Time to Peace

Today was our last day with the teams. I have had an absolute blast with this group. Once again the construction  crew dominated the concrete. The columns are finished and and the sand is now ready to go for the next concrete crew. The medical team, once again helped many people. I cannot emphasize enough how important these medical teams are. They are doing something for these people that would be almost impossible for them to get I want to say thank you to all of the Construction, VBS, and Medical teams that have come this summer. You all have truly blessed me but most importantly you have blessed the people for Atuchucho. The before and after picture of Mama Yoli's House is incredible. Thanks so much guys. To those who have been praying for Derek and myself over the past several months, thank you. We have felt your prayers and we have seen the seeds that you all have planted here. May God bless you abundantly and expand you boundries!

Derek and I had to say bye to Atucucho, Hermana a Hermana, and the kids. One of the hardest day of my life! Right now I am speechless. I feel so blessed, so lucky, and so broken. Our hearts have been so touched today. After lunch, the ladies from Hermana Hermana invited us over to one of their houses. Derek and I automatically knew that we were about to enter a battle field of tears. And so it began. We felt so blessed and so honored that they had invited us to their house to tell us "Thank you". We felt so honored. Each one began their own speech and each time we had to fight the tears. Since they didnt bother to try to fight the tears....it didnt make our fight any easier. We are so grateful, so thankful that these women have been apart of our lives and that they have allowed us to be apart of their kids lifes. When I think of the word "friends", these women are the ones who come to mind. After we all had our moment of tears, we went to VBS in the afternoon as if it was everyother day. But as soon as we stepped inside the daycare we were swamped with decorations and gifts and cards from the kids.They had taken time out of their day just to buy, make, or do whatever to give us a little something to remember them by. And as a special bonus....there was cake! I am talking about a grand fiesta, one with over 211 kids! NEW RECORD!

Afterwards, for me, I went to visit Jose's house. For those of you who dont know, I have become very very very....very attatched to this family this summer. After we had talked for a little bit and Jose gave me a necklace, we sat in silence. Jose looked into my eyes with his big, watery, brown eyes and said "No quiero llorar" (I dont want to cry) and at that moment we all just broke down in tears. It was this moment, with eachother braced in eachothers arms, that I will never forget. Its so hard to say goodbye. I do not have to words to express how Derek and I feel today. We are sad, excited, heartbroken and encouraged all at the same time. Today, at the fiesta, it was truely impossible to be sad. I was so touched just at the joy  and the love in the room. The love from the kids, from the fellow missionaries, from the community mothers, I just couldnt be sad. We felt so honored, and loved and...and..we felt their love. And this love is BIG. People from the community kept telling us how we have blessed them, but they have blessed us so much more than we could have ever hoped for. My time here in Ecuador, has been the most precious gift that I could ever recieve. I have made lifelong friends, I have made new family, and I have gained brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, and to Him be the glory! There are so many more feelings and emotions that I want to express right now, but I just cant find the words. Just know that I am overjoyed and so grateful to be apart of God's plan here in Ecuador.

Please, do not forget what you all have experienced this summer. So much has been dont for the kingdom of God and you all have played an important role in it. God has only begun to work here in Atucucho. There is so much more to be done, more construction, more money is needed, a pastor, and so much more. These kids remember you and your names, pleae dont forget their names and facies either. They are the future of this area and they are the ones, by God's will, who will change this community. Continue to pray for them, and if the Holy Spirit guides you, please continue to support them with your prayers, your finance, and your time. Once again thank you for everything. God Bless!

And now some final words from our sponser.....Derek....

I would just like to say how much of a blessing this summer has been, not just to have the chance to work with so many kids and the people in the community, but also to work with all the groups and get to know so many people with the same heart.  This summer we were able to watch the hearts of the Ecuadorians and the hearts of the Americans be changed by the love of Christ.  To all the teams that came down for the summer, thank you all for everything and for all your hearts.  This has been such a special time for Daniel and I and it is very sad for us to leave, but we understand that God and His timing is perfect in every aspect.  As we all planted His seeds in the children's hearts, now we just ask Him that He continues to water those seeds and keep all of the people here in Ecuador in His hands.  

Making Memories

So today is Wednesday. We are half way through the week and its starting to hit us hard. Its our final week and,  having to say goodbye to these kids is one of the hardest things we have had to do yet. But enough about the "Great Depression" for now. The construction team this week is the concrete mixer. They have manual mixed more concrete than any other team this year. Good workers. I am still amazed about how much construction has been done this year. Its incredible. The team is now forming the outside wall of the church.

As for our medical team, they have been busy nonstop as well. We have seen so many children from the community. Its truely a blessing that these kids are able to get some medical attention. These are kids who normally do not recieve treatment because they simply cannot afford a doctor. Today we had a girl come into the  construction site for VBS, but Edwin noticed that she had been crying. She had told us that she wasn't feeling well so we sent her upstairs to the medical rooms. She had not planned to see the doctors at all this week and there was no way that she was going to be able to find her own way to a docter since she told me that both her parents work during the day and dont come home until late at night. If God sent this medical team here just for that one girl it was worth it.

The VBS crowd held a record breaking 200 kids today. Thats right ladies and gentlemen we have hit the 200 mark and counting. I only expect to see more tomorrow. Please continue to pray for the community, the people, the kids, and the SIFAT Ecuador staff. God Bless.

Dani and Derek Out

 This is a very sad week for all the staff of SIFAT Ecuador because this is the last week of our dear summer interns here in Ecuador. But at the same time we are so thankful with God to send us these incredible young men who have been a huge  blessing for us. We have been able to see their love and their heart for our children and our nation, and we want to give thanks to each one of you that supported their intership here in so many ways. We are going to miss them a lot but we know that this is just one more step to the amaizing plan and porpuse that God has for these youths. "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Mathew 25:21 It is our prayer that God will pay them back abundantly for all that they have been doing here. "whoever sows generously will also reap generously" 2Corinthians 9:6

Dear interns: Thank you for all your smiles, your joy, your help and your faith; just remember that each one of you have a very special place in our hearts. We will be waiting for the opportunity to see you again. May God bless you and may He lead you to His good will for your lives. "I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut" Revelation 3:8

Staff of SIFAT Ecuador

 "Like Dat"

So our time here dwindling down and our hearts are overwhelmed with emotion. We have had such a good time here and have really gotten the opportunity to know so many great people. Today is a sad day because we have to say goodbye to a great team. But they worked hard this past week so that the next team is able to pick up right where they left off. CONCRETE has been the theme word for this weeks construction team. Lots of concrete has been poured and the floor, for the most part, has been completed. Now we are to construct more support columns...wooo construction. I am so happy to see how much the construction over the past two and a half months has been accomplished

It has been really evident to see how these kids become so attached to the missionaries who come to give there time and resources. I believe that its really hard for the children in Atucucho, as well as the missionaries, every time they have to leave. Every week a kid will come up to me and ask me where is there friend "Annie" or "Cory" or "Fallon" or Keaten". Then when I tell them that they had to go back to the States, they will run up to the first "Gringo" that they see and ask them "Do you know my friend "son and so"?"  I want you guys to know that you are blessing everyone of these kids beyond what you could image. In the past years I have always had such a hard time, always thinking that I am here for just a week or two and its just not enough time for me to allow God to make a difference in a kids life. I have never been so wrong. These kids still ask me about some of the missionaries from the first group that came  back in late May. Matthew 20:14 says, "Let th little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." This verse says so much to me. A lot of times these kids do not know the meaning of love, the meaning of a savior and what He has come to do for them. You are that example, you are the one showing them where they can find hope. You are making a difference in their lives. They remember you, they ask about you, and they hope to see you again. So please continue to pray for the kids and their families. You can change the world one child at a time. Remember Jesus loves you! God Bless

Dani Out

"Whatcha going to do with all that junk?"

So we have kicked off this week with a strong foot. We have four teams this week making up a huge number of 50 peeps. But it is so much fun. each team is full of life and they keep us laughing. We have two teams doing VBS so we have divided the groups into two different VBS locations. Derek and Cecilia are taking care of New Horizons as Nany and I take care of The Little Tender Nest. Like we have said before, it is a huge blessing to be able to work in Roldos. These daycare facilities are very much adequate to take care of the kids and the mothers at the daycares are well trained. They receive more governmental funding than the daycares in Atucucho, however, they lack the word of God. At the end of Matthew we are called to go into "all the world" to spread the love of Jesus Christ and that is exactly what we are doing here. The daycares in Atucucho have been hearing the gospel for the past several years and now SIFAT is being called to a new corner to share how amazing God is. I personally feel that one of the most important things that we are teaching these kids is how to pray. For some of you, you have heard Cecilia tell the story of Sara, from Little Seeds of God, who begged her father to pray with and how she eventually saved his life and helped him become a Christian. This was done because she was taught how to pray at the age of two. Cecilia will be the first to demostrate the power of prayer and I feel so blessed to show these kids that they can change lives simply through prayer.

Also this week are completing the foundation floor to the new church. Between today and yesterday the concrete floor was completed. It took alot of work and I am amazed at how fast it has taken shape. Derek and I were looking through our pictures from the past years a few days ago and we ran across several pictures of the construction site when it first began. Last year it amazed us to see how a single room the size of small kitchen housed 12 kids became a 4 floor building without walls. And now we are blown away to see how that same building has become a four floor building with bathrooms, kitchen, class rooms, and now a church. Its incredible to see how we had a much smaller plan, and goal in our minds and to see how God had a bigger plan and a bigger goal that we were not able to grasp. God is good. So as you go though your week please continue to pray for the kids and their families here in Ecuador. And until next time....PEACE!

God Bless you guys