August 15, 2010
We have completed one of our major milestones as a family. Finally, we have arrived at our final destination of Shell, Ecuador. We moved into our new house last Saturday and have started the process of turning the house into a home. Thank you to all who donated or lent us things to put in the house to make it more comfortable.
Much has happened in our second month in Ecuador. Our shipment of goods has arrived. After some additional frustrations, all of our belongings arrived at our house in Shell with very minimal damage. God has provided for all the extra expenses and also gave us grace to have patience with the system!
God has provided us a very comfortable home here in Shell. It is ideal for our family in a good location near several of the people we have become friends with here. As an additional blessing, I was able to ask the price of rent over the phone, and the landlords didn´t know I was a foreigner until after the price had been negotiated. So we are able to pay the Ecuadorian price for the house!
Both Josh and Karina have their spots reserved at their respective schools and enrollment begins this coming week. Maggy has a possibility of some part time work teaching English at one of the local Christian elementary schools. I have been busy in the hangar as we have begun a project to change one of three engines slated for this year. My residency Visa is still in process and I am unable to submit my application for the commercial pilot´s license until the Visa is issued. We are not in a hurry for that and I am quite happy to keep busy in whatever capacity that is asked of me for the time being.
Some of the more exciting things that have been happening involve some of the local community that we have gotten to know in Shell. You might remember me talking about a young Waorani man who studied at SMAT (School of Missionary Aviation Technology) in Michigan, Menewa Nenquimo. His goal was to become the first licensed pilot and mechanic for the Waorani people so that they could have their own aviation program and not depend on outsiders for their transportation. Since then, he has obtained his mechanic´s certificate in the U.S. and is in the process of validating the license in Ecuador.
It was very special for me to be at the small family gathering where Menewa was presented his actual certificate by Tim Paulson, who sponsored part of his training. Mincaye,(one of the warriors who participated in the attack on the 5 missionaries 60years ago) along with other family members was there to celebrate this grand occasion as Menewa is the first Waorani to earn a mechanic´s certificate. Mincaye prayed during the celebration and even though I didn´t understand what he said, it was evident that he was ful lof emotion; happy and proud of his grandson.
For the moment, Menewa is unable to return to SMAT to continue his pilot´s training for many reasons. We made contact early in our arrival to Ecuador and after speaking with him; I felt it was very important that I offer to help in whatever way I can. As you may remember from my other letters, I have felt the desire to help train the indigenous in aviation as part of the ministry here, and maybe this is my first opportunity. You can pray that Menewa will be able to continue his flight training soon.
Menewa´s brother, Mincaye (grandson of Mincaye), has also become my friend. He is an independent missionary who serves his own people, based primarily in Shell. He is active in strengthening the Waorani church as well as being involved in community affairs dealing with politics and government where he is needed. He has been involved in two projects in the past to try to establish aviation programs for his people and in both cases, the Waorani were taken advantage of and were unable to maintain aviation programs. He is excited that his brother has earned his mechanic´s certificate and is encouraging him to continue in his flight training.
Mincaye also has the vision to translate the Old Testament of the Bible into his own language. They currently only have the New Testament and many Waoranis do not speak Spanish and very few speak and understand it well. I can identify with the desire for the translation, because I also have trouble understanding certain parts of the Bible in Spanish. The Bible speaks best to us in what is known as our "Heart Language", or the language we learned as a child, and he is passionate to try to identify a few young people who can be sent to Wycliffe´s Language Institute and begin the translation of the Old Testament.
We can pray that they will be able to begin soon and you can keep your ears open for opportunities to help them complete both projects as they develop.
Thank you for your interest in the work that is being accomplished with the people in Ecuador and we appreciate your prayer support, emotional encouragement and the financial gifts that make our work here possible.
We commit everything we do to God,
David, Maggy, Joni Karina, Joshua, Jonathan,Jennifer
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