Good News -- Our Friend Mark P. is Coming!

Our friend Mark P. called Sunday to let us know that he is coming for a visit on January 22. We are so excited! A nice way to start the new year. (Hopefully we will be in he new apartment by then).

The Infamous Move

We were told by our new landlords that the apartment would be ready on the 21st. So, Mark and I started packing everything like crazy to be ready on time. We called our friends that volunteered to help and lined them all up. We wanted to be moved in and set up this week because Mark has the week off from work and next week we have our CO visit. It seemed to be the perfect time to plan a major move.

Well, guess what? The apartment is still not ready. I'm living in a disarrayed apartment trying not to lose my cool. We are beginning to think the owner is using the apartment to store merchandise for his bike shop (he has 20 bicycles in my living room) and he doesn't want to give up the apartment until the holiday is over. You would think that after 11 years of dealing with this culture and the "ya mismo" mentality that we would be used to it. But, we're not. So here we are twiddling our thumbs and waiting. It's a grand opportunity to work on our "gran paciencia."

Annual Pioneer Meeting

Last night we had our congregation's annual pioneer meeting. How cool is that pioneers in the entire world are having the same meeting this month? There are eleven regular pioneers serving in the Batan Congregation. Two of the three elders serve as pioneers and that is a real blessing for the congregation and the pioneers.

The theme of the meeting had to do with having insight not only in our pioneering, but also in all aspects of our lives. I got tickled thinking about the Spanish word for insight - perspicacia - a five syllable word to translate a two syllable word. And so goes the Spanish language. All of the information was interesting and helpful and gives us impetus to continue on this next year. Although some of the info considered had the pioneers baffled. For instance, talking about showing insight when we face economic problems the outline mentioned that we can save money by walking more in the ministry rather than use our cars. Well, as Beth can attest, we already do that. It won't be hard to continue. For those of us that have cars (the majority don't) the society suggested to work the territory in areas or zones instead of driving all over town. Again, our territory is small and that is not a problem. But, I think that these suggestions will be harder for brothers in more developed countries since the infrastructure demands that they use their cars in all aspects of life.

Here are a couple of photos of the meeting and you can see we have a great variety of pioneers in all ages and ethnic groups.

Here we are all 11 of us.

Mark and Becky McCleskey

Marianela and Pablo Suing

Alejo and Betty Palacios (Betty has more than 50 years pioneering)

Carmen and Cristiana Arevelo

Maria Once (La Cholita)

Marlene ? (I don't know how to spell her name)

Yolanda Cabrerra

Betty, Yolanda and Maria chatting after the meeting.

Marianla and Carmen preparing a little snack after the meeting.

La Merienda Cuencana (The Cuenca Dinner) consists of bread, cheese and tea or cola. We had a treat to get tuna with the bread!

Well, We're Moving Again!

This will be our fourth move in 3 years. Hmm. You think I would get used to this. However, this time it is our fault. You see right now we are living in a two bedroom apartment that is very noisy because of all the traffic outside our living room and bedroom. Recently an apartment became available that is two floors up and it is 3 bedrooms, faces a quieter side of the building and the owner is offering the apartment for the same amount that we are paying for our smaller one. So...no brainer. The only catch, we have to be out by the end of this month. OUCH! Keep us in your prayers.

Beth's Return Visit

For those who are keeping up with Beth's blog this will be old news. But, I'm including it anyway for those of you who don't know about her blog. I suggest you look it up though. It's neat to see things through a Kiwi's point of view. The address to her blog is ecuadorexperience.blogspot.com.

Yesterday Beth and I made arrangements to go out in service together. Actually this is my first real week of getting back in the swing of things since the surgery. We had a nice morning door to door and at 10:00 Beth made arrangements to call back on a woman she contacted last week. We were hoping that Esperanza would be home, but who knows for sure these days. We knocked on the door and guess what? Esperanza invited us in and had her bible ready for us to start the study. She told her that her husband had carried the Bible Teach book with him to work so I shared my book. (So cool that the Husband is reading it, too!) Esperanza has an adorable 1 1/2 year old little girl named Amelia. Of course, my first thought was that Amelia probably wouldn't be quiet long enough for us to study. However, Esperanza is an amazing mother who is training her daughter very well. Beth gave Amelia the Great Teacher book and immediately Esperanza told her not to tear or damage the book. And she was very careful and very obedient. In fact, she was quiet the entire hour of our study.

Beth did an amazing job conducting the study. She has only been learning Spanish a short time but is able to communicate. At one point, seeing that she was getting flustered, I told her to breath and relax. She did and she was able to get through the study with no problems. Esperanza seems very interested and invited us back next week. What a great morning.

This reminds me how wonderful it is to live in Ecuador serving where the "need is great" and how Jehovah's spirit helps us even with our limited language skills. But, no mater what our circumstances or where we live, He wants people to learn about Him and serve Him. All we have to do is make ourselves available and He will do the rest.

Anniversary Party

Saturday night we were invited to Pablo and Marianela's anniversary party. Mark and Teresa, can you believe they have been married 6 years? Marianela wanted to surprise Pablo and I made a little video of what went on. Enjoy.

This is an Ecuadorian complete cutlery set. You don't need anything to eat with, except a spoon. You will find one at every dinner. No fork, no knife, just the versatile spoon.

And it didn't matter what we ate with, the food was delicious.

First day Out

Today was my first real day out in the ministry since my surgery and it was wonderful to be back! And very encouraging. Mark and I went to study with Grecia. Grecia is now baptized and we are finishing up the Worship book. She has two children, Henry and Alex ages 13 and 12 and they also recently got baptized. So, I guess you can say I'm a spiritual grandma. Grecia's husband is working in the States and has been away for nearly 6 years. So it has been hard on the family not to have a husband and father around. But, Grecia is doing a good job with the boys.

Today, she was relating that her sister, Fanny, didn't want anything to do with the witnesses. Avoided them like the plague. But, Grecia recently invited her over for a meal. During the meal and after, both Henry and Alex helped Grecia in the kitchen, preparing the food, and cleaning up. This is totally not done in a Latin culture. Fanny was so impressed with the boys' conduct that she said to Grecia "I want my son to act the way Henry and Alex do. They are so calm and respectful and help out." What is cute about this tale is that Grecia didn't have to say anything. Before she could utter a word, Alex, the younger of the two boys, piped up and said "Tia, it's not hard. All you have to do is study the Bible and teach your children about Jehovah and they will help out too. We do this for Jehovah." Fanny was so impressed with this comment that she began her own study. Out of the mouths of babes.......

Donna's Doing Great!

Donna Nicoll called this morning from Salinas. She is on her way to Guayaquil with Bill and friends to pick up a couple from the Branch that are going to stay with them. She was all excited. Health wise she is improving and now can walk alone without her walker. Spiritually, she is blooming. She attends all the meetings, prepares for each meeting, comments and she told me she can't wait to preach. That certainly made my day!

What a privilege we have to preach. But, I must say that conducting bibles studies is certainly the cherry on top of the cake. Especially when the study makes progress and you can see the joy they have conforming their life to Jehovah's standards.