together - January 2015
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Darnelle’s preparations include<br />
ESOL training, taking Bible in<br />
Schools classes, and doing various<br />
workshops. And in <strong>2015</strong> she is<br />
spending a year of further preparation,<br />
learning Spanish language and<br />
Latin culture in Costa Rica, before<br />
going back to Ecuador. The call to<br />
serve God asks for perseverence<br />
and faith. She adds, “The last words<br />
of advice I got before leaving Ecuador<br />
last time were, be ready for<br />
spiritual warfare. Yes, it does take<br />
courage and sacrifice. So many<br />
times I have wanted to give up.”<br />
But Darnelle is in this for the long<br />
haul.<br />
Pray<br />
• For good relationships with<br />
other students and her host<br />
family in Costa Rica<br />
• For a good memory, energy<br />
and endurance<br />
• That Darnelle will remain firm<br />
in God’s power<br />
Give<br />
Darnelle still needs some of her<br />
on-going financial support, as well<br />
as meeting one-off costs for language<br />
school, etc. Please consider<br />
partnering her in this big step of<br />
faith. Contact nz.donor@sim.org<br />
to chat to us about how you can<br />
help.<br />
Note: Darnelle says Ongimei means<br />
‘A group of small ants’ in Waorani<br />
(referring to facial marks)<br />
13<br />
sim.org.nz<br />
Bolivian dancers take steps<br />
towards<br />
Jesus<br />
The main sporting event in Potosí,<br />
Bolivia, is street dancing. Hundreds<br />
of groups train for months for the<br />
competition, which is the highlight<br />
of their year.<br />
The colourfully-clad dancers include<br />
Ana Luisa, a lawyer, and her fiancé, Luis,<br />
an architect. Both go to SIMer Mary<br />
Hawthorne’s English class; the Hawthornes<br />
have been developing a friendship<br />
with them and sharing the gospel,<br />
and Ana Luisa has made her home available<br />
for a regular Wednesday night Bible<br />
study.<br />
Ana Luisa and Luis dance in a group<br />
sponsored by a large brewery in the area.<br />
Though she has danced for years as part<br />
of this prestigious group, Ana Luisa recently<br />
shared that, as she grows closer to<br />
God, she is losing her passion for dancing<br />
and may not take part after this year.<br />
“I suggested that maybe God doesn’t<br />
want them to give it up,” says Steve Hawthorne.<br />
“Maybe they could form a Christian<br />
group, and instead of working for the<br />
honour and glory of the brewery, they<br />
could dance for the honour and glory of<br />
Jesus Christ.”<br />
Steve Hawthorne
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