Visa renewal

Getting a visa in Ecuador is not that difficult, there are papers to get and forms to fill in, and like any government that has forms to fill in things take time. So every two years when we renew our visas I always like to have all things ready ahead of time to make sure that there are no hiccups.
Only trouble is we have three kids that like to be funny when it comes time to get the paperwork done. I thought I would let you in on what it's like to try and get paperwork ready in Ecuador.

400kms of driving

Once again it is time to find a place for the preaching conference this year.

Yesterday I drove almost 300kms after a 100km drive on Sunday to have a look at various locations.

I thought I would give you a bit of a look at what I saw. 

Let me know if you have a preference.

Randwick Presbyterian in Loja!

A team of 6 girls and 1 guy traipsed all the way across the globe from Randwick Presbyterian, our home church, to experience a bit of la vida loca in Loja for a week at the end of September. It was so great to be able to spend time with our church family and be loved and encouraged by them.

It was also fantastic to get these brave people involved in life and relationships here in Loja. Here's a snapshot of what we got up to over the week.

We had a cooking workshop in Nambacola, where our church here, Semilla de Mostaza have started a little church plant. We made bread - wholemeal and white, carrot cake and anzac biscuits (and gave a mini australian history lesson at the same time).

These girls were so lovely and really had fun cooking.

Getting involved in SIM's english ministry. Here Rob is helping out at Spotlight, an english conversation class that is held Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at El Sendero.

Painting the youth room at our church. The colours the youth chose were bold.

                                      

Putting on an 'australian' banquet for the SIM team in Loja - curries, thai pineapple rice, apple crumble, chocolate pots. The food was superb and looked fantastic!

Hanging out with Evie and Annalise.

Getting involved in kids ministry - sunday school and the mid-week kids club.

 We had morning tea with Oswaldo in the Words of Hope training centre, hearing his story and also what it's like to work in the bookshop.

Some great ideas were generated for the window display at the bookshop which has been looking a little bare over the last while. This one is about exercising your mind - to read the bible.

What a week! Busy but great fun. 

Evangelism Ecuador style

September was the month of the Bible and the local churches in Loja decided to hold an event in Plaza San Sebastian. All day they ran mini talks, music, a kid's stall, an opportunity for counselling, and information sessions about the bible. There were people handing out tracts on the gospel and talking to people about Jesus and many other things.

We were asked to come along too, as Words of Hope bookshop. Happily, the timing coincided with our short term team being here from Australia, so we had lots of hands to get boxes of books to the plaza. 

I know that Oswaldo had a great day, although being in a public setting as an evangelical after having been heavily involved in the Catholic Church certainly had it's challenges. Here is Oswaldo in the middle, with some friends that are not only regular clients at the shop, but becoming good friends with Oswaldo.