Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Monday, November 2, 2009

Grace at Rubi's Preschool Birthday Party


The Plane Facts-Oct./Nov. 2009

The Plane Facts

sharejesus@gmail.com Oct. /Nov.2009 http://PatriotPost.US

Good Morning,

God is so Good! The Lord has sent to Shell a young, missionary couple Gustavo and Inez Calixto and their little daughter Hanna all the way from Mexico to do Gospel Recordings! (globalrecordings.net) What a blessing they are, and will be here, among the jungle Indigenous. They distribute a handy MP3 player that has lots of memory and can download the Gospel in most any language on earth! I’ve been using one almost non-stop. You crank the (4 X 6 in.) machine for one minute and it will play with great quality and volume for about 5 minutes…then you just turn the handle again. Every Christian leader needs to have one. They cost $50.00, but they have huge potential!

The other day we were ministering with a national worker and a Shuar pastor. When we landed in one village, the two men needed to talk to the leaders, so I sat down on the tire of the airplane in the shade of the wing and began cranking the MP3 player. All the children gathered as close as they possibly could to hear the Message with the shortest kids in front and bigger ones in back. Their ears drank in the Gospel stories coming out of the “talking box”, but their little jet black eyes were riveted on me. I smiled while surveying and resurveying the group as they pressed in closer and closer. Finally, one little boy built up enough courage to feel the hair on my right arm and then began to pull. OUCH!! That emboldened another one on my left side to start touching my beard. Then laughter erupted. I thought to myself, “With all this body hair, they must think I’m something between a human and a balding albino monkey!” Don’t laugh…….Just imagine what they’d think if they saw YOU!

SHARON SAYS: “Shell Christian Preschool is sure a blessing to me and hopefully to the 11 little ones I minister to three mornings each week. This month I’d like to tell you about one little girl, in particular, who is quite an inspiration to me. Grace is a 6 yr. old from a Shuar town that can only be reached by air. She had spinal meningitis when she was about 3. When she arrived at “Casa de Fe” about 8 mos. ago, she was totally paralyzed on her left side. She could only mobilize herself by scooting with the other leg. Grace has other deformities such as fingers missing and burns. Her parents left her at the orphanage www.lacasadefe.org because they felt totally helpless to meet her many needs. Ever since Grace arrived there she has had the blessing of physical therapy 5 times a week and she is now able to walk and sometimes even run without anyone or anything helping her.

The special part that I want to share about Grace is her incredibly positive attitude. She falls many times during the morning at preschool. Each time, she gets up without any help and the little girl, has a smile on her precious face from ear to ear. Wow, it puts me to shame!! ‘Lord, please help me to get up every time smiling and trusting You.’ God bless you and may He help you in whatever trial you may be going through, to get up smiling and praising Him, just like little Grace.”

Love like Jesus,

Rick and Sharon

LCC-PO Box 3298

Paradise, CA 95967-3298

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The Plane Facts-July/Aug.2009

The Plane Facts
sharejesus@gmail.com July/August 2009 www.yourmissionary.org

Dear Ones,

The Lord allowed me to make a short trip to Florida at the end of June. While I was gone, Rick hosted Gary Eide and team from Milwaukee, Wisconsin here in our home. Pastor Gary comes to Ecuador several times a year to preach and this time he came with a small group from his church. Gary (who is our age) is an old fashion preacher who has a heart of love as big as the sky for the people. He always has a message from God and is ready to share it on a moment’s notice. They preached in the “outback”, in the local church, in the park and bus terminal. Rick was especially impressed with the gentle spirits and Godly attitudes of the four young people who came. The whole team was a joy to have. We’re hoping God will send more people who are willing to share His Word anywhere, any time!

Family reunions and caring for grandchildren filled my days while I was on my trip. For the 4th of July, Rick’s brother, Paul had a barbeque at his house in Vero Beach, Florida. Many of our family members were there and the special opportunity for all of us was to get to know Sayid, Aya, and baby Layanna, a family from Iraq, who Paul had invited. That precious family was able to witness the love of God in action as we talked, shared a meal and cared for their beautiful baby daughter. To top the afternoon off, Paul’s daughter Anna and her husband invited us all to go next door to their house and enjoy a time in the Jacuzzi. Of course, a fireworks display was the climax to that beautiful day with family.

The original reason for making the trip to Florida was to take care of Rick and Debbie’s three girls while the two of them went on a little “get away”. That part of my trip was SO special. Liane, 11, Lilly 7 and Lindsey, almost 5, were so sweet, so caring, so loving and so helpful that the “babysitting” turned into a time of relaxation and fun for me.

I wish I could have gotten to see all of our kids while I was in the US but at least I was able to have some really, good phone chats with each of them. Christina, Mike and their four are still in Santa Barbara, CA. Chris is praising the Lord for a husband who knows how to work and provide for their family even in these difficult times. Joshua is finding that his workload is almost more than he can handle as he practices law in Jacksonville, FL. Joel continues to fly advertisement banners in northern California.

Here on the home front, Jon, Cati and Family, who are now back living in Cuenca, Ecuador are planning a trip to visit us here in the jungle at the end of July. Freddie and Sandra are busy with work and caring for their family. Their newest addition, Fred, is a very sweet, good natured, little guy. We all love having a baby to hold and cuddle.

Thank you for your love, encouragement, prayers and gifts. We appreciate each and every one of you, MUCHO!!

Love and blessings,
Rick and Sharon

Friday, January 30, 2009

The Plane Facts-Jan./Feb.2009

The Plane Facts
Dear Christian Friend,
God is so good to us! After having a wonderful time in Ecuadorwith our sons and their families, we were able to find cheap tickets, rightafter Christmas, to the States to get to see the rest of our gang. It wassuch a blessing to be able to see our children, grandchildren, my brothersand Sharon's sister again. We wish we could have brought them all back toEcuador with us! Yes, God is good and His blessings are many. We continue to communicate with Johnny Venegas about his coming toEcuador. He's got his Ecuadorian pilot's license now and plans to start hisdeputation this Spring. We want to help and encourage him all we possiblycan. Would you consider helping too? We almost NEVER like to mention moneyin our prayer letters, but this time I feel we should. Sharon and I know,from personal experience, how much even a small monthly offering canencourage a missionary, especially when it comes from someone who reallycares about us and the work we are doing. Would you pray about receivingJohnny's monthly prayer letter and committing to praying for him and amonthly donation toward his support? It is still quite inexpensive to livein Ecuador, but he will have flying costs and other ministry expenses aswell. So, as a single man, we feel he will need to raise a support level ofabout $1,000 per month. Please pray with us that this level will be reachedquickly, so he can soon join the missionary team in Shell. Our mechanic and I have recently taken cylinders off the airplaneengine in hopes of discovering the cause and correcting an oil consumptionand plug fouling problem that has been developing. We’re thankful that the
situation has been solved and just in time for Pastor Gary Eide's visit.

Good things always happen when Br. Gary comes to Ecuador and
I'm reminded of the Bible truth that, "One shall chase a thousand and two
shall chase TEN thousand." It's so true that when we work togetherwith other Christians, the results are multiplied. Sharon and I ask you toforgive us for not writing personally this month, but we want to thank youfor working together with us as fellow helpers in His Kingdom. May Godreceive the glory in 2009!

Love like Jesus,
Rick and Sharon
LCC-PO Box 3298
Paradise, CA 95967-3298