Valley Forge Baptist Church Missions

A Quito Minute - The Cam Before the Storm

It seems like forever since I have updated, although I don't think it's been THAT long.  Couple of days less than forever, maybe.  It seems like when I sit down to write, something always distracts me and I either forget what I was going to say, or forget why I sat down altogether. 

On October 16, Dan and I headed to the US for a missions conference at our home church.  This was significant for a couple of reasons.  We hadn't been to the missions conference in six years, and thought it was time to be there.  It was also the first time that both of us had left the country at the same time, leaving all four children here with a friend of ours.  After taking care of the usual paperwork-getting documents drawn up that gave temporary custody of them to our friends Renee and Tim should anything happen (Believe me-they were praying HARD that nothing would!) and stocking the refrigerator, we flew off into the wild blue...black sky.  Delta operates a night flight straight to Atlanta, and although it's brutal, it's also cheap.  We discovered that airport employees who have to be there in the wee hours of the morning do not, as a general rule, like their jobs.  I'm not sure I would either, so I can't fault them!

The conference was wonderful.  We really enjoyed hearing about what the Lord is doing in other parts of the world.  Even though Quito is a big city, we do sometimes feel a little isolated from what is happening elsewhere.  The time we spent with fellow laborers reminded us that the world is getting smaller and smaller and the distance between us is not so great any more.

In three weeks, 80 people from the US and Canada will hit the ground for our annual Christmas outreach.  It doesn't seem possible that a whole year has gone by.  Seems like we just did this!  We expect about 10,000 people again, in just five short days.  It is an amazing time of outreach, and for our family, is the best part of our entire Christmas season.

On the home front, things are well.  Daniel is narrowing down his college choices.  He's been accepted to his three favorites, and now comes the difficult task of making the final decision.  It hardly seems possible that my little boy is almost ready to leave the nest and fly.  My heart aches at the thought of his leaving, but I am resting in the knowledge that he is ready.  Heather and Kristina are both in high school now (shudder!) and doing well.  They just finished their volleyball season and soccer tryouts are next week.  Coupled with their extensive social lives, they keep our world quite busy!  Patrick is in Kindergarten, and really enjoying it.  In August he had minor surgery to correct a "tongue-tie" situation, and we have seen some small improvements in his speech.  It is a long process, this learning to speak correctly.  Fortunately he is a sunny, happy little boy who works well with his therapists and tries so hard.

I (Cyndi) am one class away from finishing my degree.  I almost can't believe it.  Dan is now wearing two hats at Extreme Response, as our teams guy and his family are leaving the field next week.  This essentially puts two full time jobs in his lap until someone comes in to take over.  He loves his job-I've never seen him so happy. 

We know that we are lifted in prayer-we feel it so greatly here.  Many of you have asked what the current prayer requests are...

• For the Christmas outreach.  Pray that the team members would be changed as they minister. 

• Pray that the people that we reach would see Jesus in us. 
  

• For Daniel as he makes his final college decisions. 

• Pray for wisdom in these big decisions!
  

• For a person or family to join Extreme Response that would come and take over the Teams department.  We are trusting that the Lord has just the right person in mind. 
  

I am closing with the words to one of my favorite songs.  Sometimes we are asked why we do this.  Sometimes we ask ourselves why we do this.  And always, we are reminded...

I Corinthians 3:18

Verse One
Charlie Was A Fool
Did You Hear What He Went And Did?
He Quit His Job, Threw It Away
Gave His Life To A Bunch Of Kids
He Said He Was In Love With Jesus
But His Friends Didn't Understand
He Could've Had It All
But He Just Smiled And Said
That He Already Did.

Chorus
He Saw The Big In The Small
He Saw The Beauty In The Call
Even When No One Else Approved
He Took The Job Only A Fool Would Do.

Verse Two
Sarah Was A Beauty Queen
Miss Something Or Another
She Took Off Her Crown
Rolled Up Her Sleeves
Gave Her Life In A Mission To Others
She Said She Was In Love With Jesus
But Her Friends Called Her A Fool
They Said She'd Never Find Happiness
She Just Looked At Them And Smiled
And Said She Already Did.

Chorus
She Saw The Big In The Small
She Saw The Beauty In The Call
Even When No One Else Approved
She Took The Job Only A Fool Would Do.

Bridge
The Way Of The World, It May Look Wise
The Way Of The Truth Is To Realize
Wisdom Will Only Come Through
To Those Who Are Only The Fool.

Chorus
Show Me The Big In The Small
Show Me The Beauty In The Call
Show Me The Road That I Should Chose
I'll Take The Job Only A Fool Could Do.

Chorus
Show Me The Big In The Small
Show Me The Wonder Of My Call
Even When No One Else Approves
I'll Take The Job For Only A Fool
Only A Fool, Only A Fool.

In HIM...
Cyndi, Dan, Daniel,
Heather, Kristina and Patrick.