Can't keep up...

Do you ever feel like there is just so much to do and not enough time to get it done? I'm so sorry that it has been over 2 weeks since I posted on here. I will try to catch you up...without writing a "book". LOL

On June 6th, we had our "Young Women's meeting" at the church. This is a meeting for women 20 to 35. We only had 6 attend, but it was a great time of fellowship for them. They so enjoy getting together. Melania shared the devotion with us, and did a great job. She is going to be doing it, during the time that I am away. Please keep her in your prayers.

Sunday morning, June 7, we had 115 in our Worship Service. We are definitely bursting at the seams in the apartment! :-)

On Saturday June 13th, 28 people from church attended a Teacher Training Seminar. We started at 10 in the morning and ended at 4:00 in the afternoon. We had 16 that had gone through the program last year, and 12 new ones. We started the morning, with Tony giving an "over view" of some of the introductory stuff we had done last year. Qualifications for a teacher...The importance of teaching children...some basic characteristics of the different age groups. Then I did an hour sharing the material on "Explaining Salvation to Children". After that time, they all had a chance to either make a small "word less book", "a bracelet, with beads the color of the wordless book" or another little book, with felt pieces, in the colors. When we finished that, we had lunch, which was prepared by one of our families. They did a great job...They opened up their home and had everything set up for us to walk in and eat. It was just a block from the church, so that worked out great! After lunch, we returned to the church and split up... Tony took the ones that had gone through the program before, and worked with them on a little more detail of developing a lesson, and also spent some time of methods of getting student participation. I took the news one and we went through the basics of preparing a lesson and presenting the lesson. Both of these groups have assignments that they are suppose to turn in. Everyone that turns in their assignment will receive a certificate on July 5.

We also introduced the idea of "neighborhood Bible clubs". We have had one young woman approach us about starting a club in her neighborhood. Please be praying about this. Pray also for Maria Jose as she steps out into this new ministry.

This last Sunday, was an "Election Day" here. Voting is mandatory in Ecuador, and many of our church people have to go out of town to vote. We were thrilled to still have an attendance of 89! We also had Alan and Pearl Jackson come and share their ministry to abandoned children with our church. It was exciting to see many of our church members seeking them out after church to see how they could volunteer and be involved in this very special and much needed ministry.

Today, Tony went to the Ecuadorian Naval Base here in Manta, for the 2nd of his seminars on Marriage and Family. The response was very good. Please be praying with us that the seeds planted will bear fruit.

Construction the building continues. We are praying that the Lord would supply $10,000 to finish the first floor of the Education building. We will be moving into the building, "as is" on July 5. It will be a little "rustic" to start with, but we are excited and know that God will finish the work that He has started!

Next week is our annual retreat for Women in Ministry at the camp in Santo Domingo. We have 46 women signed up! Please pray for Sylvia Wells, Stacey and Sharon Smith, and I as we finish up the details and do the teaching at this years retreat.

I pray God's blessings on each of you as you serve him this week!
Joy