Our house...
We had another appraisal done because it was required, as the buyers are doing a different type of loan. Well, the appraiser said that prices have dropped in our neighborhood so he appraised it at $5,000 less than our first appraisal in April. That was disappointing to hear. However, we are still moving on with the contract. It makes more sense financially to keep going than to have to start over again. A bit of a set back but we are still grateful to have a contract on it!
Our Visas...
We got our Visas on Friday. No problems whatsoever. All it is is a sticker in our passports. This help us with a lot of legal paperwork. So YAY for something coming easy at this point!
Our trip to Guayaquil...
We had a wonderful time worshiping our Lord and celebrating with the churches in Guayaquil this past weekend. I do admit that I was excited to go just to warm up my bones for a couple days. Guayaquil is near the coast. Jake and I compare the weather there to being like Houston, ALL THE TIME. Hot and muggy. However, they had a relatively cool weekend while we were there. It was only in the 70's-80's.
Saturday we went and visited with 3 different congregations. We had breakfast with Team 2 (Team 2 because they are the second group of missionaries that Woodland West supports) at the casa we were staying at. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of us.
Next we met with the Bastion Popular church, which meets out of a small building in a poorer area of town. They may not be as well off as other areas but they were so rich with love and kindness towards us. We had a feast of fried fish, rice, avocado salad and fried plantains.
So that was our second meal of the day, all by 10am. To make our third meal, we met with the Team 1 missionaries and their families at a restaurant called CoColon. Interesting fact... Co Colon is the name of the rice at the bottom of a pan that is fried and slightly burnt. Kind of like hushpuppies.
After our morning of feasting and fellowship we trekked out to Team 2's church because they were celebrating their 7th year anniversary. We got to greet and spend just a few minutes with all the families and church member there before heading back to Team 1.
Saturday night was topped off with the beginning of the 10 year anniversary celebration at Team 1. This was a 4 hour night with two speakers and several groups going up and singing.
Sunday morning we attended church with Team 1. Josh Marcum gave a great sermon (from what I could tell) and we had a wonderful time being uplifted and praising our Lord. Jake, being the representative from Woodland West, gave a great speech and presented the team with a plaque. It really was a joyous occasion. And of course...we had to eat and have cake!
I leave you with this last pictures... this is up in the entry way at the church with Team 1. In spanish it rhymes, but in English it reads:
Today, God will call you. But he will not call your cell phone. Please, turn off your cellphone.
Jake and Tanya, so glad you could visit with the good mission folks in Guayaquil along with Josh Marcum.
ReplyDeleteThank you for representing the church here is such a fine way. The relationship you are developing will be so meaningful to all of them. Yes, I can feel their love as they reach out to you and to us with God's grace abounding.