Back in Quito

Hello Daybreak family & friends,

Last night we safely arrived back at Quito at 9pm.  Yesterday morning at 6:45am, we left Peas to go to Huaticocha.  We traveled from Huaticocha to Casa Blanca by bus and taxi with Jim, our international worker.  We left Huaticocha at 2pm.  It was a long cold bus ride due to being stopped by construction and an accident along the way. 

We had a great week in Peas.  It was great to be reconnected with our family & friends.  God did some amazing things ! We were there Tue-Sat morning.  God blessed us with cooler weather and it rained at some point every day.

Every morning, we did work that included; clearing weeds and vines that was around sugar cane, picking coffee & pineapple, and helping to clear land so they can make a soccer field.  After lunch, we always had time for rest.  Then, we did VBS with the children. 

On Friday evening, we had a church service.  Ulises spoke and a few shared their testimonies.  After the service, they had some questions about the Bible that Mark & Ulises answered.  It was great to see how much they want to learn.

We were invited into a Huaroni community, Nenquepare, that is about 45 minutes up the river by canoe.  A couple from this community live in Peas so their son can go to school in Peas.  We went to Nenquepare on Thursday morning and were back at Peas in time for lunch.  During our visit, Mark taught them how to play American football that turned into something similar to rugby.  They really enjoyed it.  We sang songs, played with the children, did VBS, and Ulises spoke to the adults.  Mark, Jim, & Ulises were asked to come back for another visit to continue to teach them about Jesus.  It was great to be warmly welcomed by the people of this community.  This is one area that Mark has been wanting to go to for the past 6 years.  But it wasn't God's timing until now. 

We have many more stories to tell about Peas.  But it is soon time for us to leave for church.  We can't wait to share more stories with you when we're back in the States.  Tonight, we go to the airport to fly home early tomorrow morning.

We got a good night of sleep & are feeling well.

We look forward to seeing everyone soon,

Laura & Shawn

Hello from the Woltz's!

Hello Daybreak Family & Friends!

Happy Father's Day to all you dads!  :-)

Today, we went to a church service...way up high in Quito.  Eric, who is here with his wife & children, spoke the message from Ruth.  The group of Americans were asked to sing a song.  So we attempted to sing I Give You My Heart but the Ecuadorians seemed to enjoy it.  For lunch, we ate at the food court in the mall.  Laura had some KFC while Shawn enjoyed sushi.  This afternoon, it is a relaxing day trying to get some rest and pack for the jungle.

Tomorrow morning, we will be going back to Huaticocha with Mark & Cheryl and 2 interns; Levi & Jess.  Tuesday morning, we will be going to Peas.

Prayer requests for the week are; safety as we travel to Huaticocha and Peas, good health (we are both feeling well at the moment), favor among those in Peas, that God will work in the hearts of those we encounter, and that things just go well overall with everything.

On Friday, we will be coming out from Peas.  We're not sure when we'll return to Quito.  But that is probably the next time when we'll be able to blog again.  We'll be sure to post something when we get to Quito about what God has done and that we're safe.

Thanks so much for all of your prayers and support!

Laura & Shawn

We're Back in Quito

Well after a long day in Otavalo we are finally back in Quito. We don't have much time to post but we have included some pictures from Pucuno and Tiwirum.

Mike, Melanie, and Laura

Update from Otavalo

Hello Daybreak Family and Friends!

On Wednesday after working at the mission school, we traveled to a school near Huaticocha to do VBS.  There was so much joy in the adults and the children.  Mike shared his testimony to the adults.  We were well received and told to come back anytime. 

On Thursday, we rode the bus for 2 hours and hiked for 40 minutes through the jungle up and down steep hills to the village of Turima (spelling).  There we played soccer, did VBS with the children, ate lunch, and had a church service.  Mike spoke about Abraham.  Three people accepted Christ as their personal Savior.  Praise God!  It was a long day of leaving at 9 in the morning and returning to the school at 8:30pm but it was very rewarding!

On Friday morning, we packed to get ready to leave Huaticocha.  As some of us were helping in the kitchen after breakfast, we were asked to stop for a few minutes because a steel worker was ready to give his life to Christ.  God has been working in so many hearts of the people throughout this week.  We left at 9:45am and safely arrived to our hotel in Otavalo around 4:30pm.

Today was a shopping day at the market in Otavalo.  This afternoon, we will be leaving for Quito.  It is a 1 1\2 hour bus ride.  The team (except for Shawn & Laura) will be leaving tonight to fly home.  We hope to bring what we have learned and experienced in Ecuador back home.  We all have amazing stories about what God has done this week.  Everyone is feeling healthy and energized.  Shawn & Laura are anxious to go to Peas with Mark & Cheryl, Ulises, & 2 interns to continue to do God´s work here in Ecuador.  They ask for prayers as they travel and continue to have good health as they reconnect with the people in Peas. 

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Day 4

Hello friends and family!  Greetings from Ecuador!  This post is brought to you by Melanie and Ron on behalf of the entire team.  We are happy to report that all is going well.  We are very active with work projects at the missions school and visiting local communities in the area.  God is doing amazing things in each of us as He stretches us way beyond our comfort zones.  Yesterday for example the team made a 8 mile round trip hike into the very remote village Pucuno.  It was a long and difficult trek over steep hills, rough roads and thick mud.  Most of us made it the whole way!  Even though the walk in was hard and the walk out, uphill, was even tougher, the love of Jesus shone through the team and out international worker friends.  This was a village that has been off limits to us in the past.  Everyone on the team agreed that the effort was worth it!

One final praise before signing off.  Last night after our debrief and devotions, one of the steelworkers who is here working on the school, accepted Jesus as his personal savior.  He could not understand the words we were saying but he said he just knew that there was a different kind of love taking place.  Please join us in giving God the glory for allowing us to be part of this man´s new journey!

 Tomorrow we head to another village called Tiwirum. Who knows what God will do there!  Please keep praying for us and for the people of Ecuador!  Until next time...God bless you all!

Hello From Quito

Hi Daybreak Family -

Well we finally made it to Quito around 11:30 last evening and got to bed around 2:00 am. We are now  rested and energized for a day of meeting the remainder of our team (IncaLink interns, and all of the new faces in Huaticocha).

Besides our worship time this morning we will be leaving for Huaticocha and where we will have a time of worship with the folks there. Ron will be presenting a short message at the missions school and we then have a great evening of sharing testimonies.

Sorry for the brevity of the passage but breakfast is in 10 minutes and the day will be full.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS. We are feeling them.

Dios te Bendigas.

Mike Sponsler

ONWARD TO ECUADOR

Well another Daybreak team will be leaving for Ecuador at 5:30 am on Saturday for a nine day adventure. Yes, that is less than three day!!!!  Our team of eight is comprised of (from L to R) Shawn Woltz, Mike Sponsler, Kelly Rutan, Ron O'Neil, Laura Woltz, Cheryl Fell, Melanie Mowery and Griffin Fell and will be heading back to the village of Huaticocha to work with our international workers (and dear friends), Mark and Cheryl Shafer on the final stages of building a jungle missions school, and presenting VBS to the kids in the local villages. After our week in Huaticocha, Shawn and Laura Woltz will be heading out to revisit the village of Peas deep in the Shuar tribal area to minister to our Shuar friends for an addition two weeks.

We will also be traveling to the remote villages of Pucuno and Tiwirum on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, to share the wonderful story of Jesus with folks who may have never heard of this Hope and more VBS. As we travel to to Pucuno and Tiwirum please pray (and maybe even fast) for access to these villages and favor with those we meet and talk with. I think the Shafers are even planning on a bonfire and weenie roast (did I just say "weenie roast", sorry).

Needless to say our team is excited and anxious to see how God will use us throughout our week. Please know that the work we will be doing will not succeed without your prayers, so please continue to pray for us.

If all goes well, we will be able to keep you up-to-date on our activities and any specific prayer needs that may arise.

Thanks to you, our Daybreak family.

Mike Sponsler