IT'S SNOWING!

It just started snowing and in 10 minutes, we have a dusting of snow. We are supposed to get 4-6 inches but we will see. Rog went out to get the snow blower ready to go so I know he is hoping for more.

MORE PICTURES FROM ECUADOR

They flew to Houston on Thursday morning early and had to spend all day in the Houston airport so Dave Oldham had to find a place to rest.

This is the car that they traveled around in at Catarama. It was a Mercedes Benz van and it is pictured by the church in Catarama.

Rog stayed in a home in Catarama where no English was spoken. He had a small Spanish dictionary but you can imagine trying to carry on a conversation in such a situation. He said they looked at each other a lot:) They showed him his bedroom and he slept in a mesquito net(pictured above). When they showed him the bathroom, he didn't quite get it. There was a wash tub with water dripping into it but he thought maybe the water was not completely turned off. The water was on but no pressure so the lady showed him that he needed to dip a pan into the tub of cold water and pour it over his head. That was the shower! He needed
to pour water into the toilet to flush it as well. Pretty primitive.

You see the laundromat in Catarama where they are washing their clothes in the river. The kids are playing in the water while Mom does the laundry.

Each of the churches that they visited gave the ministry team members gifts and the straw hats pictured were given in Catarama.

This is a homemade pump that was designed by some people that lived outside of the city.

Rog and Dave Oldham rode in this motorcycle rickshaw around Catarama.

We don't see pigs tied up in the US but you would see this in Catarama.

They knock the fruit down from the trees when they are hungry.
This is in Catarama.

The Quichua children play this improvised game of pulling each other through these long tubes.

These are the homes on the mountainside in Pueblo Viejo.

This is the church in Pueblo Viejo.

A couple of Quichua mothers with their children - they always wore the ponchos and hats.

The Quichua children were trying to get a better view of the foreigners.

This is the radio station headquarters in Quito, HCJB. This is where Rog heard the Gospel as a child on his short wave radio. He would listen to it by the hour.

These are the huge satellite dishes that are part of the broadcasting equipment of HCJB.

This is the GMU(now Avant) guesthouse in Quito that was named after Roger Youdarian, one of the missionaries killed by the Aucas back in the 50's.

Rog is with the pastor and his wife from the Quito Church where they ministered.

This is an older part of Quito. They say it is over 100 years old.

WHAT BLESSINGS! TREASURE THE TIMES!

We had 5 of our 8 granddaughters with us over Thanksgiving and enjoyed every one of them.(Malia, Avery, Ella, Meryn, & Meredith)

Meredith, Ella, and Ethan all enjoyed entertaining us and liked to tease each other.

Ella, Meredith, and Meryn were good friends all weekend.

John & Elisa were the last ones to leave on Saturday and we had lunch just before they left. Ethan was so exhausted that he couldn't even finish his cookie.

In fact, when they removed the cookie and the tray, he didn't even stir.

We had a wonderful time with our children and their families and treasure the times with family.

THANKSGIVING DAY WITH THE FAMILY

This is our Thanksgiving feast with 24 at our table - 13 adults & 11 grandkids

Ella looked so pretty with her faux fur vest but would not let me have a picture without her beautiful mommy with her.

One of the favorite toys in our yard is the big blue van. Because it was a lovely spring-like day, we spent part of the afternoon outside and the kids loved it.

After lunch today, Aunt Berta wanted to have her Christmas with all the kids since she and Don will not be here for Christmas.

After the Christmas presents were opened, gramma got to enjoy reading the new books to Meryn and Meredith.

Meryn is giving little cousin Ethan a ride in the favorite blue van.

Some were playing with the Thomas train set in our basement.

The guys were having a basketball game in the driveway trying to avoid the little ones as they played.

Meryn and Ethan again

John is bring a bike out to the kids and he decided his legs were to long to ride it.

We had a wonderful time and thank God for all the blessings of the past year.

GETTING READY FOR THANKSGIVING

Trey and Avery with the pillows from Ecuador

Meryn is helping with the cleaning

Three little sweethearts - Ella(1) Meredith(2) Meryn(3)

Ella & Meredith - best friends

We've been busy cleaning and getting ready for the kids and grandkids to come home. Yesterday, Phil & Julie came. Today John & Melanie and Johnny & Elisa came. We have had grandkids everywhere having a great time. Meryn helped clean ahead of time and then wanted to help cook today. Meredith and Meryn helped to make the pumpkin pies.

Trey and Avery are pictured with pillows that Rog brought back from Ecuador for each of our children. They are made from the hide of an animal from there that is very soft.

We look forward to having a Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow with about 24 people around our table. We certainly have much to be thankful for. HAPPY THANKSGIVING to each of you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD, GRANDPA, & GREAT GRANDPA!!

Dad celebrated his 89th birthday today, Nov. 18. Rog and I and Liz went up to Salina today and visited with Mom & Dad and sang Happy Birthday to Dad. The workers at the manor had already wished him a very Happy Birthday and given him a small birthday cake. He looked so good and wouldn't you know, I forgot my camera. So I am using a picture I took a while back but he looked younger today. We thank God for the many years he has given Dad and what a blessing he has been in our lives.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY again DAD! We love you!

ROG'S TRIP TO ECUADOR

The picture is taken in the missionary home of Steve & Kristi Edgren and below is a note from the Edgren family where the Ecuador Team stayed with that sums up what the team's activities were while visiting Ecuador.

The real highlight of our last 3 weeks was having the group here from Wichita, Kansas. During the 10 days they were here, they along with Scott were able to minister in 3 different churches. First they visited Catarama, a small coastal town. It was hot and they were warmly received, even being invited one evening to the wedding of a couple in the church. The pastor's wife cooked for them and they stayed in different church members' homes. Because of low water supply, part of the group learned to shower dumping water over their heads.

The second church they visited was in a small Quichua community named Pueblo Viejo up in the mountains. As they started presenting the material in this church, they soon realized that many of the people were not understanding the Spanish, so another man began translating everything into the Quichua language as well. That meant that everything went from English to Spanish to Quichua. This community of Quichua still lives very simply and was the most different from the U.S. but gave their best as they fed the group lunch, piling their plates full.

Kristi and the kids were glad to have them arrive back in Quito for the remainder of their time here in Ecuador. They had a couple of days free and we were able to do some fun things: shopping at a market, seeing historical downtown Quito, visiting the equator and taking cable cars up the side of a mountain overlooking the city of Quito.

Here in Quito, the group gave a conference at our church, Renacimiento. Thank you, Dave, Roger, Steve and Roxane, for coming and encouraging our fellow believers here in Ecuador and for being an encouragement to us as well. Please pray for all 3 of lthe churches that they will be able to apply what was taught. Some difficult yet practical subjects were addressed such as forgiveness and spiritual warfare.

BECOMING WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE

Tonight I concluded the Bible Study that I have been teaching for several months. We met in our home and have used the book, Becoming a Woman of Excellence by Cynthia Heald. I have never felt like I wanted to teach a Bible Study but last spring I decided that God wanted me to so I dived in. We averaged about 10 ladies each time. I feel like it has been good for me and I know the other ladies expressed real appreciation and expressed that they have been blessed.

ROSES, ROSES, ROSES!!

Rog returned home last night from Ecuador and brought many stories and gifts to share. The 50 beautiful roses pictured were a special gift brought all the way from Ecuador. I love the roses but the best gift of all was to have my husband back home.

TIME WITH FAMILY

Tuesday morning I took Susan and Meryn and went to Kansas City to spend a few days with my girls and many of my grandkids. I spent the first day at Phil & Julie's house and enjoyed spending time with their children. Damon & June and their children came over for dinner and we had pizza together. We had a good time together and the cousins always enjoy time together. After everyone went home and the kids were all in bed, Julie, June, Susan and myself went out for a coke.

Wednesday night we all got together and had tacos and chips and salsa for dinner. John & Melanie & Ella came and joined us for dinner as well. We ate at Damon & June's house and had a good time eating, gabbing, and playing games. We had 13 of the grandkids there so there was a little cleanup before we parted ways.:) I went home with Elisa and spent the night with her family and part of the next day and saw where Trey & Avery go to school.

Thursday we met at June's house to do a little sorting and organizing to help her rearrange some things. Elisa and Susan and June did most of the work and I helped with the little ones. We always have fun, even in the midst of hard work and we did a lot of laughing as well as working. Julie was going to leave with her family for Newton where Phil's soccer team would be playing for the state championship on Saturday so she was unable to join us that day. That evening after the children were all in bed, Susan, June, Elisa, and myself all went to the Olive Garden for dinner. That was fun but we were exhausted after working hard all day. I spent the night at June's house Thursday night.

Friday morning we were babysitting for June while she had a doctor's appointment and then we headed home. We got to Huch just in time to pick up Susan's boys from school.

I always enjoy any time with my children and right now I am missing my husband very much so it made my time go a little faster.

I have just a few snapshots of my girls and grandchildren while I was there. Ethan was just learning how to go down stairs this week. Malia had to try out Susan's new hot rollers. The grandkids started asking me when I arrived if I would fix biscuts and sausage gravy for them so this morning they got their wish and you see them at the table enjoying the meal. That is one meal they always enjoy when they come to grandma's house and they wanted it at their house too. Even baby Molly liked that. The kissing cousins are Eli & Meredith with Meryn looking on. One picture is taken in the middle of our cleaning Thursday.