What can I say, it’s been 3 days since we landed in Ecuador.  My mind is still trying to catch up with all that has been going on.  What a wonderful group of people the Heart of Titus group is, so full of Christ’s love.  It astounds me to see the sacrifice and love that they would show to a perfect stranger.  They seem to just have a grasp in the fact that we are all brothers and sisters and Christ, regardless of our earthly citizenship. 

The first day I was here the Lord challenged me by asking me “how much do you love me?”  I felt him prompting me to sacrifice even more.  The first service at Centro, Saturday afternoon was amazing.  There were about 200 people there and we prayed for about 75 people.  God is amazing and he did amazing things that day.  Praise the Lord we were able to be part of 12 new souls coming to the Lord.  There is nothing that can replace seeing a soul snatched from the grasp of satan and rescued from the pit of hell! We also were able to participate in the Lord healing of a little girl from blindness.  Pastor Pat was able to pray over a 5 year old girl who was blind in one eye. Later her mother testified that the Lord had healed her eye!  AMEN.  We serve a real God, a living God. 

Later that night the Lord challenged me to get out of the way and allow him full control of my life.  Part of me had been focused on what the Lord was trying to teach me, but I realized that I needed get my flesh out of the way and allow the Holy Spirit to do his work in the people of Ecuador.  The Lord really showed me that he loves these people.  When I would slow down and look them in the face I could see them with the Love that the Father has for them.  It is always a learning process, but I am learning to allow myself to be opened up and be an empty vessel that the Lord can use to do what HE wants to do, to share the message HE wants to share. 

It has been great to love on the people of Ecuador and to feel the love of the Heart of Titus group.   

Pat McGuffin just sent this email from Guayaquil.  He and Rick Schuessler just arrived there Friday night. Incredible report of God's love and power!

Hi all,

This is a very brief report of what is happening in Ecuador so far on this trip. I have to change (sweat through my clothes at the last service) and leave in an hour, so this will be short. Rick Schuessler and I made up the team this time.

We arrived in Guayaquil Ecuador Friday night and were met by a great group of our Heart of Titus Ministries Ecuador team. After the greetings, we went to stay at the new Christian embassy in Pastor Francisco Loor's neighborhood. Nice accommodations.

Saturday we preached at a service that I thought was just going to be the Medicine in Christ ministry group of about 6-36 people. Instead about 200 showed up. As I was walking into Centro Evangelistico Church, I was met by a wonderful smiling lady who proceeded to excitedly talk to me, as if I knew the language. I smiled and was nice to her, then went to my seat. Miguel said, "wow that was a great testimony she had." I asked him what she was saying to me and he said she was telling me that last time I prayed for her she had advanced liver cancer, but after the prayer, God totally healed her last year! Praise the Lord. That's how my first meeting started.

Rick has loved everything about this trip so far -- the people, the movement of God, and the incredible Heart of Titus team members. Latter in that same service a 5 year old girl was healed of blindness and testified in front of the whole church with Dr. Freddy Beltran interviewing her and the mom. Twelve people got saved too! About 70-80 came to the altar and we had a great time of ministry with healings, repentance and salvation.

At 6:30 we went to our Heart of Titus (HOT) administrative team leader for Ecuador, Fernando Ubilla's daughter Sophia's wedding to Diego. Great event. All you ladies would have really liked all the details -- so Rick and I shot some good videos and still shots. The reception ended about 1am!

I preached at noon today (my 55th birthday) at Pastor Robilino's church in a poor area of the city. God's presence was so great! The worship Rick felt was over the top in connection with God, and I would agree. God's Spirit moved me even to totally change my message in the middle of the worship time. We had a great time ministering with several healings, deliverances, repentance and movement of God's Spirit.

Got to go now ....
More later...

Pat McGuffin and Rick Schuessler