Last weekend I attended the annual Ecuadorian Baptist Convention in Machala, Ecuador. I met up with IMB missionary Johnny Maust in Riobamba, and then rode with him the rest of the way. Johnny has been serving the Lord in Riobamba for 13 years.
The population of Ecuador is around 15 million people. The vast majority of the people are nominal Catholics (at best) who mix Catholicism with traditional religious beliefs. Many Ecuadorians know about the Bible, but relatively few Ecuadorians know the eternal truths found within the Bible. Like many of the pastors at the convention this past weekend we have a heart to "Reach and Teach" the people of Ecuador these eternal truths.
Even though Baptist in Ecuador are relatively small in number they have a big heart for God, and a passion to spread His Word. In the future we will work along side many of these pastors as well as other like minded brothers and sisters in Christ to help grow, strengthen, and reproduce believers in Ecuador.
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IMB missionary Johnny Maust with 2 brothers, both of whom are Pastors in Ecuador.
Kim and I and the children live near Quito, and Riobamba is about 3 hours south of us down the Pan-American Highway. Riobamba and Quito are in the Andes Mountains. Ecuador is divided into three parts: (West) the Coastal Region, (Middle) the Andes Mountains, and the (East) part of the Amazon jungle basin. During our trip we saw a lot of change in the scenery and felt a change in the climate as well. |
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| Those are banana trees. They line the highway for hundreds of miles near the coast of Ecuador, especially near Machala. Ecuador is the number one exporter of bananas in the world. |
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| Many houses in the coastal areas of Ecuador look different than the ones we usually see near Quito. |
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| It is against the law in Ecuador to drive a motorcycle without a helmet, but there is no laws requiring the passenger(s) to wear one. Notice the small child in the middle on the left. I have seen a family of 5 on the same size motorcycle. |
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Sunday morning is a big day in many places in Ecuador to sale and buy all kinds of things in the open market. This lady and her children were headed to the market to sale some items.
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| This man was taking a little nap before his next customer in the market. |
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In Memphis I would have a cup of Starbucks to
go....In Machala, Ecuador this what I got
when I asked for a cup of coffee to go. |
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| Coffe in a bag, but it was good. |
