We're two weeks away from a return to Quito. We never got a chance to take a vacation in Quito, so our time here has been wonderful and a great opportunity to visit friends and family in FL, GA, and NC as several of you received us in your homes and churches. We will return to Ecuador refreshed and equipped to push forward.

I (Frank) participated in MTW's leadership conference November 7-13. I came away from that time with a better understanding of the responsibility, and I'm honored to be part of the leadership of our Hinterland Ecuador Team. Don Gahagen is our interim team leader, and I cannot adequately articulate the blessing of his mentoring. He encouraged me to take some extra time for planning and preparation before we return to the field. Our team is about to embark on both theological and vocational education, and there is much to accomplish "behind the scenes." I'm excited about getting back to the team and sharing some new ideas. Meanwhile, they are conducting a city-wide survey of Quichua churches which we'll feature in our next letter.

The extra time has been good because we did not get a sense of our cultural "adjustment" until we were back in the US enjoying the smooth highways, courteous drivers and clean lakes full of fish! Moving into leadership on a new team whose leader had been killed, a new culture, and new living conditions had taken their toll on us. Now we are eager to return to Quito but buying airline tickets during the Christmas rush has been difficult - both due to price and no availability. We found space on a Christmas Eve flight, and we are looking forward to starting our second year. As we look back over our first year and see the hand of the Lord as He shifted our location from Bolivia to Ecuador, it's amazing how He has provided our support (through you) and how He is giving us friendships among the Quichua. We are grateful to report the Lord has given us a love for the Quichua people and a beginning concept of their difficult language. We are grateful for your prayers for us to learn Quichua and for all the transitions of our first year on the field! It's so clear to us how we could not be serving the Lord without you, and yet it is difficult to express in words.

Please accept our gratitude for your partnership in this work of the Lord! Our prayer for you this year is from Philippians 4:19- "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

May you and yours have a very Merry Christmas. Happy New Year, too!

Yours for the Kingdom,

Frank & Darlene

Address:
Frank & Darlene Helmly
Casilla 17-08-8403
Quito, ECUADOR 

Or care of MTW
1600 North Brown Road,
Lawrenceville GA 30043
(Helmly Acct #013184)

- December 11, 2003