We have landed safely in Knoxville and are on our way back home. Special thanks to Northport Baptist Church for taking us and picking us up. It has been an amazing trip and I am already thinking bout next year. Thanks for all your prayers and check back later for more pictures!
We have landed in Atlanta. Everyone is safe and sound. I’ll update one final time when we get back in Newport.
We are getting ready to board the plane in Quito. I’ll update again when we get to Atlanta. Thanks for the prayers!
Today was wonderful, but incredibly sad. We got one last day to finish up some construction projects and then took the kids on an outing to the local park. It was the one last push, then one last goodbye. Many tears were shed as the team walked back to the guesthouse from Casa de Fe. Even now as I write this it is hard to fully realize that it will be another year before I get to come back and see these kids. I know they are well taken care of, they have the tias, volunteers, and amazing staff here a Casa de Fe, but that doesn’t mean I will miss them any less. Today was wonderful, but so incredibly, indescribably sad.
We will be leaving here at 9:00 am EST to begin our journey home. We will tour Quito a bit, get some food, then head to the airport in the evening to catch our flight at 12:30 am EST Sunday morning. Please say a few prayers for travel mercies and that everything we have done here stays with us in the years to come. Thank you again Jesus for an amazing opportunity to minister to orphans!
I’ll update a short post when we get back into the USA.
In Christ,
jon walton
P.S. I’ll upload more pictures when I get home, it’s really, really late at the time of this writing.
I can’t believe tomorrow is the last day we have in Shell. It has been an amazing trip and God has moved both in us and through us this week and it has been humbling and exciting all at the same time. I can’t believe it is almost over.
Today, we had an incredible, first time experience. We took a Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) airline flight out to the jungle to meet some of the Waorani, a native tribe of the Amazon rainforest here in Ecuador. We flew on a small, 6 seat airplane to where their tribe was located. They welcomed us by placing a grass crown on our heads and painting our faces, showed us their church, invited us to dance with them, and then shoot a blow dart and throw a spear. It was an amazing experience. Pictures are in the gallery.
After we got back we worked as quickly as we could to clean up the workshop to begin moving in tools and supplies. The workers thanked us for all we had done. It is truly an honor to work with these people who are dedicating years of their lives to serve children who if not for Casa de Fe may not have a chance at life. Thank you Jesus, for allowing us to come!
At the end of the day, Jeff, one of the workers here, took us to a swimming pool / restaurant. It was a lot of fun and a great way to relax after several long days of work.
We have one more half a work day and then we get to take the kids on one more outing in the afternoon. Pray for us as tomorrow will be pretty emotional. Thanks for all your prayers!
In Christ,
jon walton
First off, everyone is doing great. We are all healthy and in good spirits. Thanks for your prayers in that regard!
Today was the last day of VBS with the kids and it was bitter sweet. It was a bit saddening that it was the last day, but the kids were the most excited yet for it! They were singing the songs loud and kept singing them right through the game and craft time. It was so awesome to hear them singing! Later on, we got to play games and worship with the older kids and the tias. It was incredible to see them worship together and to be able to worship with them.
After lunch, we went back to construction. Some of us went back to the site, some of us went back to a missionary house. We are giving all we have to get as much done as possible. We have a couple of work days ahead so we will give it our all to get it done!
Lastly, I am going to experiment with a gallery. All our pics will be here so you can scroll through.
Thanks again for all your prayers!
In Christ,
jon walton
