EMT current group photo

EMT current group photo
June 2023 Ecuador Mission Team

Headed to the USA

This is the day that the world reminds dads how special they are to us. I would like to say Happy Father’s Day to all the EMT dads. There is a spot in God’s heart that only you can fill. He loves you tremendously and as his representatives here on earth it is my wish that you continue to fulfill his purpose for you as an individual and most importantly as a father according to his purpose. In the church service today at Carmen Bajo the preacher spoke along those lines. He exhorted the fathers listening to him to stand up and be the head of household that God would be proud of so that our children can grow to know Him – the Way, Truth and the Life. Janey translated for us again and although this message was more complex in its delivery, she worked well at the translation and conveyed the message clearly.

After church many of the kids gathered around us with smiles and hugs that conveyed such a closeness that it really hurt to separate from them. One little kid said “no te vayas” (don’t go) as we were climbing onto the bus. As the door closed another one shouted “ take me to USA with you”. Each time we have to go away from them it is painful for us but I imagine more painful for them and for that reason they quickly mention the fact that they will see us next year again J. Our group sang “Open the eyes of my heart” as a part of the praise and worship. The kids participated well with actions and sang along with us. It was a sweet time in fellowship. We served God and the people of Carmen Bajo in a way that you would be proud of these past few days.

We are now in the apartment just waiting for Pity and Pancho to return. They will pray with us and have a devotion before we depart for the airport. It seems that we are all packed and ready to go. Everyone is doing well. Some of the group members are playing cards, some are making jokes and others are just relaxing. It is raining cats and dogs at the moment. I am glad it did not rain while we were doing all our outdoor activities earlier this week. Well, I want to say one more big thank you to you our parents. Many of you have partnered with this organization for two and three years. Others have joined us this year and you may agree to continue in the future. Either way you have invested time and talent in a small section of the Kingdom of God. At least six kids have been added to the Whitefield Academy sponsored kids list. Your efforts will be rewarded!

Thanks also to Dr. Banke, Tyrone Johnson, Rebecca Brown, John East, Jan LeCraw, Sage Dining, Jason Bilotti, Kyle Gutteridge, Fiona Witharana, Kindergarten teachers – Jeanne East and Adrienne Miller, Stacy Rutter, the entire US and MS for buying biscuits all year and wearing jeans on Wednesday. I cannot fail to mention the Whitefield Family who is supportive consistently of our service here in Quito. God bless you all and we will see you in Atlanta!

Opal Anderson-Curling

A Quick 'Hello'

Saturday was a relaxing day for us today. I think the team enjoyed bartering in the marketplace and getting a few items they knew they wanted for a “good price”. They will look like the coolest crew heading back tomorrow night because just about everybody got new sunshades in Otavalo.

Our cable car ride at the Teleferico station was breathtaking. We got a chance to see Quito from some 12,000 ft. in the air if my memory serves me right. As we ascended Pancho told the small group in his cable car that as a young man he and several friends hiked the mountain that was below us and how a friend of his died in a plane crash in that very mountain some years ago. I just continue to marvel at God and his greatness when I see the landscape here. After dinner at Pim’s we did have another experience with some upset stomach. We gathered together and prayed for Janey and once again saw the swiftness of God’s hand in restoring balance to what seemed like an unbearable situation.

Pancho and Pity shared with us again tonight after dinner and reinforced the need for us to draw closer to our “Abba Father”. One of the most salient points they brought out tonight was that we are to break down the walls that separate us from devoting our minds and hearts to our heavenly father. Earlier this week we had to think about and write down all the things that we are struggling with, things that are separating us from God. Pancho mentioned several idols that we may not consider idols that we have allowed to enter into our daily existence and we prayed for forgiveness then asked for Jesus to come into our hearts and help us get rid of these things. We are a work in progress but Abba Father is there with open arms always ready to forgive and give us a new start.

Blessings!

Opal Anderson-Curling

We Are Still Here

This is just a quick note to say we are all still here. Today was great at the school. It was a time of jubilation mixed with a few tears. The afternoon took us to Quito’s center to check out the colonial structures then a dinner at the elegant Pim’s restaurant. We are now off to Otovalo – outdoor market and Cotacachi – leather city. I think many of us will be staying clear of anything we can’t spell or pronounce on the menu in the restaurant J. Well, see you later! Blessings!

Opal Anderson Curling

Nearing the End

Today’s party was again a success. It was very well put together and the team worked together like a well oiled machine. The teachers/staff were all in high spirits from beginning to end. They especially loved it when the our group sang for them. They loved it so much that they asked for dances and well…..we delivered. Mrs. T told them to relax, enjoy the time, entertainment and food. They are very obedient folk because they did just that.

The time went by slowly as they talked and laughed with each other, picked at fruit, crackers and cheese, nuts/raisins and drank a potion our team stirred up for them. I couldn’t count the smiles in the room. It was just a good time. At the end of the year it was great for them to ‘chill out’ for a little while with colleagues while they were served. At gift giving time we saw thankful faces and just excited people. They would cheer each time another one received their gift and a thank you card which the team members handed out swiftly. They told me afterwards that they loved their gifts, so moms and dads you did it again!!!

Dinner and a quick devotion followed at the apartment. This time Pancho and Pity want us to think about how we want to help the school – by praying for specific kids, sponsoring a child, praying for the teachers/administration/community moms etc. We have to think about that and jot down some ideas to regroup on Saturday. We also had to give our feedback on how our experiences have been so far this week. Some of the responses included an awareness of how much the little kids just want to be loved and held, a deeper appreciation for what we have as so many here do not have, gratefulness for the being on this trip and being able to minister to the teachers today at the party and also recognizing that the kids are not perfect so they do get hyperactive and energetic and won’t listen all the time but we love them regardless.  Some of the comments are just priceless.

I did not hear of any illnesses today. Tomorrow will be our last instruction day. It will be bitter sweet as parting with the family at FAE is and has been such sweet sorrow for WA’s EMT. Nonetheless, I applaud you if you are reading this email for partnering with the EMT this year. In whatever way you helped you have contributed to the proclamation of Jesus’ love and compassion for his children. Most of all you helped lift up Jesus so these families at FAE can be drawn to Him. Blessings to you!

Opal Anderson-Curling

Preparing for the Teacher/Staff Appreciation Party

Hola! Just after dinner we spent some time organizing for tomorrow’s teacher/staff appreciation party at the school in Carmen Bajo. Some of us were writing bible verses onto note cards for center pieces, while others were getting their entertainment pieces together or so it seemed (I heard the guitar, IPod music, and blending voices). It is slowly coming together I think. We spent a great deal of time doing the gifts (sorting and separating) and wrapping. Thank you is not enough to say how much we appreciate your support and willingness to bless these teachers and moms that you have not even met. I know they will be very pleased to receive these gift items.

All in all it was a good day teaching again. The only drawback was that we got a few more comments about uneasiness and nausea. I really think the effects of our extreme weekend in Mindo coupled with teaching are now visible. We are praying for everyone to recover well.

I like the way this trip is revealing the tenacious spirit of some of the more reserved EMT members. I watched Noah and Kerry Anna for a few minutes today just immersed in their classes. Again I see that God is working, perfecting in many of them talents and abilities they would probably otherwise “hide under a bushel”.

Please pray that our staff appreciation party will be well received and once again the passion for Christ will be translated to those we are serving. We will be hosting it from 1:45 – 4:30 p.m. Blessings!

Opal Anderson-Curling

Lifting up Jesus Through Teaching, Soccer

This is an update on Tuesday’s activities. We woke up feeling well. I was pleased to see that Caitlin was smiling, Luke’s response to me was “great Senora” and Josh said he was doing great as well. Caroline felt much better on Monday night soon after she brought up what was bothering her and things really seemed to settle down for us. Again I was feeling very good about that. With that I asked the team if they wanted to continue with the plan to play soccer with Pancho that afternoon. I got a resounding yes and everybody got their gear and we left to begin our teaching day. Things went very smoothly during the morning and afternoon. The Center activities we did on Tuesday went very well. The kids are really excited about the science experiments. They loved playing different instruments while Luke taught them the short choruses. I think they mostly liked getting a chance to play on his guitar though. The bible trivia was very good and our kids got a chance to see how much bible facts these FAE kids do know. Pray for us as we continue to lift up Jesus.

Soccer at the indoor location was awesome after working at the school! Pancho’s team (Ecuador) won of course. He is just too good, a magician with the ball is what I say but Caitlin’s team (USA) was a great contender. Mrs. T and I were very happy that she was well enough to play. Do you think she could’ve just watched from the sidelines? So Ecuador won 12-10. However, Cole was injured. His team definitely missed him and the power in his play. His injury is possibly a sprained MCL. Thankfully our male chaperone Milton was able to help him tremendously. He is doing much better this morning and just needs to take it easy moving around, but he is in good spirits!

After dinner I was wiped out but devotion was worth the wait. The armor of God is meant to protect, secure and reinforce our physical and spiritual well being. Pancho and Pity gave us all the  parts of the armor to put on and with that visual lesson I know we are ready for future battles at home, school, work and life in general. We are getting ready to begin Wednesday’s teaching day so I leave you with Ephesians 6:11-17 – “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…” . Blessings to you all!

Opal Anderson-Curling

God is an Awesome God!

Psalm 91
Psalm 130
Isaiah 41:10 and 13
2 Timothy 1:7

At some point today please read those verses. Our team got together about an hour ago and prayed in unison. We then read those scripture passages/verses. I sat down to email you while it was still Monday night but a strong feeling of nausea led me quickly to bed. I left the computer running with the idea to come back in an hour maybe. A knock on the door startled me and Janey called for me with urgency. I got up only to feel like my world was ending and nausea was taking me out but I rushed toward her voice as she told me Caitlin needed me NOW.

Fatigue, nausea, upset stomach, pain and fever have been visiting a few of our bigger babies and even the little missionary Kiev (she is doing better J). We gave her a banana, Hannah Rae applied a cold rag to her forehead, Cara Grace went to get us something that may help bring relief and immediately I called for the team to come together. We prayed, speaking the words/promises of God back to him and claiming immediate victory over these ill feelings for all affected. At the end of the first prayer I was completely healed. I felt new and 100% renewed. We checked in on Caitlin and we heard a small improvement. Luke was fast asleep so I left him – that is exactly what he needs as we were praying.

We sat down and began to read God’s word in the passages I mentioned above. I asked to team to believe that God can and will restore healing to our weaker members at this time. I begged them to cast out any fear in their hearts at this time because honestly there is no place for fear at this time. I asked them to pray again and with hearts believing claim continued good health for those who are not feeling ill and again restoration for those who are feeling weak.

We went back to check on Caitlin and the report was better. She was beginning to settle down and her fever broke. God is an awesome God. He delivers, He is a healer, He is a comforter, he is a shelter and a Rock. You see, before we called, He answered and while were yet speaking He heard us (paraphrased from Isaiah).

Teaching went very well on Monday morning. Although some of the team members felt it was hard for them they told me it was very rewarding and they felt accomplished. Our afternoon activities of doing two Science centers, a music center and a bible center was a bit of a challenge but all in all we did not fail to transfer the love of Jesus to those children attending. They were excited to find bible verses (and get a stamp for finding it first) as we played the Sword Drill, as we taught them “This little light of Mine” and also finding out the result of mixing baking soda and vinegar together.

God is doing a mighty work through us at this school as He always does with the Whitefield Academy group here. You are doing an amazing job raising your children to fear God and glori fy His name. I have no complaints about this group of kids. Please believe with me that He will restore us to wholeness. 

Opal Anderson-Curling

We arrived safely!

Hola loved ones! We arrived late but we are all together and in the apartment – thank God for all his traveling mercies and your support and prayers. It is 3:27 am in ATL but 2:27 am here in Quito. It took us a long time to get out of the airport because unfortunately we could not locate one of Cole’s bags and also one of Mrs. Tolford’s as well. We spent more than an hour just looking then talking with the baggage team who was quite busy (many lost bags tonight sadly). We left them our contact information and we are praying they locate the 2 bags especially for Cole’s belongings etc. The guys are helping Cole with clothing at this time and just in case we don’t hear anything I will go to plan B.

Pancho and Pity were waiting for us and after such a long wait in the airport it was a pleasure to see them. They gave us that warm Quito welcome. They reassured us that we are now at our second home then prayed for you our loved ones while we have to be temporarily separated at this time. Well it is very quiet in here at this time which tells me our teenagers are fast asleep or resting well in their rooms. I will check in later today with more details. Our day begins with breakfast at 8 am then onto the school. Hasta la vista…I am off to count sheep!

Opal Anderson-Curling