Our friendly neighbor

Our friendly tarantula decided to venture a bit closer to our front door the other day...

Click on image for a closer view :)

Poetry Evening

On Friday, November 13, Nate Saint Memorial School held a poetry evening. Each student memorized and presented a poem.

Why Shell?

I wrote the following paragraphs for a bulletin board display at my home church, Maple Grove Mennonite. I thought other friends may find it informative...

Although our brothers and sisters at Maple Grove Mennonite have faithfully been supporting us through prayers and financial giving, there are many who don’t know why we are serving on the edge of the rain forest in Shell, Ecuador. Shell is probably most well known by North American Christians as the base from which Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) pilot Nate Saint, along with four other missionaries, flew his airplane in attempt to reach the Waorani with the gospel 50 years ago.

Today, Shell is home to missionaries representing several different agencies working to make disciples in Ecuador. HCJB Global runs a hospital in Shell and sends missionaries to jungle villages to teach and provide clean water systems; MAF transports missionaries to jungle communities and flies sick or injured people out of the jungle in order for them to come to the hospital. Shell is also home to Bible translators and is a key location for Corrientes, a newly-formed coalition of ministries led by HCJB Global to train Latin Americans for bi-vocational missionary work.

The Umbles are in Shell to provide an education for children of these missionaries. Randy teaches at Nate Saint Memorial (NSMS). Having a school for missionary children “during their tender years” in Shell was one of Nate Saint’s dreams, and NSMS is located on a piece of land he purchased before he was martyred. Having a MK school in Shell allows the missionaries to work without needing to send their young children off to boarding school.

This is Randy’s eighth year as teacher at NSMS. He currently teaches 4th-6th grades and physical education. His goal as a teacher is to equip his students with the skills they need to be successful in life. He desires to encourage and challenge his students to grow in their relationship with Christ. It has been rewarding to see the students grow in social and spiritual maturity.

Our desire is to make disciples wherever we are. Right now, we are in Shell in order to support various mission agencies through MK (missionary kid) education.

Lights Out!

A strange thing has been happening lately... it hasn't been raining (at least not as much as normal)! We have enjoyed the sun, but the lack of rain is actually a bad thing. Southern Ecuador is experiencing it's worst drought in 45 years, and the result is a decreased water supply (hmmm... go figure). We have enough water here in Shell, but the government has been rationing electricity for the whole country for the past couple weeks. The first week we were without electricity for six hours a day, and this week it's down to three hours per day. Some parts of Ecuador have had to go without for much longer periods of time (Guayaquil was out for 12 hour blocks). It makes us thankful for electricity when we have it.

HCJB equips Indonesian radio station in the aftermath of deadly quake

Indonesia (MNN) ― After a magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit the island of Sumatra in Indonesia on September 30, a great deal of relief work ensued. Doctors were brought in, food aid was distributed, and shelter was provided; provision of basic needs is expected after such a traumatic event.

But another development a bit less expected came quickly in the aftermath of the tragedy as well: a radio station.

The birth of a radio station in the wake of such a wide scale tragedy may seem random, but it could not have been more necessary. The station was created after the quake by local believers in order to provide informative updates and inspirational music for those affected.

There are very few believers in Sumatra. According to Partners International, only 100 to 300 of the 9 million Minang people in Western Sumatra are believers. The majority of the populous is Muslim.

The introduction of a Christian radio station, therefore, is an immensely important step forward. It provides Christians a platform not only to speak the love of Christ, but also to use the power of music to bring peace to those who have suffered and draw them to the Lord.

HCJB Global recently returned from a trip to the Padang area of Sumatra, a region which suffered gravely from the effects of the quake. HCJB passed out 20 solar-powered radios set to this Christian radio station and also donated equipment to the station, providing training for those working there.

After almost two months, the need for relief work is beginning to die down, but the need for a Savior is still prevalent. The station will likely hold onto listeners gained after the quake, even after relief work ends. Those affected are suffering the traumatic effects of the quake and undoubtedly need a place to turn for solace.

Pray that this radio would be the comfort its listeners need by providing the peace and hope of Jesus Christ. Pray that many would come to know the Lord as they experience the love of His followers via radio.

To learn more about HCJB's work in Indonesia, click here. To learn more about the tragic effects of the quake, click here.

Source: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/13489

Innovative Training Empowers Latin Missionaries to Reach World

QUITO, Ecuador (Oct. 5, 2009) – Responding to the call of the exploding Latin American missionary movement for better training, HCJB Global this weekend launched “Corrientes” (or “Currents”), a ministry to mentor missionaries from South and Central America in acquiring vocational skills, building cross-cultural relationships, learning languages and deepening their relationship with God. “The launch of Corrientes is really an expansion to the world of HCJB Global's success in Latin America, using media and healthcare to bring people to Jesus,” HCJB Global President Wayne Pederson said. “The next phase of the Corrientes project is to work collaboratively with other agencies and denominations across Latin America to mobilize the church for cross-cultural ministry in countries traditionally closed to Westerners.”

Corrientes—a partnership of missionaries and church leaders from Latin America Mission, IMB, SIM, Paraclete Mission Group, the International Christian Mentoring Network and numerous Ecuadorian churches and agencies—provides Latin missionaries with the bi-vocational and personal skills they need to serve more effectively.

The Latin missionary movement—with 12,000 missionaries serving worldwide, 40 percent of them in unreached areas—has been characterized as long on enthusiasm but short on staying power. Corrientes equips missionaries with HCJB’s long-established expertise in healthcare, radio and community development.

“Because Latinos have had local, short-term experiences, many youth are tempted to bypass university education and go straight into missionary service,” said Les Hirst, who coordinates the program in Quito. “For Latin America, this is concerning, because they will have no profession and no college education. One pastor called Corrientes an answer to the prayers of the parents in his church.”

The three- to six-month training will take place at HCJB Global’s facilities in Quito, Shell and elsewhere in Ecuador. Trainees will come from throughout Latin America and must already have the support and encouragement of Latin churches and missions agencies. In Corrientes, they will learn specific skills to help them succeed in their areas of service.

“We design customized educational experiences that will fill holes in their training to increase longevity and effectiveness of the Latin American missionary force,” Hirst said. “The life-transfer of mentors is the key to the effectiveness of the training.”

For example, the first missionary couple accepted into Corrientes asked for an internship in obstetrics for the wife, who is a doctor. From her previous short-term experience, she knew it would be important to be able to deliver babies and help expectant mothers.

“Our hospital staff put together a plan for her that will give her experiences in this area,” Hirst said, “filling a gap in her training so she will be more effective as they establish a clinic in Africa.”

Carlos Pinto, psychological and educational consultant for Corrientes and member of the World Evangelical Alliance member care task force, lauds the initiative for its innovative flexibility. “This is not an imported curriculum,” Pinto said. “On the contrary, it is developed by each missionary trainee during the training process.”

Given the focused, intimate nature of the ministry, Corrientes will train three to four Latin missionaries in its first year, 10 next year, and 15 to 20 annually thereafter. Hirst said that although Corrientes costs are minimal due to a largely volunteer staff, North American Christians can help by sponsoring scholarships for trainees. He added that Spanish speakers with expertise in media, medical care and community development are needed.

Pederson said the results will be far reaching: “Our priority in Latin America is to recruit and develop a new generation of missionaries from Latin America who will reach new generations around the globe. By God's power, Corrientes will bring the church together in a practical, collaborative effort to reach more people for Jesus.”

source: www.hcjb.org

Back to School

Today was the first day of the 2009-2010 school year at Nate Saint Memorial. Erik is in kindergarten, Natalie is in second grade, and Jonny is in third grade. Randy begins his eighth year of teaching at NSMS; he teaches grades 4-6. Please pray that the year would be successful!