November 15, 2009 - Pat McGuffin is leading a team of 6 to Ecuador. To read his online journal to find out what is happening on this trip, click here .

After a hiatus of a few months the Heart of Titus team is back at it again. On Wednesday, April 30, a team of 5 men led by Pat McGuffin left for Ecuador. While there they will be ministering in Guayaquil and then throughout the central coastal region, preaching the good news of Jesus and delivering gifts of clothes, medicine and food tothe churches. What follows are excerpts of reports as we receive them by email from Pat:

November 15, 2009 - Pat McGuffin is leading a team of 6 to Ecuador. To read his online journal to find out what is happening on this trip, click here .

After a hiatus of a few months the Heart of Titus team is back at it again. On Wednesday, April 30, a team of 5 men led by Pat McGuffin left for Ecuador. While there they will be ministering in Guayaquil and then throughout the central coastal region, preaching the good news of Jesus and delivering gifts of clothes, medicine and food tothe churches. What follows are excerpts of reports as we receive them by email from Pat:

Monday, May 4, 2009, 7 p.m. - Pat has sent us his journal of what has happened up til now on this trip. You got to check it out, we posted it on our home page and in Recent Trips. Or you can click here.

Sunday, May 3, 2009, 11:30 p.m. - Leave at 8 tomorrow to pick up guys at Embassy. (Left Master Pizza a while ago and went to Embassy. Now back at Fernando's.) 9:30am we minister at church and radio. 12:30 we are on TV. 1pm we hit the market. 5pm chuck/lee preach at Centro. Ray and I both preach separately at 8pm each. HOT meets at 10pm! So I guess you can say we have a full day

Sunday, May 3, 2009 - 9 a.m. - I heard from Pat again late yesterday afternoon. About 30 men showed up for the businessmen's meeting.  Pat did not say how the meeting went. The men are tired and asked us to pray for strength for them. I received the email from Pat while they were on their way to El Empalme and Green Camp.  Green Camp is where Pastor Miguel has his church.  Pat, I believe, was going to be preaching there last night. The others were going to minister in El Empalme where we have many friends.

Saturday, May 2, 2009, 2 p.m. - I just heard from Pat. They are in Vinces where they are just finishing up a medical crusade for the poor of the churches. They are on their way, late, to a luncheon of businessmen, most of whom are not saved.  Please pray for the repentance, conversion and salvation of these business people.

May 1, 2009, late -  Today we went to see the marriage conference cabins. Pastor Loor is a man of great vision who has acquired a large area in the country to have retreats. He is building 10 small cabins for couples, so that they can put their leaders, and then all their people, through marriage enrichment retreats every weekend. They will be done in about 3 months he said. He was casting vision for us. He also said that our ministry can use these any time also.

 

Ed. note: President Rafael Correa was reelected Sunday.  He has been one of the most popular presidents in years, which has been a good thing in this country which has historically had many coup d'etats. However, President Correa is a socialist with strong ties to President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, and has taken political positions and actions contrary to traditional Christian values.  As a socialist, many are concerned that the central government will grab greater and greater control over the money and lives of ordinary citizens.

Pastor Francisco & Elsa Loor at lunch with ministry team , Guayaquil.  Ecuador.  May 2, 2009

Pastor Loor feels very heavy concerning the political situation in Ecuador. He is concerned that churches are going to be "absorbed" into the government.

May 1, 2009 -    We are meeting with Pastor Loor tomorrow at 10am. [Pastor Francisco Loor is the principal pastor of CEAD, Evangelistic Center of the Assemblies of God, in Guayaquil, and all their associated ministries]. Lee is doing great in sharing his testimony --used him at the TV ministry time and it went great as part of what I was sharing. [Lee has a tremendous testimony of deliverance from depression and mental illness. Fluent in Spanish, this is his first mission trip]. Everyone is working very well together. Housing is tough. I still am at Fernando's. All rooms in both embassies are taken with our guys and others. Pastor Loor is living in the new embassy as his home [right next door] is being remodeled. But it works ok because it's late when we all finish. We reconnect at the embassy for a while then everyone crashes and I go home with Fernando. [The "embassies" are the homes provided by Pastor Loor for visiting ministers]. He is getting me there in the morning early, so it's been fine. We have our Heart of Titus team meeting on Monday at 10pm due to preaching conflicts for all. We have Chuck/Lee preaching at CEAD Monday night at 5:30 and Ray at 8pm at CEAD.

April 30, 2009 - We arrived in Ecuador last night about 10:30 and had the biggest backup in customs I have seen. I hear that Mexico was being shut down and quarentined due to this swine flu major problem. So they were individually interviewing everyone coming off the plane as to any connection they may have had with Mexico. Obviously we just arrived from Panama, the hub of COPA airlines for all of Latin America, so you can understand their concern. They were not letting anyone from Mexico in the country here. Everyone working at the airports in Panama and Ecuador wore masks. It was weird.

Anyway, we are looking forward to a wonderful time. We must have had 25 people from the Heart Of Titus team meet us at the airport, along with several from the church. They were so patient with our delay in getting out of customs and getting our bags. We ended up having the embassies full, so all the others stayed together in the new embassy (not the big one) near where Magi stays. I stayed with Fernando for a bed last night. Today we should all be together at that embassy by nightfall.

I have a small window to write this with wireless access at Fernando's, so I need to run now. We will minister shortly at the TV station to the staff.  Tim is preaching twice (changed to once with Byron team teaching with him), and Lee (known as Luis here) is preaching once. Ray is preaching most of the time, and Chuck and I are too obviously. We leave for Vinces on Friday and come back Sunday after church in El Empalme. I will be preaching in Green Camp Sunday and the others in El Empalme. January 29, 2009. Last night we were reminded of why we take these trips. God showed up in awesome power but not in the way you might expect. We often see physical healings and great rejoicing. But last night the big news was not the physical healings, although one older woman was healed of vertigo and was able to walk without wobbling and falling down (Praise the Lord!)

The big news last night was inner healing. Our loving Savior was healing the hurts of so many people, the hurts that many of us carry on the inside. Last night many people were crying and exclaiming out loud, “Lord, I forgive my father,” or other family members, and so much of it was spontaneous. Nearly the whole church was passionately asking the Lord to heal them from the hurts they experienced at the hands of others.

There were many young people in the church and many of the younger women (and girls) in particular were deeply sobbing. Only God knows the extent of the hurts they are experiencing, often because of other family members with whom they live. We certainly do not feel adequate to address these issues but we have confidence that our Lord is big enough to handle anything. I saw quite a few women receive loving hugs from Emily who just melted in her arms. Many times nothing communicates love like a warm and accepting embrace.

 When the service ended at 11 p.m. no one wanted to leave. As we were saying good bye to some of the people a young man of about 24 years started to seek my counsel. I told him to please wait until I said good-bye to all, and he did. Most of the people still didn’t want to leave so I went and spoke to him anyway. He told me that his relationship with his blood brother was estranged over some mutual girlfriend. When I found out the brother was there we decided to have a conversation. This brother was greatly offended and the anger was evident as his face glowed red.

 As I spoke to the brothers I was praying in my head, “O God, put your words in my mouth.” After what seemed like an eternity I saw the angry brother’s face begin to soften, and then a tear slowly fell from his eye. By God’s grace he seemed to admit he wanted his relationship with his brother restored. I then asked, “Who is going to be the valiant one and take the first step here to ask forgiveness?” With that word the brother who first approached me asked his angry older brother to forgive him. They embraced and both of them began to wail loudly. They were so overwhelmed with emotion that they both fell to the floor embracing and crying, and wailing. This went on for quite some time.

 I got them up and they just embraced, almost falling to the floor again, and so I put them over in a love seat. Their mother was there and she joined them, and then a younger brother, so there they were on this love seat hugging and crying. If this doesn’t choke you up then I just don’t know what to say!

That’s not all. Did I mention the angry brother had not given his heart to the Lord? But when he was on the ground he began to praise the Lord in tongues! After the family was done hugging on the couch we prayed with him to be sure of his salvation, which he happily did. A prophetic word then came forth stating that these two brothers were to minister together in the future.

The mother then began to speak in tongues. It seemed to me to be a public tongue so I asked the church that remained if anyone had the interpretation. Emily notice d a young woman who was part of the worship team who seemed rather affected and we both discerned that she had the interpretation. With a little coaxing from us and her pastor she gave it and it was a beautiful confirmation of what the Lord did in reconciling this family, and encouraging the church.

Later this young woman told me that she had been praying, even that morning, for this gift of interpretation of tongues. She had mentioned that she often felt that she knew what other tongues people gave meant but had never told anyone of her interpretations. That was the first time she had ever given a public interpretation of a Word.

Earlier in the day we met with the church leaders and spent all day teaching and answering their questions. Emily and her translator spent a great deal of time ministering to one of the main women in the church, ministering comfort and deliverance.

 People’s lives can be very complicated. Only with God’s help can we make a difference. Thank God that the “Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon us to preach good news to the poor and to bind up the broken hearted.”

January 26, 2009. Back on the road and I haven’t even written about our last trip to Ecuador. Emily and I are on our way to Lima, Peru, again. If all goes according to plan tomorrow we will be having lunch with our team of 3 pastors and their wives, and tomorrow night we will be ministering at a church anniversary.

I am so excited to be getting back to Lima! My last time here was in November when 6 of us traveled together to put on a prophetic gifts seminar. I am told that the pastors were very impacted by it and want more. Part of the reason for this trip is therefore to meet with some pastors in Callao who desire to organize a similar conference for their churches. But the best part is reconnecting with our friends. We have made so many here, thank you Jesus, and it’s a privilege to have friends who are true brothers and sisters and deeply care about the things of God.

 I will write more once I arrive. It’s time to board the plane so God bless you and we’ll see you later.

January 2, 2009 - We are not writing from the mission field, but we are preparing to go again. After taking a break for Christmas and New Year, it is time for us to refocus and be about our Father's business.  On Tuesday Emily and I leave for Ecuador.  This will be a trip of only about 1 week. Some personal and work-related business is requiring me to be home by the 15th of January.

We are going to make the most of our time while we are there. Beside preaching a night or 2 in Guayaquil, and meeting with our Heart of Titus team, we are planning to visit our good friends, Pastor Roberto and Maria Rios, in Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo is a thriving and quickly growing city about 5 hours north of Guayaquil.  Roberto has a church there, and they have initiated a mission in a very poor section of the city called Launa Flores.  They minister with both spiritual and physical food and are having regular meetings of new believers there.

 We also hope to fulfill a promise made nearly 10 years ago to Pastor Isaac Dumani.  Pastor Isaac has a church about 1/2 hour away from Santo Domingo in the town of Carmen and we are looking forward to finally ministering there as well.

 If we have time we are hoping to visit Ambato again. Ambato is a beautiful city in the Andes Mountains where we have ministered before. We'd love to be there just to enjoy the cool weather, in comparison to coastal Ecuador which is "enjoying" the hottest and wettest season right now.

 Check in to this blog next week and see if we've been able to post any testimonies or photos. God bless you!

October 23, 2008 - Tonight was my first service down here, in Duran. I forgot how loud the traffic could be. The church is beautiful, thousands of seats, but no walls!  And it is on the principal highway in this bustling port town across the river from downtown Guayaquil.

It was tough sledding during the message. The Lord gave me Gen. 20:3.  "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman."  That went over like a dead balloon. But believe it or not we had a lot of people come forward to receive prayer, both for themselves and to break the curses on their families that infidelity causes. I believe many chains were broken off of people tonight.

After that we prayed for the sick and the Lord healed quite a few, including team member Leonora, who had been  

having horrible pain in her feet, like electrical shocks, for the past 3 years, and apparently it was getting worse. She testified in tears about how the Lord healed her. 

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The best part was to see the team ministering together. Miguel and Judy Saez were anointed, as were the Byron and Leonora Lopez', Freddy and Edith came late but were also a help. It was also good to see some of the other brothers. Pastor Roberto Rios came in from Santo Domingo, and we had a chance to visit with him.  Fernando's partner Cesar was there with his wife also. 

 Tomorrow night I preach at the new Extension in the South. Fernando and Gardenia weren't with us tonight as Fernando has the responsibility to preach there October 23, 2008 -

Tonight was my first service down here, in Duran. I forgot how loud the traffic could be. The church is beautiful, thousands of seats, but no walls!  And it is on the principal highway in this bustling port town across the river from downtown Guayaquil.

It was tough sledding during the message. The Lord gave me Gen. 20:3.  "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman."  That went over like a dead balloon. But believe it or not we had a lot of people come forward to receive prayer, both for themselves and to break the curses on their families that infidelity causes. I believe many chains were broken off of people tonight.

After that we prayed for the sick and the Lord healed quite a few, including team member Leonora, who had been having horrible pain in her feet, like electrical shocks, for the past 3 years, and apparently it was getting worse. She testified in tears about how the Lord healed her. 

 

The best part was to see the team ministering together. Miguel and Judy Saez were anointed, as were the Byron and Leonora Lopez', Freddy and Edith came late but were also a help. It was also good to see some of the other brothers. Pastor Roberto Rios came in from Santo Domingo, and we had a chance to visit with him.  Fernando's partner Cesar was there with his wife also. 

 Tomorrow night I preach at the new Extension in the South. Fernando and Gardenia weren't with us tonight as Fernando has the responsibility to preach there every Thursday night!  What a blessing to see our team members moving out in faith when the Lord opens the doors!  

I arrived safely in Guayaquil last night.  I'm staying in the new Christian embassy in Belo Horizonte. just west of town.  It's in the area they were building behind the last house we were in here. I was met at the airport by Miguel, Judy, Byron Alfredo, Marcel, Freddy, Edith and Fernando. At the embassy I have been with Magi, Francisco, Elsita, Raquel, the mexican hat dance lady, Diana and Belen. Also 2 coordinators from the Guillermo Maldonado ministry, who apparently flew in with me. Also Isaac Dumani, who spent 15 days in Orlando this past July.
 
A neighbor has wifi so I'm in business with internet and email, depending on where I am in the house.
 
Pat and his sons-in-law Matt and Scott will be arriving tomorrow night. They will be doing devotions for the employees of CEAD, preaching in Isla Trinitaria, Matt preaches CEAD Tuesday night, Pat preaches in the new CEAD South on Wednesday (where I'll be this Friday) and they'll be doing a TV interview on Wednesday. Pat and I are doing the early services at CEAD Monday night before the Heart of Titus meeting. Of course, this weekend we go to Green Camp, El Empalme and Quevedo, where Matt, Pat and I will be preaching.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - I'm back home but Pat is still down in Ecuador, ministering. Click here to read his report of the incredible healings and miracles that God is doing in Ecuador this week.  

Saturday, July 26, 2008 - Praise God! I'm back - back in the mission field, back in this city of Guayaquil which has so many people that have become so special to me and to all of us in Heart of Titus. I've never seen so much love and unity in our team.  I almost forgot just how loving everyone here is.   And how dedicated they are to the work of the Lord.

 

Here's an example from this evening. Pat McGuffin and I split up and preached in different churches. Fernando and Gardenia took Pat and Marcel Lopez, his translator, to the southwest part of the city. Fernando dropped me off first at the church of Julio Barrera just north of downtown and only 5 minutes from his house. Marcel's mother Leonora met me there along with Jackie Yoong and then helped me minister to the youth of Pastor Barrera's church.  After the service we went to Jackie's yogurt and tacos shops just a few minutes away. 

 

Gardenia Ubilla sharing her testimony of God´s healing power in her life.

 

Leonora didn't have to come and help pray tonight. Her husband Byron and her son Byron A. are coming home Sunday afternoon after spending 2 weeks in New York. Jackie didn't have to come - Glenn is away at the family farm outside the city and the kids are running the yogurt and taco shops. But they did because they love the Lord, they love his ministry and they love us.

So we waited a long time at the yogurt shop because Pat is such a long-winded preacher. (don´t tell Pat I said that!)  Then Pat shows up with Fernando, Gardenia and all their family.  Their daughter Shelli translated publicly for the first time for Pastor Ken Stutts' granddaughter Kristen who ministered to the youth at Pastor Miguel Barrera's church, Rivers of Living Water.

We ate some tacos and yogurt, had some ‘pan de yuca', French fries with mayonnaise, hot dogs, orange juice and sodas.  Then I had to leave to go preach at a ‘vigilia' - that is an all night prayer vigil. I had the 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift at Pastor Washington Ambana's New Jerusalem Church.  Fernando was going to drive me but noone else needed to come. After all, that is a late service and everyone knows that Tony's services can go for hours and hours.  But, after some discussion, Pat decided to opt out because he has to preach at 9 a.m.  He got a ride back to Fernando's house with Fernando's children and the rest came with me!

 

Marcel came even though I didn't need a translator (although I used him from time to time). There wasn´t much room so he sat in the "trunk" area of Jackie's old SUV. His mother Leonora didn't need to come especially since she needs to get ready for Byron to come home. Jackie didn't need to come either, nor did Gardenia, nor did Fernando who is normally an early riser.

Fernando and Gardenia testified how the Lord healed Gardenia this April when the doctors gave her up for dead. It is a very powerful testimony with at least 4 different dramatic healings that happened to her. It was a great blessing to the church.

And this church wasn't in the best part of town either. To top that off, this evening is one of the most important days on the calendar here. It is the day they celebrate the founding of Guayaquil by the Spaniards in 1557 or some year like that. So there were lots of partiers in the streets, and lots of cops.

 

I invited each of them to greet the church before I shared my message. Fernando and Gardenia testified how the Lord healed Gardenia this April when the doctors gave her up for dead. It is a very powerful testimony with at least 4 different dramatic healings that happened to her. It was a great blessing to the church.

 

I then began to share about the Second Coming of Christ like I had with the teenagers of Central Life Vision Church earlier in the evening. But I changed to share a more familiar sermon about Jesus' plan to call more and more people into his service because of his compassion for the hurting people of our world. (To see a copy of Tony´s outline for preaching about the Second Coming, click here).

 

Tonight the Lord moved through the people. A woman testified that even before we prayed for her the Lord healed her of a grave condition in her leg and hip. Many others were filled with the Spirit. Others, even church leaders, seemed to be manifesting demonic influences and so they required some counseling and specific prayer. All the team helped me in the prayer time and many persons received prayer. In fact, the time went so quickly that we hardly noticed that Pastor Marcos Villavicencio did not show for his 2 a.m. shift so we continued until almost 3 a.m.

 

This team poured themselves out tonight to support the ministry in prayer, in transportation, in translation, in sharing their own testimonies, in sharing their own free food, in sharing their cars, their time and their love of the Lord. We are definitely blessed to have such a team here in Guayaquil to help us in the work of the Lord.

 

Saturday, May 24, 2008 -  I am not overseas but I am finally getting a chance to look at the pictures from my trip to Mexico last weekend. Let me share some with you: This photo is of the Family Festival northeast of the main part of Mexico City.
	Response to invitation to receive Christ  Mexico City. May 17, 2008

 This next photo is of me and Pastor Alejandro Arias, the young Costa Rican preacher who has been preaching internationally since he was eleven (11) years old.

	Pastor Alejandro Arias with Tony Nardella. May 17, 2008

I now want to show you Pastor Joel Johnson ministering in a church on Sunday, May 18, near Mexico City. Would you believe that I translated for him?  Somehow the people were able to understand him and many came forward for prayer that day.

	Joel Johnson preaching in Mexico City, Mexico.  May 18, 2008

You might remember that I mentioned that Joel preaches regularly for Acquire the Fire Ministeries, part of the Teen Mania Ministries founded and run by Ron Luce.  

Now this is my favorite picture right here:

	3 children praying to receive Jesus as Lord. Mexico City. May 18, 2008

During Pastor Joel's invitation I had the opportunity to pray with these three (3) children. All 3 of them, ages 9-11, wanted to receive the Lord. Their mother (to the right) brought them to me after I had prayed for her regarding her difficult home life. She told me that each of the kids had their own problems in their own way. We get to see God do some incredible things on our trips, but nothing is better than this: people coming to an understanding that Jesus loves them and wants to give them to a hope and a future! 

Monday, May 19, 2008, 6:30 p.m.  I'm in the Miami airport waiting for my connection to Orlando. I left our hotel in Mexico City at 5 a.m. and I'm still not home. Traffic in Mexico City is something to behold; I don't think I'll ever think of I-4 as so bad anymore. I had breakfast with Pastor Irving Mancilla at the airport. He was the coordinator of the Family Festival on Saturday. He offered to have our ministry come and do a marriage conference for the churches, and to preach in those churches beforehand. That is a sign of favor from the Lord, and points to a door being opened to minister in this very large city.

Yesterday morning Pastor Joel Johnson and I went to the Pastor Pedro Martinez' church. Pastor Joel had been invited to preach but apparently no translator was available.  So I was asked to do the translation, which I was glad to do provided everyone understood that I was a last resort. Pastor Martinez came for us at the hotel and we had a good conversation with him before the service. He is a very sincere and thoughtful man who was not afraid to engage us in conversations about the Scriptures. He asked me about Christian marriage and I told him a small part of my testimony of how the Lord saved my marriage 18 years ago. So he asked me to greet the people and take 10 minutes to testify because half of the marriages in his church were suffering. So I did and then introduced Pastor Joel.

The Lord's anointing was there to help me translate so that the people could understand Pastor Joel. Joel had a wonderful message of encouragement for the people and many people responded to his call for the filling of the Spirit. At the same time he called for people who wanted prayer for their marriages to see me, so I ministered to one side and he to the other. Praise the Lord a man with a cane because of pain in his leg and loss of some function was completely healed.  Pastor Pedro let him testify and give glory to the Lord Jesus. The Lord manifested in some other ways, but I can tell you that at least 3 married couples forgave each others in tears and reconciled, a total of 3 people claimed to have been healed, and I had the privilege of leading 3 children, ages 9,10 and 11, to the Lord at the same time.

After we lunched with Pastor Pedro we went back to the hotel. Pastor Joel and I had a wonderful time of fellowship all afternoon. Then at 5:30 my ride came to bring me to the church of Pastor Pedro Santiago in Francisco Villa, another suburb of Mexico City. I preached and although I didn't feel the same liberty as in the morning the Lord helped me as I preached a message of encouraging the people to believe that God wants to supernaturally use all of them to show His love and power to the world. During the altar ministry the Lord filled quite a few with the Spirit, although I don't recall if there were any healings. They then asked me to pray for and minister to the leadership and the Lord blessed and prophetically confirmed the gifts and ministries of many.

Each pastor invited me back and seemed to really appreciate the ministry. I was blessed by their love and acceptance even though they didn't know me.   Another sign of favor.

I hope to post some photos here soon. Please pray that we move with wisdom and that if the Lord wants us to move forward in Mexico City that we would understand that and trust him for the resources to move ahead.

Sunday morning, May 18, 2008, 12:40 a.m. -  What an incredible day!  A group of 10 churches in the city's suburbs put on a Family Festival.  It wasn't the crowd I had expected, but it was still very large and full of young people. The worship was very good and the young people were exuberant.  They were dancing and praising, and crying for joy in their worship.  At one point about 30 of them started chanting "Avivamiento! Avivamiento!" which means, "Revival!" 

The first preacher was our host pastor. He was very animated, and gave an altar call for salvation that had a wonderful response. I think about 200 came forward... so many crying in repentance, and in emotion in response to the pastor's preaching of the good news that Jesus not only loves them but wants to help them.  It truly was a revival atmosphere.

The friends and family who invited the new believers were then invited to come and embrace them. There were now tears of joy in place of godly sorrow.  Then the pastor very quickly had the very talented band play upbeat music, they distributed 100's of balloons, and began to shoot confetti everywhere. It became a real party!

After some more worship Pastor Alejandro began to lead the worship and the power of God just fell on us. The worship never stopped through all of his preaching and eventually the altar was packed with those who were seeking a healing touch from God. Pastor Alejandro began to prophetically declare that certain ailments were healed in the Name of Jesus because of the blood Jesus shed for us on the cross of Calvary. Because of time contraints we were not able to individually minister, nor were we able to solicit testimonies. But Pastor Alejandro did ask from the pulpit how many people were healed of this thing or another, and each time dozens if not hundreds of hands went up.  

After some more worship Pastor Joel began to preach. It was a message to stir the hearts of the youth to put feet to their faith. He told of how he stood up at his high school when he was 14 years old and began to preach.  Even though the principal threatened him it didn't matter because 16 people got saved that first day! Although a young man he has preached all over the world and it was not hard to discern the anointing on his life. 

Later today I get to preach at a church. I don't know anything else about it. I can't wait - watching everybody else preach without doing it myself for me is like watching someone else eat ice cream!  Time for me to get my own cone!  More later....

Saturday, May 17, 2008, 7:30 a.m. - Mexico City.  That's where I am.  According to Wikipedia, "in 2006 Greater Mexico City had a population of 19.2 million, making it the largest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere and the second largest in the world." There are twice as many people in Mexico City as there is in all of Ecuador! The traffic is very congested and the air is just a little thin. I'm told that we are about 7500 feet above sea level.

I am here at the invitation of Pastor Alejandro Arias. He is slated as one of the two main speakers at a Family Conference where they expect 3,000 to 5,000 people. I met Pastor Alejandro in Guayaquil some years ago. I have seen him minister and he is mighty in the Word and in the healing and prophetic ministries. I am told that 3 deaf people have been healed in just the past week during his services. The Lord be praised! The fascinating thing about Pastor Alejandro is that he is only 20 years old. Yet he has been preaching the gospel internationally since he was 11.  You can check him out at http://www.pastoralejandro.org/. Pastor Alejandro invited me here to assist him during his ministry time with the people and has also arranged for me to preach in a couple of churches on Sunday.

One of the benefits of coming to an event like this is the people you meet, people who are hungry for the Lord and have given their lives to His service.  When I arrived at the Mexico City airport about 4:15 yesterday afternoon, I didn't realize it but I was on the same plane as the main worship leader for the conference, Jaime Murrell.  Google him or look on You Tube - he's a very well known worship leader and singer in the Christian Latin community. He has been traveling all over the world ministering for over 30 years.

We also met Pastor Joel Johnson at the airport. He's from Texas and is quite a young man, probably in his early 30's.  He will be the other main speaker at the conference. Pastor Joel has been the main speaker at many of the Acquire the Fire Conferences put on by Ron Luce and Teen Mania Ministries in recent years. Go to their website, you'll see him listed there.  

It was a blessing to be able to talk with these guys and share our hearts together about the work of the Lord. At times the conversation would get quite animated.  I love being with people who are passionate for the Lord and what He has called them to do.

When I spoke with Pastor Alejandro the other day he was not feeling well, and last night he was feeling so bad we had to take him to a medical clinic. That turned out to be a divine appointment - the doctor turned out to be a believer in Christ, and not only did he serve Pastor Alejandro for free but we also ended up praying for him that he would receive the spiritual gift of healing and the ability to share the gospel with his patients.

Pastor Alejandro was feeling much better before we retired for the evening but please keep him in your prayers. After this conference he has almost no time to rest before he heads off for several weeks of ministry in Australia. 

I am looking forward to see what the Lord does the next couple of days. 

Sunday, April 6, 2008 - We still have a team in the mission field even though Pat and Bart came home last week. I am talking about Drs. Freddy and Edith Beltran who are still in the United States. After ministering here in the Central Florida area last week this past Friday morning Dr. Freddy and family went to South Carolina and to Georgia to minister in a number of Latin churches. He was the host of Pastor Manuel Aviles, who turns out to be from Guayaquil, Ecuador! 

The Beltrans also ministered in the church of Pastor Harry Velacis, of Sommerville, South Carolina. Pastor Harry used to be the primary translator for Pastor Ken Sttuts in Ecuador and for me as well. I remember a day about 8 years ago when Harry and I, my son Mke and about 20 other young men, including Pastor Loor, played soccer in the hills around Guayaquil all day. Mike and I got so sunburned that I was beet red for a month!

Freddy says that there were many healings and salvations this weekend. He preached a crusade for healing and salvation that was attended very well. The Lord be glorified! 

Freddy will be back in Orlando tomorrow. We will be saying our goodbyes and then they fly back to Ecuador. How awesome it is that the USA can enjoy the same outpouring as we experience in the overseas mission field.

Saturday, March 29, 2008, 8:34 a.m. -  Here's a short email I received from Pat last night:

We are now heading to Vinces. Bart again is leading a team of evangelists to the street, while I do the church service. Can't believe the last night has arrived....but I am anxious to see my wife and family.

Pat and Bart fly back in some time tonight.  I can't wait to see the pictures of this trip. As always, we will have them posted on this site.

Friday, March 28, 2008, 5:25 p.m. -  I just got word from Pat about how things are going so far today. The highlight is that Pat and Bart went to visit the mother of a friend of Jaquie, who is one of our faithful team members in Guayaquil. He says the woman had cancer of the lungs with only 10% capacity. I asked him if she was healed and he responded, "Seems like it. She was really praising the Lord!!!!! Powerful time for her healing!!!"

The truth is we pray for hundreds and even thousands of people every trip. Many times we feel the power of the Lord, and people visibly react, often exclaiming they were healed of one thing or another.  But we really don't know for sure on most of them whether they were healed or not. Like with this woman Pat and Bart prayed for this afternoon, they may seem to manifest evidence of healings but without going to a doctor (or one of our team doctors there to verify) we cannot absolutely, positively state that the person's healing has been manifested. We will likely never know this side of heaven all of the wonderful miracles the Lord did as a result of our travels. We are just so thankful that it isn't our job to verify every blessing, just to pray, minister and then report to you the ones we know about. 

Friday, March 28, 2008, 9:27 a.m. - More from Pat and Bart in Ecuador. I received a text message last night from Pat about 2 a.m. that says:

Just finished preaching at Babahoyo (2 hours outside city).  Heading back to Fernando's to spend night. About 250 people there.  Ministered to 150!!!  Bart led a street preaching time for about 8 young evangelists tonight. Today we preached in the marketplace street. It was great and several came forward.  One lady got clear sight and can even read the Bible now !! That is the third blind or partially blind person that received sight this trip! Good night. I have almost 2 more hours before sleep, but I'm charged up.  

What would you think if I said that the USA is the mission field too? Here's the report from what happened last night here in Apopka with Dr. Freddy Beltran:

What a blessed night we had last night! Dr. Freddy Beltran and his family arrived yesterday from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Although they had been travelling since 3 a.m. they ministered at the Rey de Reyes Church in Apopka. The Holy Spirit touched many lives and there were several manifest healings. For example, Freddy said that there was someone who was feeling at that moment the fire of God go through their bones.  An older woman, Maria, began to tremble at her seat.  She was visibly affected. After the service she shared with me that she felt the fire of God go through her and she was relieved of all joint pain and pain in her bones.  She was obviously filled with joy and even said she was full of the "joy of the Lord"!

Thursday, March 27, 2008, 8:00 a.m. -  I spoke at length with Pat and Bart yesterday. Here's the scoop:

See the attached photo of Bart preaching in a marketplace. We got kicked out of two other areas, but found this one. God is good. Having a great time serving him. We have ministered 10 times so far to collectively probably 2,600 people so far in services and probably 475 individually at the altar. Salvations, healing, repentance, gift impartations, filling of the Spirit. Praise the Lord -- and we have only been here 4 days so far!

	Bart Biddle preaching in market in downtown Guayaquil

This is the report from what happened on Monday: "We went to preach in the big park on the Malecon (the beautiful park downtown along the River Guayas) and were told no by the authorities. They said go to the stret outside the big park. Then those police said no. So we went to like a giant flea market and Bart preached for about 45 minutes to many listeners (shoppers and merchants). That night Bart preached at the big Centro Evangelistico church and had great altar ministry. Dr. Freddy was with him. I taught a large class of prophets that night and had great ministry time too. 

Tuesday we went to the transmitting site for the new equipment  for the Christian radio station and had a time of ministry with their entire staff. God really moved!  We also strategized with them on ideas because the government wants to take God out of their constitution, add abortion and gay marriage into it. There were just 80,000 or more evangelicals marching in the street here last Sunday on this in the city. That night Bart preached at Stalyn Gordon's church and I taught/ministered to a large class of prophets.  The Lord really moved in both places!

Monday, March 24, 2008, 9:44 a.m. -  Here's the latest from Pat and Bart:

"No rain today other than the downpour of the Holy Spirit. Got back from Pasorja after 2 a.m. today (meaning Sunday morning).  A few hours of sleep, but great time in the Spirit last night. Had to walk over 1/2 mile in the mud to reach the church. Great pastor and people responded. Bart and I team-preached. Salvations, demonic deliverances, repentance, prophetic - the Lord did it all!

Today we had 2 services so far. The third service is in 45 minutes (I got this about 6:30 p.m. on Easter evening). Bart preached first service in another flooded area. God touched over 30 people at altar in various ways. Next service was at Centro (Centro Evangelistico of the Assemblies of God - Pastor Loor's main church). Over 150 responded. Salvation, prophecy, repentance, healing and more. We are resting at Freddy's briefly now. Got to go. More tomorrow. Pat."

Freddy added in an email I received today, about the service in Pasorja, that there were many healings and that they had a marvelous time praying for the leadership of the church.

What can we say?! God is Awesome! Praise His Holy Name!! 

Sunday (Resurrection Sunday), March 23, 8:14 a.m. - I received a text from Dr. Freddy last night who accompanied Pat and Bart to Pasorja. He said, "We just arrived here in Pasorja and the meeting starts in 30 minutes. I feel a great anointing of the Holy Spirit here and I believe the Lord is going to do great miracles here." I haven't heard anything since but will report it here as soon as I do. I can't wait to hear the first reports of resurrection power on Resurrection Sunday! 

Saturday, March 22, 2008, 11:28 a.m. - Pat McGuffin and Bart Biddle flew all day yesterday to arrive in Guayaquil, Ecuador at about 9:30 p.m. local time last night. They were met at the airport by various members of the Heart of Titus team. Here is the word I received by text message from Pat this morning:

"The battle has started, but  our God is overwhelmingly Mighty! This week is claimed in the powerful name of JESUS!!!  Flooded streets everywhere last night -- never seen this much rain here. Took about 50 minutes to get to the Christian Embassy in rain & floods." 

 It normally takes about 25 minutes for that trip at that time of night so the problem must be severe. Pray for Pat and Bart today - I believe they are going to Pasorja, a city on the coast normally about  2.25 hours away but in this weather perhaps considerably longer.

 I (Tony) will be reporting on Pat and Bart's travels this week in Ecuador. I know that in addition to ministering in the large city of Guayaquil they will be ministering in the provincial capital of Babahoyo, the city of Vinces, and perhaps other towns oustide the city. 

I was not able to go this trip. I canceled my tickets at the last minute because of some business at my office. This is the first time in 12 years of missions trips (well over 50 trips) that I have had to do this. My heart is there so I am grieved, but I am thrilled that Pat and Bart will be carrying on for us.  I will be continuing to report what I hear from Pat in this blog so come back every day to hear what our Lord is doing!