The First Month

Hello Everyone,

The first month of Ecuador has been phenomenal.  I've had a great time so far adjusting to living in this third world country.  Even though I grew up here there is a lot that was taken care of for me and now I'm having to figure it out for myself.  I guess that's what happens when you become an adult.  Spanish is coming back to me little by little, but I had not realized how much I had lost.  Communication with the people is usually pretty easy though.

This past week was Spiritual Emphasis Week at the Alliance Academy.  This is put on by the Chaplain's Office staff (Adam DeVries and Loren Holland).  Dan Gilder from Ohio was our speaker and did an amazing job.  Michio Ozaki led our worship time each day and also did an incredible job.  Michio is actually an Alliance Academy alumni from years past and has an amazing gift for music and worship.  We were very blessed to have him this Spiritual Emphasis.  The student response has been good, but we were praying for better.  Part of the vision for this semester's Spiritual Emphasis was to give the students ways to encounter God other than through the chapel service each day.  To do this we created encounter spaces where they could meet with God in different ways.  I will attempt to attach a video I made that shows kids how and where they could do so.  

Please continue to pray for the students as the population is in a balance between not caring at all about God and those who are very arrogant and think they know all there is about Christianity.  God is at work, thank you for your prayers and concern as the chaplains and counseling team tackle some difficult challenges in reaching the kids.

This week I am interviewing students who want to be on the school worship teams.  This is a hard thing to do as I have never done it before.  I served on the worship teams when I was at Alliance and have some concept of how they work, but need prayer for wisdom.

This past Sunday was the first youth group meeting for the senior high at English Fellowship Church.  I have been delegated the responsibility and the privilege to head this ministry up.  Again I was in the youth group as a high schooler and now am in charge of it for the next 5 months until a full time youth pastor arrives.  Pray that I can develop good one on one relationships with the kids.  Nearly 30 came on Sunday night which was much more than I expected.  As a sort of interim youth pastor pray that I can prepare the way for Dave Gardeen the to-be youth pastor while having a positive godly impact on the youth.

I share an apartment with three guys who are here doing a study abroad program through Youth World and their school in California, Eternity Bible College.  They are great guys and we have done well together thus far.  They are helping me out at the youth group as well as involving themselves in various ministries around Quito that Youth World is involved in.

There is a youth pastor that works across the street from the Alliance selling artisan things.  In the past I have helped some of his youth to get school supplies.  Recently he has asked if I could supply a pair of backpacks for their schooling.  And I said "of course".  So if any of you would like to give toward helping some of his youth out you are welcome to give through IT or directly to me.  The information for that is at the right of the blog.

Forgive me as I do not have any pictures up.  Some how I managed to leave all of my rechargeable batteries in the US and have no battery for my camera, but I will get them up soon.  Thank you for your patience.  And thank you all who have given to allow me to be here.  May God bless you in immeasurable ways.

In Him

Loren

Ecuador at Last

Greetings All,

Getting to Ecuador was a challenge to say the least.  With horrible weather in Houston, it took an extra 24 hours to get there.  The Ozaki family hosted me as well as got me to the Consulate the day of my departure to acquire my visa.  God worked it out perfectly!  

Only an hour in the consulate with no problems whatsoever.  He is incredible!

I arrived in Ecuador last Friday night around midnight as was greeted by some of my very dear friends.  It gave me such a warm feeling...you know

 what I mean?  This past week has b

een spent preparing for school to begin and getting the year

 mapped out for ministry.  The chaplain's office was rearranged by Alaina and I and I think it looks pretty good.  What do you think?

I am thrilled to be here.  Many of my friends, teachers, mentors keep asking me if it's weird to be back here.  In some ways it is, but like I told Alaina, "Could you see me doing anything else?"  Truly, this is what I have wanted to do for so long that I just thank God for allowing me to serve Him in this way.  Though He is not served by human hands as though He needed anything, I thank Him still.  Often it is where we least desire to go that He serves us best.  Already I have been stretched to place greater faith in Him as this morning I was put in charge of leading the faculty worship band for the first day of school assembly.

  Those who pray for me, thank you, it was awesome!  The group worked very well together and sounded amazing.  Piano, Bass, Percussion, 2 guitars, and 3 voices.  God blessed me by having it go so smoothly. 

Soon I will be putting together student worship teams for chapels.  There will be an application process involving spiritual and musical placement.  Pray that I would heed His directing and have the wisdom to approach each applicant with discernment and most of all love.  He loves these students so much and already I know many that are unaware of this.  Pray that I and the chaplain team will communicate the Lord's love for them in ways that we cannot fathom.  We are His.

Presently there are only two of us in the office.  Four total within a few months.  Pray that the team will grow together in purpose and common love for the students resulting in humility and effective ministry.  Pray that I can be a blessing to Adam the overseer of the Chaplain's Office and as well to the Weatherbys, the new Directors of Student Ministries at Alliance Academy.  I hope to be as helpful as I can, while encouraging them and making their jobs easier.

This evening Alaina returns to the US to begin her senior year.  It was not an easy parting, but He is sufficient.  We have not left everything that He does not want to satisfy us a hundred fold with Him.  In other words His grace is enough.  She will return here for Christmas, for which we are both thankful.  Pray that we will keep our eyes and hearts on Him as He teaches us what lessons He has.  

I lift my eyes up to the hills.  Where does my help come from?  It comes from you Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

Fear

     As I go, preparing for the mission field, so many emotions and thoughts have run through my mind. One of those emotions is one I did not expect. FEAR. Having grown up on the mission field, the last thing I felt was fear of doing what God had called me to do. Whether it was street ministry or youth groups or worship teams, I experienced nervousness, and sweaty palms, but not fear like I have felt lately.

Fears:   - Not adequately fulfilling the role of chaplain to the students of the Alliance Academy   - Afraid I lack the necessary skills to serve Him   - Failing in...integrity, discretion, wisdom, example, leadership, servanthood, honesty and capability.   - Disappointing supporters, sending mission, partner missionaries.

  From the time God called me I have known what I would do with my life. Every large decision in my life (college, finances) has been made with that holy ambition in mind. As John Piper puts it...a holy ambition is something that you really, really, really want to do and God also wants you to do. My holy ambition is to see godly leaders raised up for this generation impacting the world with the message of the gospel. I have a passion for the lives of young people and I desire to see them choose what is good, right and true. In this world it seems all but impossible to find someone whole-heartedly committed to faith, purity, uplifting speech and deep honest love. They can be found though and I hope to see the young people I connect with become just that by the power of God.

     With YOUR prayers and support it CAN and WILL happen. Right now I NEED YOUR PRAYER. Never underestimate it. Our God moves mountains and splits seas when we have the courage to trust Him and step out in faith. Lets walk together in this faith and discover those immeasurably great and wonderful things that God does beyond all we can ask or imagine. “Surely what Christ means is that he himself makes up for every loss. If you give up a mother's nearby affection and concern, you get back one hundred times the affection and concern from the ever-present Christ. If you give up the warm comradeship of a brother, you get back one hundred times the warmth and camaraderie from Christ. If you give up the sense of at-homeness you had in your house, you get back one hundred times the comfort and security of knowing that your Lord owns every house and land and stream and tree on earth. Isn't what Jesus is saying to prospective missionaries just this: I promise to work for you and be for you so much that you will not be able to speak of having sacrificed anything. That's the way Hudson Taylor took it, because at the end of his 50 years of missionary labor in China he said, ‘I never made a sacrifice.’” By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org