Ecuador: Ecuador's Children

By Hanna Luong

You would never know it from their smiles, but the children who have been selected to participate in Word & Deed’s most recently developed sponsorship program in Quininde, Ecuador, are among the region’s poorest. As I scroll through their pictures, I can’t help but note that one of the little girls is wearing the familiar smirk that I’ve seen on my youngest nephew’s face. It’s a smirk that tells me she is delighted, although a little embarrassed, at finally being the center of attention. Behind her, pink blossoms hint at Ecuador’s tropical climate (Ecuador is literally “Equator”) and spell “vacation spot” for many North Americans.

However, the physical, emotional and spiritual landscape of many children in the Quininde region stands in stark contrast to Ecuador’s often stunning scenery. Typically, families in these regions have incomes of less than $100 a month, resulting in malnutrition and lack of access to adequate medical attention – both of which result in poor physical development. AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and parasites are also threats to health. Many children are not in school, and there is a functional illiteracy rate of 37.5% – the highest in relation to the national rate of Ecuador.

But poverty also has emotional implications. Out of discouragement and despair at seemingly insurmountable odds, parents turn to drugs and alcohol for relief. Some feel they have no choice but to work long days for little pay. Others have become trapped in the sinful and emotionally disturbing trade of prostitution. Often, children are left in the care of older siblings. Always, it leaves children the victims of abuse and neglect, and with little means to prepare a better future for themselves.

This region has been effectively ministered to by Dr. Yeny Agila and the Mision San Lucas (Luke Society) team since 2002. Their ministry provides community banks, health and educational programs, as well as evangelistic outreach programs. By partnering with Word & Deed Ecuador (Mision Palabras y Hechos Ecuador), Mision San Lucas hopes to expand their ministry to the needy in Ecuador. Social workers conducted home studies in three of the most impoverished districts of Quininde (Cesar Proano, Patria Nueva and Bajo Malecon) to determine which children are the most in need of the benefits of the sponsorship program. Children who are abandoned, orphaned, or who come from single-parent homes are also given preference.

God willing, the sponsorship program will provide 300 children with physical and spiritual aid. Nutritious meals and access to health care will strengthen little bodies. Tutoring will contribute to their academic success, equipping them with the confidence and education to eventually find a stable job. Home visits, parent training workshops, and practical counsel will begin binding up broken family relationships. Finally, introducing biblical principles to parents and children alike will provide those involved in the program with the opportunity to hear the gospel, to respond to it, and to experience the power of Christ in their own lives.

Ecuador’s children are in great need. But with prayer and God’s blessing, the sponsorship program has potential to transform not just these children, but the communities they live in. Please call or email to help bring hope into the lives of these little precious ones (see pictures).

Hanna Luong is the Administrative Assistant at Word & Deed Canada.

"Feeding Lambs" in Mexico

by Arlene Jonkman

Apacienta Mis Corderos (Feed My Lambs) continues to grow in Ecuador and throughout Latin America. Funded by Word & Deed Ministries, this ministry is a Christian education project which has been providing Spanish Sunday School curriculum to a growing number of Latin American churches.In 2008, my husband Fred and I shared our workshop and curriculum with churches in San Felipe, in the Mexican peninsula (Baja California). Since that time one of our former students has been successfully teaching the workshop to the teachers from other churches in Baja California. This past year we were invited by the Presbyterian churches in the northern part of Mexico to come and share our curriculum and teachings with the churches in Monterrey and in La Victoria.Our daughter Erin accompanied us, providing two extra suitcases for carrying more books. With almost 300 pounds of books in tow, we arrived in the airport in Mexico City. The eyebrows of the immigration officials rose as we lugged the heavy suitcases onto the conveyor belts, and they immediately asked us to enter the inspection line. We had to open up the suitcases, but once we proved with our passports that our names were on the books as the authors, they let us enter with all the books without taxing us. Once again we thanked God for his faithfulness in going before us as we cross borders.

Monterrey City is a large city of seven million. The Presbyterian churches are actively trying to plant new churches throughout this city and the north-eastern region. It was a joy for us to meet with all the pastors and church planters on the first morning. We introduced them to the commentaries and the workshop we had planned. Throughout Latin America, there is very little curriculum available to take students through a chronological study of the Bible, while also having Christ-centered content. The pastors expressed their excitement and appreciation for the commentaries and enthusiastically encouraged their teachers to attend our workshops. Fred taught a 12 hour workshop to the teachers of eight churches in La Victoria, a city four hours south of Monterrey. I taught the same workshop to the teachers of nine churches from Monterrey and its surrounding suburbs.Erin Jonkman playing with children at VBS

We were privileged to be able to share all of our material with Maricela, who is the director of the children’s ministries for all the Presbyterian churches in that area of Mexico. She works full time helping the teachers of all the churches organize their Sunday School programs and provides them with training and resources. We spent some extra time sharing ideas and materials with her and she will work with all the churches in the future, helping them implement this new program and continuing the training process with the teachers. People like Maricela are the key to the success of our program. They work hard alongside the local people, long after we return to Quito. It is such a joy for us to find local people who have a passion to continue working with this ministry in their respective countries.

Children with crafts at VBS

Mexico has enjoyed the presence of the Reformed and Presbyterian faith for much longer than any other country in Latin America and we noticed the stability that this has brought to the churches. However, their churches are also facing challenges as many of the youth are being lost to the world again. This reality once again impressed upon us the importance of this ministry. We need to prepare the people working with children and give them tools so they can faithfully instruct the future generations in the truths of God’s Word. The churches will never be stable and strong if the children continue to be neglected, as has been the sad reality throughout the denominations in Latin America.
God continues to open doors in this ministry and we have had the opportunity to teach Christian education courses in seminaries and churches both locally in Ecuador and in Chile, Columbia, Peru and Mexico. We are thankful to see how God has placed the desire to continue this work in the hearts of local people in Chile, Peru and Mexico. We also ask for your prayers as the Christians in these countries investigate the feasibility of having the commentaries printed locally to make distribution easier.
In this past year, the prison chaplains in Ecuador have also begun using our material as the basis of their Bible study programs with the inmates and the children of the inmates in various prisons throughout the country. They have expressed their deep gratitude for this resource.
In 2010 we will be traveling to Costa Rica, Colombia, and to a new area in Peru, the Lord willing. We have also recently received a request for the material in Bolivia. We covet your prayers as this ministry continues to grow. Pray especially for the local teachers in each country as they implement the program in their churches and work with the children. May the Lord continue to use this material to build his Kingdom throughout the Spanish-speaking world!

Arlene Jonkman and her husband, Fred, are Christian education and discipleship mission workers at la Iglesia Reformada del Ecuador in Quito, Ecuador.

Ministry “Feed my Lambs” continues to grow…..

In August, Fred and I were asked to teach a Christian Education Course at the Seminario del Pacifico in Esmeraldas (a poor city on the Pacific Coast in Ecuador with a predominantly black population). This course involves about 30 hours of instruction where we teach the Biblical basis of children’s ministry and then also practically how to study and prepare a lesson. As a final assignment for the students, each student is assigned a passage which is not well known from the Bible and they have to prepare a story on this passage for a particular age group. After this preparation the student teaches the lesson to the rest of the students and time is spent afterwards in discussing and giving positive suggestions for the students benefit. This exercise has been very beneficial to the students and helps them to put into practice what they have learned.

Arlene teaching the students in Esmeraldas, Ecuador

In September, we traveled to Monterrey, Mexico where Arlene taught the workshop to the teachers of 9 Presbyterian churches from that area. Fred traveled with Jorge Aleman a Mexican pastor to La Victoria (a city 4 hours south of Monterrey), where he taught the workshop to the teachers of 8 churches in that area.

A small part of Monterrey, city of 7 million inhabitants

Maricela, the wife of Jorge works full time helping the teachers of all the churches to implement their programs. She teaches classes and meets regularly with the teachers to encourage them in the ministry to the children. We thank the Lord for raising up this local people who are committed to working with the local churches long after we leave the country and return to Ecuador.

Jorge and Maricela Alemán with us in Monterrey

Fred with the group he taught in La Victoria, Mexico

Ani Dunner and her husband recently visited us from Santiago, Chile. Ani is one of the leaders of the children’s program in Chile where we taught the workshop three years ago. We were very happy to hear from her the positive reports on how God has used the ministry there and how they have also shared it with some other churches.

On our return trip to Ecuador from Mexico we stopped in Lima, Peru to drop off some more books for the growing need of the churches there. At present, the curriculum is being used primarily in the Presbyterian churches and also in the churches planted by the Evangelical Free Church missionaries. We have two more requests to teach the workshops in areas of Peru which are far removed from Lima. A Peruvian friend has asked us to come to Moyabamba in the jungle area of Peru to a large community of churches originally planted years ago by Scottish Presbyterian missionaries and another couple have asked us to teach at the Pastor’s training and resource center in Trujillo. The Lord willing we will be able to help these areas out in 2010.

Arlene with Kay Pannagio, missionary in Lima who teaches the workshop to new churches there.

Workshop in Quichua church

This past weekend, Arlene and I were privileged to do the Sunday shool workshop in a Quichua church located in the village of Paltapamba, a few kilometers from the city of Guaranda. Guaranda is about a 5 hour drive from Quito. Our invitation to this church was through the Mission to the World (MTW) team here in Ecuador with whom we have a very good relationship with. Two of their Ecuadorian workers, Segundo Andrango and Cecilia Balareso accompanied us. It was a joy to be with them and to minister to this great group of indigenous Christians.

The church building from an overlooking hill

The workshop went very well though we had to adjust ourselves somewhat in our teaching style as most of the older members are illiterate. Some even had a hard time understanding Spanish so others in the group often were explaining things to them as we taught. Because of this, we also needed to keep our teaching simple, using as many illustrations as possible so that they understand the teaching. Arlene and I were convinced during our time there that we have a lot to learn about the culture of the Quichuas, especially if we want to minister effectively to them. However those who were there said they really appreciated us coming and want us to come back at some time soon. We actually believe that our commentaries will be of much use to them as they will learn the stories of the Bible in chronological order.

The Quichuas listening intently to Arlene teaching

We were also able to have opportunities to socialize with them as we had several meals with them, moments of free time and Arlene even went into the kitchen to help the ladies with the dishes!! Erin came with us and enjoyed playing with the children and making new friends.

Enjoying a delicious meal together!

Erin and her new friends!

Hats in the window sill

One of the lovely things to see was that the men and women removed their traditional hats during the workshops and put them in the window sills of the church. I thought it made an interesting picture also.

These are the women who helped clean up the dishes and the kitchen after the meal. Celcilia, the Ecuadorian MTW missionary who came with us is in the back, standing on a stair.

These men are the leaders of the church. The man on the right is Segundo who is the Quichuan missionary from MTW who came with us.

Please pray for this church that has many needs. They do not have a pastor and only one elder. The other men help out with running the church. They have expressed a desire to have the MTW team do teaching on church leadership there so plans are in the making to do this. We also plan to return in a few months to do more training of Sunday school teachers and help with more organization of their Sunday school program.

National Board Approved

Update from Ecuador: By Fred Jonkman

So much happens in a year that it seems long ago that Bernie Pennings visited us in October 2007. He reminded us that one of Word & Deed’s requirements is to have a national board in place to develop projects and make aid applications. We invited various persons to join us in forming a foundation legally recognized by the Ecuadorian government. With great joy and much thankfulness to God, on December 17, 2008, our foundation, Misión Palabras y Hechos Ecuador (Word & Deed Mission Ecuador) was approved by the Ecuadorian government. Our lawyer, Dr. Norma Reyes (a member of our church), said that this was truly a work of God. It took a year to get approval, which is amazingly fast by Ecuadorian standards. What a blessing it is for us to be working in cooperation with Word & Deed, who have been patient and helpful with advice and encouragement.

Sunday School Commentary

In our 2007 report, we wrote that the first volume of the sunday school commentary for teachers was about to be published. Completed in July of 2007, it was an immediate success with people familiar with our material. Of the 1000 copies printed, we have now sold over half. After completing the first volume, the work on the second began. Luis Carlos Moreno took on the initial editing and revision, and I did the final revision. With making this a priority for the next several months (many were asking for the New Testament section), in May 2009 the second volume will be published. What a joy it is to have this tremendous work done and to see the appreciation of churches and individuals for it. The material is solidly biblical in content and wonderfully presents the chronological order of the way of salvation. The two-volume set is titled La Historia de la Salvación (The History of Salvation).

Left to right: Arlene and Fred Jonkman with Luis Moreno displaying the completed Spanish Sunday School Curriculum

Although the bulk of the project is complete, more work remains. The distribution of books in Ecuador itself it is not a big problem, since we have the full cooperation of various Christian bookstores in Quito (one of them has outlets in other major cities) to sell the book. However, the book is also being requested in other countries: Chile, Peru, Colombia, Nicaragua and Mexico. How to get them there economically is a challenge, as shipping is expensive. Our only method so far is sending them with travelers to those countries. This method has not been too successful, since the books are bulky, and suitcases only so big.

Fred & Arlene Jonkman hosting a Sunday School Curriculum workshop in Mexico

We are also working on completing our secondary plans, which involves scanning each lesson’s accompanying activity sheets (there are 175 lessons in total) into the computer so that we can put them onto CDs. These will be sent to the churches so that they can print them off for the children to use each week. We also want to develop a web site this year so that the material is available through the internet.

Arlene teaching a workshop in Quininde, a small village in the coastal region

Ecuadorian Worker Project

As many of you know, we hired Luis Carlos Moreno in 2007 to help us in our work here. His work and expertise have been appreciated beyond words. Not only does he work hard, but he also gives an abundance of counsel in all areas of our work. To have an Ecuadorian work alongside us has helped us think more clearly about the culture and understand the nationals here. Luis is now concentrating his efforts in our theological study center.


Theological Education

The program of theological education in cooperation with MINTS (Miami International Seminary) is growing. Each year we teach six to seven courses to a number of students of various denominations. As we look back on another completed year, it gives us tremendous joy to see all of our students putting into practice the things they are learning by working in various ministries: churches, schools, jails, pro-life clinic, outreach, etc. The goal is learning for the purpose of serving.

Luis Carlos Moreno teaching MINTS course

Plans are already in place to teach another six courses in our two study centers in Quito and Ibarra, and we hope to work on starting another center this year. A new project was developed and presented to Word & Deed Canada in 2008. It is to have a rented location in Quito for offices, classrooms, a library and a bookstore. The students will be able to go there for resources and counsel in their studies. We will also be able to promote our program throughout the country from that location. We hope to write more on this in our next report.

Thank you for your support of the work in Ecuador. Please pray that God may change lives so that more people worship Him and serve Him in very practical ways!

Fred Jonkman and his wife, Arlene, are Christian education and discipleship missionaries at la Iglesia Reformada del Ecuador in Quito, Ecuador.

Project in Ecuador

Luis Carlos & Sunday School Curriculum (Budget - $33,000)

The Sunday School Teacher curriculum project involves translating and expanding 180 Bible lessons from English into Spanish and then promoting their usage among the churches of Latin America.Seminars are held in churches of various denominations to introduce and instruct teachers on the use of the Sunday School material.The goal is to spread reformed theology throughout the churches in Latin America through the use of this curriculum. In addition to working on the Curriculum project together, Luis Carlos (on the right in picture with Fred Jonkman) is the facilitator for the MINTS (Miami International Seminary) center in Quito. This project pays the salary of Luis Carlos and the publishing costs for the curriculum. The goal of the project is: To develop training workshops and institutions for the development of church leaders in Ecuador and other Spanish speaking countries.

Moving Forward in Ecuador

God provides a much-needed national worker - by Fred Jonkman

As missionaries serving in a different culture, with a different language, we often thought our work among the Ecuadorians would be simple and quiet. Never did we expect that so many ministry opportunities would appear, making our lives so busy and full. Many times we could not seem to get enough done, and so we felt progress was slow. After analyzing our ministry projects, goals, deficiencies, and needs, we determined that we needed more hands. To our great delight, last year Word and Deed approved an education project in Ecuador, enabling us to hire a national worker perfectly suited to the needs of our growing educational ministry.

We are happy to present 42-year-old Luis Carlos Moreno. He and his wife Febe have three children. He has completed studies in journalism and is presently working on completing a BA in educational administration. He has worked in the production of educational material (print, video, radio and WEB); has taught workshops in churches on the Bible, discipleship and communication; and has worked with a wide range of age groups and ethnic groups (adults, university age youth, youth, children, indigenous). He has worked as a professor in a university, a director of communication with MAP International (mission organization), as a teacher, and as an education coordinator in a Christian school.

All of this training and experience has beautifully prepared him for what we needed to grow effectively. We started the process of getting the Sunday school teacher commentary published and his work in this area has been a tremendous asset. He has completely revised the Old Testament lessons for us. Luis also understands the publication process, which has been an invaluable help for us. His gift of teaching is greatly appreciated; he recently co-taught the Sunday school workshop in Colombia and Quito. Luis is well-read, and his knowledge of history and the Bible is extensive. The beauty of having him work alongside of us is that he is a member of our Reformed church in Quito (where he serves as elder and Sunday school teacher) and shares the same love for the Reformed doctrines.

Luis Carlos is very involved in our ministry of starting a Reformed theological study center in cooperation with Miami International Theological Seminary (MINTS). He is our administrative coordinator, helping to set up the curriculum, arranging for professors to teach the courses, organizing all the course dates and places, and administering all the record keeping. Though I work alongside him in all these areas, he does the majority of the administrative duties. He also is a student in the program, taking all the courses we have offered to date. Our desire is that one day he may be one of our professors. One of our main goals is to grow as a theological study center, providing Reformed teaching throughout Ecuador. With Luis’ help, we have started a new study center in Ibarra, and a third one will soon open in the port city of Guayaquil.

It is exciting to see the work take shape. We are advancing and growing in the ministry and learning many things ourselves. Our relationship with Luis Carlos and his family is excellent. I believe we complement each other in the ministry. It is exciting to see a national worker so gifted and who loves the Reformed faith. Luis himself will say he is still learning and growing, but we see a heart for God and a heart to serve. Luis Carlos is about education – that is his gift and desire.

God has been good! One begins to see the fruit of ministry support when nationals like Luis benefit from solid teaching and begin to minister in their own country. The support of nationals as they learn and grow will, under God’s blessing, lead to self-sufficiency in the future. We could not be here without our faithful Ecuadorian supporters. Foreign missionaries cannot do it all.

Neither could the ministry last or be sustained if it was not for you who support Word and Deed projects. A country such as Ecuador, with the American dollar as its official currency, has a high cost of living but low wages. It is nearly impossible for a national to work in full-time ministry and provide for a family without some outside support. Our goal is to start with support from outside and work towards national responsibility and independence. Working together as Christians with a world-wide vision gives hope and encouragement. Thank you for your support for national workers such as Luis Carlos and his family.

Fred Jonkman and his wife, Arlene, are Christian education and discipleship missionaries at La Iglesia Reformada del Ecuador in Quito, Ecuador.