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Greetings from your team here in Ecuador!  Because we built such amazing relationships with all of you, we want to make sure that we stay in contact!  So, we are launching something a bit different this year.  We will keep this blog going so that you can communicate with us and with each other and let the rest of the team (all those that have gone through M101 Boot Camp) know how you are doing – through posts and comments that we can all interact with.  I am excited about this!

Here’s what you can do:

• Keep reading the posts that come your way – don’t delete us!
• PLEASE write out your thoughts about the trip, what you learned, how your transition back home is going, what you have been challenged with, etc and send it to sandi@compassionconnection.net so that I can post it as an article that others can comment on.
• Read the posts and COMMENT to get discussion going between the team.
• Send me any other ideas you have (articles you’ve read, suggested books, pictures, etc).

DON’T FORGET to subscribe to our CC online news blog posts.  Scroll down to the bottom of any page on our website and subscribe.  When you receive the confirmation email, check “News” or “Compassion Connection” and you will begin getting our updates.

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Love to you all.  We truly do miss you!  What an amazing summer we had with you as our comrades in reaching Ecuador for Christ.  Hope to hear from YOU here very soon : )

-Journal Entry by Monica Eliersten, August 9
This morning we split into three groups.  A few men went to give their testimonies at a rehab center. The rest of the men went to ulio’s church in Tena to paint.  The ladies and kids did our third outreach for the children at the library.

We had twenty kids the last day, thirty the second, and forty-five today.  We rotated stations of bubbles, sports, a craft and a story with coloring.  At the end we all came together for songs and a story.  It was exciting to hear that twenty five kids asked Jesus into their life.

My favorite memory was noticing and ols man as he stood about six feet away watching the children blow bubbles.  I grabbed a container and asked if he wanted to try.  The delight on his face warmed my heart.  (Lillianna, it was similar to handing candy out to the children and then realizing this is new to the adults as well).

Today was our last day at Julio’s home.  It was hard to say goodbye to all our new family there.  The puppies will be missed by all the kids!
After hooking up with those in Tena and helping to finish with the painting, we headed for th hostel in Tena – and it was wonderful!  Private rooms, beds, a SHOWER!  I have never seen so many people excited for a cold shower.

Tomorrow we will make the scenic drive back to Quito.  With the trip winding down we are all looking forward to seeing our families and friends back home.

-Journal Entry by Miriam Johnson, August 10
Today we are leaving Tena after having a goodbye dinner and late night with Julio and Maria.  It was really ahrd to say goodbye.  They were very sad to suu us go too.  Julio expressed their love and appreciation, he said tht he felt from the very beginning that we were family and he knew that if he didn’t see us again in this lifetime, he would see us in the next.  Maria was very emotional and became tearful, giving us big hugs.  She said that her home would feel very empty now without us.  (The team slept on the floor of their house, while Julio and Maria moved to a small room next to the house.)  She is  avery loving, sweet, and affectionate sister in Christ.  I will miss her.

We then headed back to the base at Alangasi, where we had spaghetti dinner at Steve and Sandi’s house.  A very welcome change after all the rice we’ve had since we came here.  We stopped in a town called Shell-Mera, built by Shell Oil, for a little bit of sight seeing and a tram ride.  It’s a beautiful day, bright and sunny after all the rain last night. Thank you, Lord!
To all our Bricktown family…we are looking forward to seeing you all!  Much love.

Journal Entry by Katie Beal

A wonderful Day to relax…

What a great day in the Lord! Morning brought the opportunity to attend Julio and Maria’s home church.  Pastor Tim, who is part of our team, taught on the riches of Christ.  He encouraged and challenged us to dive deeper in our relationship with Christ.  At different times in the service the congregation sang songs.  I was blessed when I recognized the tune to “How Great Thou Art.”  I was able to sing along in English.  After the service we were warmly greeted by the Ecuadorians.  After that we drove to Misahualli where we took three long motorized canoes down the Napo River to a museum that the Quichua people run.  We learned about various plants and tools they use.  I was impressed when I saw the tools and traps they used in the past – very creative.  The museum had numerous animals such as an anaconda who was about to eat a large guinea pig! Also an osolot, parrot, small deer, capybara, turtle, and conga ants.  The adults were just as excited as the kids to pet the osolot.  Toward the end of the museum tour some people in the group decided to try chicha, a (fermented) drink made from the yucca plant.  All I can say is…it was interesting.   A short time later we headed back to the beach area in the canoes.   As we got out of the boat, we noticed monkeys jumping in the trees!  They were humorous to watch as they wrestled with people’s dogs.  We then had the opportunity to go swimming and tour the town square.  We headed back late int eh afternoon.

From Katie, a special shout out to…

-Former Ecudaor visitors from WI – we were in Misuahilli, the same place we were at four years ago!  What good memories.
-All family and friends – we love and miss you! See you soon.
-Kendra – start packing! Wade made a down payment on some land!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a bunch of pictures – because the team is now back to the home base!  Journal entries to catch you up will be posted tomorrow as well.  Thank you for praying – things began to go really well with a lot of opportunities to share Christ!

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Four weeks out of each year in Ecuador is spent hosting teams from the U.S. in order to give people an opportunity to be involved in what we are doing year-round here.  We are just finishing up the second of two teams that came down to train and “go” into the jungle region and work alongside church planters.  This team has experienced “real missions” – with setbacks, challenges, closed doors, fighting against strongholds, and all this with physically exhausted bodies.  The good news is that the “Good News” IS going forth, and people ARE hearing about hope in Christ, and responding to the message!  Here’s a peek at their training…

August Boot Camp Recap from Sandi Youngren on Vimeo.

Thank you for your continued prayer and partnership with us as we press in to God and take His gospel into the dark regions of Ecuador.  Please don’t forget to pray about helping us financially, so that we can keep the Bible Institute, the Church Planting efforts, and the sharing of the gospel in unreached villages more than just a “good thought.”

The passage that has challenged us many times as we serve here:

James 2: 14 – 17 “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

“Lord, help us all to put action to our faith in You.”

Blessings on you and yours – from Ecuador!

Journal Entry by Pastor Tim Tyree

On Friday evening we saw at least 50 children return to the library for part 2 of our outreach program,  what a blessing to be able to share a gospel message. Pastor Julio shared the gospel message in a public facility and we showed Christian videos.  We trust that the families present will continue to respond to Pastor Julio as he and Maria serve this community.

On Saturday morning we learned that a door to serve in the village of Shiripuno had closed to us, changing our plans for the day.  God is showing us that we must be flexible and adaptable in ministering in this Ecuadorian context.  Steve found us other places to serve today.  We spent our time first painting a house church after we hiked across the river with all our suplies.  Then after a short drive further into the jungle we were treated to a delicious lunch – talapia and rice.  We sampled various fruits picked right off the trees while a tarantula watched us from the corner of the house!  In the afternoon, the women returned to the library by request to repeat part 1 of the children’s program.  The men split off to pastor Julios church in another town for some demolition work and painting.

Our group is learning to overcome challenges and to work toegether effectively as a team.  We feel tired, yet satisfired that our sacrifices are blessing these believers.  I’m sure that the lessons learned on this trip will also benefit our congregations back home who are fervently holding us up in prayer.

Note from Staff: Please pray for encouragement and stamina for the team.  This is the first time ever that we have seen so many “plans” change and “doors” close to a team.  It is good in the sense that it is giving them a true picture of the hard ground and the centuries old darkness that surrounds these villages.  They are feeling the inconvenience and discouragement that pastors and missionaries in these areas experience on a continual basis.  In all this, everyone has remained in good spirits and have all been cooperative and understanding.  What a team of “troopers!”

-Journal entry by Jessalyn Willis

Being only 25 miles away from the place that 5 men lost their lives trying to reach the Waorani people in the ’50s is a humbling feeling.

Yesterday (our first day in the jungle) we led a children’s outreach, fed everyone lunch, and painted the town library.  After a warm day we bathed in the Napo River (with the anacondas and piranhas – ha ha).  We thank God  for this amazing place.

Please pray for the hearts of the people to soften toward Jesus.  And pray for this cloud cover to stay (it’s not as hot as it could be)!

Video: Boot Camp Training Recap (to view larger image, click “vimeo”)

August Boot Camp Recap from Sandi Youngren on Vimeo.

(If receiving this as an email – please click the link above to view directly on our website).

-Journal Entry by Raju Varghese
This morning I was impacted when Steve was talking about the grace of God.  He shared that God saved us from sin, yet we do sin everyday in our life. When we sin, we need to confess it.  1 John 1:8 says that If we say that we do not sin we are deciveing ourselves and the truth is not in us.  In Romans 8:1 it teaches us that there is now no comdemnation for those who are in Christ.  There is saving grace, and there is grace that keeps forgiving as we confess our sins to each other and to Him.  I was also challenged by an activity on Wednesday that showed us very real persecution around the world for those that profess Christ.  Even though there is persecution all over the world, God continues to send missionaries out for his kingdom.

Because of our love for Christ, we moved 1,000 heavy bricks with a joyful heart!   Women, children and men on our team – all working hard and serving with joyful hearts.

Note from Staff: Please remember that the team has very limited (to no) internet.  We will get pictures to you as we can.  Thanks for praying for the team!

A day of more training, prep work for the children’s outreaches, and hard work: painting desks, tables and chairs, and then “chain ganging” heavy cement blocks for construction at the school.  Our new friends at the school fed us a huge afternoon meal as a “thank you.”  In the evening we had an outdoor movie in Steve and Sandi’s driveway, “Beyond the Gates of Splendor” that tells the story of the five missionaries that lost their life in the 50′s here in Ecuador when they tried to reach a tribal group.  Very sobering evening.

-Journal Entry by Steven Pitts

Morning began with a blaring whistle being blown (Sandi’s new toy) by Drill Sergeant Steve.  We were all called to attention while scrutinized by his walking through the ranks.

Boot Camp in Ecuador is effectively stripping us of a lot of American baggage called “preconceptions” and calling us all to a deeper level of submission.  Although hard work felt rewarding through a second day of painting at the school, the highlight of my day was at dinner.  We had a memorable and challenging demonstration on world hunger.  We spent the remainder of the evening praying for countries that are in need, especially for our role and responsibility in God’s eyes.

Ended the night by playing hacky sack with a couple of the local church youth.

God is so good.

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M101: Boot Camp DAY 1 from Sandi Youngren on Vimeo.