La Linterna Outreach

For the past several months we have been praying for a clear open door from the Lord in how and where we should be dedicating our time. In February, we will be starting an outreach program that brings together several of the talents, interests, and burdens that the Lord has put on our heart over the years: the bilingual library, academic tutoring and outreach, and counseling believers on how to be better stewards over technology. We call it La Linterna, or The Lantern.

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First is the Bilingual Library. We place a high value on reading. God communicated His desires to us through His Word. Reading stimulates the mind in both creative and analytical thinking. As one brother recently put it, “Any thirst for reading will result in a longing for the WORD of Life.” Also, there are just so many enjoyable things to be found by setting down our screens and reading. Our area of the world is not really known for avid reading nor strong literacy, however, we think that is changing. More and more people are finding enjoyment through books…but they are limited by the cost and availability. In this, we see an opportunity to connect with people.

Currently, we have a decent English section with a range of books from children’s picture books, and teen books, as well as Bible studies and commentaries. These English books are read by both the mission community and also Ecuadorians who desire to improve their English. Our Spanish section is small, but growing. We are very thankful to the individuals and churches that have donated Spanish resources, as well as the Ecuadorian bookstores which have given us ‘at-cost’ discounts when purchasing resources to expand the library.

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Next is the Academic Outreach program. For years, I have informally done math tutoring for the neighborhood kids. We will continue this method of connecting with people by converting part of the library space into a lecture room and study area for students. Additionally, we are looking at hosting a weekly open English discussion time for those who want a place to practice using their English skills. We will follow this up with a Bible study. We are eager to see how the Lord will open doors.

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Finally, we will use this location as a base of operation for our MenTe project which aims to help individuals and families of believers understand how technology, especially the smartphone, impacts (and sometimes controls!) our lives. We hope to help people take better control over their technology and smartphone usage through counseling, educational resources, and possibly an accountability app – all of which are available in English, but limited for the Spanish-speaking world.

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