DEAR ONES,
We pray that Christmas and the start of 2025 has found you in good spirits. Holding on to His promises!
There has been a lot of variety and unexpected God setups since Christmas for reaching people! We shared with residents in our apartment block pieces of chocolate cake I made knocking on doors and leaving a Christmas magazine with each one. This has resulted in us likewise receiving some very Good cake and whole-wheat bread, a chat in the communal laundry area and all resulting in prayer of salvation… A senior citizen below us is keeping himself challenged with guitar lessons… (Strum, strum, strum with discordant chords) bless his heart, he is keeping himself challenged and goes to various handicraft workshops. We also gave cake to him and a gift of a devotional booklet. He has prayed with us. We are careful not to barge into these people’s lives by offering to visit with bible classes etc. The elderly are very Catholic, albeit some nominally, but loyal nevertheless to their denomination. And we respect that. Just being neighborly, friendly, chatty and sharing a prayer and occasionally a devotional book is quite a step! But thanks to Catholicism here as the nominal religion in Ecuador, a seed has been shown and the sincere and seeking are very near to receiving the free gift of salvation.
On January 3rd we were able to meet for a fellowship to pray for the New Year and our personal spiritual goal as well as a prayer against the spiritual strongholds governing Ecuador. (Article attached which covers some thoughts on strongholds.) Each person present placed a candle on a plate, before saying their personalized prayer for themselves.
For the prayer for Ecuador, each person was given on cards several of the names of the 24 provinces with scriptures written on the back of the cards. And we prayed and claimed the scriptures written thereon after we had discussed what we feel we are discerning concerning specific spiritual entities that are disturbing Ecuador.
We are now needing to stop to pray about the Project for outreach this year. It seems we are being led to reprint some children´s material, bible based, to deliver to families in different provinces. We did this years ago when we could enter schools freely but now this is forbidden. However there are plenty of vulnerable neighborhoods needing this Project. Attached is one example.. YOUR BEST FRIEND EVER. We have others which are too large to attach. We appreciate your prayers for us and for this Project, for supply, STRENGTH, HEALTH AND ENERGY, PROTECTION and clarity with flexibility to be led by His Spirit.
Thank you for your love, prayers and support.
Love and prayers,
Gonzalo and Jenny
PS In light of all that is hitting us with world situations, opinions etc. a page from our devotional.
and the following chat by Tim keller .
.How to face difficult times Psalm 46 ( 10 mins approx)
In light of keeping going for God in the Golden years::
FINISHING WELL BY OSWALD SANDERS:
HYMN . IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL (1941 Esther Rusthoi):