Thursday, May 30, 2024 from Ecuador
I’m not sure how, but I forgot to mention something that happened Tuesday. After breakfast, our group went down to Steve and Carol’s house. We heard their testimony of how they were called to Ecuador and how they were called to remain, even after IMB pulled out. Their story is one of faithfulness and trust in the providential hand of God. Steve then led us in a Bible study from 2 Kings 4. Of particular note was how the widow’s own children are involved in the miracle. Those that know, may understand how this teaching resonated with me.
Ok. Back to Thursday.
This morning our team built benches for a church that meets in the jungle. We cut, sanded, assembled (glued, nailed, and screwed), puttied, and sanded again. I’m not sure how many benches were made but my estimate is 25. The coolest thing to me is that these benches are most assuredly headed to the same tribe that Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, and their team contacted almost 70 years ago. A tribe, perhaps best characterized by bloodshed, was changed by the gospel. Now they are meeting weekly for church. They may encounter a panther or anaconda on the way to church…what’s your excuse? There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved. Jesus changes everything!
A Three-Waterfall Kind of Day – This afternoon the team had a little bit of fun. Those who wanted, got into a basket on a zip line and “flew” several hundred feet above the river to the other side of the canyon. We zoomed over to get an incredible look at a magnificent waterfall! We got back in the bus to travel to our next stop, a place with a short hike to two more waterfalls. The hike took us past one waterfall that violently crashed into a massive pool called the “Devil’s Cauldron.” We continued on until we got to a cabled bridge that bounced and flexed with every step. Then, we climbed steep stone steps. This took us to the most incredible waterfall of the day. To me, it felt like Frodo Baggins meets Indiana Jones. Josh, Hannah, and I stood under or behind the falls. We serve such an amazingly creative God! Simply beautiful.
We rounded out the night in the city of Baños. I’ve written about the Catholic Church there before but suffice it to say, the church’s teaching is seriously flawed. Jesus is never presented as a sufficient Savior, much less as the eternally, enthroned King. He is always depicted in a defeated state because he wasn’t quite enough to defeat satan and conquer death. It makes me both sad and angry. We got to walk around the city for a while before a delicious pizza dinner followed by ice cream.
We will get up early tomorrow and begin our journey home. We will spend some time in Quito visiting the national cathedral and the artisan market. This will likely be the final update until we share in more detail at church. Until then, “Hasta luego!”
Ragamuffin Warrior 