The church that hosts the sewing factory also hosts some children that are sponsored through Compassion International. The children come to the church for a meal and some tutoring. We were able to interact with several of them on the playground in the back of the church. They LOVE to have their picture taken.

In Ecuador there are a lot of dogs running the streets. They will follow you around in the street. Some are not clean and some are clean. There were 8 dogs at the wheelchair factory and they were just barking and running around. There was a dog that looked like Benji at the church and he was so cute.

What do you get when you take 20 females to a fabric store with mounds of colorful material? Lots of opinions and mayhem! The poor (male) shop keeper who was cutting the fabric didn't know which way to turn, but in the end we came out with a lot of nice colorful fabric to be made into pillowcases for Pillows of Love. We delivered the fabric to the sewing factory and on the way saw the economic contrast from the north vs. the south of Quito - and lots of dogs! Everywhere there are dogs. The girls started out by "oohing" and "aahing" over every canine we saw, but the novelty soon wore off. The people at the sewing factory got to work right away and we should have pillowcases ready to deliver to some of the children on Tuesday. We're all learning to enjoy flexibility when things don't go according to plan. We are well cared for - the food is good, the accommodations are lovely and the company makes any problems manageable and even comical! Stay tuned for our continuing adventures!

Our first order of business for Friday was to go to the material factory to pick out and purchase fabric for the Pillows of Love. With money Sara had previously collected, along with donations from Glad Tidings ABF and Treasure Mountain childrens' ministry at Community Bible Church, we were able to purchase 10 fabric bolts and trimming material to match each bolt. Special thanks to all who have contributed to this ministry. The 10 bolts will be enough to provide 1000 pillowcases for children around the country. Each pillowcase is printed in Spanish with Psalm 4:8 - "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you, LORD, only makes me dwell in safety." A Spanish children's book which recounts the gospel is tucked into each pillowcase. We hope to distribute between 150-250 pillowcases throughout the course of our time in Ecuador.

Just a very quick post to let everyone know we got here safely. We haven't found wireless yet, so we're using an ancient computer. We'll update with pictures tomorrow. For now we will sleep . . .

What a delight to hear the excitement of our daughters as they look out the windows of the plane. Everything is "cooooool!" and "awesome!". They chatter to each other like magpies and point out each new sight with breathless wonder. They are thrilled with everything: how the clouds look from on top, flying through the clouds, seeing the land get smaller and smaller, the lights of Quito as we approach in the dark. I gain new appreciation for the privilege of traveling with our girls to a new country and culture. They provide sweet refreshment; they make me smile. :-)

We were all gathered in CBC's parking lot by 6:00 am, luggage loaded and circled up for prayer with Pastor Jan, Keith Brenner, and Sharon Futch, and by 6:10 am we were on the road. Our fearless leaders announced that there would be positively no stopping until we got to the airport in DC . . . so we only stopped for one potty break. :-)

Madeline got into the spirit of the Ecuador trip by having me do a hair wrap in the Ecuadorian flag colours. She offered my services to the seven other young ladies on the trip; I have a feeling I'll be busy tomorrow! :)

Step 1:
Open suitcases

The minute I heard Cindy talking about a potential Mother/Daughter missions trip, my interest was peaked. Not having daughters, but 3 younger nieces, I first contacted Karen to see if she would let me take Sophia if there was room on the trip for us. Her response was immediately positive. God kept opening the doors. So here we are, the night before our early travels all packed and just about ready to go, learning how to blog! These missions trips are often a time to learn deep spiritual lessons. The book of Ruth has been full of insights for me in the past month. She was a mighty warrior (ezer) for her mother-in-law, showing her "hesed" love (unconditional, sacrifical, joyful giving love!) So strong are these 2 words in my pondering that I wonder what I'll see and learn while in Ecuador. I guess by the end of the trip, you'll get my answer.

I'm Sophia and I'm super excited for this trip to Ecuador. For me, my trip has already begun. Today me and my family got up real early and we went to the aquarium in Newport, Kentucky. Then after a couple of hours there we all left and went to the Cincinnati Airport. I flew by myself for the first time. But it wasn't even that enjoyable for me because i like to look at all the scenery, but all i could see was clouds! Hopefully that doesn't happen tommorow. But on the bright side (kinda), I arrived at my aunt's house before my family got home! After my flight, we all had pizza and corn on the cob and peanut butter pie for dessert. I absolutely can't wait for the trip to Ecuador! I'm going to have sooooooooooo much fun there.

Hi this is Hannah! I am looking forward to this trip and am excited to leave tomorrow but we haven't even packed!!!! I am really excited about learning about the Ecuadorian culture and I am also excited about learning a new language. I can't wait to go to the Indian market and to do the VBS. But I really hope the weather clears up!

My husband, Doug and I have desired to take our children on a missions trip ever since we had the opportunity to serve on a two week trip to Nigeria a number of years ago. That trip stretched us and grew us in our relationship with the Lord. It also gave us a front-line view of how God is working in other parts of the world and a deeper appreciation for other cultures different from our own. It gave us a deeper passion to share the love of Jesus with those who have never heard. We desire for our kids to experience these lessons too. Ever since that trip Cindy and I have discussed ways we could have our children involved in missions. Sara Risser, a missionary on the field now for 40 plus years, thought it was a great idea to bring mothers and their daugthers to Ecuador. So, now I am excited to serve alongside and share this time with Hannah. I have seen much growth and maturity in Hannah this last year. She is growing up so fast! I'm praying we will be the hands and feet of Jesus to those we come in contact with. That we would have the courage to share with others the hope we have found in living for Him. I too am excited about the great team God has brought together. I see so many different gifts and abilities represented and it makes me wonder what God has in store for the next week and a half. I'm thrilled to be on this journey. Now if only I was packed . . . :)

We daughters of the King are so hard on ourselves! We look around ourselves at our sisters in the Way and marvel at how spiritual this one is, how together that one looks, what a great mom, what a prayer warrior, what patience, kindness, service, organization, thoughtfulness.... And we think to ourselves, "How can I ever measure up??? I have so much wrong with me, so far to go in my relationship with God, my prayer life, my devotional life, my _______. What will these women think if they see the REAL me?"

Ah, dear friends. Be gracious to yourselves, be gentle. None of us has it all together. I'm sure by the end of our first day together, we will already be comforted by the little bits of junk we see coming to the surface in each other. Let's be glad we're not alone in our struggles and extend hands of love and grace to each other. We will hone our rough edges as we rub shoulders during this trip.

I can not wait for this trip. I think it will be a cool trip . My stuff is ready to go and packed . I think it will be cool that we can do VBS for the kids and tell them about Jesus. I am anxious to see the Indian Market and to see the colorful things their.

Emily has always had an interest in other cultures. When we learned of this trip in March we both became excited. I felt it was an opportunity for Emily & I to experience another culture, visit a missionary, share love to others and to be taken out of our comfort zone. We are excited to see what God has in store for us.

Just an experiment to make sure our offline blogging software will work properly.

Hello! I’m kenzie and I am so excited for this missions trip! Yippee! Really looking forward to the plane ride and waking up at 5 in the morning! >:( hehe). It’s really important to me that we tell the kids in Ecuador about God! I love to serve Jesus! I made some really great friends during the meetings. I’m soo happy God opened a door for me and my mom!

So why the monkey? I love monkeys. Maybe we will see one while we are there! ♥

When I was seven years old, I was in a missions service and felt God calling me to Africa. I was properly horrified, as any cautious, shy, anxious, reserved, petite seven-year old would be! :) However, God has a way of bringing us around, and when Madeline was four and I was...well, younger than I am now :) - our family left to spend two years in Nigeria, serving with SIM.

In the airport, Madeline said with tears, "I wish Jesus didn't ask us to go to Nigeria." Two years later, when it was time to come home again, she was just as sad to leave! Nigeria was a rich time of lasting lessons for her: she learned things like peacemaking, how to make friends with just about anyone, flexibility, and compassion. She gained a broader worldview and grew in her natural desire to serve others.

Nigeria taught me that God really does take care of small details like making sure I never saw a huge spider without someone there to rescue me. I also began to learn more about myself through our time in Nigeria: that I had a deep need to make myself worthwhile to Christ. When we came home, it was the beginning of a valley for me, filled with caves and treacherous pits as I stumbled into unknown pain, mixed-up core beliefs, and deep grief and loss. I am still walking the valley, but the way seems a little brighter most days, and I am able to see the Shepherd with me a little more clearly.

Some would say that in my broken state, I should not consider a trip such as this. I say, we are all broken. God uses our weakness, works in and through it for the good of ourselves and others and ultimately receives the glory. While I have difficulty seeing this truth when I am lost in the darkness of a cave in the valley, truth it remains.

I approach this trip to Ecuador with excitement, trepidation, and anticipation. I am looking forward to serving and sharing with good friends, special experiences with my daughter and her friends, hanging with the many children we meet, learning from, serving, and serving with people of another culture, practicing my fledgling Spanish (thanks, Tenli!), encouraging and working alongside CBC missionary Sara Risser, growing and seeing Madeline grow in ways we never would if we stayed home. I think it will be a good trip.

My mother always talked about how much she felt God calling her to the mission field throughout different points in her life, and how much she regretted never having answered the call. Mackenzie, being so much like her grandmother, has expressed interest in missions since she was a preschooler. I have never personally felt that call, but Glenn and I have always been fortunate enough to be able to financially support many missionaries over the years. Two years ago during a family vacation to the Dominican Republic, we had the privilege of driving through some extremely poverty-stricken parts of the island. Mackenzie was especially moved by what she saw, and the urge to serve God in a third world country became even stronger. There have been several short-term missions trip opportunities that have come up during the past year, which we considered joining, but when Janeice mentioned the mother-daughter trip to Ecuador in the winter, I knew that this was the best opportunity for Kenzie's first missions experience. As I stood on the stage with the Junior/Senior High Philadelphia team--so many teenagers willing to put aside their busy social lives to serve God in the inner-city--it occurred to me how exciting it is to watch how God is moving in the lives of the young people in our church.

My mom said, "Write that you can't wait till you do your schoolwork (math and reading) on the plane." :(

Shortly after Pete taking the position as Interim Childrens' Ministry Director at CBC, we visited another church near Mechanicsburg with a vibrant childrens' ministry. The day we visited happened to be the Sunday that a missions team was being commissioned to go a country in Central America. The uniqueness of this missions trip, though, was that it was composed of upper elementary children who had worked hard at studying Scripture and serving in their church in order to earn the privilege to serve on a missions trip. Most of the children had a parent that was also going along, but the idea of introducing serving in missions to this age group hit Pete and I as incredibly valuable.

July 26 at Community Bible Church: Pastor Jeff introducing our Mother-Daughter Ecuador team to the congregation (along with the Philadelphia team). Sophia is in our hearts and prayers even though she's not able to join us on the stage.
Great job on the team tie-dyed shirts, Jes!!

Our last team meeting on July 23! Here are Jes, Janeice, and Heidi, busy deciding how all the supplies will be spread out among the eight of us.
Pray that we make it safely through customs with all those Beanie Babies!! Also that our luggage arrives in Quito at the same time we do. :)