Dear Friends,

Ecuador is a great land with awesome people. As we near our fourth month residing in this place the splendor and the romance only becomes stronger and even more appealing through each encounter we have with some one fresh with no previous history together behind us. We are so blessed as we walk out this opportunity God has given us to share His perfect love with so many. There is a possibility even closer now to have the joy of meeting with the Vice President of this nation and get a few moments to encourage him and pray for him in his valiant efforts to increase potential for the citizens of Ecuador who live their lives through disabilities. I am excited and praying that this encounter will become a reality in the next few days. Please join us and so many from this great country to keep him in prayer as he is making a great impact on the human perspective of the governance of Ecuador.

Camp in Quito has come and gone already and as you are receiving this letter, the camp in Guayaquil is underway. We have packed in children and workers, 57 of us into a house big enough to handle 22. It is amazing how everyone has stepped into the tasks required to make that possible as well as sleeping on the floor, chairs, and anywhere they could find to catch some sleep for the night. Though this was a short camp, just one night, it has been so rewarding for us and the group of volunteers that have participated. We think this is a great start to return to the place of full camps in the future. The local team here has developed extremely rapidly and we are so blessed with their hearts to grow and reach out to more children and youth in the months ahead.

There is much talk about the next event, which some plans are in place for a day camp in June. Wow, seeing God direct focus is such a joy. Our friends here in Ecuador, led by a beautiful young Godly lady, Maria Agusta (Maggus for short), are inspiring us greatly to present them with the challenge to do even more than they had originally planned for. One testimony shared here may be a good way to reflect what we are experiencing here: “I was given a camper who cannot effectively communicate and I am feeling very inept to be the friend to him that I am expected to be. Yet as I have dealt with that frustration I have been hearing God speak to me about just loving him. After dealing with that I have received such a compelling desire in my heart to love this boy that I am so overjoyed with. Now I can truly let him do what he likes instead of attempting to make him do what is convenient for me and the schedule. By doing this I have discovered that my ability to communicate verbally with him has been greatly enhanced.” We experience such love as this because Holy Spirit has responded to our hearts to serve with such joy.

Our family is doing very well here. We are enjoying the ministry and family with great exhilaration and pleasure. The ability to spend time with others has been so awesome. We had the privilege to lead a longtime family friend to Jesus just a couple weeks ago. What joy and excitement that has been for him and us. You can join us in prayer that he joins the body of believers and grows spiritually in the weeks and months ahead. We have mostly been in good health the entire time we have been here in Ecuador and thanks so much to Jesus for keeping us that way. We have yet to complete the trip to Guayaquil this week and the return to Quito for a couple days before we return to Big Lake, MN. We are looking forward to returning home to our lives in Minnesota and we for sure need your prayers then as we are coming back to our busiest time of the year. We are approaching summer rapidly and need to get more people involved and ready to join us in Wisconsin, Ukraine, Mongolia, Ecuador, and Idaho. As we return, we hope to reconnect personally with many of you who have so beautifully and faithfully supported us as we fulfill our calling with Cristo Vive International. However, if we are unable to make that connection real soon, we trust you will understand due to our very busy summer schedule.

Thanks ever so much for your love and generosity with us. May you discover a great amount of peace in your communion with God today.

Your friends and family,
Gene, Jordana and Osito Engebretsen