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On Friday, June 4, 2004, more than forty people boarded a plane for Quito, Ecuador. Their mission: to heal bodies, win souls and change lives. These are their stories... Friday, June 4, 2004 Welcome to Guayaquil !
A funny thing happened on the way to Quito! Every thing started out fine. We all made it to Houston from our respective departure points, excited and ready to embark on this incredible journey. All the bags of meds and supplies got checked in just fine… everything except the wheelchair. They weren't going to let us take it along. But then Rick had a “miraculous reverse healing” and suddenly “became lame” and needed to use the wheelchair to get around.
His great acting job was convincing enough that the airline even allowed him to board early. Suffice it to say, we got the wheelchair to Ecuador . As we began to leave Houston , a big storm blew through and we ended up sitting on the tarmac for about an hour and a half. When we finally got underway, we were treated to a beautiful rainbow as we rose through the clouds on route to Quito . Well, as we were just about to Quito , we got word that the airport was socked in and our landing would be delayed for at least an hour… Well, that was fine, except that would put us past the time that the airport would close… So, we were being rerouted…
Guayaquil , on the pacific coast. We all started praying that we would get through customs OK because the contacts we had to help us into the country, were in Quito … an 8 hour bus ride away over the mountain... and we weren't doing that. God came through, we breezed through customs, we loaded up on busses and are staying in a nice hotel whose name most of us can't pronounce, watching pink panther cartoons we can't understand.
We will fly out in the morning for Quito and get started with God's work. Satan tried to ruin our frame of mind… but it didn't work. We're tired, but ready to go. We'll update you again a s soon as we get internet access. Pray Pray Pray
Saturday, June 5, 2004 Well, we have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that we made it safely to Quito. A little later than we hoped. But we had some time to spend in fellowship at the airport. We even took the opportunity to get in a little praise time.
We took off about 1 pm after an early rise and arrived in Quito about 30 minutes later. While on the plane, many team members felt the move of the Holy Spirit in preparation for what we were about to face. We landed, gathered all our bags and headed out for the Mills'.
Upon our arrival we got the bad news and found out why God chose to reroute us last night. A coup had begun in Quito between the native Indians and the government. We immediately went to the roof of the Mills' home, a beautiful vista called Peter's Perch and Denise told us the news. Our plans may change as far as where we may go and what we may do, but we are safe here in the compound. And we are 30 minutes from Quito which is where the worst of the problems might occur. Then we began a prayer session that was as powerful as any you have experienced. 45+ people, standing atop this beautiful home, in the rain, joining hands and praying for the country, the city and our mission. In the midst of the prayer, Denise had a word from God reminding her that if it was raining, the Indians would not march and it would give the government time to quell the uprising. Needless to say we began to pray for more rain. We are confident that we are here for a reason and Satan is doing his best to hinder our work. We are standing firm in God's Spirit. What an incredible time we had stretching holy hands across the city confidently asking God to intervene. Let me reemphasize this point. We are safe and resting in God's hands. What a blessing to know that he hid us safely away last night, and brought us here under his Angels' wings today. But please, PRAY HARD.
Sunday, June 6, 2004 The sun rose over the valley. It was a new day and God's peace filled the compound as the team awoke to a powerful feeling of optimism and joy.
One by one, our brothers and sisters found their way to Peter's Perch to stand in awe of His majesty and power, and pray for His blessings on the day .
After a hearty oatmeal breakfast, we met in the sanctuary for church... and what a time we had. Our local brethren came... the young, the old, families, singles, all with one purpose in mind, to praise God. They greeted us with open arms, and although many of us could not understand their words, their message was clear. The warm hugs and smiles said it all.
The worship began with a powerful praise session lead by our anointed music team. Praise songs done in Spanish filled the air and the congregation was filled with God's Spirit! Hands were lifted, flags waved and we were united in our common faith.
As colorful banners waved, the Holy Spirit moved and one by one, individuals and families came forward to kneel beneath the banners for prayer and healing. God took over and the miracles began.
Lives were changed. Broken families were reconciled and hearts were mended.
Following the service, one young man came forward and asked for help. His spirit was burdened to the point of breaking. A group of team members, lead by Pastor Terry Harris from East Ridge Church of God, prayed for this young man for nearly 2 hours, until he was delivered from a life of drugs, fear and shame. It was incredible. Pastor Harris brought a powerful message and challenge to the people to lead the way in bringing this valley to Christ. It was a message that was received with excitement and conviction. Following the church service, we were blessed with an Argentina BarBQ. It was a feast of "biblical proportions"! The evening was spent in fellowship, study, and preparation for our first medical clinic in the morning, to be held here at the church. The political situation here is stable for now. The native Indians are planning to stage their protests beginning tomorrow. But again, we are safe here. We understand that when this has happened in the past, the violence is limited to specific areas. Depending on what direction it takes will determine where we will travel to set up our clinics. We thank you for your prayer covering. We can truly feel it. Please continue to pray for us... for strength, wisdom, and guidance for our mission. Also pray for Ecuador and the spirits of unrest that Satan is building here. There were 3 mission teams on our plane alone, who were on their way to Ecuador. God's hand is moving and he has great things in store... we can feel it coming! Thank you and God bless you all.
Monday, June 7, 2004 They came... the young, the old, families and friends... they came to our gate looking for help, hope and healing. They came looking for what we came to give... aid in the name of Jesus Christ. Today, was the first day of our medical clinics.
Our day began in a flurry of preparation. Jonathan briefed the troops on the day's schedule and informed us of yet another change in plans... a great change.
The people of the church had been so moved by the worship experience that they wanted to continue to ride the wave of the Spirit and have asked us to lead revival services in the evenings following the clinics. Praise God! The Holy Spirit is moving across the valley, even as the city of Quito is virtually shut down in the midst of domestic unrest. Please pray for the Spirit's work in this church and the strong, proud, people of the area. Before the gates were opened, the prayer team gathered the team leaders together to be anointed and prayed for. It was a powerful, empowering time that brought unity to our midst and purpose to our steps.
As the clinic began, one thing was quickly apparent. Our hearts we going to break for these beautiful people... especially the children.
The physical needs that were seen at the clinic varied widely from skin irritations, to heart problem, to cancer. And each patient was greeted with a warm smile and a compassionate heart. Treatment was administered, tests were run and medication was dispensed. Regardless of their condition, they were witnessed to and prayed for.
People were touched by God's healing hand. One man who was blind in his left eye came looking for surgery... We could not offer that but the prayer team laid hands on him and his vision began to return. He was able to see the clouds and trees thanks to Dr. Jesus.
Praise God as he moves within us. Tonight, we begin revival services. The music team has been learning new songs in preparation for the evening. We will fill you in tomorrow on the Holy Spirit's activities tonight! We are in hopeful anticipation of something big. We also want to thank all those people who have made this mission possible. We wish you could be here to see the results of your sacrifice. Please continue to pray for us as we leave the compound and take our show on the road to an outlying village. We are being flexible to the leadings of the Spirit so our schedule will be updated daily. We still hope to visit the prison later in the week. Thank you so much for your prayers.
Tuesday, June 8, 2004 Our first day out in the field began with "Breakfast with Denise." We need to take this opportunity to tell you how much we appreciate our hosts, the Mills' for the stellar treatment we have received in their home. Denise is an excellent cook, and we will owe her our expanded waistlines when we return.
We loaded up the bus with all our meds and puppets and toys for the kids and headed up into the mountains to the countryside outside a small town called Pintag.
Now, travel in the outer regions of Ecuador can be quite an adventure. The roads in the mountains are narrow passages of rock and dirt that seem to go up and on forever.
Along the way we had to venture across a seemingly impassable section of road that was washed out on one side... had to tear down a barbed wire fence and turn the bus around in a field and even get some local help in hacking back some bushes impinging on the roadway.
But we finally arrived and began setting up for those local residents that were already walking miles to meet us.
Hundreds of people, many children came to be seen. All were treated and prayed for.
The people were incredibly grateful for all we had to give. Again we saw people healed in mighty ways. One elderly woman had the eyesight in her right eye restored, a young woman had her hearing restored in her left ear, and a variety of inflictions and pains vanished following time with our prayer team. The children all received some of the 2500 hearts and crosses given by the residents of Maple Lawn Nursing Facility, in Eureka, Ill, Lala McMullen, and the Women's Group and Chi Rho Group from Eureka Christian Church . The children were told they were made by their grandmas in the US and they all cheered.
We saw dark influences related to the areas of alcoholism and adultery. It seems as though oppressions like these run in pockets. It was a wonderful day and an excellent pre-curser to tomorrow. In the morning, we will go to the base of Cotopaxi volcano and treat the natives there. This area has a heavy demonic influence. Many residents practice witchcraft and satanism. We have been told that Satan does not want us there and we are preparing spiritually for dramatic warfare. The excellent worship time last night and tonight's service will help prepare our hearts for what we will face, but we need your help. Please pray between 10 am and 5 pm eastern time... This is the time we will be facing the enemy in this clinic. We are not paying much attention to the political climate right now. Our battle lines have been drawn, and we are ready for the challenge. Keep praying.
Wednesday, June 9, 2004 This morning we drove to the base of a cloud covered volcano called Cotopaxi, an area known for witchcraft and satan worship.
We set up our clinic in a school compound in the town of Tanicuchi.
Over 380 uniformed children, age 11 to 18 lined up, and 150 towns people lined up for treatment.
It was not exactly the dark spiritual forest that we were expecting... at least not on the surface. As the exams began, though, we soon realized that there was indeed a heavy undercurrent of abuse that had victimized many of these women and children. We also came to understand that idol worship was common in most of th eir homes.
The traffic was heavy, but the folks in the pharmacy did an exceptional job against what seemed at times like an insurmountable task.
But if we had to sum up the day we might have called our group the "Salvation Army". Many, many people, young and old came to a saving knowledge of our Lord. Even one of the leaders of the city was saved.
We saw several documented healings, including sight and hearing restoration. We didn't see many outward signs of the demonic influences until the very end of the day when a local witch doctor came to call.
He was a "healer" in the area. A man of significance and influence. He wore his charms around his neck and came seeking healing for his legs, which, as he said, have been cold since a black frost came on the area several years ago. The prayer team began to witness to him, sharing the truth of Jesus Christ. They told him that he needed to remove his charms and serve only the one true God. Although he removed his charms, and prayed a prayer to Christ for acceptance, he said he would not allow us to destroy his charms because he must hand them back to the group he serves. We all felt as though this was a ploy and he intended to go back to his ways. So, sadly, he came short of a total commitment. The spiritual team left him with one parting thought... They told him that he could not serve two masters, and that he would never feel warmth in his legs until he surrendered to Jesus. We ask you all to pray that God hits him hard to help him understand what has been told to him. We praise God for the new souls that he claimed today and the wonderful healings he performed, and we pray that He will continue to work on Alberto to impact the area for the Lord. Although the situation in Quito is calm, we still cannot get the police support to go the prison. Instead, tomorrow we head to two orphanages, one of which houses many so called throw away babies, the other many special needs children. Please continue your prayers.
Thursday, June 10, 2004 The smuggled wheelchair found it's home today. A little girl named Valeria and her family, made a 10 hour trip to pick up what we would consider a hand-me-down chair and were as thrilled as if they had gotten a new car. This beautiful gift will truly change their lives. We praise God for the wonderful donors who made this possible.
On this, our final day of clinics, we split up the team and visited 2 orphanages. The first, in Quito, was a small facility for what many people consider throw-away children. Some of these precious babies were actually left on doorsteps because of their physical or mental deformities. These children, ranging from 5 weeks to 10 years were well taken care of and generally in pretty good shape given the severity of their conditions. It was a great opportunity for us to share a warm smile and gentle touch with these young lives that society has rejected.
An interesting footnote to this group's visit came in the form of an unexpected reunion. Jonathan's wife Kristin walked into this facility in Quito, Ecuador to be met face to face with an elementary school friend that she had not seen in 12 years. It turns out that this young woman was doing an occupational therapist internship and she was visiting this home today. Isn't that wild?
The second facility that we visited was definitely not nearly as nice, but the children were clean and well taken care of.
The staff at this orphanage was phenomenal. What huge hearts they had for these children, aged 5 and up. There were even some mentally challenged adults that we saw here.
The team pulled together with their usual professional fashion. The anointing on these servants this week has been obvious, whether they were carrying boxes, escorting patients, doing exams, putting on puppet shows or cleaning the floor. The have exemplified the Body of Christ with every move they made.
Interestingly, some of these children were obviously taught about Christ, because as they were being prayed for, they joined in to the prayer. One young man even asked to receive Christ. It was a remarkable day in many ways. We were also able to bless these facilities with some much needed food. One facility manager nearly cried as she explained that they had run out of sugar the day before and didn't have the money to buy more.
If you are reading this and made a donation of any kind, large or small, rest assured that God is using it to BLESS lives. And if you are ever tempted to complain about doing your laundry, look at the washer/dryer combo that these folks use to keep these kids clean.
God has truly blessed each and everyone of us on this trip. The clinics went smoothly, people were healed, souls were saved and lives were changed forever. We thank you sincerely for your contributions and prayers. We have one more day left here before we start back. We will spend tomorrow in fellowship with each other as we visit the equator, and then tomorrow night we will host a worship festival at the church. We know God is not finished yet, so please continue your prayers.
Friday, June 11, 2004 It began as a day for fun and fellowship among our weary crew. The sky was blue, the coffee was strong and we were heading for the equator. As we began our trek to the center of the earth, we passed one of the most famous sites in Quito... the Pencil, a winged sculpture of Mary overlooking the city. It is said that the "haves" are blessed to live in front of her, while the "have not" are doomed to live in squall or behind her.
The trip to the equator was upbeat, yet subdued. You could tell that the intense week had taken its toll on our energy levels. But many had never been to the Equator and were looking forward to going there and to doing a little shopping in the gift shops.
"Many great gifts were got" and the novelty of standing on the equator was really pretty cool. Then, as if that weren't enough, off we went to a HUGE mall in Quito. This place would put any of our local malls to shame. It was incredible... 3 stories complete with bowling alley, amusement park, and food court.
We had our fill by 3:30 and headed back to the church for our final worship festival of this trip... and what a time we had. The entire team, a bunch of local folks and the Holy Spirit all showed up for some serious praise and worship, not to mention an incredible lesson on faith and mustard seeds by Pastor Harris.
The results were spectacular. After the message, the team lined up in two lines facing each other across the front of the church. The local residents then walked between the rows as the team laid hands on them and prayed that they find the faith to move the mountains in their lives, their homes, their church and their community. It was an explosive time of prayer and healing for those in the room. You really had to be there to understand the electricity in the air. What an awesome sight to see... Brothers and Sisters who couldn't understand each others words, dancing and singing together in the Lord. We once again faced some demonic manifestations in one young man at the end of the evening. One of our team members was assaulted by a demon as he prayed for this man, but was safely delivered from its attack. All this reinforced to us once again that Satan is alive and well, and it strengthened our resolve to continue our personal missions to share Christ where ever we go. We know from experience that He will bring people to your door for you to minister to, if you just ask. Tonight after church, a group from the prayer team went to a neighbors home because they were being oppressed. Upon their return another local woman came and asked for prayer. She had a cancerous mass in her breast. She came in faith because she knew God could heal her. Our team prayed, and heal here He did. Her mass was gone. Praise God for the "Gospel" miracles he performed. As we witnessed dealings virtually every day, OUR hearts and minds were truly changed as well. Thank you God for showing us your hand and giving us the opportunities for growth. As we prepare to leave this beautiful place this morning at 3:30, we want to thank you all for your gifts, your prayers and your support. Without it we would not have been able to accomplish what we did. Maybe next time we will see you here in Ecuador. If you are interested in finding out more, drop us a line at info@imcomission.com and again, thank you so much for your support. We are in the process of establishing this permanent web site, so please check back periodically. You will be able to find out more about the organization, watch videos from the missions, and see how you can help. www.icmomission.com We'll be home Saturday night and probably pass out for a month... well maybe not. God Bless You All.
Saturday, June 12, 2004 Many of us were up throughout the night packing and organizing our stuff for the trip home. At about 2:30 Jonathan gave the "everybody up!" cry and a multitude of groans rose from various rooms that housed our team. All was going well, and we began to load the bus when suddenly... the lights went out. A power outage left us in the dark. Candles and lamps were lit, flashlights flickered on and we continued our task at hand. Of course a lot of jokes began blaming our spiritual leaders for making Satan mad, saying that he was leaving us with a parting shot. But the truth is that any darkness that he throws at us will ALWAYS be overcome by the light we carry within us... the Light of Christ. We witnessed this truth all week long. We loaded the bus and headed for Quito. All seemed fine until the pilot came on the speaker and said that we would be flying first to Guayaquil to refuel before we started to Houston. Well that seemed strange, especially since the folks at check-in told us that we were going to have a really tight connection as it was. When we got to Guayaquil, we saw the fuel truck pull up... and then the fuel truck pull away. We sat on the tarmac for an hour and a half until they could figure out how much fuel they were supposed to load. We finally took off and headed to Houston. Seems like kind of a rough start home, huh? Well when we arrived in Houston, the good news was that they held our connecting flight 2 hours for us to get there. The bad news was that of the 80+ bags we checked in Quito, only 10+bags made it to Houston. Arrangements were made to have the bags shipped to us by the end of the week... and Continental Airlines gave us all little kits with toothbrushes and toiletries to compensate us for our loss. Oh well... The bottom line is that God took us on a mission to Ecuador to heal the sick, save souls and change lives... Mission accomplished. To God be the glory. And we are putting Satan's minions in Ecuador on notice... to borrow a paraphrased line from "The Terminator"... We'll be back!
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