— Agentes de Control Quito (@agentesdequito) March 20, 2019
This was tweeted out by the police in Quito. This happened in the historic district of our fair city. The tweet translates “We assisted a citizen who was being dragged by the water current after the rain this afternoon. We are always nearby.”
The rainy season should end soon but we have been getting extremely heavy rains recently. Flash floods, landslides and sinkholes are more common than normal right now.
Please join us in prayer for our Ecuadorian friends.
Timothy was invited to dedicate Samara the daughter of Gloria, one of his seminary students. Gloria is also the daughter of Pastor Carlos.
It was an absolute honor to speak into the lives of Samara, Gloria, the family and the church!
Here is a short podcast about this wonderful experience.
In Deuteronomy 6:4-9 we read: “Listen, Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You must lovethe LORD your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength. These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. Inscribe them on the door frames of your houses and gates.”
This scripture is very important especially as we think about how to raise a child in a manner dedicated to God.
We love our children! Naturally we want to raise them in a way that passes on our faith.
Deuteronomy teaches us that God is unique, the only one worthy of worship! The scripture teaches us that our attitude toward God is to be one of love. Love through thought (intellect, creativity), Love through body and spirit (our whole being), and Love through work (strength).
This is a Quechua hymn called Cuya Tayta Diolla. We love hearing our brothers and sisters sing in this beautiful language!
The scripture then instructs us that this truth is to be taught to our children. We are to teach our children to love God as we sit in our house.This means that our home must be a home focused on God’s truth. Both naturally and intentionally we raise our kids in an atmosphere of faith at home.
We see Pastor Carlos raising his children in a home filed with faith. We know that Gloria will raise Samara in the same atmosphere.
We are to instruct our children in the ways of faith as we walk along the road. Notice the contrast between the home and the road. At home we are supposed to be protected, safe, and free to be most ourself. The message of faith in the home is unified. The road is different. In the road we encounter the dangers of life, difficult people, and confusing thoughts. The road is where our faith is tested. The Scripture says that we are to teach our children in this challenging atmosphere as well. We are to guide them through the troubles in the life. We are to walk with them on the paths they choose to walk. We are to teach our children in the safety of our homes and also in the vulnerability of the road.
The road may be where our faith is proven but ideally the home is where our faith begins.
This Scripture then goes on to speak of another instance in which we are to instruct our children in the way of faith. We are to remind our children as we lie down and as we get up. This means that our day is to be spent in a manner that brings our kids into a living relationship with God our Father. In every situation during the day we have a choice, we can either act and react in a way that brings our kids into a deeper relationship with God or in a way that drives our kids away from the loving arms of our Savior. A measured and Christ entered response to life’s daily issues teaches our children the way of faith. We must try to act and react in godly ways to all of life’s problems both extraordinary and mundane.
We often rise to the occasion when the extraordinary occurs but consistency in the mundane is what prepares us for the extraordinary.
This Scripture then goes on to tell us to make physical reminders of the truth. That’s because we are both a physical and spiritual creation. Sometimes we need to make physical reminders of spiritual truths. We should find a physical reminder of our faith. We should connect the spiritual truth that we teach our children with physical reminders of that truth. This is what Jesus did when he taught.
This Scripture concludes with the instruction to write the truth on your door and gate. Door frames and gates are the part of the home that the community sees. What the Bible is teaching is that we are to be a witness to the community. As parents we have a lot of influence on our children the community we live in also shapes our children’s thoughts and actions. This is why we take every opportunity to share our faith with our neighbors. Our witness is to shine inside and outside of our homes, our witness should help shape the spiritual atmosphere in which our children will grow up.
What does your community see from the outside looking in?
Jesus quotes these verses and joins them with Leviticus 19:18 in Matthew 22:37-40.
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”Jesussaid to him, “‘ Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind .’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘ Love your neighbor as yourself .’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Loved ones, the same Jesus Christ who invited The children to come to him invites us to live in Divine love. Allow me to encourage you, love God, love others, live accordingly so that Our Children can see and believe.
This week we had the honor of going to one of Ecuador’s beautiful national parks. We went to Jerusalem Bosque Protector near the Capital city of Quito. We loved the beauty and tranquility but we enjoyed the reason for our visit even more. The Mount of Olives Congregation located in Cangahua high up the Cayambe volcano invited us to thier Baptism service. The rivers of Cayambe are very cold but the national park had a public swimming pool that was perfect for the occasion.
The Cayambe Volcano
The Church arrived in two busses and a few other vehicles. Our family arrived with the president of our National Committee and his wife.
We had a wonderful poolside worship service which seemed to draw the attention of the other guests. Baptisms are about witnessing!
Pastor Luis Gave an Excellent Sermon Explaining Baptism!After a wonderful time of praise and prayer it was time for the baptisms.
Fourteen people were baptized!
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After the service we had wonderful fellowship with our brothers and sisters! They fed us well!
Delicious food!Cuy is always a favorite!
Our family is beyond blessed to be working with so many lovely people in Eacudor!
With much love,Timothy, Angelita, Tim, Esperanza, Ezequiel, Elias, and Adalena
Bautismos en Jerusalén
Esta semana tuvimos el honor de ir a uno de los hermosos parques nacionales de Ecuador. Fuimos a Jerusalén Bosque Protector cerca de la ciudad capital de Quito. Nos encantó la belleza y la tranquilidad, pero disfrutamos aún más el motivo de nuestra visita. La Congregación del Monte de los Olivos ubicada en Cangahua en lo alto del volcán Cayambe nos invitó a su servicio de Bautismo. Los ríos de Cayambe son muy fríos, pero el parque nacional tenía una piscina pública que era perfecta para la ocasión.
El Volcán Cayambe
La Iglesia llegó en dos autobuses y algunos otros vehículos. Nuestra familia llegó con el presidente de nuestro Comité Nacional y su esposa.
Tuvimos un maravilloso servicio de adoración junto a la piscina que parecía llamar la atención de los otros huéspedes. ¡Los bautismos son sobre testificar!
¡El pastor Luis dio un excelente sermón explicando el bautismo!Después de un tiempo maravilloso de alabanza y oración, llegó el momento de los bautismos.
¡Catorce personas fueron bautizadas!
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¡Después del servicio tuvimos una maravillosa comunión con nuestros hermanos y hermanas! ¡Nos alimentaron bien!
¡Comida deliciosa!Cuy es siempre un favorito!
¡Nuestra familia está más que bendecida de estar trabajando con tanta gente encantadora en Ecuador!
Con mucho Amor, Timothy, Angelita, Tim, Esperanza, Ezequiel, Elias, y Adalena
I (Timothy) just spent five days in Tonsupa to nail down some details for our upcoming Seminary intensive week. As I arrived in Tonsupa I had in mind many problems that needed solutions before I returned to my family in Quito. How will we feed our students? Where will they sleep? What about transportation? Can I really expect my students to focus on classes in such a tropical environment? Where is the nearest hospital? What items will we need from the Seminary building? How will we transport them to the Tonsupa church? What about security? These were just a few of the questions that were swimming around my mind.
The Tonsupa Church Building
I arrived with a plan, a good plan, a plan that had our budget and other constraints in mind. A visionary plan. And God smiled.
As I began explaining my plan to the pastor of the Tonsupa Church she listened and finally asked one simple question. “Have you considered our local Christian campgrounds?” I had not even known about thier local Christian campgrounds. After a few moments of discussion we found ourselves in my car to visit the campgrounds. What we found was a fully equipped and perfect place to house our students and hold our classes. The long list of problems melted away in the tropical heat!
The Local Christian Campgrounds
I am very greatful to Brother Patricio, Sister Irma, Sister Deila, and Sister Susana for their help and guidance. Without their input I would have never seen God’s plan becuase my view would have been blocked by the details of my own plan!
Brother Patricio Preached Sunday Morning
I can’t help but smirk at myself and my plans sometimes. Christ is the head of the Church, he makes the plans my job is to listen and then engage His perfect plan.
May you see Christ clearly so that you can follow Him closely,
The Downings
Esto es en parte parte de la confesión de alabanza.
Yo (Timoteo) acabo de pasar cinco días en Tonsupa para precisar algunos detalles para nuestra próxima semana intensiva de seminario. Cuando llegué a Tonsupa, tenía en mente muchos problemas que necesitaban soluciones antes de regresar a mi familia en Quito. ¿Cómo alimentaremos a nuestros estudiantes? ¿Dónde van a dormir? ¿Qué pasa con el transporte? ¿Realmente puedo esperar que mis alumnos se centren en clases en un ambiente tropical? ¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? ¿Qué elementos necesitaremos del edificio del Seminario? ¿Cómo los transportaremos a la iglesia Tonsupa? ¿Qué hay de la seguridad? Estas fueron solo algunas de las preguntas que nadaban en mi mente.
El edificio de la iglesia Tonsupa
Llegué con un plan, un buen plan, un plan que tenía en mente nuestro presupuesto y otras limitaciones. Un plan visionario. Y Dios sonrió.
Cuando comencé a explicar mi plan al pastor de la Iglesia de Tonsupa, ella escuchó y finalmente hizo una pregunta simple. “¿Has considerado nuestros campamentos Cristianos locales?” Ni siquiera había sabido sobre sus campamentos Cristianos locales. Después de unos momentos de discusión, nos encontramos en mi automóvil para visitar los campamentos. Lo que encontramos fue un lugar totalmente equipado y perfecto para alojar a nuestros estudiantes y realizar nuestras clases. ¡La larga lista de problemas se derritió en el calor tropical!
Los campamentos cristianos locales
Le agradezco mucho al Hermano Patricio, a la Hermana Irma, a la Hermana Deila y a la Hermana Susana por su ayuda y guía. Sin su aporte, nunca hubiera visto el plan de Dios, porque mi punto de vista habría sido bloqueado por los detalles de mi propio plan.
El hermano Patricio predicó el domingo
No puedo evitar sonreírme a mí misma y a mis planes a veces. Cristo es el jefe de la Iglesia, él hace los planes de mi trabajo es escuchar y luego comprometerse con su plan perfecto.
Que veas a Cristo claramente para que puedas seguirlo de cerca,
Los Downing
Para apoyar a nuestros Pastores y Líderes de la Iglesia mediante la donación a nuestro fondo del Seminario, ¡haga clic aquí!
Part of the adventure of living as a missionary in Ecuador is the journey to various ministry sites. We had the privileged of visiting the Church of God in Pisambilla last week. With excitement we discussed an ongoing building project with the Pastor and the possibility of having a work-camp at his Church (this would be the first work-camp ever to visit the Pisambilla Church).
Pastor Carlos and some of the Pisambilla Church standing in what will one day be their new church building.
We love visiting our churches all over the country, part of the adventure is getting there. Our journey begins in our driveway an hour before the first video in the playlist. Your ride along begins in the beautiful town of Cayambe about forty-five minutes from Pisambilla.
What the video can not do is produce the actual feel of the road. If you want to experience the bumps you should watch this playlist on a mechanical bull.
Thank you for riding along with us on this adventure we sincerely hope that one day you can visit us in Ecuador and we can ride together again.
We are still enjoying our brief time in the United States. We are busy collecting necessary documents, enlisting new ministry partners, meeting with our home offices, packing, planing and spending time with family. Time is moving fast for us. Today we want to share one moment in time we recently enjoyed as a family.
If a picture is worth 1000 words what is a video worth? Here is the video of the evening we revealed our baby’s gender to our kids.
As you can see the news was met with mixed reviews among the siblings. But overall we are basking in God’s blessing.
We have good news! The video that was used to introduce us at the North American Convention has been made available to us. Now we would like to make it available to you.
Some suggested uses for the short video would be:
To introduce us to your church or small group.
To remind your congregation of our partnership.
To focus on Ecuador during a prayer time.
To share it on your social networks.
However you use it we would like to know about it. Would you please drop us a line either by commenting on this post or emailing us?
In His Grip,
The Downings
(If you would like to become a living link partner with us please click on the photo above.)
The Downings
The Downings
Timothy, Angelita, Tim, Esperanza, Ezequiel, Elias, and Adalena
