Dinner at Milton’s

July 29th

Artezon, Ecuador

Today started out a little rainy. The mist hit my face immediately when I stepped out of my dorm in the morning. It soon cleared though as I started construction on the staff cabin, just down the hill from the kitchen. Instead of cleaning more dormitories and rooms (which we completed yesterday), I helped wire the entire cabin. With my previous work this summer wiring rooms, wiring these rooms proved to be a breeze. I wasn’t at the only worksite though. Others went to organize the Vacation Bible School room above the coliseum while others built false walls near the stage. Overall, we seemed to accomplish quite a bit before the lunch hour rolled around.

Planning and preparation for the story of Shadrach, Mesach, and Abedengo followed lunch as did getting our crafts and games ready for the second day of Bible School in San Jorge. The weather in San Jorge was a little less abrasive today, with the beams of sunshine exposing village after village below. As could be expected, we had more kids show up to our Bible School today, highlighted by John Collison’s slide down the kid’s slide (as part of our Bible Story…the part where they get thrown into the furnace for not worshipping Nebuchanazar’s idol).

One memory that will always stick with me is of peering off the mountain with Steve and Angel after we took a few of the kids home to Silvecha. We drove Brother Angel’s truck to the highest point on the mountain, about 11,000 ft., and walked through a farmer’s freshly plowed field to view something I’ve never viewed before. It was as if we were on Everest, looking at the entire world. I had no words to express it and those that I type, really don’t do it justice. Knowing that a good part of my summer had passed by in the areas below me was an incredible thought. I could see Artezon, where I worked with M-Fuge painting walls for two weeks. I could see Ambato, where we had many a late night trip to. I could see Patate, our town and movie store on the weekend. I could see the camp and mountain we climbed so often next to it. Chimborazo was just hidden by the clouds, but loomed large in the distance. What an incredible thing to see!

Although most of the afternoon had passed by, it was certainly not the end to the day. Brother Steve’s 56^th birthday was today and celebrate we did in the kitchen. With Dr. Pepper (can’t find it here in Ecuador) and cake, we carried out the normal Ecuadorian birthday tradition of taking a bite of the cake (until it gets stuffed in your face) with most of the cake landing on Steve’s face.

Immediately afterwards, Brother Angel and I left to visit Milton Rodriquez and his family in Artezon. If you don’t remember Milton, I encourage you to look back at my blogs from about a month ago. I had promised Milton the last time that I met him that I would meet with him before I returned to the states. A man of my word, I made the arrangements to met up with him and had a great time of fellowship with him and his family. Even better, he was able to establish a connection with Pastor Angel for the future. It was such a privilege to get to encourage one of the 20 Christians in a village of more than 300 families. Seeing his hunger for the things of the Lord was an encouragement in itself to me. I only wish I could be as bold of a witness as he was.