Opportunity Knocks

Sometimes it's funny to think of what I do as work. I realize this probably isn't the "correct" way to start a newsletter received by everyone on my support team but before you delete the e-mail and call my boss to pull your check...

When I say it's funny to think of it as work what I really mean is, I don't really do anything... Ok, perhaps another bad start but it seems to be true in my estimation. Sure, I "do" what I'm supposed to. Lately that has meant working on the restructuring of the youth workers as well as attending various meetings, involvement in church, speaking at this or that youth group, etc. But the reality of what I do here or at least what I see as true ministry seems to happen outside of the ecclesial structure and when I say I don't do anything, I mean, I recognize that the Lord is always paving the way. It seems as though time and time again the Lord is putting me in relationships and allowing me to see his grace at work in people's lives.

Most recently I've experienced this at my box (crossfit gym) where I've been working out during the past couple of months. I get to go for free because I built their website and have been helping develop their marketing. At any rate, I've quickly become friends with the owners and we have been getting to know each other. The other day, Sybil, the owners wife approached me and told me that her husband had mentioned that I am a believer. She shared with me that she too is a believer but that she has not been able to go to or find a church since they came to Quito over five months ago and asked if she could come to church with me. That Sunday we went to a nearby church that unbeknownst to me had recently been through a major split where they lost their pastor and over 400 members. We showed up to a nearly empty church with a borrowed pastor. Experience has taught me well that the situation in the building and during the service does not impede the work of the Spirit so I began to pray for Sybil and her experience that morning. After we left church she thanked me and told me that she had really enjoyed it. I shouldn't be surprised but I always marvel at how the Lord can touch someone even in the most unexpected situations.

The following Sunday i.e. three days ago I took her to the church that I normally attend. What a contrast. This is a church on the south side of Quito with a few thousand members and three morning services that pack the sanctuary. Again, she loved it and asked me if I would be willing to take her every Sunday. She prays for her family and asked me to join her in trying to share the message of Jesus with them. I am humbled by the way that the Lord consistently allows me to watch his work in people's lives.

Please join me in praying for Sybil and the Andrade family.

Additional PRAYER requests.

1. Continued prayer for my support base. I was able to leave the USA and come to Ecuador with 80% of my support for the two year term but I am still short around $9,000 (spread out over the two year period)

2. I'm in the process of trying to start up a Bible study with some of my friends here but scheduling seems to be a very difficult hurdle. Please pray that everyone's schedule would open up in a way that would accomodate a time for studying God's word.

Finally, I want to thank all of you who have been praying with me for my good friend Earl. During Christmas break while my family was in Houston, Earl stayed at my parents house and took care of the Dogs. Upon their return to Chicago, my parents asked him to stay...so I've been replaced. As I've written before, Earl has had some health problems in the past, in many cases this is related to his weight as well as the fact that he has been living on the street. Please join me in praying for his health as he enters into a completely new routine that will hopefully alleviate some of the issues that have been affecting him. In addition, Earl has submitted his application to be on "The Biggest Looser" so join me in praying for God's direction in that opportunity as well.

Blessings.

Joshua. (photo: That is me at the gym doing a supine burpee - Basically that means that with a 25lb plate, I do a situp but instead of simply returning to a lie down position, I stand up and press the plate at the apex of the situp before I return to said lying position.)