Big Update!!!

Hello all! This will be a big update, as I have been on the road on a LIFT recruiting trip since Sunday and away from my computer! The following is a combination of two emails and a phone call that I received while I was away:

The pictures leading this blog are of various LIFTers singing and spending time with the children in the villages of Oyacachi, Chaco, or Bombon.

Since the last update, the LIFTers arrived at Chaco, then spent time at Chaco and the nearby village of Bombon. They played games with the children, taught them songs (in Spanish), and also witnessed to many of the villagers using the Evangecube. At all three villages, the Evangacube, skits and songs were a big hit with the kids. A number of children were given the invitation to receive Christ as their Lord and lead in prayer. We continue to pray that these seeds will go deep in fertile soil.

The lady LIFTers got to participate in a woman's Bible study while they were in Chaco. Kathy led it (and was SOO excited that her Spanish held up, and was able to interact while teaching the Bible in Spanish), and all of the girls were able to share through a translator. They all spoke on Matt 6 and Jesus' command to us that we should not worry. The ladies in the village greatly appreciated our LIFTers' honesty and vulnerability with them as they shared how these verses have impacted their own lives.

One of the nights in Chaco they had about a 2 hour debrief over the trip thus far, talking about what they had learned in the ministry and the challenges of the jungle trek. It was an especially rich, formative time for the group. The pictures below are some of the ones from their trek that Tim Trezise was able to upload from El Refugio.





When they got to El Refugio at the end of last week they jumped right into working on the climbing wall that we are helping our parters in ministry build. Some of the group were struggling with stomach issues and diarrhea, but everyone worked hard at their tasks!

Then, on Sunday some of them went into church in Calacali some went souvenier shopping that afternoon. But for the most part, it was a Sabbath rest - which everyone needed!

Then, on Monday they finished pouring concrete for the foundation of the climbing wall, and then headed over to Cotopaxi National Park to do some mountaineering on Sinchulagua Peak (a 16,000' mnt).

I've uploaded a few photos from their climb. The first photo is the actual mountain with the summit being the sharp peak in the middle - there was only room for about 8 people on top sitting down. Everyone summited except those who stayed back at basecamp because they were sick with stomach issues. They all seemed to be doing better after having a day of rest. We left for the climb at 4:20 AM and had the first group summit at 8:30 AM then made it all back to camp before noon. It was a tiring climb but spectacular. I sent a picture of our basecamp which was at 12,000' on a grassy ridge looking out to all the surrounding mountains, Cotopaxi being the big one that loomed over everything (almost 20.000' peak with a big glacier on it).

I think the last picture I sent is of the first team taking the last ridge near the summit. There is a group shot of our team at the summit.

Our group is now in Quito, having one final day of rest and experiencing the culture of the area, before they fly out early tomorrow for a LONG day of travel before they get arrive back at Newark tomorrow!

Thank you all for the prayers! I will likely add one more update on Friday when I get back with the group.

MILLION MILE MARCH!!!

Since my last update the LIFTers finished up their ministry in Oyacachi and hiked to Chaco, a village in the jungles below the mountains where Oyacachi is located. God has been using the LIFTers in amazing ways throughout this trip. They had a worship service their final night in Oyacachi. We have learned many worship songs in Spanish that are new to these villagers--it has been a HUGE blessing for them to learn new songs, in THEIR language. The team has also been teaching silly little children's songs to the kids. They brought up the kids that night to perform for the parents, and everyone in the audience was absolutely BEAMING. It was a beautiful night of fellowship, music, laughter, and hugs. It was a night of beauty in so many ways.

Now, the fun thing about mission trips is that you never know quite what to expect. And perfect plans drawn up in offices in the US often look very different in the jungles of Ecuador. And that's how LIFT's recent 2-day stroll from Oyacachi down to Chaco turned into a...FOUR DAY ORDEAL!!!! I'll explain:

There are a couple of ways to get to Chaco from Oyacachi. The usual way is to by van. However, the road doesn't go directly--it wraps all the way out of the mountains, back the the city of Quito, and then down to Chaco. It takes a full day of driving. As we were planning, it seemed to make more sense to save the gas money and avoid a day of being crammed into vans by taking this trail down to Chaco. It would take one day longer, but would give our LIFTers the opportunity to see more of the country close-up, and the trail also went through a couple of villages on the way, which would give them more opportunities to learn the culture, practice Spanish, and share the gospel. Brilliant!

So, the team gets down to El Refugio last week, and as Tim and our missionary contact (Rick Borman, his son did LIFT last semester) were talking Rick mentioned that it would actually take three days, not two. Ok...we'll just be flexible! So the team started out on their hike earlier this week, planning to arrive by Wed. However, after the first day they realized that Americans (even Americans in excellent shape like LIFTers) do not hike as fast as Ecuadorian! We had accounted for that...but obviously not enough! So, add on a fourth day! Luckily, Tim and Rick had wisely brought enough food for four days, just in case someone got hurt and it took an extra day.

This ended up being one of the hardest hikes that LIFT has ever done. They hiked nearly 25 miles in a river gorge, hiking alongside a river, deep down in the gorge, with the cliffs of the gorge rising up to the heavens on both sides. The consistent rain didn't help much, and the mud--at times up to their knees--also did not do much for efficiency. The trail snaked all over the gorge; at times alongside the river, at times crossing it via suspended bridges, and at times climbing up the steep walls. They technically descended about 3,000, but in reality they kept going DOWN and UP a bit and DOWN and UP a bit and DOWN and UP a bit and UP and DOWN and DOWN and UP and DOWN and on and on and on.

Tim and I keep on telling our LIFTers that we want it to rain on our trips--we learn so much more about ourselves and each other when it rains than on sunny days. Well, it poured on this trip! Wet, muddy clothes, wet sleeping bags, wet food, wet tents, soaking wet boots, muddy ground, wet rain. And while this wasn't part of the initial plan, God used it to reveal His character in the LIFTers. Everyone helped each other along, constantly stopping to lend a hand to pull up the person behind them. They encouraged each other, singing songs, reciting scripture, sharing jokes. And when they had nothing left, they simply remained silent rather than complain. Tim Trezise was INCREDIBLY proud of how they handled the adversity, how they drew together as a team, how they demonstrated LOVE.

Then, they finally got to Chaco late yesterday afternoon, and Rick announced, "Great job guys. But we're an hour late, and there are a ton of kids in the square waiting for us! Let's go!" And without missing a beat, half of the exhausted and muddy LIFTers dropped their packs, whispered a prayer, and trotted off to love the kids!

The villagers have never seen a missions group use the trails they use--any white people they see generally arrive in vans and leave in vans. It meant so much to them to see our team arrive via the same mode of transportation that they have been using their entire lives, and will use for the rest of their lives: feet. This simple gesture was just one more step to breaking down the barriers between us and them, our culture and theirs. This was evident last night as they held their first worship service with the locals of Chaco--sharing testimonies, singing songs, and a brief devotion. In so many ways we are literally worlds apart from the villagers of Chaco... and yet we share the bond with many of them that we worship the SAME GOD!

Please continue to pray for our LIFTers as they spend today and possibly tomorrow evangelizing in Chaco and the villages in the immediate vicinity. They will be leading children's ministries, the ladies will join a women's bible study, and the entire group will continue to talk to as many villagers as they can about the love of Jesus.

The LIFTers are excited to have dry beds to sleep in. Please pray fervently for their health and energy. Thus far no one is sick or injured. We are roughly at the middle of the trip--this is the time exhaustion begins to hit, and the trip home is still quite a ways off! Please pray that they continue to rely on God, that they make wise decisions and rest when they can, and that God would continue to fill them with love for the people they are meeting every day.

Head for the Hills!

The crew has left the home base of El Refugio and has officially headed for the hills! They've left the relative comforts of their newfound friends, home, and consistently excellent food for the unknown of mountain village living. The group spent the weekend in the village of Oyacachi, which is at about 10,600 ft elevation. Then today and tomorrow they are travelling by foot to their next location, the jungle village of Chaco, which is at 5,200 ft elevation. That's quite a descent!

They had an amazing Easter weekend, celebrating the resurrection of our Lord with our Ecuadorian brothers and sisters, and sharing the gospel with the others. This part of the trip is heavily focused on telling everyone they can about Jesus and His love. Tim Trezise and Dani Ramirez both preached Easter messages on Saturday and Sunday night, while many of the LIFTers have had the opportunity to give their testimony. The group also presented a powerful drama, and have been performing a number of songs, both in Spanish and in English.

Tim describes the village they are in as "a bunch of straw huts in the middle of Jurassic park." I suppose someone has to minister there! :) They have been spending a great deal of time with the local children--playing sports, singing songs, and just getting to know each other. They have also been using the Evangecube to present the truths of the gospel, which many of the children are especially enjoying.

Tim asked me to specifically share this prayer request with everyone who is praying: "Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ...pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should," (Col 4:3,4). The LIFTers have a great deal of enthusiasm for what they are doing, but they also face considerable obstacles: cultural barriers, linguistic barriers, and spiritual barriers! Please pray fervently that God would use our LIFTers to introduce Himself to the lost people of Ecuador!

Everyone should be settled into their new home of Chaco by Thursday. They will likely be tired from two long days of hiking, but will have a lot of work to do! The plan is to spend those days working with the 5 small towns that are in the immediate area of Chaco--doing prayer meetings, leading children's ministry, sharing their testimonies, speaking at women's bible studies, and other activities.

I expect that Tim will call me when they get to Chaco, or after their time there. I will keep you guys posted when he does.

Please keep praying!

Update from Before Easter

I just saw this email from Tim--it was in my work email, and I didn't check it over the weekend. So, this is from before Easter, but is still great to hear about! I'll post another new one tomorrow.

Here is a newsy LIFT 23 update and probably the last one via email until we return from El Refugio after returning from Chaco.

We had a suprise visit today from Santiago & Bethany Colomba, friends from CAMP-of-the-WOODS who first planted the idea of bringing LIFT to Ecuador. Santiago is also a LIFT 17 alumnus. They just drove up because they were in the area and walked into the crowd of LIFTers and El Refugio facilitors eating lunch and found Kathy and me. It was a great reunion, but what also was fun is that Linda Lawson and Linda Fraser were with them which suprised us even more. They are both women who work at CAMP-of-the-WOODS in the summer and help out with both the Rec and CE programs. We also met Santiago's best friend, Fernando, who is seriously considering a semester of LIFT - maybe this fall.

La comida es muy rica! (The food is amazing!) We have been eating like Kings - all authentic Ecuadorian meals. I am munching down some delicious steak as I write this email with greasy hands. We have tasted some great rice & chicken dishes and have had potatoes in a variety of tasty ways. Baked oatmeal for breakfast was great! The LIFTers have been eating right alongside the 25 young Ecuadorian students who are here "learning the ropes" from Juan Carlos. They are really hitting it off with them and everybody is getting into practicing their Espanol with their new southern friends - Rachel Fullmer leading the way of course! Today the LIFTers were able to use their belay training from CAMP-of-the-WOODS to help train the Ecuadorians out at the high ropes course. It was great to see both groups of young people from different cultures working so well together.

After an end-of-the-day soccer match, Tim & Kathy had an evening session with the Ecuadorians - explaining about the discipliship/spiritual growth aspect of LIFT. We may see some Ecuadorians in the future. :)


The LIFTers have been working very hard for three days in doing the foundation work for a climbing wall that will be used for youth ministry in addition to their existing high-ropes jungle course. The first two days consisted of clearing brush, trees and rocks and digging away at a hill, moving a water line, stripping bark from logs, then digging three 6X6X6' holes for the concrete pours that will be the foundations for the towers that will be installed. Some of the LIFTers also spend time in the shop cutting rebar and metal plates with a torch, and creating wooden templates for the bolt anchors. Today the group worked like a mad bunch of bees as they poured gravel, sand, and cement into the mixer then hauled wheel barrows of concrete to fill the first hole. 17 bags later, the first foundation was completed with rebar and bolts precisely placed to receive the towers.


Now let me tell you the amazing news of God once again providing in his creative and unpredictable ways. Ron Cline's radio ministry, "HCGB Radio", sold to El Refugio 90 meters of radio towers that they are no longer using on their "antenna farm" which served to broadcast Christian radio to 80% of the globe (because of its high altitude location on the equator). These triangular steel structures serve to be the perfect skeleton framework for the outdoor climbing wall that El Refugio has planned to build. So with the crazy new development of a cheaper method that recycles Christian ministry, the plans have been re-engineered to probably become the first climbing wall in the world to use radio towers. These towers have substantially decreased the overall estimated cost of this project, but El Refugio still needs to raise about $7,000 to see this project completed.

The staff at El Refugio are excited to have LIFT here to be the team that helped them bring to reality the dream of having a climbing wall for ministry purposes. It is a popular activity with youth and a great tool for teaching many principles applicable to life. There are no public climbing walls available in Quito. Natural rock climbing sites are very hard to access in Ecuador and there are not many places to even choose from because of the poor nature of the rock in the Andes mountains.

The last two mornings we have been acclimatizing to altitude by hiking to 10,300' then to 10,900 '. This morning was a longer hike, starting at 5:00 AM with headlamps and combined with the Ecuadorians. We reached the peak before the sun rose behind Cayambe - a 19,000' peak off in the distance. It was very serene. The LIFTers recited the entire Sermon on the Mount, then everyone sang a few praise songs in Spanish. Then we bombed back down in time for breakfast. We have been reading each morning, each of the gospel accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

Tonight we head into the local village, a mile away, called Calacali, to observe an Good Friday parade through town. This should be a fun cultural experience.
Tomorrow we depart on a 3-hour bus ride to the village of Oyachaci. We will be meeting with the pastor of the church. The LIFTers will be presenting a skit then Tim Trezise will preach on the resurrection of Christ. We will attend the Easter service at the church the later Sunday evening, Dani Ramirez will preach after another skit and a few give their testimonies. We expect our afternoons to be filled with playing with over 100 children/youth and opportunities for evangelism.

Beginnings...

I just received this email from Tim Trezise:

Here is our first report from the Andes mountains:

Everything went very well with all the hours of travel we had on Monday. Upon arrival in Quito we met up with Rick Borman and Juan Carlos - the program director of El Refugio - when we stepped out of the airport into the balmy evening air. We boarded a very nice shuttle bus which took us on about a 45 minute drive north and out of the city to El Refugio. We crossed over the equator twice, dipping in and out of the southern and northern hemispheres as we drove through a small town called, Mitad del Mundo (half of the world) and stopped and had a quick and excellent meal at a hole-in-the wall local restaurant that specializes in "Pollo Carbon" (whole grilled chicken).

Everyone slept very well in the bunk houses of El Refugio. Our first day at 9,300' was a time to get oriented to the El Refugio ministry and was full of many team-building activities to get to know their staff and strengthen our team prior to our upcoming time of ministry to the Quechua villages. The LIFTers paired up to face challenges and solve problems as they did some map and compass orienteering through the jungle-like mountain slopes and later at the high ropes course over a forested ravine.



Wednesday and Thursday will be days full of digging and cement work to build the foundation of the new climbing wall and towers, which will be a great addition for future programming. While the climbing wall project gets underway, Tim and Kathy will be meeting with about 25 Ecuadorian young adults from Quito who will be coming for their third training session in outdoor experiential education. These young people help facilitate the full time staff with teaching spiritual principles and sharing the gospel with all the youth groups that come to El Refugio for evangelistic 1-3 day experiences. Juan Carlos has asked that the Trezises share about the LIFT program to increase their understanding of how another ministry uses outdoor education for furthering the kingdom of heaven, but more from a discipleship approach.

It is exciting to see the unity of the body of Christ as the El Refugio youth ministry partners with the unique ministry of LIFT with building leaders and as both learn from each other and what God is doing with each.

Another update will be sent out prior to our departure for Oyacachi.

Safe at Home

The crew has arrived safely at El Refugio , the ministry we are partnering with during our time in Ecuador. They will spend the next couple of days recovering from the trip, learning about Ecuadorian culture, and doing service projects for El Refugio.

I received this brief update from one of our friends down there: "I met with the group about an hour ago, they are at camp right now with Rick... they seemed good. Rick and I have been working big time on what we will be doing so i am very excited!"

I'll keep you posted as I find out more information.

Newborns, Love Feasts, and Airplanes

Please allow me to make some introductions as we launch into our three week journey of following LIFT 23 in Ecuador. My name is Tim Owens, I'm the LIFT Associate Director, and I'll be writing the blog updates while the crew is down south. I usually go on these trips myself--I'm only staying home this time because my wife just gave birth to our second child, Audrey Gray, last Thursday. I realize that this really has nothing to do with the LIFT missions blog, but I just enjoy talking about my new daughter! I won't take up any more blog space prattling on about my daughter, but I will say this: she was almost born in the car on the way to the hospital!

Now, to return to the LIFTers. All good stories build and bubble below the surface before they pop onto the scene as full grown stories. This one is no exception. We have actually been writing our story for the past couple of months, as we have lived together, served together, worshipped together, hiked together, studied together, laughed together, and even cried together. We began this semester as 12 students and a couple of staff--hoping and praying that God would draw us together in Christian community. The only thing better than a good story is answered prayer. LIFT 23 has been both!

Last night around 6:00pm "the Tim's" and their families were at home, sitting down to dinner with their families. The Trezises were savouring their last dinner together before the trip (both Tim and Kathy are going), and the Owens's were marvelling in their first dinner at home with little Audrey. The families' merriment was interrupted suddenly by the sound of voices singing with gusto right outside of our windows (we are next door neighbours). I stepped out onto my porch to see what the fuss was about, and was joined a few minutes later by Trezise. The LIFTers had decided to gone "carolling", of sorts. Instead of Christmas songs, however, they were singing some of our cherished LIFT songs. We stood their on our porch, grinning ear to ear, accepting the gift of music, friendship, worship, and love that was being offered with joy. As the LIFTers huddled in front of us in a circle, singing to us, to each other, and to God, I was struck by how much they have become like a bucket full of water. A bucket full of water is nearly impossible to carry without its contents splishing and splashing all over the place. In the same way, this group of LIFTers' joy could already be seen splishing and splashing all over everyone.

After they finished singing everyone crammed onto our small porch for one of the most precious times of communion I've ever experienced. The group's recent study of Jude had spurred them to create their own Love Feast. They took bread, grape juice, cookies, lemon bread, and other goodies to the top of Panther Mt, where they prayed, read from the Bible, shared communion together, and consecrated themselves for the trip. Then they hiked down the mt, drove to our houses, and included us in the Palm Sunday celebration remembering our Lord until He comes back. I shared in communion with a piece of a chocolate chip cookie and sparkling grape juice...and it truly was a holy, beautiful time.

At one point Tim and I glanced at each other, and one of us said (I forget which) "They're ready." And so they are! Full of the joy of the Lord, eager to share His good news and love with everyone they meet, they are ready to go forth! After seeing how uniquely God has prepared and formed this LIFT group, I cannot wait to see how He uses them during the next few weeks.

As I finish this post the group is literally standing in line at JFK, waiting to board their first plane. The trip may officially begin today, but we have been on our journey for a long time.

Praise be to God.