We just pulled into the church parking lot safe and sound. Thanks so much for your prayers! We are going to shower and get some sleep, but feel free to ask us about the trip. We would love to share with you!
In Christ,
jon walton
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Back In Atlanta...
We have all made it safely back to Atlanta! While we are glad to be heading home, we all feel like we have left a part of us in Ecuador. The smiles we left behind, the impression they made on us, and the ministry of Casa de Fe will continue on long after we are at home and in our beds tonight. Thank you again for all your prayers. I'll write another short post when we get back to Newport, TN. until that time some travel mercy prayers would be greatly appreciated.
In Christ,
jon walton
In Christ,
jon walton
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Day 6, Our Last Day at Casa de Fe...
Today is truly bitter-sweet. It is our last day here. Tomorrow morning we will be heading out to Quito, doing some shopping, then heading to the airport to begin our journey home.
It is a sad to think that in 1.5 hours from writing this, we won't get to see these kids again for a year. They have had such an impact on all of us.
It is really hard for me to put into words the feelings we are sharing as a team, but one thing was made clear last night during our debrief time: We don't want to leave, but if we must we will be coming back.
You remember that construction we did on Tuesday? Here are the results:
That is an entire celling for the first level / floor for the second level poured and ready to go. But there is still so much more to do.
We will work as hard as we can for what time we have left.
These guys are very special. (From left to right: Edison, Fredde, Hernan, Luis, Flavio, Jaime) These are the "Masters" of construction here that have been leading us. They are amazing. All followers of Jesus Christ, all a joy to work with, and I can't wait to see them again next year.
In case you haven't gotten the message yet, we will be coming back. I will start planning for next year when I get back to the states. You should come. This is why...
Need I say more?
In Christ,
jon walton
P.S. I won't have a chance to write again until I get back to Atlanta.
It is a sad to think that in 1.5 hours from writing this, we won't get to see these kids again for a year. They have had such an impact on all of us.
It is really hard for me to put into words the feelings we are sharing as a team, but one thing was made clear last night during our debrief time: We don't want to leave, but if we must we will be coming back.
You remember that construction we did on Tuesday? Here are the results:
That is an entire celling for the first level / floor for the second level poured and ready to go. But there is still so much more to do.
We will work as hard as we can for what time we have left.
These guys are very special. (From left to right: Edison, Fredde, Hernan, Luis, Flavio, Jaime) These are the "Masters" of construction here that have been leading us. They are amazing. All followers of Jesus Christ, all a joy to work with, and I can't wait to see them again next year.
In case you haven't gotten the message yet, we will be coming back. I will start planning for next year when I get back to the states. You should come. This is why...
Need I say more?
In Christ,
jon walton
P.S. I won't have a chance to write again until I get back to Atlanta.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Days 4 & 5 at Casa de Fe...
First off Diane & Brian are both doing better and back to serving! Praise God!
Second, sorry I didn't get to write yesterday, here is why:
We were pouring concrete on the second floor of the school they are building and it was all hands on deck!
We worked from 7:00 am till 9:00 pm. Everyone was pretty beat, including me, so I just decided to wait and write this morning.
Now, I've done construction before, but this was a whole new ballgame. We had to lift the crane by hand up to the second floor which was really a challenge, but it is amazing what the human body can do. After that we were all given a job and told we would be doing that all day. At first it seemed odd that we had that many people, but once we got started it really went like a well oiled machine!
We all worked all day an we were all exhausted at the end of the day, but we got done!
Today, some people will go back up to the work site and start taking down the boards and poles while the rest of us will work in the orphanage. Thanks so much for your continued prayers!
In Christ,
jon walton
Second, sorry I didn't get to write yesterday, here is why:
We were pouring concrete on the second floor of the school they are building and it was all hands on deck!
We worked from 7:00 am till 9:00 pm. Everyone was pretty beat, including me, so I just decided to wait and write this morning.
Now, I've done construction before, but this was a whole new ballgame. We had to lift the crane by hand up to the second floor which was really a challenge, but it is amazing what the human body can do. After that we were all given a job and told we would be doing that all day. At first it seemed odd that we had that many people, but once we got started it really went like a well oiled machine!
We all worked all day an we were all exhausted at the end of the day, but we got done!
Today, some people will go back up to the work site and start taking down the boards and poles while the rest of us will work in the orphanage. Thanks so much for your continued prayers!
In Christ,
jon walton
Monday, July 4, 2011
Day 3 At Casa de Fe...
I'd like to ask a couple of prayer requests to start off. We got word last night that Kristy Timmons's grandfather passed away Friday night. She is doing ok, but prayers for her and her family. Also, Brian Dorsey needed to go see a doctor today. Nothing too serious, he had an ear ache and we just wanted to take every precaution.
This place is amazing. We spent the afternoon yesterday just being with the kids here at Casa de Fe. Some of us took them to a local playground here in Shell, while the rest of us stayed behind and watched another group ride bikes. It was great to just be with them.
I was talking to a volunteer today who told me how much happier these kids are now that they have room to not be on top of each other. It's a reminder that the construction we are doing is helping so much.
Today we started working with the master construction workers on a school they are building on the grounds of the orphanage.
Those of us who didn't go to the construction site stayed to help the Tias (the ladies who work at the orphanage) work in the orphanage. These kids are so sweet.
God is working strongly in us. We will do all we can to help while we are here, but we will also do all we can once we get home.
We will keep working and hanging out for the next few days till we come back. Thanks again for your continued prayers!
In Christ,
Jon Walton
This place is amazing. We spent the afternoon yesterday just being with the kids here at Casa de Fe. Some of us took them to a local playground here in Shell, while the rest of us stayed behind and watched another group ride bikes. It was great to just be with them.
I was talking to a volunteer today who told me how much happier these kids are now that they have room to not be on top of each other. It's a reminder that the construction we are doing is helping so much.
Today we started working with the master construction workers on a school they are building on the grounds of the orphanage.
Those of us who didn't go to the construction site stayed to help the Tias (the ladies who work at the orphanage) work in the orphanage. These kids are so sweet.
God is working strongly in us. We will do all we can to help while we are here, but we will also do all we can once we get home.
We will keep working and hanging out for the next few days till we come back. Thanks again for your continued prayers!
In Christ,
Jon Walton
Location:Ecuador
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Day 2 At Casa de Fe
I have an Internet connection once a day, so I will be writing then and will try to fill in the rest of the previous day as well as what we are planning to do for the current day.
Yesterday we meet back up with Dan & Brian to help unload 2 trucks full of supplies from a closing guesthouse. It was pretty eye opening. Things we would throw away because they were too old or worn out, these people see as having great value. Desks, doors, the hinges, door knobs, power outlets, wires, and so much more. It was really incredible.
After that, we practiced for the skit and songs we are doing for the worship service we are leading with children at Casa de Fe. It was planned to be a mini VBS type service.
This morning we got up and lead the children in a service. They really response well!
We are having a lot of fun, but we can all tell even at this early stage it will be very hard to leave. These children are so wonderful. Thanks so much for your prayers.
This afternoon we will spend the rest of the day hanging out with the kids. Tomorrow the men will start working on one of the new buildings for the orphanage.
On a side note, Diane Watkins is feeling under the weather and taking a day of rest today. Nothing too serious, just not feeling well. I'm sure she would appreciate an extra prayer.
In Christ,
jon walton
Yesterday we meet back up with Dan & Brian to help unload 2 trucks full of supplies from a closing guesthouse. It was pretty eye opening. Things we would throw away because they were too old or worn out, these people see as having great value. Desks, doors, the hinges, door knobs, power outlets, wires, and so much more. It was really incredible.
After that, we practiced for the skit and songs we are doing for the worship service we are leading with children at Casa de Fe. It was planned to be a mini VBS type service.
This morning we got up and lead the children in a service. They really response well!
We are having a lot of fun, but we can all tell even at this early stage it will be very hard to leave. These children are so wonderful. Thanks so much for your prayers.
This afternoon we will spend the rest of the day hanging out with the kids. Tomorrow the men will start working on one of the new buildings for the orphanage.
On a side note, Diane Watkins is feeling under the weather and taking a day of rest today. Nothing too serious, just not feeling well. I'm sure she would appreciate an extra prayer.
In Christ,
jon walton
Saturday, July 2, 2011
First Day At Casa de Fe...
We are getting to spend a lot of time at Casa de Fe today. We just spent an hour with the babies. It was very hard to put these wonderful kids down, but I understand that they are on a schedule and the last thing we want to do is make it harder on the workers. Since we are getting here on a weekend, we get to do all the fun stuff first, then work and help teach classes starting on Monday. I'll be uploading pics as I can to my Facebook account (click here). I'll still do a few pics here, but many more will be there. Thanks so much for your continued prayers!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Dan Williams and Brian Dorsey stayed an extra night in Quito to help move some stuff to Casa de Fe. They will meet back up with us tomorrow.
Everyone is doing great and in good health. Tomorrow we will get to spend most of the day with the children. Thanks for your continued prayers!
In Christ,
jon walton
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