Showers Of Blessings

We are right in the middle of rainy season.  People often complain during this time because when it rains, it pours here in Quito...every day....most of the day!  We rarely see the sun these days, and that tends to bring out the grumpy in folks.  However, I love rainy season.  Everything is green.  The flowers and plants that surround our house are in full bloom and oh, so beautiful.  The smog is at a minimum.  The evenings are cool and crisp (well, we tend to have that year-round!)  Needless to say, I choose to see the bright side of the daily showers.

Speaking of showers, Darryl and I have experienced some showers of our own.  Showers of blessings!  As we look back over the past year, we realize that God has been so faithful in every aspect of our lives, and we are go grateful.

The Central District Team

In September we changed ministries, as I've blogged about before.  We were received by the pastors in our district with open arms.  We have had the opportunity to meet on several occasions with each pastor, and are looking forward to hosting each of them and their families for an overnight stay in our home over the next few months to get to know them better.  We have several events coming up that will enable both Darryl and I to step out of our comfort zones and host some speaking and teaching events.  We are excited to see how God will use us even in our weakest areas!  More showers to come!

We ended up hosting over 1,000 people in our home last year.  God has really grown the guest house ministry, and we hardly ever have an empty house.  So many wonderful people have passed through our home in this ministry, and we have been able to get a real feel for all that God is doing right now in Ecuador.  Our lives have been enriched by each guest.  In January and February we have no open nights in the guest house.  We are preparing for the showers of blessing that each guest will bring.

OMS Ecuador Team

We survived the holidays!  Yes, I say survived, because this was our first holiday season to not be with family.  Thanksgiving was okay because we decided to get together this year as a mission family and celebrate Thanksgiving together in Cuenca.  It was such a wonderful time of fellowship, and we so enjoyed watching our Ecuadorian and other non-USA missionaries celebrate...and eat....and eat...and eat!


Christmas was a little different story.  From the time we put up our decorations I felt depressed.  My parents retired in October and weren't going to be here, which meant no visits from brothers and sisters.  The worst part was that, for the first Christmas in 24 years, we were going to be childless.  I just couldn't imagine having Christmas without kids in the house.  Thank God for dear friends!  I was reminded that maybe I should focus on who was there for Christmas and not on who wasn't.  Jesus--Christmas is still all about him, no matter who is or isn't gathered around the Christmas tree!  It still was difficult, but Darryl and I were able to spend our day (and the next five days after that we spent at the beach) really focusing on our greatest gift--Christ.

We also were showered with blessings in December by so many of you.  Our support account had a really great Christmas!  Thank you to each one who gave so sacrificially so that we can continue to carry on our ministry that God has called us to.  What a blessing!

Now, as we enter the new year, and the new rainy season, we are excited for the "showers" that are to come: a full guest house, 15 different speaking opportunities (so far), working alongside the pastors of our district to help them grow and strengthen their churches, 6 mission teams, returning to the states for our HMA (home ministry assignment) in August...and who knows what else God has in store?!  God is so faithful, and we are bursting at the seems with excitement at what is in store for us this year.  We pray that you, too, will experience showers of blessings in 2012!

Building God's Kingdom in Ecuador,
Kelly, for the Chambers