Move over 2008

The countdown to 2009 has begun! Well, lets just say that the hour count is reasonable. Joel and I are currently in Houston passing the holidays with our family and gearing up for the new year. 2008 has been both wonderful and difficult with 2009 promising to be a year of transitions. Big changes will be taking place in our lives and we are praying for wisdom and peace as we make some key decisions.

We have not had a chance to share with you in the last few months because there have been some incredible things going on with F.C. United as well as with our general, "life ministry," in Ecuador. Since I arrived in May, as you all know we have been working on both starting and discovering what soccer ministry looks like in Ecuador. Our approach has been a relatively simple one. Get involved in soccer teams as well as host tournaments where we can begin to develop friendships within the Ecuadorian soccer community. In the meantime we have been praying that the Lord would open doors and create opportunity for us to share his love and gospel with others. Most missionaries will tell you, the process can be long, slow and sometimes frustrating. This has most assuredly not been our experience. The Lord has been opening so many doors and has put us in some very exciting situations where we have been given the chance to share his love with others.

Since our first couple of tournaments, Joel and I have been spending a lot of time with a small group of men in their 20's and 30's who have been participants in our competitions. This small group of men has become our immediate circle of influence. It has been incredible to see how the Lord is moving in their lives as they begin to ask questions about God and our relationship with him. Joel and I are excited to return to Ecuador after our brief break to continue engaging with our friends and seeing how the Lord continues to work in their hearts.

A couple of months ago I decided that we needed a vacuum cleaner. I'm not sure if it was because of a deep desire to clean or that I had simply reached my threshold and couldn't handle the eternal dust cloud hovering over our rugs but I began my quest for an aspirator. I found one for sale by some missionaries that were moving back to the states and on a Saturday I set out to make my acquisition. On my ride to the other side of town to pick up the vacuum I began talking to Gonzalo my cab driver. After some small talk he shared with me that he had recently been separated from his wife. He told me that he felt as though there were no solution to the separation and shared on about his financial struggles. On this fairly long cab ride I had a chance to share with him the fact that nothing is without solution because God makes the impossible possible. After praying with him I invited him to join me at church the following day . He joined me for the 11:00 service on Sunday and over the ensuing weeks I was able to continue to share with him and pray for him.

On the 13th of December we had our last tournament of the year. On the 12th a friend of ours (Mario) who is a pastor was scrambling trying to get a team together and I remembered that Gonzalo is soccer player. I was able to get Gonzalo and Mario connected and they ended up playing on the same team. During the tournament Mario started talking to Gonzalo and sharing the message of Jesus with him. In the midst of the competition Gonzalo accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. What an amazing story of God using soccer to further his Kingdom. I praise God for people like Mario and others who have come along side F.C. United to partner in ministry.

Decisions Right now we as F.C. United are in a time of transition. It has been a blessing to see just in a few short months all the amazing things that God is doing through this ministry. As exciting as this has been Joel has decided that the Lord is calling him to go to seminary. Throughout the years people have told Joel that they believe he should go to seminary and he finally feels that the Lord is telling him as well. Please pray for Joey and the application process.

In addition, I will be done with my first year in Ecuador on May 20th. This date also marks the end of my internship which means that I will need to return to the states to re-raise support to be a full time missionary. This could mean a six month to year long stay stateside. Please pray that the Lord gives us clarity in this transition. It is painful to think of being separated from the work that seems to be flourishing. I know that the Lord's work is not dependent upon us but it has been such a blessing to get to be a part of it.

Thank you all for your support and prayers in 2009. We could not be present in Ecuador without your partnership.

Come and see us soon. We would love to share some of our experiences with you first hand.

Blessings. Josh and Joey