Thank you for your prayers! God has continued to bless the work here in Ecuador and it’s time for another update.

January had two jungle trips for Ron. The first was a family trip with some of Ron’s brother Rick’s family to Limoncocha and Dureno. At that time our family visited their parent’s gravesite and gave it a bit of a clean. We also enjoyed a wonderful time at the lake where Ron and Rick grew up. An early morning boating trip showed us so many birds and monkeys! We also managed to host a mini Borman reunion with Randy’s family.

The second trip was with the Cofan Church Leader’s teaching team. They spent that week studying about missions and had a class on discipleship and false religions. The communities of Zabalo, Dureno and Sinangue were all represented. The subject of missions fit in perfectly as the church leadership of both Dureno and Sinangue had recently talked to Ron about feeling led to go into some other communities to share the gospel! We love to see how God works this way, preparing hearts and minds for the work ahead.

Besides hosting family, we also hosted several other missionary families that were passing through. Being about 50 minutes from the Quito airport and having a large home with lots of beds, is very convenient for our missionary friends!

The Teen Girls’ Bible study Sarah is leading and Teen Boys’ Bible study Ron is leading on Mondays continues on with good attendance. Esther’s women’s Bible study on Tuesday afternoons have also continued and we recently started up a new study on the Sermon on the Mount. The Homeschool Teen Fellowship group continues every other Friday and we continue to have new students find our group every month. Sunday youth group has also been slowly growing and we are thankful!

The beginning of February our youngest son Aaron was able to come for a three week visit. It had been four years since he had been “home” and we had a wonderful time together. He also pitched in and helped with all the ministry going on.

February highlights included more houseguests and some Zoom calls to potential churches. Thank you for your prayers on this need. Our summer is shaping up for about a two month visit to the Pacific Northwest to some new churches and giving reports to current supporting churches. As our schedule solidifies, we will let you know as there are many of you who we would love to visit.

February and early March also saw Esther heading up for a short two week visit to the Spokane area to enjoy some time with Ethan’s family, Julia’s family and our son Aaron. She got to meet our youngest granddaughter Felicity Noelle and celebrate our grandson Silas’ first birthday. Such a joy to see our children bringing up their children in the ways of the Lord.

While Esther was gone, Ron and Sarah “held down the fort” and hosted the annual Homeschool Teen Fellowship fundraiser fair for our annual teen retreat. It was well attended and funds were raised to help cover part of the cost for the retreat this year that will be held at the Ecuadorian coast.

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Ron has another jungle trip planned for the third week in March and then the next big event is our annual Teen Retreat planned for March 30th – April 2nd. Things are coming together for this event, but we ask for your continued prayers for the details, travel safety, health of leaders and students, and hearts to be touched by God’s Word and to grow. Our theme this year is “Storm Troopers” and the need to lean on God during the storms of life.

• Other coming events is a Men’s Retreat from our church April 15th – 16th and the next Cofan Church Leader’s Course April 24th – 28th.

• Please continue prayer for the Cofan Old Testament translation team. Enma has been battling illness and wasn’t able to work in January and February. Leoncio, Wilson, Osmar and Martin have continued working and will be having another group session for checking the end of this month. Ron has been able to do some checking, but sees the need for more time dedicated to this. The consultant, Rick Aschmann, has been able to do some checking, but we need to pray for his and Ron’s busy schedules to mesh so the checking work can be done more efficiently. First drafts of Exodus and Leviticus have been finished and work is being done on Joshua, Judges and 1 & 2 Samuel now. It seems like a slow start, but we are hoping as things move along, they will also go faster. We also pray for the Holy Spirit to work and that an accurate translation will be the result.

• Please pray for the Cofan communities. There has been much growth in the churches of Sinangue, Dureno and Zabalo, both in numbers and hunger for God’s Word. There have been some baptisms. But there is also a spiritual battle that is taking place. We have been having reports of demonic oppression and possession in many of the Cofan youth – similar reports from ALL the villages. Also, there has been a murder recently in one of the villages that has really shaken people. Please pray! God is working, but it is truly a spiritual battle our Cofan brothers and sisters are in.

Ephesians 6:10-20 ESV “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”