Thursday, September 10, 2009

Life and death...

Because I now have more internet access, it's easier to post. So I will post another story:

About a month ago, during the anniversary of Ecuador's independence, I was walking to a bus stop in Quito. During this time, there were lots of people in the city because of all the festivities. When I was almost to the bus stop, two men came up from behind me and started talkin to me, being friendly and pretending like they knew me from somewhere.
After a minute, they stopped the small talk and said "Money or die!"
My heart started to beat even faster. "Lord help me!" I prayed to myself. "Get me out of this, or at least give me the words to say."
Then they blocked my path to the bus stop.
With my head starting to feel the rush of blood, I said: "I don't have much, but what I do have, I can give you."
"What's that?" they replied.
"The love of Christ."
Hesitating for a second, they responded with: "Oh you must be part of some cult."
"No, I'm a follower of Christ. In fact, do you know Jesus?"
"Oh yeah, we know know Jesus, but we don't care, money or die!"
"No. Though you think you know Him, you don't and you are not saved!"
By this point, I could hardly speak because my throat swelled up from fear.
"We don't care, give us money or we're gonna kill you!"
They kept repeating that, however the error on their part was that there were lots of people around during this time.
I was keeping my eye out for an escape route and in my fast-beating heart I was still crying out to the Lord: "Save me!"
The two thieves didn't see a group of people coming our way because they were faced toward me. Right when that group started to pass I turned shoulder and joined them in walking the other direction and got away.
By the grace of God, those men did not even lay one finger on me! I even had with me: my phone, camera, money and my backpack that was holding gifts that I had just bought. They did not steal one item from me!
The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

I'm Home!

Thank you for all you prayers and support. The Lord is faithful and good. His mercy never fails. It is by His grace that I am now home and that I'm still alive.

I almost couldn't get out of the country...
When I went to the Ecuadorian Embassy back in June to extend my visa. No one told me that all tourist-visa holders have to obtain a citizen's card. All Ecuadorians have a citizen's card and i guess you are considered a citizen if you are there with a visa. But for those people, they can't do anything without their card. They can't open bank accounts, they can't apply for loans, they can't even leave the country.

So the customs official would not let me through.

I went back, very mad, to the delta counter and asked them to unload my bags from the plane and cancel my flight. I was gonna have to go to the office of foreign affairs the next day, pay a fine to get my citizen's card, then pay another fine to reschedule my flight. We're talkin hundreds of dolars.

The lady at the counter made sure my bags were unloaded and canceled my flight and all my connecting flights and she tore up my ticket. During this time I was prayin hard and askin the Lord "What am I gonna do?"

Then as I was beginning to walk out of the airport, the same customs official along with another official (maybe his boss) saw me and waved for me to come back up to customs. I quickly ran back up the stairs.

He asked for my passport again and told me, "We will let you through."

My jaw dropped.

He told me that if I already told the delta officials then i need to go back and undo what I had just done. I told him I'd be right back.

Arriving at the delta counter again in a hurried manner, I told the same lady: "they accepted me!"

Her jaw dropped too.
Shw said "The only thing is that I dont know if I can get your flights back because I cancelled everything, but I will try."

The next ten minutes were very intense for me. I prayed so hard for the Lord to get me back on my plane. I also was able to reflect on my entire trip and how good and faithful the Lord had been.
And the Lord hears our prayers I tell you!
After ten minutes had passed, after seeing many irritated expressions on the delta lady's face (as she was fighting with the system), she told one of her employees: "Get Kevin's bags back on that plane, cuz he's gonna fly today!"

Jesus is awesome! He is strong. All because of His grace.

Psalm 139:15-18
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand.


Thank you Lord for your grace, that I am now home. I also thank you for all my friends and family. I pray that you bless them and be with them. May the true journey start now!


"The greatest mystery is not why He allows things to happen, it's:
'Why does He love us?'" John Mark Comer

"Peace is not the absence of violence,
It's confiance in Him in the presence of violence." Unknown

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The beginning is near...

It has been an incredible experience here in Ecuador. I thank you all for your prayers and friendship. Without the Lord, nothing would have been possible. I look forward to sharing with you my experiences. So much more happened than I can even begin to write. I don't see this as the end of my journey but the beginning. The real journey for me starts now. The next time I post will be to let you know that I made it home safely.
I hope and pray that the Lord will be with you all and that He would bless the dreams and ambitions that you have. And if you don't yet know Jesus, that you may come to know Him and that He loves you and wants you.

As far as while I'm still here in Ecuador I do still have some prayer requests:
1. For my journey home. (once again I arrive home this friday Sep 4th.)
2. For my transition back at home and that Jesus' would be praised in my life, especially when I share my story with others.
3. and for the new believers here. That they would trust fully on Christ.

Psalm 90:17
May the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.

Monday, August 24, 2009

He estado viajando

Hola Everybody!
The time of my return is approaching fast. I've been wanting to do a little bit of traveling before I leave for home. I just got back from the Amazon as well as a town called Cuenca where there are lots of ancient Incan ruins.

The Amazon was very fascinating and hot. We went to a couple zoos, saw lots of monkies, reptiles, exotic birds. We also went on a guided excursion into the jungle and saw lots of interesting plants and stopped for a few minutes rest in a Shwaran hut.

Some ancient Incan ruins in Cuenca.

For my last few days here, I'm going to spend resting and spending time with friends.

Despite all the traveling, I am ready to come home and see most of you. It has been an amazing expeience here in Ecuador. A lot has happened in the past 5 months and I've leared so much. Once again, thanks to all of you for your prayers and thoughts. I will post at least once more on my blog while I'm still here in Ecuador.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Dios es bueno.


Hola a todos!
God is good. During our mission trip to Rio Bamba, we went to about 7 communities that have been affected by the Tungarahua volcano. In each community we did a VBS that involved dancing, music, puppets and the gospel. To each family of every community we gave food, shoes and bibles. To some we gave clothes and a bar of soap.
I believe the Lord worked through us during this trip. In every community, there were some that received Christ. One elderly woman was healed of her vision after the pastor prayed for her.

For a couple days during the trip a few of us got sick. Me and Josh (another american on our team) got it the worst. But despite that, the trip was still an incredible and life changing experience. Not only for me and my team, but also for the people of those communities. Thank you to all of you who have prayed!

"You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them." Nehemiah 9:17

Friday, July 24, 2009

A prayer request...

Please pray for me and my team from Portland as we preach the gospel for the next two weeks in Rio Bamba.
Pray that we will be effective in doing what the Lord may have us do.

Thank you for your prayers!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Hola!

Hey Everybody.
Here it is already mid July! Time is flying.

A quick update for you...
I already finished teaching English in the schools.
That was a very cool oportunity and I am very blessed now to have had that experience.

Last week, I went with some friends to a place called Baños. It's one of the entrances to the amazon (Not quite the amazon though). There were lots of waterfalls, rivers, an exotic zoo. It was very cool.

The weather here has finally started to get warmer. It's still cloudy for most of the time but there are fewer clouds now.

Now I'm really focusing on learning Spanish. Taking part in lots of conversations, reading, watching movies, taking notes. It's intense, but good.

Next week, some friends of mine from the US are gonna arrive here and we're going back to RioBamba. We will be sharing the gospel and giving clothes and other essential supplies to some of the indegenous people. Some of the people are still affected by the active Tungurahua volcano (I posted about it on June 16th).

After our mission trip to Rio Bamba and the surrounding area, I'm gonna do some more traveling, site-seeing, and learning of Spanish.

I do have some prayer requests:
1. For my grandma who is going to have surgery on July 23rd. That it will be effective and the healing process will go fast.
2. For my friend Rick Meigs in Portland, who is still healing from a nearly fatal accident a couple months ago.
3. For our mission trip down here in Rio Bamba. That the Lord would be with us and that we would be effectivene in sharing the gospel.

Thank you for your prayers and you friendship! May the Lord be with you.

Kevin
Psalm 105:4-5
Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Gracias...

Yo quiero decir gracias a todos de ustedes para las oraciones y ser mi familia y amigos!
Dios es bueno!
No puedo esperar hasta que puedo ver ustedes de nuevo.
Que Dios te bendiga y que te ayude en tus vidas.

Gracias,
Kevin

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Awesome weekend in Rio Bamba!

This past weekend I went to a town called Rio Bamba to accompany a local missionary named Irene. I had an amazing time! During the few days that I was there we visited a few communities around the active volcano "Tunguragua."


Me and some of the kids in the community.

The people that live in those communities have a very hard life. Since its erruption in 1999, the volcano has constantly spewed ash into the air and destoyed their crops and affected the health of the people. (I saw fields of choked corn and apple and pear trees that looked like they have black rocks hanging from them because the ash chokes and shrivles the fruit before it can fall to the ground.)


Part of an abandoned house, in the path of the volcano.

A lot of people have left the area but still lots more remain. It is too hard for many of them to move their families and everything they have. That and it costs money (which they don´t have) to find and buy other property that would sustain them.
Though it has been ten years since the erruption, they are still holding on to the hope that the Lord will shut the mouth of the volcano. On several occasions over the past ten years, the military has showed up to evacuate the people saying: "You have 5 minutes to get out before the mountain blows." This kind of news makes everyone there live "on edge" and in fear. They don´t know when it might expload again. On those occasions however, not everyone agrees to evacuate. Some would rather risk their lives and stay. One of the reasons for this are because of thieves that have come in before and stolen many things when the rest of the community is gone for days at a time.


Irene and Me

Not many people know about this situation. Therefore, Irene and I were there this weekend to:
1. Preach the gospel and share the word of God and our testimonies.
2. Make sure the people of the communities know exactly when we and a larger team will be returning and that the people show up to the town center on that day.
3. To get a list of how many people need clothes or specific thins.


Irene speaking in front of the community "Pungal de Puela."


Getting people´s names down on the list.

In July when we return to the communities with the larger team from Portland, we will again be preaching the gospel and giving the people clothes and other humanitarian aid that the team may bring.


Me and some more of the village kids.

I really feel that the Lord worked this weekend!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Life here

Hey everyone,

Besides teaching English and learning Spanish, I've been able to get out and do somethings such as going on hikes or certain tourist attractions.

Two weekends ago, I went to the Equator. What I found amazing is one of the demonstrations they did. They had a small tub of water with a plug at the bottom and two small leaves floating on the top. They placed the tub on "the line," unplugged the tub and the water and the leaves drained straight down. Then they moved the tub about 7 feet to the south, did the same thing and the water and the leaves drained clockwise. They repeated it once more, 7 feet to the north and the water and the leaves drained counterclockwise! Talk about a myth buster. That was very fascinating.

Last Sunday I hiked to the top of Mount Pichincha which is 15,000ft.

It started off with a cable car ride. From the top of the cable car you can see for miles!
The hike was very beautiful except for the very top of the mountain cuz there were lots of clouds. But after three strenuous hours and a little bit of rock climbing, we made it. It was worth it!


I have been training for a 15k race on Sunday June 7th. I've been running every day. When I run, in one hand I hold my water bottle and in the other I hold a rock or some object to defend myself from charging dogs. I've come close to using the rock, but thankfully I haven't had to. I've been training here in Tumbaco which is at 7,500ft, however, the race is going to be in Quito which is around 10,000ft. It may be a little different but I think I will be prepared. I think the fact that I've been training for the past few weeks helped me on my hike up the mountain. Once we reached the top I was the only who was still ready for more.
Me after the race.


In two weeks I'm going down to Rio Bamba for a weekend to visit with one of the missionaries whom I will be working with for two weeks in July and August.

I will try to keep the updates coming more frequently. It only depends on my internet access.

Thank you all once again for being my family and friends. I pray that God will bless all of you in the months to come!

Kevin

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Some cultural aspects

From being here for a couple months now, I have considered lots of things that I have taken for granted in the United States as well as things I am still thankful for. (These are in no particular order.)

Things I have taken for granted in the United States:
1. Access to healthier food: (better quality/ more options. ex: They don't have as a wide variety of milk, butter and cheese. Also, it is very hard to find peanut butter.)
2. The quality/ more options of consumable products such as shampoo, hand soap, etc.
3. Warm water in showers.
4. A dryer for laundry.
5. A dish washer.
6. Being able to flush toilet paper.
7. Paper towels. (however, they are used sparingly)
8. Dollar bills. (Most of the time you give a clerk or cashier a five, a ten or a twenty, sometimes they will give you a five or ten in return, but most people here use dollar coins instead of dollar bills. The coins are a little harder to carry on me.)
9. Traffic laws/ safety in transit. (To say the least, it is safer to travel in the US)
10. Dog control.
11. Waste management.
12. Quite nights. (Sometimes there are nights when the dogs never stop barking. Also, the roosters will start to crow at 4am.)
13. All four seasons. (Here in the Andees, for the most part, the weather is the same year round. The sun rises at 6am and sets at 6pm. It stays around 65- 75 degrees year round which is nice. It is also nice through to live where there are all four seasons.)
14. Last but certainly not least... Red Robin Hamburgers!

Things I am thankful for:
1. The Lord's grace and hope in his promises.
2. Close knit families.
3. My host family.
4. Family and friends I still have at home.
5. Ability to still communicate with ppl back home.
6. A quality education.
7. That English is my first language.
8. The opportunity to serve here.
9. The beauty of the landscape and night sky.
10. Warm/ temporate climate.
11. Health
12. A water filter.
13. Bread, Rice, Soup.
14. The Bible.
15. Spiritual Freedom.
16. The ability to learn and grow.
17. Plumbing.

Update

Hey Everybody!

Sorry for it being a while since I last posted.

I'm still learning Spanish (thankfully) and teaching English. Their school year ends June 30th.

I've been learning so much since I arrived. Not just the language, but also about their culture and way of life. This is definitely a unique experience.

Here are the coordinates of the two schools that I volunteer at. They are both way out in the boonies. If you have Google Earth, you can plug them into the search bar and it will bring them right up:

This is where I'm at 4 days a week:
0°14'49.76"S
78°21'53.56"W
The buildings are a little hard to see and they look like little round huts.


This is where I am on Wednesdays. The three white buildings to the right of the red one are the 3 classrooms that I teach in:
0° 6'45.03"S
78°13'30.20"W

On my next blog, I will post about some more of my experiences here, as well as some cultural differences they have here.

Kevin

Friday, May 1, 2009

Hola y tercer semana.

I have another cool opportunity. Next week I´m going to help out at another school teaching english. I'll be doing that every wednesday. The other days I´ll still be at the school in Tumbaco. But this other school, they said, will be working with "Semi-indegenous" people. I'm not exactly sure what that implies. But it sounds like a really cool opportunity!

I plugged in with a NPO called “Fundación Educativa Centro Del Amanecer” they have a branch called "Integra Ecuador" that works to aide the educational system in Ecuador. They even go out to areas with indegenous tribes! The people that I'll be working with are called "Chumillos." They live about 7- 10 mi east of El Quinche, Ecuador. It's on the furthermost outskirts of the Quito area just about bordering the Amazon, but it's high in the mountains. Most of the time, they live in the clouds. They said that it takes an hour by car, which probably means two hours by bus.

Because I speak English, the directors asked me to help them out more! I'm really excited for this.

So my schedule right now, as far as i know it is: (Until the end of June)

Mon: Help with Math at the school in tumbaco. Give private English lessons in the afternoon.

Tues: Teach English at the school in Tumbaco and give private lessons in the afternoon.\.

Wed: Teach English in Quinche (or about 10 miles to the east of quinche)

Thurs: Teach English at the school in Tumbaco and give private lessons in the afternoon.

Fri: Help with Math at the school in tumbaco.

When I have time during the week or weekends, I'll be translating and editing the content of their website.


It's such a blessing to have this opportunity. Thank you so much for you're prayers!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Primer dia ensenado ingles!

Hola! Hoy fue mi primer dia ensenado ingles en la escuela! Lo encanto mucho y fue muy divertido!

Today was my first day teaching english in the school! I love it a lot. It was very fun!

Today we started off going over the alphabet and basic phrases. As far as I could tell, the kids were enjoying it too. Im glad to finally be able to help teaching!

It is really beautiful down here in Ecuador. The landscape (in the mountains where i am) is a lot like Oregon. Snowy mountains, green valleys.
Mt. Cotopaxi


Yesterday, we went on a hike and found an old cave.
We don't know how old but it was really cool!



Last weekend we went to central Quito and did a little sight seeing. We watched the changing of the guard and saw a lot of old buildings and amazing architecture!
San Francisco Square


The basillica.

Palacio del Presidente

Right before the changing of the guard



At the dinner table with host parents and the grandparents.

A couple of the kids in the family


End of school for the day. Waiting to board the buss.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

2nd week abroad!

Hi everybody!
It has been an amazing week and a half since I have arrived
in Ecuador. I have learned a lot about their culture and way of life. My
language skills and faith are being stretched. I do miss home but Im
re-learning to trust in the Lord and His strength at all times. As well as
to be thankfull for everything!

During the early afternoon, it is hot here but every evening it rains,
and rains hard! (Thunderstorms included). My host family said that
the rain will die down come mid may. However, yesterday we had a
break in the rain! Tumbaco (where I am) is at around 8,000ft. Quito,
which is about 7mi away is around 10,000ft. It rains more in Quito
and is a little cooler.

Im one of the only ones around that wears shorts. A few people have
already asked me if Im cold. They wear jeans and sweatshirts even
when its around 75-80 degrees.

I really love their family gatherings here. It seems like that's when their
culture really shows! Last sunday, we (my host family and all of
their family) got together for Easther lunch. Almost everyone helped
prepare the food. It was really fun! In ecuador, lunchtime is the
most formal meal, when everyone gets together, as opposed to
dinnertime.

One thing I learned about the busses: if you're the last one to board,
grab onto a railing first! (before stepping on). Cuz the bus driver
hits the gas once he sees that you've stepped a foot onboard.

Last week was my first week helping at the school.
Mostly, I was
observing, to see how they do things. I've been helping with the
young kids so far. They are really fun. A couple of them, once they
saw me, wanted me to stick with them the entire time.

The principal said that in a while, he would like me to help him teach
some english and math to the older youth.


I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to serve down in Ecuador.
But I know that it doesn't matter where I am in the world, as long as
my heart is in Jesus.

Thank you so much for your friendship and your prayers! Please
continue to pray!

There are a few things that I could use prayer for:
1. Effectiveness-- in serving the Lord, my host family, the school and
the people

2. Health/ Safety in transit

3. Emotional Stability: It can get a little stressful sometimes trying
to learn a foreign language. Especially during those days when it
doesn't fell like I'm learning at all.

4. Spiritual Growth/ Fellowship: That my desire to live for the Lord
and trust in Him would grow everyday.

5. Opportunities: That I would recognize an opportunity when
there is one. That I would have the strength/ boldness/ trust to
follow through.



I thank the Lord for the people he has put in my life. May we
continue to give Him praise!

Friday, April 10, 2009

He llegado a Ecuador!

I arrived to Ecuador last night @ 10pm!
Because of Viernes Santo (Good Friday) everyone has stayed home today so I haven't been able to tour the area yet. Tomorrow, I'm hoping to do so.

A lot of this area feels like Portland. It's not too hot because it's in the mountains. However, it's not too cold (unlike Ptown) because it's on the equator! So far I feel quite tall! I found out that the average height for ecuadorians is around 5'5''. Right now I think my body is still acclimating to the altitude. Other than feeling a little bit of fatigue, I am not sick and I'm glad to finally make it here!
Thank you for your prayers!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Kevin's in Ecuador for 6 months!






I'm so excited that I'm going to Ecuador to learn Spanish and their culture!
In the process of learning, I'll be doing a few things (Lord willing).
First, I'll be living with my host family in the town of Tumbaco (right outside of Quito). I'm going to volunteer with the Tumbaco school district, helping them with whatever they need (most likely teaching some English).
Toward the end of July, I'll be taking a few week stint to the region of the active Tungurahua (Kechua for "Throat of Fire")... Yes, I know,... Intense! The other translation is: "Little Hell!" The region around the volcano is considered a disaster zone because of the continual eruptions. Even from miles away, ash is found covering the landscape. Some places: inches, others: feet. As you can imagine, it affects the lifestyle and the health of the people. I'm going to meet up with New Hope Community Church (based out of Portland) and we're going to take humanitarian aid to the people and share with them the gospel of John. When our work at the tungurahua is done, I plan on returning to my host family and helping in the school district. Depending on the time, weather and the availability of my host family, I might get to travel and sight see with them. I will be gone April 9th - October 5th.

Tu Amigo,
Kevin
Prov 3:5-8