October 2011 with the Primero de Mayo Church

We started out the month with a teen girls' "pijamada" to introduce the new Bible Study groups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and to just enjoy being together - eating spaghetti!

The highlight of the month was the church's baptism service...let's head there together...

Glenn preached on baptism...

Eleven people were baptized!

Here's our new church treasurer being baptized by Pablo and Glenn!

Of course we had great food...

and TONS of fun!  Soccer...

Ecuavoli (Glenn has been learning by watching since we moved here and finally got to play!)

and tossing people in the pool - "involuntary baptisms" !  We had a great day!

We were honored to host the celebration of Carlito's birthday!

We had a sports day...futbol first but THEN "American Futbol!" was requested!  The teens learned quickly and played well!

Gissela led a teacher training in her home...

the same Saturday that the men had a "minga" to get Diana's family set up in their new Primero de Mayo home!

We had our first Guagua de Pan...store bought..

Glenn had fun decorating it!

God blessed us with a vehicle - Vicente was SO helpful in the process!

Susie is enjoying her Bible Studies with the teen girls (and with the women!)

We ended the month by celebrating Pastor Appreciation Day.  Pablo and David and their wives, Lourdes and Brenda, were honored and personally thanked for their labor of love!  God has blessed us as a church!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bit of our life in Cayambe and how God is at work!

 God is at work in Ecuador, in Primero de Mayo, in Cayambe, in us!  Here's a bit of our life and our testimony of God's work:

Flowers from a new friend - new neighbors.  God is giving us great opportunities to meet and befriend neighbors and store-keepers in Cayambe!

Hospitality - God is using our home for His service!  Eleven guys from the Primero de Mayo Youth Group spent the night in our living room and weekly 7 women meet here for Bible Study and training as Bible Study leaders!

We had great meetings with our Crossworld President and his wife, with our International Director (who spent two nights with us!) and with most of the Crossworld-Ecuador team!

Our new beds arrived too late for our International Director to enjoy, but we love them!

We're also pleased that God is building a friendship between Glenn and the man who made our new furniture!

CHANGE OF PACE...let's go on a walk!  Because we have yet to purchase a vehicle, we walk alot!  Here is what we see on our approx 1 mile walk back from the city of Cayambe...school-children, farm animals and the "cobblestoned" streets!

These sheep graze on the hill between a local school and a soccer field.

Our buddy - who paused from eating long enough to grunt at us!

There are so many beautiful old homes in Cayambe and on our walk home!

We're getting closer to home now - that's our apartment building up ahead on the left- but we keep our eyes on the grass so to avoid stepping in cow pies!

Right before we open the gate to our apartment building, we visit our newest neighbors - 3 lambs have been added to the fold!  They remind us of God's work in the Primero de Mayo church - where 3 new believers have just been added to God's Kingdom!  Praise God with us and please pray for Diana, Werner and Laura!

Home sweet home!  After our walk back from Cayambe, we climb up to the top floor and are happy to be home!  Thanks for walking this journey with us - especially as we seek to bring God's love to life here in Cayambe, Ecuador!

An Awesome Visit and part of our Ecuador Orientation with our daughter, Rachel!

Rachel visited us here in Ecuador from Aug 5-26th...here are some fotos of the time God gave us together - in no particular order!

One Month In Ecuador!

It´s been a busy but great month here in Ecuador...here are some fotos of what we´ve been up to!  If you´d like to get our e-newsletter and prayer updates for more info and other pictures, please email Glenn at:    glenn.wittmann@gmail.com

We had a special welcome at the Primero de Mayo church on July 3, after a warm welcome the night before at the Quito airport!  We were surrounded by the church leaders, prayed for and given a basket of Cayambe goodies...what a wonderful start to our time here!

 After just one full day with a great team who was here doing a Kids Camp, we had a week with an amazing team from the McLean, Virginia area!  It was an honor to work alongside them as they attended to the medical, physical and spiritual needs of the Santa Monica community!  Glenn and David Meyer made good contacts with believers in the community and plans are in process to begin an ongoing ministry there in Santa Monica with the Primero de Mayo team!

Glenn takes a break from meeting with the adults to read the Bible to some children outside!

 Gissela (our co-worker in Primero de Mayo) teaches the children while they wait to see the doctor!

 The team's children's program director in action - what a joy to work with her all week!

Our 2nd weekend here a fantastic team arrived from Indiana and we joined them in fixing up the Primero de Mayo Community Center, where the church has been meeting, and in pouring into the youth of the church via an English/Sports/Bible Camp!  What a joy it was to get to know this team, to minister alongside of them and to get to know the youth and members of the Primero de Mayo church!

The Community Center BEFORE...

and AFTER...the new-improved Community Center!

The Townsend Team and Primero de Mayo teens - being silly!

 

 

Susie with one of the teens - her family started attending church the week after we arrived!

Glenn pitching in the end of camp baseball game!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susie with Dilita and with Vicente and daughter at the team/church bonfire!

sightseeing with the team as a part of our orientation!

We went with the team to a traditional festival "Las Octavas" that lasts 8 weeks!

 This past weekend was super special!  After spending a wonderful month living with our co-workers, David, Brenda, Daniel and Luke Meyer, God blessed us with an apartment to live in!  We moved in on Saturday night and then Glenn preached at church on Sunday!  Here are some 1st fotos...we have much to do yet to make this ¨home¨ but we´re thankful for a place to live and to welcome our first out-of-country visitor - our daughter Rachel!  She arrives on August 5th!

Estefany (the pastor's daughter) helps Glenn in his sermon illustration!

Moving in...up 3 flights of stairs...

Our living room...currently being used as a dining room with borrowed furniture!

Our kitchen - with just-purchased stove and refrigerator!

Our office area - looking out through the living room to our small balcony!

The view from our bedroom!  Mt. Cayambe/ "El Nevado".

Last Stateside Blog Entry - We're Ecuador Bound!!!

YES!  We fly to Ecuador on July 2, 2011!  God sent us a great couple to rent our home, we got our visas and our tickets!  We'll keep in touch from there, but, besides packing, here's what we've been up to...spending time with special people!

On May 21 we had an amazing day as a family at Philippe and Laurie Sadio's wedding!  Glenn and I were thrilled to be in the wedding and to have Senagalese attire provided for us for the reception!

praying for the new couple

Our children, Josh and Rachel

after the reception - with Josh

On Memorial Day we were able to reunite with two of Susie's college roomies, Kathy and Pam, and their families!  What fun we had together!

On June 11th we said goodbye to our neighbors and they met our new renters at our moving sale.  That night we were honored to have a small goodbye party coordinated and hosted by Susie's sister and our good friends Stan and Sandy Nagahashi.  What a joy is was to be surrounded by those who love us and pray for us!  Our children, Rachel and Josh, and Susie's dad were among the wonderful guests!  Thanks to our "adopted daughter" Allison for setting up this pic from that special night!

Finally, we've been "spending time with" our nephew, Eric, via letters, but Susie's sister Gail recently sent us a picture of him...PLEASE continue to keep him in your prayers as he goes through Boot Camp with the Army!  Your ongoing prayers for us are appreciated too!  We'll write from Ecuador soon!  :)