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News for Friends, Family, and Partners April 15, 2008 Dear Praying Friends, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21 As we continue to teach stewardship workshops, we ask our participants to set short, medium and long-range goals. In keeping with goal setting, we encourage people to consider the values that underlie their goals, using this verse among others. Please pray for our Ecuadorian friends as they begin to set goals, some for the first time. In recent years, there has been more of a trend to advance planning in business, but most folks have not really thought much about long-range plans, nor about budgeting on a family level. In the Christian community here in Quito, we are warmly received, and participants are very appreciative of our teaching. We continue to ask your prayers for wisdom as we counsel with these dear folks. You will remember that we are training Byron, Cecilia and Segundo to use this material. Please pray for them as they begin to counsel with people in this area as well. We finished the stewardship workshop in Papallacta (in the mountains 2 hours from the city), and they requested that we come back for a "check-up" in May. The employees of Ecoluz are very thankful for the workshop, and hope to make real changes in their lives. We are thankful for them, and hope to connect with the local pastor for follow-up with this group. We continue to work on the biblical integration project (How to Manage Your Business Money) along with Joel and Barrie Chappeau (our interns), Byron, Cecilia and Segundo. Please pray for wisdom as we still seek to finish by the end of April. The savings and loan group at La Gracia church just finished one year, and closed the books on Saturday. They have had some challenges with accounting practices, but say that they have learned a lot, and plan to continue for at least another year. We will have lunch together on Sunday after church, and then will meet to revise rules, receive new members, and fellowship together in the Lord. We give thanks for God's provision and protection for this group. Please pray for this group, which is called La Gracia Help Group, that they would not only help one another with economic issues, but also would encourage one another spiritually and reach out to others for Christ. Two weeks ago, we hosted two dentists and their wives for a full week of ministry. All went very well with visits at five churches, where we saw 170-180 patients. Maria and Ramiro Araujo, Byron and both of us translated for the dentists and patients. While it was very rewarding, it was also exhausting, since it involved not just translation, but calming those who were nervous. Those who know Robin well will know that she has a sort of dental-phobia, so translating was an extra stressful effort. On the positive side, she is now much less afraid of going to the dentist!
 Robin helping with a patient with Dr, Bob Myer and his wife Diane Please pray for the girls as they have only about seven more weeks of school. Waverly leaves for Guayaquil tomorrow for the American Schools basketball tournament, and then next week the season finishes with the Alliance Academy tournament. These will be two very busy weeks for her. Pray she will have the necessary energy for basketball and her studies. Whitney has the lead role in the school play this semester (Radium Girls), and the performances are April 24, 25 and 26. Rehearsals have become longer and intense. Please pray for stamina, memory and health. After these big events, both girls will have some time to "relax", while preparing for AP exams in May. Graduation in June will bring visits from friends and family from the US. The girls are very excited! We are so thankful that our health has been good. We have all had the basic colds, but nothing that grounded us! Mike's back is much better. Robin's eyes are good, though the reality of needing glasses for close-up is an adjustment. Thank you for your prayers for us. You are God's gift to us; we could not be here without you. Please let us know how we can pray for you. Blessings, Mike and Robin McMahan
Write us at: Mike and Robin McMahan
Email: Vonage phone: 770-573-0586 April 19, 2008 |