New Faces and Places

After 4 years of working in this beautiful country, we were able to take our first vacation and travel home to rest, relax, and visit family and friends.    This last trip home was a blessing in many ways. Deborah was able to spend some time with her father who lives in Bessemer Alabama. Something she's not been able to do since the passing of her mother.  Her father is doing well, and was so very thankful for the visit.  Deborah was also able to be there for his 80th birthday which was a blessing for them both. Spending time with the grandkids that live in North Alabama is always fun.  The kids didn't know about them coming home, so was very surprised and excited about them being there to spend the christmas holidays with them.  Children grow up so very fast, and the oldest was 11 yrs old when they left and now is 15. Big Change!
The most important part of their vacation was the opportunity to be able to go to church service's and fellowship with like minded people.  It was so good to go to church and worship Jesus with song and the Word of God. Every opportunity they had they were in church.  When they finally made it to their hometown in Pensacola Florida, they were so happy to attend their church at FBC Cottage Hill. Their's nothing like being with your church family!

After returning home to Ecuador, the people of their little community had really missed them and was excited about their return. They quickly got back to work at the ministry center.  New teaching material had been purchased during their trip home, and Deborah and Thomas was excited to start teaching the children using the new Books. The children responded very well to the new lessons and are enjoying the lessons being taught.  

                                       

Thomas has started preaching on Sundays at the orphanage in Tena, where there are about 10 to 15 americans working with Bless an Orphan. Deborah teaches the many children who live at the orphanage while Thomas preaches in english to the american missionaries.  They start out with a worship service singing first with the kids in spanish, and then in english with the americans.  It's a great time of fellowship and everyone is very happy about being able to have church services in their own language.  It is just what everyone needed and was missing.

 Deborah teaching the orphan children.

Casting Seeds Ministries is now happy to announce that they have a new translator!

Magali Rivadeneyra moved in a couple days ago and says, God has been dealing with her about serving him in the mission field with Casting Seeds Ministries. She finished up her contract as a school teacher, and knew it was time to listen to the Lord's direction. She has committed to work with the ministry for at least one year and will be translating for Thomas and Deborah when ever needed. This is an answer to prayer as most of you know. Thomas and Deborah can speak in spanish, but not to the extent of preaching God's Word effectively.  They know a translator is needed to speak correctly the words that God wants the people to hear. So after much prayer, God has sent them a very sweet person who loves God and wants to grow more in her relationship with Him.  Thomas will be going through a bible study book with her that he teaches in the community's for a couple of weeks so she can prepare herself to translate for him.  Everyone is very excited about this opportunity and are looking forward to what God is going to do this next year with this group that is striving to live out the great commission. 

 Magali Rivadeneyra

Most of you know our friend Roberto Andes. He is the man that lives in Campo Cocha that gave his life to the Lord during one of the mission trips of FBC Cottage in 2012. Thomas spent many hours with him discipling him and teaching him God's word.  During this time of bible study, Roberto shared with Thomas that he knew God was calling him to pastor the church in Campo Cocha.  Thomas prayed with him, and encouraged him to keep following Jesus.  Just recently Roberto called and shared with Thomas that he is being ordained to preach this coming August. He will become the pastor of his little jungle community church of about 80 people. 

We are so excited to share this news with everyone. It is awesome news of the work that God is raising up disciples through the ministry of Casting Seeds Ministries.  Please keep this man of God in your prayers as he continues to seek God's will for his life. 

 Roberto Andes preaching at El Faro Church.

PRAYER REQUEST:

People of the Napo Region where we live and minister.

Magali our translator

Roberto Andes and his family

Bless an Orphan and sunday church services

Continued support and donations for the work being done through Casting Seeds Ministries

Thomas and Deborah

Thank you to all our financial supporters and our prayers warriors. We couldn't do what we do if it weren't for you! God Bless you!