We're still here.

I have become a terrible blogger.

There's no excuses. 

I should make us a website and forget about it. 

I will do that as soon as we have time. 

It's not looking like it will be anytime soon. 

So, enjoy my sparatic blogging. 

I bought this desk a long time ago, but haven't really had time to redo it. And I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to use it for. A desk or something else? Since Ethan moved back to the states, we got our tv back. So I decided to use it as a tv stand.  $10 desk 

It was a lot of work to strip it and sand it. 

Here's the finish piece. I think I'm going to add a burlap coffee bag as a curtain to hide the cords. That's one of my pet peeves. 

This is Shannon face timing Ethan, while watching a football game on the computer. This is how they spend time together. We miss him, everyday. 

Shannon had back surgery a week ago today. They took him back at 10:00 and he didn't return to his room until 6:30. To say it was a long day would be an understatement. When he got back to the room he was saying crazy stuff. I was only able to stay with him until 8:30 because I needed to get home to Megan, but he was so funny. He took this selfie. I thought he was nuts. 

This was on Thursday when he came home. He's doing great!

Here's Shannon preaching in our new sanctuary for the first time. This was two weeks before surgery. 

Lots of progress. 

Update

To say we've been busy is an understatement. Three days after our last team left we flew to the states to move Ethan home.  It was hard, not going to lie, and it's still hard. Ethan is living with Shannon's mom in NWA and working. He will be starting college next fall. Where? We aren't sure just yet. Please pray for him and us as we adjust. 

I thought I would share a few pics from our trip. 

Ethan and Megan got new glasses the second day we were home. It was past time. 

Shannon and I flew to Houston to pick up Ethan's car that was stored at my mom's house. Thanks to the Hopkins who picked us up and let us stay the night at their house in Tulsa. 

We traveled to a few churches to share about Ecuador. 

Thank you Searcy First!! They bought us all these gluten free foods. 

We played at Best Buy. 

Shannon was able to spend some time with his grandparents. 

Shannon and Ethan were given free tickets to a razorback game. 

We toured Evangel University. 

Megan got her senior pics taken. She too will be starting college next Fall. She has applied to U of A. 

We celebrated Ethan's 19th birthday. 

Then the dreaded day came when we flew home to Ecuador. This is us in the Dallas airport missing Ethan. Seriously, the hardest thing we've ever done. 

And this is us on our final flight to Ecuador after we ran a mile because we almost missed our flight. It was awful. 

I've been making things to help keep my mind busy. Okay, to keep my mind off of Ethan.  I brought some stuff back from the states to make a Fall wreath. 

Then I made this for my table. I love Fall. 

We were finally able to go out to the church and this is where we are on the construction. We will be putting to roof on next week. 

Next week we should be getting our visas renewed.  Please pray that we have all the right paperwork and we are able to get them Monday.

Searcy First

We had a great time with Searcy First last week.   We started out the week with service at the work site, our first service at the new church site, by the way.  Then we worked the rest of the day.

Handing out Bibles.

Eye clinic at our church.

They worked hard building this wall.

Dr. Watts was able to get in some construction time on the last day.

Shannon and Ethan working hard.

The team went to Otavalo on Wednesday and was able to give glasses to a much needed family. This is Luz Mila.

Luz Mila's mom, Laura, and Dr. Watts.

The whole group.

Rusty and Luz Mila with her new glasses.

They loved him because he was so tall.

Pastor Rusty and Pastor Luis

Hope

Yes, I'm a little behind.  We are already hosting another team right now and we've been working hard.
However, Megan and I had the day off because she got here braces off today.  (you can see a pic on FB)


We had a great time with Hope First and we could not have asked for a better week.  I think I say this about all the teams that we've had because they've all been so great.  They are all unique and we've enjoyed all of them.

Hope built a wall while they were here.  It will be the wall at the front of the sanctuary.

Here are a few pictures from the week.

This was the first week that we had concrete floor and not dirt.

Thanks Chris and Tosha for coming and spending a week with us.  Thank you to your whole team!


We will be in the states next week taking Ethan back to live, for good.  It's bittersweet but we know he's ready.  He's had a great summer here and he's been a lot of help to us.  Both of our kids have helped us so much.  We don't know what we are going to do without them next summer.  We would appreciate your prayers for this transition.