(This post was written on Friday, April 7 and is now being posted on Sunday, April 9. We will post another update later this Sunday.)

Hello family, friends, and fellow prayer warriors, 

This is Rachel Nelson updating from room 301 of the Quito luxury Sheraton hotel. This experience is almost otherworldly.

We are currently still in Ecuador as an entire group for two more days. Tyler and I have been in frequent contact with our advocate at Delta, Alexandra. Our most recent communication has five of us returning on Monday night, 14 of us returning on Tuesday night, and 9 of us returning on Wednesday night (which means we return to CAMP-of-the-WOODS on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights). This is an improvement from the last 9 of us not even having a booking. Tyler, I, and Alexandra are all trying to do our best to get as many of us leaving as soon as possible. 

Alexandra's most recent email at 9:30 on Friday (1 hour ago) even said this in response to our pushing for earlier departures: "I really recommend you to keep your currency itinerary, because tonight our flight is cancel again and we don’t have any more available spaces. We really apologize for the bad news and if we have any update we will inform you."

This experience is really teaching all of us to rely on the Lord and trust in his plan and provision. This is not what most of us would have chosen for ourselves but we are trying to follow Paul's commands from Colossians 4... "2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity."

We had a Sabbath yesterday (Thursday) while waiting to hear from the airline and people were able to explore the neighborhood. It is a very nice neighborhood with lots of shops, a fancy mall, and a large park with lots of sports facilities.  

We began today (Friday) with a Life Together session lead by Alexi Demopoulos. He focused on Ephesians 2:10: For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

At 10:00 am (Friday) we embarked on a Quito city tour courtesy of Delta. We visited the Quito Basilica, climbed up a tall tower, and walked through Quito's old city. This evening we had a class on Martin Luther and Bible translation in the suite where Tyler and I are staying.

Tomorrow (Saturday) we are going to be working with another Compassion International program (our first was while we were in Oyacachi). The church that hosts the Compassion program is in the process of expanding, so we will be helping with construction there in the afternoon.

We appreciate your prayers and covet more prayers for good attitudes, for God to continue to work through us in Ecuador, and for a safe and speedy return home. - Rachel Nelson