God's Work in South America

I’ll be honest, there are times I just cram trips in because I know I need to get somewhere and I really want to stay home, but I’ve got to do it.  So I’m in South America.  How do you cram in a trip to Ecuador, you say?  Well I knew I had a break because of Casey and Jason preaching (which I heard was excellent) and I really wanted to take a kid with me to make it more worth my time. So Lauren and I and Sean and Kathy headed out for a 4 day trip to Ecuador.  It’s only a 4.5 hour flight out of Houston so it’s not really that bad.
 
What God does when I’m obedient to doing the things I know I need to do, is he shows off. I’ve been to Ecuador before, but this is one of the most beautiful places on the globe.  It is a more developed country than most I visit. And the weather is always perfect. We’re in Quito where it’s always 70 and sunny.  So as you are getting pounded with 7- 9 inches of snow – we’re…sorryJ

Unfortunately we fly back tomorrow (Friday) so I’m hoping we can get back because I have a great message for you this weekend.
 
Anyway, the purpose of our visit is to check out one of our new church plants here.  It’s a church that is running 200 people already and it’s only a couple of years old.  Pastor Jean David is Haitian and was a professor at the Nazarene University here.  Which is where we are staying, and if I can say, the Nazarenes are very well organized here. I love being non-denominational and just working with whoever has it going on.  Down here it’s our Nazarene bros and sisters. As a matter of fact they are very connected to Olivet and have Olivet students down here a lot for school semesters. The connections are just awesome when you start seeing what God is doing. The family of God is so great!
 
Anyway we are very excited about Jean David.  He’s an awesome speaker who travels around the world and he’s a great pastor. Because of his background he is able to reach the Latin and the Haitian immigrants who come here by the droves. They of course asked me to speak at the last minute at their prayer meeting last night and I told them that 20 years ago Parkview was their size, and I believed that God was going to take them on exactly the same path he’s taken us.

And I preached the Prodigal Son\Older brother story and reminded them that church is about those on the “outside” and if they never forget that – they will see miraculous things.

So pray for the church here and the pastor – it is Parkview in a part of the world you’ve never seen. But we will be taking trips here. You’ve got to see this place. It is right on the equator so the weather never changes. We stood on both hemispheres yesterday.  

 
On that one spot the gravity is so much less that I could balance an egg on the head of a nail. 

 
And literally we did the demonstration of water draining and how it goes clockwise on one side and counterclockwise on the other.  Literally on the equator it just goes straight down.  It’s really bizarre.
 
This is also the country with the Huaorani Indians who are the ones who killed the missionaries (Jim Elliot and company) back in the 60’s.  If you didn’t see “Beyond the Spear,” you really should.  God at work.
 
And the Shrinking head Indians are here. 
 And they think Guinea pigs are a delicacy – I ate one last time I was here.  This time I found a picture of a business that delivers them like pizza – IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS. 

 
I can’t wait to see you all this weekend.  Don’t miss this series on 2012 – You Were Promised. Ecuador is cool, but Heaven is going to ROCK.  
 
I might wear Bad Masks from Ecuador for this sermon series.

J

 

But I will be singing Kenny Chesney – you won’t want to miss this deeply theological song.
 
Tim
 

Comments

[Linda]

WOW! This new church in Ecuador sounds awesome, to actually see God's work in progress must be an amazing feeling. Thanks for sharing some great pictures, (except for the guinea pig dinner, yikes I can't believe you tried it!).
You have been missed, so hurry home safely back to Parkview. We can't wait to see you and hear all about this trip and to hear you sing.
To God Be the Glory,
Linda

[Mr. Puggle]

I have never heard Kenny Chesney to my knowledge, but you were sounding more like Jimmy Buffett to me. Great Job.
It was a great message.

The choir was a powerful addition to the already perfect worship team. It would seem Parkview has their own Gosh Groban.

[Been There and Glad!]

MAN...our Preacher sure can SING! And there is so much to sing about! Hallelu-u-ja!

[Jeff Gibson]

Tim, my pool was green, and now it's not. That was a great message!

[Penn State Clips]

We went to Lockport on Sunday and Kevin West turned Kenny Chesney's number into a reggae song. Good stuff!

[Dorene Smith]

so, I checked out your blog (since you sent a small hint last Sunday) have to say it's great, just like yourself. Thanks for all you do and for being you ... dorene

[TabithaBerry34]

I propose not to wait until you get enough amount of money to buy all you need! You should take the mortgage loans or just collateral loan and feel yourself free