Planning and prayers for the Music Mission

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Dear Friends and Family,

What are we doing?!?  Well, Richard is ready to invest in a cow prod to see if he can get me moving – not moving a little faster, just moving at all – to begin packing for this upcoming music mission trip. We decided not to leave until very early on Saturday and ultimately arrive in Floron on Sunday evening.  The mission team of 10 will arrive Friday evening June 6^th in time for a late dinner.

Prior to the team’s arrival I will meet with Tatiana who is and has been our (delicious) mission’s cook for many, many years.  Together we will review her menu plans to ensure any allergies or special dietic needs have not been overlooked. Then, I have a delightful time shopping with Tatiana at the open market. . . to keep up with Tatiana I am close to a running gait!

Making beds and distributing towels is also on the agenda. . . I anticipate laundering everything since linens have been in ‘storage’ since the team was there two years ago.

In brief the music mission team will again host an “under the stars” concert in Floron 8. . . with a meal and outreach. Please especially be praying for this event, Saturday, June 7^th. Floron 8 has a dark reputation as the very poorest area that harbors criminals. Nevertheless, the concert drew crowds from all over Floron two years ago. A second concert will be given in Montecristi the following Saturday; the audience will be more refined and educated, which we pray will not negatively impact the message.

As the previous year, the music team is bringing instruments to be distributed to various small, humble churches and then instruct their musicians. Other events include a visit to the Picoaza town and Church that was totally flooded the past month, a soccer game between the mission team and ‘clinic church,’ and multiple other churches benefitting from encouragement.

Richard will be working with the water staff concerning many issues brought up by the latest government inspection including the failure to register the operating license on time. This involved shutting down for a period to complete that process as well as to adjust some operating procedures. It has always been the case that government inspectors seem to always need to find at least one problem for their report. In our case it was more than one. Well, he thinks it is the same in the USA but still hard to live with.

Richard will also oversee the clinic and water building structure problems along with financial issues to discuss with our accountant and the foundation board. Finding an alternative to Richard’s car (using a lot of glue and duct tape keeping the ’97 running) is also on the list among other medical equipment requests.

If we sound exhausted, we are! The previous Sunday was International Missions Sunday at CCPC. Our church kindly allows FYTA to display our Ecuadorian fundraising items. We were thankful for setting up and taking down help….

We add our names to the prayer list for a little more umph!

Prayer requests:

• Safe travel for the Mission team, to and from Ecuador and their time in the Manabi Province. Health of the team.

• Guidance and protection by the Holy Spirit, especially for team leaders, Chris and Cleofe.

• Unity of team members, acceptance/awareness of Latino culture.

• For Elizabeth and Richard to complete the goals they set during their stay with the clinic and water staff.

In humility and sincere gratitude,

Richard, Elizabeth and the FYTA Board