We last wrote during a season of political upheaval here in Quito. Thank you for praying! All is calm now, and we are grateful that there are no demonstrations in the streets. As soon as the new President was sworn in, a complete u-turn occurred because the 'voice of the people' was heard. Now we have no problems moving around the city, the riot police have disappeared and almost all of the graffiti has been repainted!

You may recall our teams in Guayaquil and Quito have joined together to help with the administrative load. Our team-mates in Guayaquil, Ron and Peg Smith, have become good friends. Just over four weeks ago, we got a call on Sunday morning from their 13-year old daughter, Allison, telling us her dad had been shot. The emotion I felt from that news still affects me as I write this. Ron tried to interrupt two thieves as they robbed the church members during the morning worship service, and one shot was fired.

Thankfully, God chose to spare Ron's life. He is recovering from his injuries - a broken arm, broken rib, collapsed lung and bruised spleen. We spent the week in Guayaquil with the teenagers, Allison and Benjamin, while Ron was hospitalized and Peg was by his side. Just this past weekend Ron had 7 pints of fluid removed from one side of his chest cavity. There is no infection - it's just fluid that his body has not been able to absorb. Please pray Ron recovers physically, and that the whole Smith family recovers emotionally from this trauma. (Peg and Allison did not see the shooting, as they were upstairs with the children.)

Just over a week ago, we took Frank in to our local clinic for a tetanus shot after he fell on some rusty re-bar (he is healing nicely). While we were there, we decided to get a tuberculosis screening since it is an airborne bacteria and we work with the Quichua, an 'at risk' group of people. Well, as it turns out - Frank is fine but I've tested positive for exposure to TB. It appears I don't have an 'active case' but I will need to take a daily dose of preventative medication for 6-9 months. Please pray that I will not suffer any liver damage, a possible side effect, and that monthly blood work can be scheduled since we will be busy traveling this fall. (Thank you to doc friends who have been so helpful!)

We are preparing to leave for a 6-month HMA (Home Ministry Assignment). We depart July 5th but do not have house-sitters yet. We would like the Lord to provide someone to stay at our home by June 5th. If not, we will need to seriously consider closing our house. The thought of packing and storing creates a level of stress that is overwhelming. But, the Lord knows our need and His grace is sufficient to handle whatever we need to overcome. It just seems there are more questions than answers and more feelings of personal insecurity lately even though we know Who provides Peace that passes understanding.

Please pray we can truly rest in the Lord at this time in our lives.

Yours in Quito,

Frank & Darlene

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