No Joke!

Greetings from Kansas! We are back in the US for the summer seeking to connect with supporters and share about the Lord's work in Ecuador. Kansas people get kind of tired of jokes related to the Wizard of Oz, so I think I'll just move on. If you were expecting some kind of wisecrack, you'll have to formulate it yourself. I've got a prize for the best one to arrive in our inbox!

Earthquake Update
Please continue to pray for the people of Ecuador's northwest coast who were affected by the major earthquake on April 16. More than 30,000 people have been displaced from their homes. One interesting article I read discussed some of the challenges they are facing: overcrowding in shelters, increased domestic violence, and health issues. Pray that the Ecuadorian church will know how to respond to the need. Pray also for the churches whose buildings have been flattened or with homeless members. Pray for comfort and protection as the number of aftershocks continues to rise over 2000.

Travel
The next few weeks will be very busy for us as we travel and meet with churches and individual supporters. We are in Kansas for most of July, with a few days in Omaha and a weekend in Oklahoma. In August we will return to Omaha and then begin a trip to the west coast for both ministry and family purposes.

Moody
We are excited that Joel will be attending Moody Bible Institute's Spokane campus this fall. One of the stops on our long road trip will be in Washington to help him settle in to his new environment there. Joel is currently looking for work in the Newton, Kansas area to help prepare for the upcoming year. Please pray for a short-term job that would be a good fit for him.

Wedding
The highlight of the summer will be adding a new daughter to the family! David will be marrying Shelby Patty on August 20th in California. They attended Wheaton College together and now Shelby is finishing up nursing school in Chicago in early August. From the first time we met Shelby, we were confident she was the perfect match for David. Their plans are to continue living in Chicago.

Click here to read more about David and Shelby:

Wedding Website

Translation
Luke is staying alone in our house in Quito right now. He is helping with translation for a couple of ministry teams and working with Alliance Academy's summer school program.

He is a capable young man and there are also several families close by who are willing to help him if he needs it. Nevertheless, we appreciate your prayers for him during these weeks. He'll be joining us here at the end of July.

Phil and Rea
Phil and Rea Holcomb are very close friends of ours who are making a change in their ministry focus in Ecuador. Phil will be joining the pastoral staff of our church in Quito, and they need to raise additional funds for their financial support. If you are looking for a very strategic way to invest in the Lord's work in Ecuador, I can assure you that this one is key. Click here to read more, or visit their webpage. Let us know if you would like more information.

Teaching
We are passionate about our ministry in Ecuador, and that is no joke. Thank you for your part in making it possible! We're looking forward to sharing more about it with many of you!

Update from Jama

I got back from the coast this morning. Thank you for praying for our trip and for the people affected by the earthquake. The devastation is indeed terrible. We saw things that were extremely sad, and other things that gave encouragement in the middle of the suffering. Since I'm getting a lot of questions, I thought I'd start by writing a summary of some of my observations. This got longer than I intended; if you feel like it's too much to read, I understand.

I went with a couple of guys from a non-governmental organization which builds houses for people with low resources. They bring young people from Canada as volunteers for the construction. Before the earthquake they began organizing a trip to Jama to build about 20 new houses. The volunteers were scheduled to arrive at the beginning of next month. Their contact in Jama is the local Catholic priest. The purpose of our trip was to deliver donations of basic supplies to the priest to help with relief from the earthquake, to re-evaluate their constructions plans, and to consider other ways to help from this point forward. We loaded their bus with maybe about 3 tons of supplies like water, rice, beans, canned meat, cereal, toilet paper, bedding and other donations they had collected.

Jama is about 125 miles directly west of Quito. Because of challenges in the mountains and roads of Ecuador, the trip is normally extended to 6 or 7 hours. To make a long story short, this time we spent 26 hours getting there and 15 hours returning. Not all of our delays were directly related to effects from the earthquake, but most of them were at least exacerbated by them.

Concerns about travel safety are heightened because of highway robberies that have occurred since the earthquake. Some people have been ambushing the trucks that are taking supplies for victims. Our vehicle was, unfortunately, extra visibility, but police were very helpful for us, and during the most crucial major portions of our trip they gave us a police escort. Pedernales is one of the larger towns/small cities close to the epicenter, and we had to pass through it to get to Jama. Pedernales suffered tremendously from looting and other crime during the first couple of days in the aftermath, but by the time we arrived, there was a very strong police and military presence.

It is very difficult to sort between rumors and facts. Most people in and around Pedernales are under the impression that the number of casualties in that city alone is about 2000. They say that bodies were being laid out for identification, and only the ones which are identified are added to the official numbers the government is reporting. During our short time in Pedernales, however, we didn't find any evidence to support this, so it might not be true. We had also heard that Jama had not yet received any help. But by the time we got there, we found the city had received emergency rescuers and donations of goods. It's likely it arrived at Jama later than Pedernales, but it is there now. As we were leaving, we received news that San Vicente, had not yet received any help. I have no way of confirming or denying this. Hopefully, all towns and cities in the area are or will soon be receiving the help they need.

The condition of the buildings is terrible. My un-expert opinion is that 80% or more of the buildings are destroyed beyond repair, confirming the information I've seen elsewhere. The situation in Jama is at least as bad as Pedernales. It actually seemed that the percentage of flattened structures in Jama was worse than in Pedernales—probably due to lower standards of construction. It is clear that in most cases, the extent of the damage was increased by poor construction. Interestingly enough, some of the very poorest people are currently in the best situation. Those whose houses were built from caña (similar to bamboο) are the most likely to currently have a shelter.

The smell of death in these towns is terrible. As one walks down the street, one passes different spots that are worse than others; then maybe half a block later it gets a little better. The smell is probably an indication of where a body might have laid for a while or hasn't even been discovered yet. In some cases it could also be as simple as a refrigerator that has been without power for too long, and the chicken is spoiling. Every once in a while I have the sensation that I'm still smelling the odor that I left behind over a day ago.

I saw a few minor injuries, but I didn't visit any areas where people with more serious wounds were being cared for, so I don't have much to report in that way.

It was encouraging to see many trucks making the trip from Quito and other places to deliver donations to these communities. Both Pedernales and Jama have distribution centers where people can receive what they need. We can be assured that at least many of the donations in Quito are indeed making their way to their intended destiny.

There are, of course, some people who have been less affected by the earthquake (like those with houses of made of caña and who live out in the country). Unfortunately, some of them are taking advantage of the situation and seeking to accept as many donations as possible. Some of them are camping in makeshift shelters along the roads to appear as if they are needy. It's nearly impossible for outsiders to determine who truly needs help, and it is imperative that those taking donations work together closely with local people who know the difference.

After we delivered the donations we had taken, we spent a little time assessing the situation in Jama. I was prepared to stay a few days if there was a need I could fill, but there just didn't seem to be a clear one. Rescuers are there from other parts of Ecuador as well as other countries. They didn't seem overwhelmed by the amount of work to do, nor did they seem to be stressed or seeking help. The window of time for expecting to find survivors is coming to a close, and as an untrained person, there didn't seem to be anything I could add without potentially getting in the way. Hopefully donations will continue to arrive for as long as they are needed, and hopefully that will start to be coordinated better soon. The next steps will be to restore the power and water infrastructure and cell phone communication. Before too long the remaining buildings that are damaged need to be completely leveled to remove the hazards of unsafe structures.

Some people are moving away from these communities to the larger cities like Santo Domingo, Guayaquil and Quito. I saw several trucks moving furniture and household belongings out. Some are probably making a temporary move; others might be choosing to start all over. Those who are staying probably feel like the land they own is the only thing they have left and find it hard to abandon it. In every case, for those who stay and for those who leave, they need help to restore their lives.

The road between Jama and Pedernales was in pretty bad shape, but it was spotty. It seemed to especially be an issue wherever the original construction had involved filling in to make it level, and at junctures with bridges or other transitions. There were many places where the road had buckled, or some parts had risen or fallen. In one spot it had split apart into several strips. In most cases, slow and careful travel made it passable, a couple of the worst spots had already been repaired enough to get through. As we were leaving a few hours later, they had machinery spreading dirt over the spots that hadn't received any attention yet.

The stories of death and survival abound. I met one woman in front of her 3-story concrete house. The first floor crumbled while she was on that level, and floors two and three remained intact and came down on top of her and her two sons. She pointed out the spot where she crawled out from underneath what now looks like a 2-story house. It didn't look like there would have been room under there for her. Her aged father was crushed to his death in the adjoining room.

I also heard the story of a boy who was with his mom when the earthquake started. She had just enough time to push him out of the door before the house came down on top of her. The boy is the only one from his family who survived.

We saw dogs waiting faithfully by a pile of rubble that used to be the house of their owner.

It was extremely sad to see the destruction and the human suffering, but I don't regret going in the least. I am very glad that I had the chance to take this trip and help in the small ways that I did. As things continue to develop and needs arise, there may be more ways for all of us to get involved.

Scott

Leaving for Jama

Kristi and I have been really busy with ministry since the beginning of the year, and God has been doing some great things. My hope was to write an update this week to tell you all that has been going on, but something else happened that has changed our plans. I'm going to have to save a lot of our news for another time.

By now, most you have likely heard of the big earthquake that Ecuador had on Saturday. If you haven't, I'll let you google it. I don't have time to give many details now, but I want you to know of the need to pray.

Early tomorrow morning I am leaving for the coast with a team of people. We hope to provide relief for people in the town of Jama. It is town with about 40,000 inhabitants, located very close to the epicenter. It was one of several towns and cities that were hit very hard, and about 90% of the structures in the town are destroyed. We will be taking food, water and blankets. Our purpose is to distribute the relief items and ask the mayor and the local priest how we can help. We will likely encounter bodies of dead victims that are still needing to be processed, and people who need help with the most basic needs of life.

Jama is about 100 miles straight west of here. On a good day, it probably takes about 6 hours to get there. The roads in that area, however, are all ripped up. We aren't confident that we will even be able to drive all the way. Best case scenario, we are probably looking at a long day's trip. There is also a potential for carjacking and robberies on our way there.

I am taking much of my own water, food and camping equipment in a backpack. We may have some "luxuries" like a place to stay, but I'm planning for more extreme situations.

Please pray for God to open the way before us so we can reach these people who so desperately need help. Pray that he would enable me to find the needs I am suited for and to meet them well. Pray for the death toll to be stemmed by some of the efforts we are making. Pray that people will seek God with their whole heart as they face impossible physical circumstances.

I may not have any way to communicate while I am in the thick of the destruction. But if it is possible, I will continue to update Kristi as to my safety and the conditions we are facing. Please pray for God's strength for my family for the entire time I am gone. My plan is to return in about a week.

I have posted some good information by Facebook. Kristi has too, and she might put more updates there during my time away. You can find us on Facebook here:
Scott on Facebook
Kristi on Facebook

If anyone is interested in donating for the need in Ecuador, there are many good organizations. The following three are really good options:
Extreme Response
IncaLink
Samaritan's Purse

Scott

Encouraging discouragement

Pastors' Conference
Have you ever been encouraged and discouraged at the same time? Several weeks ago I was invited to present a Quichua pastors' conference in Guayaquil. All pastors and church leaders from the AIEBUME church association were invited. This week I spent three days there challenging and encouraging pastors from God's Word.

The most discouraging part of the week was the small number of pastors who showed up. The numbers gradually increased until I had 15 by the end. For the size of the city and the number of pastors who were invited, the group was very small. At least the group increased over time instead of decreasing! And it was very encouraging to see the deep appreciation expressed by those who did come. In the face of discouragement the biggest encouragement was the rock-solid commitment of the men with whom I shared fellowship this week.

We talked about the characteristics of a good pastor—his love for the written Word, his love for the Word incarnate, and his love for God's people. I encouraged them to increase their passion for delivering the Word to their flock. In several ways I challenged them to continue their education by taking opportunities to study the Bible. I took a few discounted books that are key resources for their ministry and sold five. We also discussed some specific doctrinal errors that are showing up in their churches and how to address them.

Pray that these pastors will be able to avoid discouragement from the lack of interest in their peers. Pray that God will move in this association of churches producing a greater hunger for truth.

A planning meeting in Babahoyo for restructuring the seminary program.

Explosive History

Cotopaxi
History is being made in Ecuador. Cotopaxi is a volcano located 37 miles from us which has a history of several large eruptions. Last month it began spewing steam and ash again for the first time in 70 years. The last two weeks have seen nearly constant emissions. Geologists have been constantly monitoring the mountain for decades and warning of a potentially major eruption. It's been 138 years since the last big one. Cotopaxi is considered among the world's most dangerous volcanoes because of the effect it will likely have on populous areas of Latacunga and outlying parts of Quito. There has been much talk of evacuation and safety measures in the past weeks. We live in a safe zone, but things could definitely get interesting if a big volcanic event occurs. The biggest impact for us could be ash and knowing how to respond to nearby communities affected by the disaster. Pray for those who live in danger areas, and pray for God's people to be prepared to react in time of need.



School Starts
Our lives might not be quite as explosive and hopefully not as dangerous as a volcano. Nevertheless, God gives his people the responsibility of making an impact on history. Yesterday, for example, was the first day of school at Alliance Academy. Kristi is starting another year of teaching Math for 5th and 6th grades. Lindsey is really excited about having her mom as a teacher. Luke is starting 10th grade and has already been very involved with student government and the beginning of the volleyball season. Pray for all of the staff and students at Alliance to have hearts that are sensitive to what the Lord wants to accomplish at the school this year.

 

Missions Opportunities
If you are looking for a way to be involved in changing history, the time might be right for planning a trip to Ecuador. Alliance Academy is looking for work teams to come and help with several different needs including:

Painting
Construction
Renovation
Sports camps
Vacation Bible School
English classes
Helping at an Orphanage
Discipleship
Evangelism

Visit this webpage for more information

I (Scott) also know of opportunities for teaching Bible, theology and other helpful courses in Spanish. If you are only able to teach in English, we could work as a team; I would be glad to provide translation if the course fits a need in one of the seminaries or a local church.

Surgery
This summer was significantly out of the ordinary for me. I spent most of the summer recovering from ankle surgery at the beginning of July. True to the doctor's word, the surgery was not a big deal, but the recuperation was and continues to be a long, slow process. I spent a larger percentage of time than usual in front of a computer screen, but now I'm back on my feet and almost walking normally again. Pray for full healing in my ankle.

Writing
One of the ways I occupied my time while I was most limited involved a writing project that I have had on the back burner for a while. I spent a lot of time writing and re-writing, and I'm getting closer to completing a book. The finished product will be a book on Christ-centered biblical theology, based in part on things I have been learning from teaching seminary courses. I hope to have it ready for purchase sometime in early 2016. If you might be interested in reading what has most impacted me from God's Word, let me know and stay tuned for more information.

Property
Transfer of the Chillogallo property was completed last month. That's the last big step on property issues for now! Anyone want to cheer along with me? Administration work has been slowly decreasing, and I am excited about the chance to be involved in other things that I am more passionate about. Next Saturday I'm traveling for a planning meeting, and I have a class to teach on the 18th. Pray for the ability to prioritize ministry opportunities well.

Changes for Summer

Changes
Joel seems to be adjusting fine to life in Chicago, but he is still looking for a job. Pray that God would give him wisdom to know where to look, and that he would find the right match.

Although most of you are enjoying the changes that come with summer vacation, we haven't quite made it there yet. The school year here is winding down this week. Luke and Lindsey are anxious to have a few weeks off, and Kristi is looking forward to a break from teaching. This school year for Kristi has been full of challenges and joys in her Math classroom.

Luke and Lindsey were both part of some dramas at school this spring. Luke played the part of Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Excerpts of Luke's part in A Midsummer Night's Dream:

View the entire production:

Lindsey's class did a smaller play called The Toothpaste Millionaire.

Lindsey is excited about a three-week drama camp that she is enrolled in for the summer.

Luke has plans to help with summer school and some summer missions teams that are coming to Ecuador in the next weeks. Pray for meaningful ministry and growth for Luke.

Scott
Scott helped fill in for one of the Bible teachers at Alliance a couple of weeks ago. He taught a week of classes on the book of Revelation. The passion of his students for learning was contagious! It's also been great to see steady growth in the members of his Bible study. There have even been some new people coming, some more regularly than others. Continue to pray for this ministry.

We have also seen progress on property issues. The Makuma property is now entirely transferred to the national church. The Chillogallo property has also been moving forward by little steps. Scott has also done a little extra work lately to help a fellow missionary couple with renewing their visas.

Scott has had some discomfort in his ankle for over two years. Since it didn't seem very serious we didn't work very hard to figure out what it was. But since it wasn't getting any better he finally saw a specialist and learned that he has Osteochondritis Dissecans. He needs surgery to repair damage from a small fracture of the talus. The surgery itself isn't very intrusive, but in order to promote healing of the cartilage, Scott can't use that foot for 6 weeks afterwards. He'll be in a cast and using crutches for most of the summer. His surgery is scheduled for June 30 and he'll be quite dependent on the rest of the family until school starts again. Pray for patience for everyone, and healing for Scott's ankle.

Faithful Servants
Two faithful women of God who served as missionaries in Ecuador passed away this month: Elizabeth Elliot

and Marian Reed.

Elizabeth was much more well known than Marian, but they both left a huge impact with their lives. It's a good reminder that we all can make a difference simply by being faithful in the situation where God has placed us.

Active Volcanoes

Both Pichincha and Cotopaxi have shown recent dramatic increases in volcanic activity. Obviously no one knows when these two mountains will have their next big eruption. Pray for wisdom for scientists who are monitoring and for protection of human life and property.

Unrest in Ecuador
President Rafael Correa has plans to implement some controversial financial policies in Ecuador. This has resulted in some significant protests during the last week. They are difficult issues that are hard to sort through. Pray for peace in Ecuador, wisdom for leaders, and for God's people to have a great influence in all levels of society.

You can help us fulfill our ministry by making an online donation to Avant Ministries here, or by printing this donation form for mailing in with a check. Thank you for all the prayer and financial support you give!

A Burning Heart

Skogsbergh
Erik August Skogsbergh had a burning in his heart to win souls for Christ. In 1876 the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Association on the north side of Chicago invited him to come from Sweden and be their pastor. He had a powerful evangelistic ministry among the Swedish immigrants in the new land and soon became known as “the Swedish Moody.”

I (Scott) am thankful that Skogsbergh followed God's call on his life because of the impact he had on my great-great-grandfather and—by extension—on my own life. On November 12, 1876, A. G. Gustafson gave his life to Christ as one of many young Swedish immigrants who were touched by the revival in Chicago. His commitment to the Lord included sharing his faith with his family, and we who follow in his footsteps know that Grandpa Gustafson left a strong heritage of a burning heart.

Today I'm sitting in Chicago just outside the loop reflecting on those who were here before me and those who will remain after. Joel and I came two weeks ago to visit David, establish Joel as a resident of Illinois and start looking for work for him. During the past few days in this city, I couldn't help but wonder when I might be walking some of the same streets that my great-great-grandfather knew when he was here. Only 700 yards from this apartment is the site where, in 1871, The Great Chicago Fire began to smolder in the barn of Mrs. O'Leary. I'm not sure when A. G. Gustafson first arrived in Chicago, but the fire was only five years before his conversion. Could he have been here then? Might he have walked past this very property to observe the damage from the two-day blaze? Eventually, the burning in his own heart proved to be equally as productive as the destructive power of those flames.

Wes Gustafson
Although I haven't found A. G.'s name inscribed on the streets of Chicago, I did find his imprint on the life of a man near here. You see, A. G. had a grandson named Wes who gave his life in ministry. He was a missionary to China and a pastor in St. Paul, Minnesota among other places. When I was visiting a supporting church an hour from here, an elder of the church casually mentioned his spiritual mentor, Wes Gustafson. After comparing notes we confirmed that my relative and his pastor had been the same person.

God has allowed Skogsbergh's burning heart to be passed to A. G. Gustafson, to most of the Gustafson family, to his grandchild (Wes), and through Wes to others whom his life has touched. Seeing the effect that can be produced through the generations has renewed in me a desire to fan the flames burning in my own heart.

Those Who Will Remain
On Wednesday I'll be leaving David and Joel behind in Chicago and returning to Ecuador. I sense a burning in their hearts that makes me proud. I pray that they will leave an impact on this city and everywhere else they might go. Their impact will likely not be as visible as that left by Skogsbergh and certainly not as rampantly destructive as the Great Chicago Fire. Nevertheless, if they fan the flames it will no doubt be just as powerful as the impact left by Wes in the life of a man who now serves as elder of a church. May God put men and women in their path who need the holy fire they can spread. And may God give me tremendous opportunities to do the same in Ecuador.

Preparation
Quite obviously, Mrs. O'Leary's barn is no longer here. I've been past the site several times this week and even stopped once to look at the monument. But even more prominent than the monument is the new building that now occupies the property—the Chicago Fire Academy. About two hours ago I saw some firemen in training—learning to rescue people from a tall burning building. One might say they were fanning the burning flames of a passion to rescue people from destruction. Let's also look for ways to fan our own passion. Let's look for opportunities to turn the ruins of life into a holy burning fire to reach other souls for Christ.