The frantic pace we've experienced since returning to Ecuador reminds me of the reasons we took our break last fall. Darlene and I are ever thankful for your prayers, and I realize it has been a few months since we wrote you about the work you hold up to the Father. I hope this update finds you well.

Literacy Program
This item was farther down the list, but I want to start on a positive note. Last September the leaders of a Quichua church, Sembradores de Cristo (Sowers of Christ), asked for literacy help for the women of their church. One of our Ecuadorian teammates is a special woman named Cecilia Balareso. Having taught herself the basics of a grade school education, she volunteered to teach the classes as part of her job description. So she organized and began teaching a weekly class on Monday afternoons, including an hour of Bible and an hour of literacy. Darlene will write more next month, but twelve of our Quichua sisters in Christ are excited about working toward completing their primary education.

Quichua Training Center
After working 10 months at the San Pablo Presbyterian church, we were finally close to an official relationship with the church regarding the training center we have been building on the church property next to the existing sanctuary. One of the presbyters, a lawyer and lay pastor in the presbytery, helped draw up a contract, ready to be signed by us and the church. He allayed our concerns assuring us we were complying with the law on the work site.

I believe that an urging of the Spirit let us to meet with the original architect of the project. We learned the church property lies within the Municipality of Quito, so they do not meet all the legal requirements for construction. We were deceived, unfortunately, having been told the church was outside the legal limits of the city. We have required the church leadership contact the architect and have him complete all the studies and structural designs needed to secure the legal permission to build. Since early February the site has been standing idle, and we're anxious to get started building again. Please pray for the church leadership to follow through with their task.

Ecuador Country Retreat
The Guayaquil church planting team joined our Ecuador Hinterland team for a country retreat in the Andes the last week in February. Lynn Downing, the PCA pastor assigned to the two Ecuador teams, brought messages on the positive spiritual results of personal suffering. Bill Yarbrough, the new Latin America International Director for MTW, brought us a challenge to keep on in the grace of the Lord, bathing our efforts in prayerful requests to the Father. Each team had a very encouraging time of reconciliation before the practice of the Lord's Supper at the close of the retreat.

Ecuador Leadership Team
At the retreat we developed a leadership team to help us and the Guayaquil team to develop a more country-wide strategy. Darlene and I each will chair a sub-team and will meet with the Guayaquil team leadership every other month. Both teams need administrative help, so we are asking the Lord to help us recruit someone to share between the teams.

Administrative Accomplishments - Whew!!!
Last October I finished a three month audit of the team financial records for 2003. When we returned in December, I began a two month process, along with Dennis Booth, of auditing the books for the remaining quarter of 2003 and reporting all accounts and projects for the end of the calendar year. We finally can breathe freely knowing the books are balanced and the reporting is complete. I give thanks for Dennis' fresh ideas and Linda Harley's help in reporting expenses. The overwhelming task of team accounting is being shared by the three of us, and we each have time to do ministry as well. Please remember to pray that we would have sharp pencils, sharp minds, and synergy as we tackle this job together.

Prayer Requests

• That we secure proper documentation to allow construction at the training center site
• That we resolve a truck ownership issue between a Quichua church body and a former member
• That we locate quality students for the training center who are interested in full time ministry
• That the U. S. church respond with financial and prayer support for the Ramiro Araujo family
• That our team be maintained with the staff the Lord has in mind to accomplish His will among Ecuadorian indigenous church leadership
• That the team accounting would be maintained monthly with accuracy and integrity
• For patience, creativity, and motivation for the Quichua ladies who will be working on their primary education.

Praises

• That our "new" car, an '89 Bronco II, is back on the road after Don Gahagen brought us a new starter last month
• That the end-of-year administrative tasks are completed
• That I was able to buy a dishwasher (at about double the US price) and get it installed as part of Darlene's Valentine's surprise (What a romantic I am!)

In His Service,
Frank Helmly

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

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