Joy to the World!

Most people start out the Christmas season by putting up Christmas trees and decorating their houses. For us, the Christmas season begins when the team of people from the US arrive shortly after Thanksgiving and the Annual Extreme Response Christmas Outreach begins!

We welcomed 55 people from all over the US this past Tuesday and every day has been full of preparations, activity and details for the parties that Extreme Response gives in various poor communities around Quito.

Each party includes a Gospel message, carnival games, crafts, prizes, photos, and a gift bag - including a staple food bag for the adults and toys for the children. We also have a tent set up with the Jesus film being shown. Five parties in five days! WHEW!!!!!

We are so grateful to the team members who come down at this time of year (probably not an easy feat with all the holiday activity that they are leaving behind). . . providing the funds and toys for the these parties!

Even though I haven't been able to go to any of the parties (being over 8 months pregnant now, makes it kind of hard to do more than just the basic daily duties), I can feel the festivity in the air and also it's awesome to hear reports from the team members as they come back to from the various locations. I will share more after the week is over.

What a way to start out the holiday season - ringing out Joy to the World as we share the love of Jesus with over 6,000 Ecuadorians who might never hear about Jesus' birth otherwise. Next week, I'll post more photos so that you can see for yourselves!

Tomorrow, Sat, Santi will coordinating the volunteers at the entrance to the DUMP CHRISTMAS PARTY, receiving the 2,500 - 3,000 people that we expect to attend. Pray for patience, love and compassion as it's a long, hot day in the sun. And pray for the attendees . . . that the evangelism team will lead many to Christ during this outreach.

I've included some photos of the team preparing the 6,000 gift bags needed for the week. Soon I hope to post photos of the parties during the week!