Through the Chaos

     We recently attended a re-entry program in Colorado Springs for missionaries who are returning to the USA after many years of service overseas. They described a process of transition that everyone goes through. It goes something like this...

SETTLED ===> UNSETTLED ===> CHAOS ===> RESETTLING ===> SETTLED

     We can relate... We were settled quite nicely in ministry in Ecuador until sometime last fall (2011). I was involved with the new media ministries for HCJB Global. Ruth was working with students at the Alliance Academy International. The kids were in school. We had a daily routine that we were used. to.
     But sometime last fall we began to move into the unsettled stage as we began to make plans to return to the US. Suddenly things were not so settled. We started selling things that we couldn't bring back with us. We started making plans to hand over our ministries to others. Others began to realize that we would not be here next year to carry on with things we have been doing for years.
     Then chaos hit as school ended and our remaining time in Ecuador began to be measured in weeks, then days, then hours. So many details remained, and yet time ticked on, not waiting for anyone. Our days became a frantic race from one thing to the next as we sought to finish up everything before we left. Worse yet, things started to get complicated. I spent hours and hours at government offices trying to straighten out paperwork details. But finally the end came... we went to the airport, got on that plane, and flew to the USA.
     We have been in the resettling stage now for the last couple of months. We are in the apartment where we will stay for the next two years. The boys are finally registered for and attending school. We are beginning to see areas of ministry where we can be involved here at Church of the Open Door. We aren't quite settled yet, but it feels really good to be passed the chaos...
     Thanks for praying for us through this transition. It is good to be on this side of chaos. And now as we get resettled, we are looking forward to new ministry opportunities at our church and with HCJB Global.

Doug & Ruth

How Do You Know If You're in God's Will?

     I have asked that question many times over the years. I have asked it while passing through the darkest days in our ministry when everyone was looking to me to lead them through the emptiness and I had no idea where we were going. I have asked it when things seemed to be moving forward so fast that we couldn't keep up with what God was doing.

     Making the decision to move back to the states has been a long time in coming. I think we first started thinking about it 6 or 7 years ago. We were fighting to keep the ministry alive, our family was at the height of some very difficult struggles, and I was exhausted. We prayed about it long and hard.... I wanted to go home... but somehow I just didn't feel like the Lord was releasing us from overseas service yet. Oh, I could think of all kinds of reasons why returning would be better for me personally and for the family as a whole. But I couldn't shake the feeling that it was not time yet.

     Then about 6 months ago, with a very rosy future for ministry on the horizon, the Lord said "Its time...". Where does that come from?? I wasn't ready... I wanted to stay... We prayed about it again. This time I was convinced that we needed to go even though we were creating some amazing new ministry opportunities and needed more people to help us make it a reality.  My head was full of questions about the future.

     Confirmation of God's leading often comes after we start obeying His call. One of the biggest concerns we had was how we were going to get rid of all the "stuff" we had collected over that last 20 years? Well, the first day we posted our "For Sale"list, a young Ecuadorian man, and long time family friend, ran up to Ruth's office and asked if he could buy most of our big furniture and appliances. He was planning to ask a young lady to marry him and needed to equip their apartment. People then started asking us if they could buy our vehicles. Our house is another amazing story... We now have the signature authority that we need to clear the title and we have a couple of people interested in buying it... and we have not advertised the house or the vehicles.

     We are "hangin' on for the ride" as the Lord runs ahead of us. We don't have the future all figured out. But seeing the Lord orchestrate things for us now, gives us the confidence to trust Him with the things we don't have figured out yet. Thanks for your prayers for us. You are all a great blessing to us and we value your friendship and support immensely... Keep praying... There's lots to do still and only 2 short months to do them in...

Doug

New Media? What's New Media?

One of the things that I am working on with my new media team is the design of new web pages for the mission. Some of these sites are aimed at listeners or recipients of our ministries. Others are aimed at people who might support, serve (volunteer), or just want more information about our ministry.

We have a number of web sites that are on our list for upgrades this year. The first one was launched a couple of weeks ago. You can see it by clicking on www.hospitalvozandes.org. This page is for our hospital in Quito. It is in Spanish but you will get a feel for the page anyway. The page was created for people seeking hospital services.

My team did not create the page. That was done mostly by the marketing department at the hospital, but we were asked to review the page just before it was launched and see if there were any improvements that we could suggest. So we did and sure enough, there were a number of things that we could suggest that makes the page easier to use. Some of our suggestions will make the page accessible from smart phones. Others make it easier to find key information. Still others make it easier to update the information so that the page does not become out-dated so quickly.

We are helping our ministries take full advantage of the web.

Doug

They're Coming... Are You?

They're coming! Some are old... others are young... some are merely children. They're coming from all walks of life... from all socio-economic classes. Some will travel for several hours. Some will be there via internet. Some will listen on their radios. Some 6,000 will physically walk through our gates during the 3-day event. Why are they coming? What do they seek? They want to be part of the Mision Compartida 2011 (the Shared Mission) celebration.

Activities for Children Give Something for Everyone

Each year we open our doors, our phones and our hearts to give our listeners the opportunity to share how God has used radio HCJB in their lives. Many come to meet one of our radio producers whom God used to say "just the right thing, at just the right time". Others come to see the station they have only heard about on their radio. Others come personally to leave their donation with us because it means more to them if they give it in person. Others call in with their pledge and tell us how the station has helped them grow through the previous year.

Live Christian Music on Stage and on the Radio

For 3 days, HCJB hosts this big celebration. Christian musical groups perform live on stage. Tents go up on the grounds, offering  activities for children, opportunities to meet local missionaries, games, etc. The live studio audience is a hallmark of the event. But the story behind the story are the encounters our producers have with their listeners. It's the story of how God is working in individual lives. It is seeing the child that we prayed for on the air. This is the most important "touch" we have with our audience all year.

People Come to the Station to Give Their Donation

It is also impressive to see how people open their pocketbooks and how God pours out His blessing upon us financially. Last year we raised a quarter of a million dollars from our listeners, and the blessing grows every year. Even in these tough economic times we have seen consistent 20% growth in our donations year-over-year. We have a saying in the USA... "Put your money where your mouth is". Well the people of Ecuador certainly seem to be taking that to heart. It is humbling to see so many of our donors come. Some give as little as dollar, but they come anyway. They want to be part of the Shared Mission. That mission is to reach Latin America and the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. They have seen God work in their own lives and they want to share it with others. The station helps them do that by giving 10% of every dollar received to support native Latin Americans who are serving on the mission field, some in very difficult situations.

Doing Radio in Front of a Live Studio Audience

If you want to be a part of this celebration, you can be. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter. We'll be posting photos, videos and even doing some "live streaming" on Facebook during the event. Of course a little knowledge of Spanish will help you know what is going on, but you'll get a feel for the event even if you don't. If you feel moved to be a financial partner with Mision Compartida you can visit our web page. Most of all, you can pray for us. What a privilege it is to serve our Lord and Savior and see Him move through His people.

Thanks,

Doug Weber
HCJB Voz Global

Evangelism Right Out in the Open...

Every year about this time, the staff at radio station HCJB begin to move into high gear. The excitement level raises. Staff members are seen running around the station. Decorations begin to fill the conference rooms. E-mail activity begins to increase.

Quito Day Concert Choir and Orchestra

It's not the Christmas season that does it. It isn't Black Friday or even Cyber Monday. It's a sign that two of HCJB's biggest events of the year are coming. The first of those is a concert called The Quito Day Concerts and it is happening this weekend.

Radio station HCJB has been presenting this annual event since the 1960s. It is a celebration that the city of Quito hosts in honor of their founding by the Spanish in 1534. The leaders of HCJB saw this time as an opportunity to show our host city what we are all about... the gospel message... and what better time to do that than right before Christmas?

Quito Day Concert Orchestra

In recent years we have mixed drama, video, humor and dance into the concerts, which all help to point the concert goers toward our Lord and Savior. The choir consists of some 80 volunteers from the community. A live volunteer orchestra also accompanies the choir. One of those volunteers is our son Daniel. Daniel was invited to play in the orchestra by the conductor of the choir who also happens to be his band teacher at school.

Please remember to pray for all those who will be attending the concerts. Pray that they will see a clear presentation of the gospel and decide to put their faith in Jesus Christ. Pray for Daniel as he plays  his saxophone alongside other volunteers from the National Philharmonic Orchestra. Pray that Daniel will play well and also be able to keep up with his school work this weekend.

Thanks,

Doug & Ruth