Home Again!

We had a really good trip home. Sitting in the airport less than24 hours after leaving Ecuador, we were saying it almost seems like a dream that we were really there and experiencing all that we did.
We left Shell on Saturday morning. Our driver Roland (Vicente's son) had left Quito at 4 a. m. to come to Shell to pick us up by 9a.m. and then make the 5 hour drive back to Quito again!! Even tho it was difficult to leave Shell, we left with a real peace that we had gone according to God's will and done just exactly what He wanted us to do there. We loved Shell. The missionaries were so warm and welcoming. The hospital was small and friendly so we were able to do alot of hands on ministry there. Our accomodations were the best of any we have been in previously. The local Ecuadorians were wonderful and we loved them. I was telling someone there that I think we fit in better in Shell than we do here at home!! The whole experience could not have been better (except for a few less insect bites for Carly and I!).
We will certainly be praying for HCJB Hospital Vozandes and MAF in Shell as they are facing uncertain times. We were so fortunate to have gone when we did. Shell would be an ideal place for a long term mission posting. At the moment it doesn't look like they will need an anaesthetist as they have someone else coming shortly. They are currently in language school, but will be going to Shell when they have completed their language requirements.
Our kids made some great friends and we became very close to a number of the missionaries there.
When we arrived in Quito, we took a taxi downtown for awhile to do go to the market and then we went to a new mall near the Guest house to have supper before going to bed at 7:30p.m. We had to get up at 3:00 to catch our flight from Quito to Houston, so were glad that we had gone to bed early the night before. Arrived home in Saskatoon about 11:30 p.m. Sunday night.
Felt pretty good on Monday, but experiencing some reverse culture shock as we always seem to on our arrival home. I think I like the Ecuadorian pace of life better than the North American!!!! Tuesday, I was already feeling that old familiar stress level rising with all the running around that we do here at home. Emails to respond to, a stack of mail to go through, phone messages to return, music lessons and activites to go to.......let alone doing any schoolbooks!!! When did we manage to fit in devotions before??? I read the " Mission of Motherhood" by Sally Clarkson on the way home in the plane. Hopefully I learned some good lessons from her book......
Back to Ecuador.......we had sooo many deaths in the last week at the hospital. Every time we turned around someone had died. Young people, unknown causes, wierd diseases... I immediately wondered, "Did they know Christ?" Had anyone told them of Jesus dying on the cross for their sins? Yes, there are still people groups who have never heard. There are still individuals who have never heard the Good News. Have we done our part and are we continuing to do our part in spreading the Gospel? I feel burdened for those that remain lost.
Hospital Vozandes can be that link to those people who are still in darkness. Pray for the missionaries there. They are humbly and lovingly going about God's work. It is not an easy calling, but I have seen the joy and satisfaction on their faces in knowing that they are doing the will of God.
Continue to pray for us as well. We have of course gained much more from our time in Ecuador than we were able to give. It was a joy, a privilege and an honor to have gone to be amongst them there.

Love,
Gary, Lori, Carly, Brett and Adam