Typical Saturday....just the first one though

So today was what will become a typical Saturday. I got up later than normal...but not too late because the wonderfully strong Ecuadorian sun come beaming directly through my window and into the large mirror in the room. So no matter which direction I face...the sun is in my eyes. But anyway, I got up, had breakfast with the family here, then got ready and headed off to the MetroBus. I got to Calderon at about 11:30 and went to Chifa for lunch. I think I'll be ok if I never eat Chinese food from a Chifa again. It was ok except I take a drink out of my straw...and then I'm told, "I generally don't use mine...they are bad for reusing them here...see there's some dirt in mine." Great...thanks for the warning. The food was ok...once you put enough soy sauce and watered down ketchup on it.

Later on I went to a 'house' church. House church in mentality but it meets in one of the local schools instead of a house. It was a good service. At first I was given an incomplete song book so I just had to sit there and listen and wonder what they were saying. After that he told us to stand up for the next song so I was able to sneak over and get a complete song book. The songs were all new to me, unlike Honduras where there were one or two songs translated from English. But the message was good, and I actually did understand quite a bit of it...I was proud. He talked about the importance of the house in the early church. He talked about how the people came together in the temple but that they met in the houses for the breaking of bread and fellowship. Then he pointed out that it was by this community that people began to see and come to know Christ. They said that a vision of their church is to have a church "en cada comunidad". (In every community) So they went through and listed every community they could think of in Calderon and then he had everyone close their eyes and imagine everyone in all of those areas without hope. It was really good. I think it is from this group of people worshiping at a school that they hope to raise up leaders to make this vision a reality.

Well, after church, I got back on the bus and headed back to Quito. I talked with the Pastor of the church on the bus some (in Spanish I may say....of course not perfect....but in spanish) and it looks like I may be able to play guitar with him some for worship. I just need to get a guitar and find i time that the two of us can meet somewhere.

Thanks for all the prayers!