Late September

Queridos amigos y familiares,

  So we have been in Ecuador for almost 5 weeks now, and it has been excellent so far.  Kim and I are really developing a connection with the family we are living with, while also cementing the ministries that we are involved in.  Our main focus is teaching English, helping with the kids' ministries, and building relationships with local Ecuadorians.  From these misitries we are opening the opportunity to talk about the Lord and help direct people to the local churches in the community.  It is fun when an English lesson on Louis Pasteur leads to a conversation about the Lord's wisdom found in the Bible and His promises to us.  My Spanish is improving as well "poco a poco," although I probably could hold a better conversation with a 3-year-old rather than an aldult.  Some of you may be thinking "whats's new."  (Editorial Note from Kim: our short-term coordinator has expressed her amazement at the speed at which Doug is picking up Spanish, and I tend to agree with her, so ignore Doug's comments above).

  I am reading a book right now called "Don't Waste your Life" by John Piper.  I would highly recommend it.  It is a quick read but very potent.  Likewise, I have found investing time in the Bible every day to be a blessing that is missed when the opportunity does not present itself.  I would encourage you all to spend time meeting the Lord each and every day even if it isn't for very long.  The great gift that we all receive through the work of Christ is to spend time with and commune with God.  Remember the veil has been torn in two.

  Our family here was gracious enough to take us out to their finca (country house) in Vilcabamba this past Sunday to see where they like to relax and get away from Loja.  Vilcabamba is about 40km away and a nice drive down the mountains.  While Loja has been a little cold and rainy, Villcabamba was a nice change with a slightly warmer climate.  Freddy has some guinea pigs that he keeps as pets at the finca.  While guinea pig is actually a delicacy here, Freddy prefers to keep them as pets.  One of the great things about getting to visit Vilcabamba is the fresh fruit that they grow there.  Oranges, sweet lemons, bananas, papayas, plantains, mangos, mandarins, coffee, avocados, etc.  We spent some time harvesting some fruit that was great to taste and also to have to eat later.

  For those who have comitted to pray, please pray for the working of the Spirit in Loja, pray for Lorena the maid here, Paul and Natalie (who are having trouble getting pregnant), and our continued perseverance for proclaiming the word, faith in Christ, and wisdom.  If there are any of you that need prayer please don't hesitate to email us or give us a call.  I signed up for skype (douglas.pigeon) if you want to try and call sometime.

May the Lord bless you every day.

-Douglas

Kim's 29th birthday cake. (Kim, Maria, Freddy, Juan Pablo, Doug)

House in Villcabamba. (Kim, Maria, Maria-Christine)

Kim with Pablo-Issac looking at the Guinea Pigs

Freddy and Pablo-Issac watering the newly planted banana trees

First Impressions

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from Loja! Doug and I have been in Loja for a little over two weeks now, and we've settled in pretty comfortably.  We know our way around reasonably well and have logged many hours walking around the city.  The big news for us is that, yesterday, we moved in with our local Ecuadorian family, Freddy and Maria Diaz, and their son, Juan Pablo ("Juanpa").  They have been very warm and welcoming- the absolute picture of South American hospitality.  Their house is outside of the city center, where we'd been staying for the past two weeks, but we can easily walk to the center in less than 30 minutes, or take a bus or taxi for only 25 cents or $1, respectively.  Freddy and Maria like to spend their weekends at their vacation home in Vilcabamba, which is only a 45-minutes drive away, and they have already invited us numerous times to join them. We can tell already that we will learn so much from them about the language and culture of Ecuador.  They have also expressed interest in learning some English, as they have a daughter and son-in-law (an American) living in New York, so we will definitely teach them what we can.

The fiestas for the Virgin of Cisne have come to an end, so there are no longer fireworks around the clock coming from the plaza outside the cathedral.  However, the "feria" of Loja is still happening on the outskirts of town for a few more days, and we may go check that out if we have time.  From what we've gathered, it sounds like a bazaar with a variety of vendors, rides, and entertainment.

As of this week, we will be volunteering in the cafe owned by SIM, "El Sendero," every Thursday and Friday afternoon/evening.  This will include some kitchen work and friendship building and ministry where possible.  We have also committed to help with the English ministries on Wednesdays and Sundays, where the goal is to help local Ecuadorians learn English, while at the same time developing friendships and opening doors to share our faith. We've also been to a couple of evangelical churches here in Loja and will probably try one or two more before we decide which one to plug into for the rest of our time here.  The churches are small, which is a nice change from our last church in San Diego (The Rock), as everyone seems to know everyone else, and it definitely feels more like a family.

On a personal note, tomorrow is a very important day for us- our first wedding anniversary! We did some reflecting today on everything that has happened during our first year of marriage, and it's been a pretty full year.  We are excited that we can be here together to celebrate, but, at the same time, we miss all of our friends and family.

A view of Loja from the city gate

First class inside the bus, all others tied to the roof

Kim trying the local chicken feet

From Quito to Cuenca to Loja

Hola amigos, I guess now that I have been in Ecuador for a few weeks I can start using my spanish.  First and foremost, I wanted to give our praise report that Kim and I have made it through without too much trouble.  Our bags have made it and our stomachs are still hanging in there.  I have also been itching to answer our most frequently asked questions:

What do they eat in Ecuador?

So far the food has been pretty standard, but the staples seem to be pork, rice, and soup. The local specialties include Guinea Pig (which  we won't feel bad if we don't try), and there are markets full of fresh local fruits and vegetables. The main meal of the day is lunch ("almuerzo"), and fresh fruit juice is usually served with it, although you have to search high and low to find a vegetable anywhere on your plate (usually they're only in the soup). Kim and I have been very fortunate not to have gotten sick yet, so I hope that keeps up for as long as possible.  We are taking care not to overstep our food bounds, but at some point we are likely going to have to try something new (perhaps guinea pig?).

What are we going to be doing?

Building relationships with local Ecuadorians (mainly university students), working with SIM's English programs, and hopefully working with some kids programs.  The motivation to have a lasting impact is to empower the local people to minister to those that are in need.  This idea of development is the motivation for our work and time here in Ecuador.

So far we have been in Quito (the capital), the city of Cuenca for about 5 days, and now Loja for about 10 days. Our time in Cuenca was spent at the yearly retreat for all the SIM missionaries of Ecuador to meet together for a time of restoration.  It was a great opportunity for Kim and I to meet the entire team and start building our relationships with them.  Our time has been truly blessed so far and I am really looking forward to getting further integrated with the Lojanos.

While in Cuenca we took a quick trip into the downtown area, which was beautiful although a little congested.  We parked outside of downtown and took a bus in and out.  While the ride in was quite uneventful, the ride out was very exciting.  Imagine a bus full of people speeding through a crowded downtown taking turns feeling like the bus might tip over at times.  Needless to say we made it out and I learned that you can get a better ride in Cuenca for 25 cents than you can in Disneyland for 62 dollars.

For those who are supporting us in prayer, please pray that Kim and I integrate well with our family (Freddy and Maria).  We are moving in with them Sept 12th.  Pray for our opportunities to minister to the local Ecuadorians.  And please pray for the Ecuadorian team as whole that we can work to bring the good news to the lost.

Psalm 32:1-2:

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit."

Un abrazo a todos desde Loja,

Doug & Kim

Kim and I at the guest house in Quito

Kim and Paula our Short Term Coordinator in Ecuador

Kim and Laura in Cuenca

This is where the SLIC confecence was in Paute just outside Cuenca