Thursday June 24, 2010

This trip’s team consists of Pat McGuffin, Dr. Frank Breyere, Becky and myself. We left Orlando airport on schedule for the first leg of our trip to Miami on time. We landed in Miami and had a three-and-a-half layover before leaving for Guayaquil. Our flight left on time at 7:15PM. Having a long layover in Miami is much better than having to run from on concourse to the other as they usually leave you just enough time to board the connecting flight. This time we came in through gate E10 and were leaving through gate E8.

	Pastor Chuck Blystone

I had to catch up some work and make some business calls, so it worked out very well. The flight to Guayaquil was very easy. Upon arriving at 10:30PM, Ecuadorian time-an hour ahead of us, we stood in line to customs for one hour. There were about 600 people going through, and as we progressed through the line, the crowd just kept growing larger by the minute!

We got through customs without any issues (I think because Ray Watson was not on the trip!) and were greeted by many H.O.T. team members. We were greeted by Fernando and Gardenia Ubilla; Dr Freddy and Edith Beltran; Dr Byron and Leonore Lopez; Marcel and Byron Alfredo Lopez; Miguel and Judy Saez; Jackie Ormaza and Francisco Yoong. After hugging everyone they took us to the embassy, where Maggie had prepared a meal for us! We had a great time catching up and everyone wanted to meet Becky for the first time. Our friend Jackie introduced her to everyone.

I think we finally got to bed at around 2:30AM.

Friday June 25^th –Santo Domingo - Joshua Church

After having breakfast, we had to repack for our trip to Santo Domingo, a 5-hour ride north of Guayaquil. Everyone travelling with us met at Fernando’s and Gardenia’s home. Fernando asked us to have lunch as Gardenia prepared a meal for us while we waited for the rest of the team to arrive. This time was great as it allowed us more opportunities to catch up and get to know each other. All the women wanted to get to know Becky especially.

We arrived in Santo Domingo around 7PM and checked into our hotel. We had about 20 minutes to get to Joshua Church, where Pat was to preach. After introducing the team, he spoke on answering the great commission and laying hands on the sick, casting out devils and saving the lost. He gave an altar call for anyone needing ministry. We saw many touched by the Lord. I had an interesting experience in the ministry time. We only had enough translators for three of us, so I asked the Lord what to do. Fernandito (Fernando’s son) came over to me and asked if he could help. So he and I trained each other and started praying for people. We had a great experience and saw many people get touched by the Lord. I asked him later how he felt about it and he said that he wanted to be as good a translator as his sister. He is off to a great start and is beginning earlier!

Saturday June 26^th The H.O.T. Leaders Retreat – Santo Domingo Balneario Ficus

After breakfast, we visited a children’s feeding program, sponsored by Heart of Titus and ministered by Pastor Roberto Rios. They call the area ‘The Island’

and have developed a school for the children to teach them scholastic lessons as well as teach them about Jesus. While we were there, we saw that they were working on building a water tower to catch all of the rainwater, for consumption purposes. In addition, Dr. Frank shared his testimony about being raised in an orphanage and still being able to become a medical doctor after having lived through a difficult childhood. He encouraged them to trust God, ask Jesus into their hearts and believe that, through Jesus, anything is possible! As we were leaving, they brought a small child to us to pray for. This little girl’s brother carries her around the school every day they are there.

Editor's note:  We will continue we the next part of Chuck's journal later this week.