Shell - And a bit of Jesse´s thoughts...

Yes, this little town was named after the huge oil company. Many may not know, but Ecuador supplys a large percent of the worlds oil. We had a chance to visit this town while we were in Baños, not because we wanted to see the influence of large oil companies on the Amazon, but because of a connection we recieved from Karen Appier´s brother-in-law, Tom Clark.

The draw to Shell for us is that it is the gateway to the jungle and historical with misionary work. For those who have read the books, seen the movies (the last one being Ënd of the Spear¨) or heard the stories, you might be starting to connect the dots a little. Some +/- 50 years ago a group of missionaries went to this area to reach one of the tribes in the jungle. Five of the men were killed in this process, the name most recognized being Nate Saint. God has done an amazing work in this area in revealing his love for people with obviously great sacrifice by those who chose to assist him in it.

This is a picture of the center plaza in Shell with a large tower topped with a replical of Nate Saints´airplane.

Rick and Sharron LaBouef have been in Ecuador for 30 some years now and he is a jungle piolt. He basically has people (jungle people, natives, missionaries, etc.) who show up at his gate every morning around 7am begging for flights out to one of the 250 plus air-strips. He then ¨hops¨from one air-strip to another all day ¨bush flying.¨ We were able to spend a night with them and hear their stories.

...and a pic. of the LaBouefs and their plain

It is pretty cool to be a part of something big. To be apart of God´s family.

While there we also went to an orphanage that a lady from the states started. She has 56 children in a very small place! The kids come to her from all ways. Dropped off, found, delivered by the police and so forth. She just houses them and loves on them. She has been in operation for about 7 years with hopes and plans to build on a larger property more rooms and placed to make this operation functional. It is truely a day by day ministry.

Cass with some of the kids at the orphanage

here is a pic of the orphange itself...

Here are a few my thoughts:

I have visited a place in my mind that should have been obvious, but I do not really encounter often. Cass and I have commited to being a part of something larger than ourselves. For this reason, traveling and giving of money, time and resources to various origanizations is on the fore front of our minds. I have been able to research the big organizations and find information on the internet about places and people in which to invest. But what became more clear to me, and brought up experiances from the past when I was in Guatemala, Amsterdam, Ireland, Mexico and on, was that the need is endless. When I say endless I really mean ENDLESS. Just in Ecuador I have had the privliage of seeing three different real-life ministries by those who have little to those who have nothing. We rationalize away resouces (especially money) from 5 bucks to $100,000 fairly easy. For very little these particular three organizations/ministries could exponentialy have a greater impact! Even with-in the non-profit organizations/ministries there are categories of ¨¨Haves¨and ¨Have-not¨.

So I have been a bit challenged. How and to whom should we invest our resources?

For example: Let´s say someone spent a $1,000 or so on toys for themselves this past year... Did you know that there is a friend in Chico who has a non-profit called Bridging the Gap by Giving that will build a clean water well for those who do not have clean water. Hmmm, water seems simple, but people die DAILY because they do not have it. Or the sacrifice for others is a choice of clean water or education because it takes so long to travel to the closest location to retrieve clean water. Check it out. Go to http://www.bridgingthegapbygiving.org/ We will return with many things from our trip here in Ecuador for Shirly to sell at her International botique store. Be sure to check them out as 100% all proceeds from your purchaces go direclty to building a clean water well.

Well, those are a few of my thoughts as I cut myself from rambeling on too long. I would welcome any and all the opportunities to develop these thoughts further with anyone interested.

Nothing But Love!