Our Time in Ecuador: Walt and Avis Lampi: Services and Bible Class at the Hacienda La Merced

Most of the day was spent relaxing, shopping for gifts and walking around. It was a welcome break after the long truck rides. We ate in in different place for breakfast. Scrambled eggs, juice, coffee, and a sandwich for $2.50. It is a new shop, very clean and modern looking.

In the evening we headed to the ranch for services and Bible Class. The activities started at 8:30pm. Only about 20 indigenous people came as they had the election of a new community president and were voting.

Early service guests await for services to start.

Mami Lu with the help of grand daughters and a few indigenous girls prepare at meal of chicken rice soup and tea. Mami Lu is 78 years old and still doing reasonably well. She told Avis she had to get up in the night and scare the foxes away from the chicken coop with her broom.

A Bible Class was held first. The subject was the Holy Spirit. Walt requested that a song be sung which included words about the Holy Spirit. The hymn Holy, Holy, Holy was in their song book. There is no music instruments to accompany the singing so a tape deck is used. In this case only a cassette was available no CDs. It took quite awhile to get to hymn 13 by using the forward and reverse options. Walt suggested we just change our song as it was such a project. Not so once started on the course they continued until we got to the hymn.

Singing the songs and hymns of Zion is not so easy in Spanish.
Here Lisbeth and Arial try to find hymn 13 on the CD to assist the
audience to find the right tune to go with the words.

The students were asked to participate by reading and answering questions. They willingly read. Only one question came up. Why does the group which calls themselves Apostles only believe in Jesus and not the triune God? Walt was not familiar with the group but noted that there are many faiths and doctrines in the world which worship in a way that is not supported by the written Word or y bthe Spirit of God.

The service text was from John 20:19-23 , the keys of the kingdom. Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosoever sins ye retain they are retained.

After the service the guests were served the chicken and rice supper. The temperature was much more comfortable than the last trip. It was overcast but much warmer.

Paulus, Lisbeth, and Eilene stayed at the hacienda for the night. Lisbeth often could be seen sitting close to and hugging her grandmother Lucha. Her little brother Arial was on the service trip with us. For much of the time he sat on Lisbeth's lap. On March 4 the Mikkola family will return to Finland. International couples have their own struggle as one or the other of the spouses must be away from their family and country. The thought of leaving her family is definitely on Lisbeth's mind.

Paulus has another sauna at the hacienda. It has a pole frame and large pile of stones. Once heated up he pulls a visqueen sheet over the top and takes a sauna. Paulus said one of the best things in life (sauna) can be enjoyed for only a little money. Lisbeth said she and Lucha took a sauna the other evening.