disciplines of hospitality and play. People and relationships are what matter! Loving, caring, encouraging, and playing and praying together is what matters. These new spiritual disciplines have the possibility of bringing great joy and contentment!

This past Sunday, Judy and I visited a church that offers several worship services. We attended traditional worship service together at 9:15 and then Judy attended a contemporary service while I attended a "Hope and Healing" service. We both came home inspired and motivated to implement some new ideas at New Holland.

Sunday evening, we went to a concert at Longs Park by a well known Irish band. On Tuesday, Judy and I left for Big Valley. On the way, our tire went flat along route 30 just west of Greenfield. We spent two lovely nights together in Big Valley - reflecting on our summer, our future, and just enjoying being alone together.

Thursday night, we picked up Renate - the IVEP person from Paraguay who will be living with us for the next year and working at the New Holland Early Learning Center. We can already tell that she will be a great blessing to our family, our church, and to the ELC.

This morning, I attended the Missional Cohort group I am part of at Lancaster Mennonite Conference. It gave me the opportunity to reflect deeply on God's call for us as a church to be missional and my role as pastor and leader. I came home encouraged and challenged.

Tomorrow, we will be attending my niece's wedding and will be spending lot's of time with extended family. And on Sunday morning, we can't wait to worship again with our church family at Refreshing Mountain Campground.

We deeply miss all of friends in Ecuador, but we feel renewed, refreshed, and excited about returning to God's call for us in New Holland! Judy returns to pastoring next week, and I return on September 3.

Quito Airport

It is 9:45 p.m Friday night and we are waiting to board the plane in the Quito airport. It flies to Guayaquil and then to Atlanta. We hope to arrive tomorrow afternoon at JFK at around 12:30 p.m. Tomorrow night this time, we hope to be back in our own house.

Today we stopped by our spanish school in Quito and were able to say one last goodby to our professors. It was hard to leave Dany and her family tonight. But we look forward to returning to family and friends back home!

Praise God for all his presence and all his good gifts!

We Leave Tomorrow

This morning we are driving to Quito. Tomorrow evening we fly from Quito and arrive home late Saturday afternoon. As we prepare to leave Ecuador, there are many mixed feelings.

WHAT I WILL MISS MOST ABOUT ECUADOR...

The people - their warmth, friendliness, and high value on relationships.

Social activities - they know how to have fun, make time to play and be with each other.

Community - children and families live in a supportive and close community.

The music - so expressive and such an integral part of this culture.

The mountains, lakes and scenery - God's extravagant beauty.

The architecture - colorful, creative, little wasted space.

The indigineous people - the way they have preserved their colorful traditions.

The church buildings - old, beautiful, full of art to express the biblical story.

The church people - they know how to celebrate and are not embarrased of public expressions.

The weather - nearly perfect temperatures year round.

The markets - fruit markets, artisan markets, meat markets, flower markets, food markets, etc.

The bread - fresh baked bread of all types on every street corner.

The fruit - the sweetest and greatest variety of fruit you can imagine.

The juices - juice at every meal made fresh directly from the fruit.

The meals - very satisfying and yet I was able to lose wieght.


WHAT I WILL NOT MISS WHEN I RETURN HOME...

The roads - bumpy, filled with potholes, unpaved, drivers rule.

The drivers - they are very impatient, reckless, and constantly blowing horns.

Waiting - things seem to be rarely on schedule.

Malaria medication.

Photos

An Alpaca seen in the wild in the mountains. There were also many wild Llamas in the mountains and volcanoes.










A view of rooftops in Cuenca.









Twisty, winding dirt roads in the mountains on the way to Cuenca.

A view of the basillica in Cuenca.

Another view of the front of the basillica.

One of the many iguanas running wild in the park in downtown Guayaquil.

Judy, Dany, Jessica and Janelle in front of one of the large typical trees.

The inside of one of the cathedrals in Guayquil.

Birthday Celebrations

Yesterday (Tuesday), we were privileged to celebrate Daniella's mother's birthday in traditional Ecuadorian style. At lunch, her grandmother made the meal and uncles and aunts were present. A special music group (mariachi) surprised her with special music. The group consisted of trumpets, guitars, violins and vocalists. The music was accompanied by dancing and shouts of "Viva a Cumpleanero" - Life to the birthday person. What a fun celebration. In the evening, we went to a second birthday party at a farm attended by friends that graduated with her from high school.

In the afternoon, we visited a village and a museum that had a real mummy dated from the 1500's. We also visited a zoo and ate very sweet bread found only in this village. This village (Guano) is also known for making rugs made out of wool. They gave a large 30 by 80 meter rug to President Reagan many years ago.

Today, it is Daniella's sister's birthday, so we get to celebrate again!

Cuenca and Guayaquil

We traveled to Cuenca Saturday morning. It was about a five hour drive through the mountains. As usual, mountain roads are very slow and rough. Cuenca has some of the oldest and most beautiful architecture with large cathedrals and basillicas. It is the third largest city of Ecuador. We visited several large Catholic cathedrals Saturday night and Sunday morning. We were greeted by beggars sitting at the entrances. Street vendors were waiting to sell you a variety of food when we exited.

Most churches were very full during the services, especially Sunday morning. Worshipers were very expressive and public with their faith. Churches filled from the front to the back. Many were seen kneeling and praying. Hundreds went forward at the end of the service to be sprinkled with holy water. There is no embarrasment of public expression of their faith.
Why are North American Christians so private with their faith? Why are they embarrased to sit in the front, to kneel at the altar, to be seen praying. Most other cultures around the world are much more expressive of their faith. Even other religions in our own country are more expressive and public then most Christians. Why? Lord, help me to be less private and more public in my expression of faith when I return to the U.S.

On Sunday afternoon, we traveled to Guayaquil through more breath-taking mountain views. We descended through the cloud forests and finally to the coastal plains where we were greeted by fields of banannas, coca trees, rice, and sugar cane. Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador and very modern. It has very much of an American feel. Sunday evening, we visited another cathedral. On Monday, we visited a museum which gave the history and culture of Guayquil and a museum of religious art.

Early missionaries attempted to communicate their faith through religious art. They focused on fire, earth, water and air. Fire represented the Trinity, the earth represented the religious church, water represented the saints and air represented angels. The purpose of the art was to transport the biblical text to the people through fire, earth, water and air. For example, incense, special garments, precious stones, gold and silver keys are all earthy items that convey religious truths.

I am challenged to ponder how we might use the arts and media to share Jesus in our culture.

More of Riobamba

Beautiful, quiet, tranquil, retreat, gardens, flowers, manzanas (apples), horses, sheep, cows... these words describe Daniella's grandfather's farm up in the mountains. We visited it yesterday and today, Judy and I will be going there for an overnight retreat. It is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth. Judy and I are really looking forward to spending some quiet time with God and with each other today and tomorrow. Below are a few pictures of his farm.



We will remain in Riobamba till Saturday when we leave for Cuenca and then Guayaquil. We continue to absorb the daily life and culture of Ecuador. The daily routine is quite different from the states. Most wake up between 6 and 7 with breakfast around 8 a.m. Work begins at 9 and runs till 1. Almuerzo and siesta from 1 till 3 and then work from 3 till 7 p.m. A small evening meal around 8 and eventually bed.

Riobamba is a large city spread out over several miles with population of approximately 125,000. The city seems to be either middle to upper class or else poor. The rich are owners and managers of stores, businesses, and farms in the surrounding mountains. The poor are house helpers, maids, and employees.

I wonder if the city could exist without the poor? Could the poor exist without the rich? What should the objective and goal be - to make the poor richer? Should the rich be poorer? Which group of people are the most happy, joyful, and contented? What would Christ do? What would his objective and goal be?

It's a totally different world than the jungle or the indiginous villages in the mountains where the farms are. And yet in Riobamba, both worlds exist. Elderly indigenous women dressed in brightly colered clothing bent over carrying huge loads on their backs. Men and boys dressed in dark clothing with dark hats. So many similarities to Amish and yet so different. All of this in the middle of the city of Riobamba with buses, taxies and busy streets. Beggars, street vendors, sirens, alarms, roosters crowing, dogs barking - just a few of the noises I hear from Daniella's house as I write this.

Many similarities to New Holland and yet so different.

The architecture of houses are very different. Chickens, dogs, flowers, and other animals on the rooftop, often with rooms for the house helpers. No clothes dryers - wash is hung on clotheslines on the rooftops. It dries quickly in the hot sun and breezes. No air conditioners or furnaces - it is just right during the day and a bit cool at night.

No shopping centers, movie theatres, or Walmarts. Instead hundreds of little shops lining the streets. Shops selling bread, clothing, fruit, food. Shops with raw meat hanging on the sidewalk. Shops offering services such as internet access, copies, long distance telephone calls. Small places to eat with a whole roasted pig out front on the street. Instead of shopping once a week or once a month, most people shop every day obtaining fresh bread, fresh fruit, fresh herbs and spices, fresh meat, etc.

This morning, Janelle has been invited to watch Daniella's father do surgery. At first we thought he was inviting her to an opera, but we later discovered it was an operation.

Last night, we were privileged to watch a true South American futbol (soccer) game. An Ecuador team from Riobamba played Venezuela and won 1-0. It was quite an experience to experience the excitement of a large crowd of Ecuadorian soccer fans.

Yesterday, we had lunch with Laura and her family. Laura stayed with us in New Holland for a week last fall. Her father and mother are leaders in their church. They treated us to a wonderful almuerzo (lunch). Below is a picture of us seated around the table. The other picture is for Paul Snader and Tim Martin. It is a picture of her father with boxes of bibles. He is a leader of the Guideons in Ecuador. He gave each of us New Testaments that are in both Spanish and English. Judy and I are really enjoying reading the bible in spanish and discovering how much spanish we have learned!

Riobamba

This morning (Wednesday) Judy took an early morning walk with Daniella’s grandmother. She thought it was to be a walk around the town, but instead it was to a park where more than 300 persons gather each morning at 7 a.m. for an hour of aerobic exercise.

We visited a historic church, active convent, and museum with some of the oldest art in Ecuador. Riobamba has some of the richest and oldest religious history of Ecuador. I found the room that focused on the trinity the most interesting. It had a sculpture of Christ, the Holy Spirit as a dove, and God as Father. It is the first time I’ve seen an actual depiction of God in sculpture.

From Daniella’s roof, we can see three volcanoes capped with snow. God has extravagantly given Ecuador some of the greatest beauty on this earth.

We just got finished eating some roasted quinea pig. It was very tasty.

Justin leaves this afternoon for Quito and flies back to Memphis early Thursday morning. The rest of us have only a little over a week left in Ecuador.

Below are some pictures of Riobamba.

The first one is of one of the historic churches in Riobamba.

A man in the market waiting for someone who needs some clothes mended.

This one is for Scott. It is one of ten stands in the market selling roasted pigs.

Some indigenous ladies sitting on a street corner.

Chimborazo

On Tuesday, we went to Chimborazo which is Ecuador's highest summit. Its last eruption is thought to have occurred some time in the first millennium AD. Its summit is the spot on the surface farthest from the center of the Earth, measuring 20,946,232 feet from the Earth's core to the peak. We traveled on a dirt road as high as we could drive. Then Judy and the children hiked to a cabin that was 5,000 meters in altitude.

Chimborazo has breathtaking views. Hoever, due to the high altitude, I had difficulty breathing. During the three hours of waiting for the rest to return, I became sick with altitude sickness. When we returned to Riobamba, Daniella's father took me to his doctor's office in the hospital and insisted on checking me out. Everything was fine except for high blood pressure which is normally low for me. He said rest would cure me and this morning I feel much better.

It seems like when I get in altitudes over 9,000 feet, I am very short of breath. Both Quito and Riobamba are over 9,000 feet and yesterday we were at an alitidue of over 16,000 feet. The other time I had altitude sickness was when I climbed Pikes Peak at 14,100 feet.