Cayambe in June - Fiesta Time!

June is THE month of fiestas in Cayambe.  They're called the San Pedro Fiestas del Sol en la Mitad del Mundo (Saint Peter Sun Celebrations in the Middle of the World).  But before you join us in the celebrations, meet our newest neighbor ...what a joy to look out the window each day and see him!

And meet Allie and Santiago...Allie is from Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn U).  She is here for two months living in Cali Cali, Ecuador, where Santiago is from.  We have gotten together with them three times, helping Allie to experience life and ministry here, helping her to see if and how God is calling her to overseas ministry.  We're actually going to see them again today!

Okay, on to the fiestas!  They started with a "Pregon" - the opening parade...

The Diabluma - a main character/the representation of evil

A mom and daughter in typical dress dancing together

A Race of Wooden "Coches" was on the fiestas schedule...and I got excited thinking there would be carriages - one of the definitions of "coche" - but it was more like a go-cart race!  It was fun though, because I watched it while talking with Dayana, and then her boyfriend Victor, and Glenn joined us after their Bible Study.

We decided to move away from the race to a quiet ice cream shop to talk....but an UNscheduled parade came by the shop!  Glenn, Victor, Dayana and I still had a great long talk despite the noise!

 Then there was the Rose Parade...one of the most popular parades.  We went with our neighbors Luis, Ale and Vero, and Alejandra, her kids and the family of her husband, Santiago...

The recently elected Queen of Cayambe throws a rose to child who asks for one

A local school for Special Needs children participated in the parade including a girl from our church who danced!

Every day life here was well represented in the parade...

by the roses that Cayambe is famous for!

But the highlight of the parade for us was seeing our good friend, Edwin, and his son, Esteban...

and our good friend and neighbor, Santiago!  What fun to know people IN the parade!

We didn't fully understand the importance of this bull in the Rose Parade until later in the week!

After the Rose Parade, we all headed to the 2nd National Open-Air Galloping Competition!

We had a great time just being together...

and watching the horses together in a beautiful area of Cayambe that we'd never seen!

 Finally, we made it to the "Popular Bullfighting" event - the first of more than five scheduled events focused on bulls!  We found out that "popular" means 'not professional'...anyone and everyone enters the ring!

One of the bulls...waiting to enter the ring...

Some of the many people who entered the ring at their own risk...

and some of the many people, like us, who stayed behind the wooden walls that were built that day!

Living here in Cayambe is exciting, full of culture and full of opportunities to share God's love, truth and hope!  Thanks for praying for us and supporting us!

May - In Florida, PA and Cayambe!

Our May started with a visit with Glenn's parents and his sister and her family in Florida...

We celebrated some birthdays and Glenn's parents' 56th anniversary and just enjoyed being together!

Most of the Wittmann/Pettitt girls enjoyed an early Mother's Day Tea together!

Then we headed to Pennsylvania...

We had special times as a family - here, celebrating the end of Rachel and Josh's finals at a park...

and here, in front of Rachel's West Chester home, on our way to her college graduation ceremony!

There were close to 2000 West Chester University graduates, but we spotted her in the crowd!

We were thrilled to be there and to celebrate with Rachel and with Susie's sister, Gail, her husband, Jeff, and with Josh - who have been such a support to Rachel in our absence!

We celebrated Josh's 21st birthday as a family too!

 We had the joy of seeing both of our children at work!  Gail and Jeff joined us for an amazing meal with excellent service (especially by the cute little bus girl!) at Gilmore's where Rachel works, and then Glenn and I watched Josh teach two classes of soccer with Soccer Shots...

Josh first taught some 5-8 year olds...

and then some adorable 3-4 year olds!  What fun!

Besides wonderful family times in PA, we were blessed to see some special friends on our brief visit..

Chris and Despe Sterious

Matt and Missy O'Malley with their two wonderful girls and newborn son!

Mike and Kari Morby with their awesome daughter and newborn son!

God also blessed us with the joy of seeing Peter and Shannon Baille and meeting their JUST born daughter!

While we were away Gissela worked hard with our youth in a Bible Competition with our association of churches.  We rejoiced with them when we heard how well they did - 2nd place overall!

Several church leaders and their families cheered on the youth as they recited memorized verses, answered Bible questions and taught Bible lessons!

When we returned to Cayambe we were able to attend a very special Ecuadorian celebration! 

The "Oath to the Flag of Ecuador.  Pledging faithfulness to the National Flag is the duty of every Ecuadorian, in an act full of patriotism and patriotic emotion.  All high school seniors are to commit themselves to be faithful to their country as the center of all activities."

Here, at Nelson Torres, the largest public high school in Cayambe, 425 seniors participated in the ceremony.

Three of the seniors attend the Primero de Mayo Church youth group, and it was a joy to celebrate with them and their families!

"In few moments the sacred tricolor flag shelters you, and you with your heart full of patriotism will be able to express the sublime phrase of commitment to the country, to answer in audible voice the requirement of the authorities – “Yes I vow!” In that is enclosed loyalty and respect for the patriotic symbols which represent the three values most esteemed of men and women- God, country and conscience."

It was a solemn ceremony, but a joyful celebration afterwards...much like a US graduation where pictures were taken with the many family members and friends who attended, and with classmates!

April!

The month of April started with Glenn teaching at our Bible Institute's chapel time. The text was Psalm 32 and Glenn here was using the large black duffel on his back to represent the burden of sin.

Then we celebrated Good Friday as a church.  The youth presented a drama and MANY family members and friends came to the service!  What a blessing!

That same night, Glenn and I went to observe Cayambe's Good Friday procession.  We were amazed at how many people participated and observed the procession!

The focus seemed to be on darkness and death...

...as here, where Christ is in a casket. At our church we focused on Christ's resurrection and life - and the new life He offers to those who place their trust in Him!

The youth had some days off for the Easter holiday so Glenn joined them in visiting Cascada San Rafael - the largest waterfall in Ecuador!

There were MANY special birthdays in the month of April, but the most memorable celebration was at the Alcivar house...

Jessica, the birthday girl, asked her parents if she could have a party with just her friends from church...even tho her parents are not yet a part of our church family...

they not only agreed to host the party in their home, but allowed our church's worship band to play and we all sang praises to God together!  Jessica shared her party with one of the other "quinceñeras", who is also another Jessica!

The month ended with Glenn once again teaching - this time in Chaupimolino.  What a joy it was for us to help out our friends Darwin and Nelly as Darwin was preaching elsewhere, and to be with the friends we've made at this church!

 

But the highlight of April was when on the 27th, Victor came to our house and asked how he could apply all he'd been reading about with Glenn in the book of John, and hearing about at our church!  Victor made the decision to place his faith in Christ for salvation!  He has a SUPER happy girlfriend and church family!  God is SO good!

A March full of Ministry!

March began with a wonderful visit from our long-time, close friends, David and Gwyn Groh.  We enjoyed time together as couples, with the Primero de Mayo Church, and with the Crossworld-Ecuador team!  What an encouragement they were to us!

Visiting with church members Fernando, Zulema and Susan at the jeans store they manage!

Straddling the equator!

Dave and Glenn on the newly poured roof of the Primero de Mayo church building!

Gissela gratefully receives the children's books that Gwyn's sister and her students collected for the Primero de Mayo church ministries!

David preached in Primero de Mayo and Glenn translated...and they so enjoyed their time together!

This llama SO wanted to be a part of our photo!

Warming up together at the Crossworld-Ecuador Conference where David was the main speaker!

The Crossworld-Ecuador team with Dave and Gwyn!

 We celebrated two special birthdays with two special young ladies, Diana, pictured here with balloon,  and Dayana.   Both birthday girls were serenaded by some of our church youth guys...

 and both participated in the birthday tradition that involves taking a bite of their cake quickly before someone can push their face into the cake....

Both Diana and here, Dayana, weren't quick enough! 

A wonderful team from Liberty University joined us in the ministry here from March 8-17!  What a blessing they were!

The team opened up opportunities for us in the largest high school in Cayambe! After a 3 hour interactive English lesson, team leader Paul Halsey presents the English teacher with a gift...

Diana, here, and Dayana each got permission from their teachers for the team to teach their classes and then they each presented us to their classmates and identified themselves as a part of the church in Primero de Mayo!  Three of their classmates then joined us at youth group later that week!

We connected with 3 English teachers at the school and have an open invitation to return to the school!

We toured the rose plantation, Hoja Verde, where several of our teen's parents work...

and got to see one of our church members (Tia Lucia) in action at work! 

 It was our joy to host the Liberty team in our home two of the days they were here...and it was an honor to minister alongside Chelsea, a team member who is the daughter of our long-time friends, Lee and Sue Oberg!

The team also opened doors for us in nearby Quinche, where the local high school denied us entrance into their school but, at the request of our pastor's daughter Estefany, allowed their students to attend an English lesson in our sister church there...

Approximately 150 students were in attendance and were introduced to Pastor Wilmer, in orange, and were invited to return to the church!

Finally, the team furthered the construction of our church building in Primero de Mayo - here Chelsea, Glenn, Paul and Andrea work on the sidewalk!

At the end of the month Crossworld's Lynford and Sharon Regier, and Gissela Simbana took Glenn and Susie to see and participate in the ministries in the Caluma area (about an 8 hour drive to the south).  We visited our association of churches' main campground and 3 churches in 3 days!

Glenn and Susie shared their testimonies at the La Florida church and here Glenn shares at the Caluma church...

At the Estero Lindo Church, Glenn and Lynford encouraged the men as leaders in their church...

while Susie joined Gissela and Sharon in training the women and teens in teaching children's Bible lessons.

This church SO reminded us of the churches in the Dominican Republic - ceiling fans and all!

Caluma pastor, Jorge, and his wife, Miriam, not only fed us well, but invited us to join them in visiting and encouraging their church members!  What fun we had together!