Thank you to all who are praying for me and the rest of the Ecuador team.

We have 37 days until the trip. We recently had two team trainings, one through web-conference and one in-person. It was cool to meet the others on the team through the skype-like meeting and start our team training. I don't think the gravity of our purpose for trip hit me until after the first meeting- sharing the gospel with people, training them and local church leaders to study the bible and continue the discipleship process and develop churches. My initial reaction was to be a little fearful, but God graciously reminded me (and still reminds me), apart from Jesus I can do nothing, and it is God who works in people's hearts to bring them to salvation.

In preparation, God is reminding me how I am, indeed, dependent on Him for everything. I need him to prepare my heart to love and serve. We need him to unify our team, to prepare the hearts of the Ecuadorian Christians and those we will be reaching out to, to protect us now and when we are there...I am also depending on God to guide and help me as I prepare to spend most of the trip functioning in Spanish. Part of me fears that I have overestimated my Spanish abilities, but I trust that God will provide guidance in my preparation and  understanding and the words to speak while I am in Ecuador.

Please pray for:

-spiritual protection and our awareness of spiritual realities. When our goal is God's kingdom and glory, Satan is not just going to sit by, right now or while we are in Ecuador or when we return.

-team unity and for God to give us an increased love for Him, one another, the Ecuadorian people

-the Ecuadorian non-believers to be receptive to us (the message bearers) and the gospel (the message)

-me to trust God, listen to his voice, and pursue (and rest in) Him

-God's blessing and guidance in my study of Spanish in preparation and for my preparation in general