Friday, April 30, 2010
Driving To Puyupungo - Video
Making our way from our home in Puyo to our church in Puyupungo. It's an hour drive with most of the road being gravel and mud. And did I mention very bumpy?
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Torrential Rains and Mudslides
Once every few months, we have to make a road trip 3 hours away to Ambato to have our oil changed in our truck at the dealership there. Lately, however, the rains have been so hard and for so many days that it has caused many mudslides, with the mud piling into the road and the road becoming impassable. (The gas stations in our town ran out of fuel because the delivery trucks could not pass).
From Puyo to Ambato, there is only one road. One way in, one way out. We had been so involved in the work, preaching the message daily, praying for the sick, feeding the hungry, that even though we knew the rains had been torrential, we did not know the depth of its destruction. We knew we had to go to Ambato for our oil change, and so ‘carefreely’, we called and made the appointment.
As we drove on the only road out, we began to see the mudslides. The beautiful mountains fallen, destroyed. But as we approached each one, they were like the last, passable. We made it safely to Ambato with no problems. And the dealership was surprised to see us! They immediately asked how our trip was and if it had not been affected by any mudslides. We said, “No”, thanking God for a safe journey.
What we did not realize is that only the day before had that road been impassable. As we made the trip home that evening, the winds were so strong and pulling us all over the road. We made it home safely, but only a few hours after arrival did the rains begin again.
The next day we went into town, and someone asked if we’d heard about the mudslides. Our thoughts were, “Which ones?” They said, “The ones that just happened again last night. The road to Ambato is closed”.
We praised God again, because He opened up the roads for just one day so we could pass through to make it safely to maintain our truck, so the work would not be affected and could continue!
From Puyo to Ambato, there is only one road. One way in, one way out. We had been so involved in the work, preaching the message daily, praying for the sick, feeding the hungry, that even though we knew the rains had been torrential, we did not know the depth of its destruction. We knew we had to go to Ambato for our oil change, and so ‘carefreely’, we called and made the appointment.
As we drove on the only road out, we began to see the mudslides. The beautiful mountains fallen, destroyed. But as we approached each one, they were like the last, passable. We made it safely to Ambato with no problems. And the dealership was surprised to see us! They immediately asked how our trip was and if it had not been affected by any mudslides. We said, “No”, thanking God for a safe journey.
What we did not realize is that only the day before had that road been impassable. As we made the trip home that evening, the winds were so strong and pulling us all over the road. We made it home safely, but only a few hours after arrival did the rains begin again.
The next day we went into town, and someone asked if we’d heard about the mudslides. Our thoughts were, “Which ones?” They said, “The ones that just happened again last night. The road to Ambato is closed”.
We praised God again, because He opened up the roads for just one day so we could pass through to make it safely to maintain our truck, so the work would not be affected and could continue!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Spiritual Wickedness
"Never pity missionaries; envy them. For they are where the real action is -- where life and death, sin and grace, Heaven and Hell converge."
In my lifetime, I have heard numerous stories of missionaries who travel to foreign lands, build churches and the natives ‘flock’ to the services; packed out crowds come to hear the Word of God. Here in Ecuador, that is not the case. The area that God led us to, instead, is packed with demon possession, witchcraft, sorcery. The enemy himself is on a rampage here, and the people are powerless to stop him. The Word of God tells us that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Those powers, those principalities, are very real here.
A few mornings ago, I was sleeping soundly in my bed, then heard a loud scream. It was piercing, as if someone was in real danger. I instantly jumped out of my bed, looked out the window, to see right across the street, a young man seated on the sidewalk amidst the trash. This young man is just like Legion in the Word of God. He lives on the streets here. He cannot hold a conversation with anyone. His life is in complete submission to Satan. No, not by this young man’s will. The Bible says they are in the snares of the devil, ‘who are taken captive by him at HIS will” (II Timothy 2:26). I saw him rifling through the trash, and then let out another horrible scream. He continued this for about 15 minutes, every few minutes letting out a sound from the pits of Hell, and each time thereafter, calm as if nothing had happened. He is tormented daily by the enemy. Here in Puyo where we live, this is a very common sight. I prayed for this young man right then, for him to be freed in Jesus name from the wicked one.
This life is not a game we play. Spiritual wickedness is very real. Because it is so strong here, the people do not flock to our churches. They have been taught to turn to the Shamans, or drink a poisonous plant in hopes it will help them. Babies are born full of demon possession. When you enter some homes, the spirit of Satan is so thick that it literally gives you cold chills and cuts through you like a knife. Therefore, we have to spend numerous hours in prayer, many days a week fasting to liberate them from this bondage of the enemy. Liberation that they cannot attain on their own. They are truly depending on us, depending on you. Depending on your prayers.
We really are where the real action is. We are where Heaven and Hell converge. And we love it. We live to gain victory over the enemy and see the Kichwa and Shuar set free! And that is what God is doing here.
In my lifetime, I have heard numerous stories of missionaries who travel to foreign lands, build churches and the natives ‘flock’ to the services; packed out crowds come to hear the Word of God. Here in Ecuador, that is not the case. The area that God led us to, instead, is packed with demon possession, witchcraft, sorcery. The enemy himself is on a rampage here, and the people are powerless to stop him. The Word of God tells us that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Those powers, those principalities, are very real here.
A few mornings ago, I was sleeping soundly in my bed, then heard a loud scream. It was piercing, as if someone was in real danger. I instantly jumped out of my bed, looked out the window, to see right across the street, a young man seated on the sidewalk amidst the trash. This young man is just like Legion in the Word of God. He lives on the streets here. He cannot hold a conversation with anyone. His life is in complete submission to Satan. No, not by this young man’s will. The Bible says they are in the snares of the devil, ‘who are taken captive by him at HIS will” (II Timothy 2:26). I saw him rifling through the trash, and then let out another horrible scream. He continued this for about 15 minutes, every few minutes letting out a sound from the pits of Hell, and each time thereafter, calm as if nothing had happened. He is tormented daily by the enemy. Here in Puyo where we live, this is a very common sight. I prayed for this young man right then, for him to be freed in Jesus name from the wicked one.
This life is not a game we play. Spiritual wickedness is very real. Because it is so strong here, the people do not flock to our churches. They have been taught to turn to the Shamans, or drink a poisonous plant in hopes it will help them. Babies are born full of demon possession. When you enter some homes, the spirit of Satan is so thick that it literally gives you cold chills and cuts through you like a knife. Therefore, we have to spend numerous hours in prayer, many days a week fasting to liberate them from this bondage of the enemy. Liberation that they cannot attain on their own. They are truly depending on us, depending on you. Depending on your prayers.
We really are where the real action is. We are where Heaven and Hell converge. And we love it. We live to gain victory over the enemy and see the Kichwa and Shuar set free! And that is what God is doing here.
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