Why Shell, Ecuador? Part I

It all started in 1956 and seemed to be coming together on January 30, 2012 when we were assigned to serve for three months in Ecuador. It actually all came to fruition on June 18, 2012, 56 years later.  Let's begin with Good Friday, April 6, 2012.  We went to Shell, Ecuador with the Nazarene District Superintentdent for corporate Good Friday services uniting many churches in the jungle area. (See April 7, 2012 Post)  During our three hour stay, we met  Dr. Matt, his wife, Amy, and their three children on assignment at the Shell hospital through Samaritan's Purse.  They planted a small seed in our minds when they mentioned that the children of the American missionaries in that area attended the English-speaking Nate Saint School.

Six weeks before our assignment in Riobamba was to conclude, we began to make plans to travel to Shell during our last week in Riobamba. We made contacts for housing at the Shell Guesthouse, which offers temporary housing in return for voluntary service on the HCJB compound (www.hcjb.org)  We made contacts with a coordinator at the Nate Saint School to see if we could offer organized activities for the children of the missionaries. And, we made contact with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) (www.maf.org), and anyone who knew an MAF pilot, hoping to arrange a flight into the jungle to the Waorani village to meet Dayuma who aided Rachel Saint in translating the Bible into the Waorani language after five missionaries with MAF were killed by the Waorani tribe 56 years ago in 1956.  We successfully arranged for accommodations at the guesthouse.  The school coordinator dispatched an email to all the missionary families informing them that we were going to hold organized activities on the mornings that we were there.  Everything fell into place except we hit a wall, again and again, regarding flight arrangements into the Waorani village.  MAF pilots have uncertain schedules, always on duty to fly medical personnel, evangelists, medicine, missionary teams or evacute patients in and out of the jungle.  Weather and fuel supplies are always a concern.  We soon discovered it wasn't like booking a flight from Dallas to St. Louis! 

But, we showed up!  With help from our elementary teachers in the states, we organized 6 hours of packed activities for the missionary children's program on the two days we had to interact with them.  About 30 came, ready for our competitive games, Bible dramas, arts/crafts and field sports.  They were awesome!  The older ones helped the younger ones.  There was the feel of community, but, of course, in such an isolated setting, independence is not a good idea.  We met multiple missionary families who serve in many different settings with many different denominations and with many different models to share the gospel.  God has His people in place!

We were encouraged as we interacted with these children.  It was easy to see they were grounded in faith.  They live a different lifestyle from their counterparts in the states and when asked if they liked their life, they all answered with a resounding, "Yes!"   What is it that we are supposed to do to serve others?  I Peter 4:10 says it best, " Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."  Can children do this for adults?  Yes, they can.  They did for us!  Can adults do this for children?  Yes.    The six-weeks of planning and making contacts paid off in invisible dividends called blessings.  Not for sale, can't be bought, bartered, traded, loaned or borrowed: blessings.

Oh, did we ever get into the Waorani village?  Part II.

Keep Looking Up and we will, too.    Jim and Linda