Espinozas in Ecuador
Dear Wallenstein family,
Greetings from the equator!
We have a calendar in our kitchen which has a monthly focus on a different aspect of God's faithfulness. May was “God is faithful in my family” and June was “God is faithful in my sickness”. We have appreciated these reminders in these last months that have introduced new changes into our family routine and where we went through many weeks where someone in our family was sick.
May is the beginning of the school year in Guayaquil and Hope of Bastion students entered their school in crisp new uniforms and discovered some of the warmest classrooms now had air-conditioning! Everyone is thrilled. We hope to get all the classrooms furnished with air-conditioners as funds come in.
We made the decision to put Tiago in a pre-school and Danilo in a day-care in the mornings. God led us to schools that have been a good fit for them and fill their social cups. Unfortunately, it took a couple of months for all of our immune systems to adjust and we went through a season where someone in our family was always sick. Though it was never anything very serious, it was draining. Thankfully, we seem to be out of that period for now and feel we are finding our feet.
This new routine has allowed Jessenia to become more involved in the sponsorship office again at the school and she has enjoyed personal contact with people there again. The school year has been going very well. The school recently had a “Sexual Purity Week”, and various couples from the church, including ourselves, ran workshops with different grades. We pray the students would remember what they learned and that this generation of students would decide to make decisions that go against popular culture.
Youth group also started a new season of weekly meetings (during the “summer” break our meetings were more irregular) and we are pleased to see many students from the school. One of our youth leaders is now the Christian education teacher for junior high and he has made it his goal to encourage the students to come out on Saturdays, and it appears to be working! It is a comfort to know that these youth are getting spiritual instruction during the week at school and not just during their 2 hours at youth group. We pray many of them would take advantage of this and it would make a lasting impact on their life decisions.
Currently we are gearing up to travel to Canada for a month and a half visit. We are looking forward to spending time with Jessenia’s elderly grandmother and reconnecting with our family, friends and church back home. Thank you for your continued prayers for us as a family and the ministry here.
The Espinozas (Raul, Jessenia, Tiago and Danilo)
Prayer requests:
For organization as we get ready to travel to Canada.
That our boys would stay in good health and continue to enjoy their schools.
For our Salvadorian missionary friends as they move back to El Salvador after completing their time in Ecuador with us.
That the spiritual seeds planted in the youth and with the students at Hope of Bastion would take root and yield fruit in their lives.
One of our youth leaders lost her grandmother recently and her family is showing spiritual interest. Please pray that the loss of this dearly loved lady would be the catalyst needed for the family to turn to Christ.
