WINTER 2022

FROM THE CHAIRMAN HOW CAN I HELP?

Please consider supporting
Greetings! I am pleased to be able to communicate with you via my first “From Ecuador Missions, both
the Chairman” report. It is a privilege to be part of the committee that oversees financially and by remembering
the work in Quinindé. The Ecuador Missions Committee is thankful for your prayer our missionaries in your prayers.
support. The Vogels and their Christian brothers and sisters in Quinindé face many
significant challenges. Poverty and lack of intact families causes much grief and DONATIONS:
hardship. There is also violence between rival gangs and drug cartels, (which was Canada:
not present in Quinindé a year ago), resulting in reciprocal killings and unease for E-transfer:
the community. CCCEMC2020@gmail.com
Mail:
Please pray for safety for the Josh & Michelle and the children, the San Lucas staff
Covenant Christian Church
and for those to whom they minister. Pray that the Vogels may have many good
5783 Camlachie Road
opportunities to bring the gospel for the transformation of lives. We are thankful
P.O. Box 774
that they have already had many occasions to interact with people.
Wyoming, ON N0N 1T0 
We are also thankful for the solid financial support received through such things
Please make cheques payable to
as individual and church donations as well as by means of the bike-a-thon and
“Ecuador Missions”
online auction. The contributions toward the Mission House construction project
(Indicate for General Fund or Mission
specifically have been generous. We ask that you please keep this a priority since
House Fundraiser)
the house located within the medical clinic compound will significantly improve

security for the Vogels while bringing them closer to those they serve.
United States:
Mail:
“Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall
St Paul’s Presbyterian Church
rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.” -Ps. 33: 20-21
4917 Eli St., Orlando, FL 32804,
USA
For His glory , Oscar Van Den Assem Please make cheques payable to
“St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church”
(Indicate for General Fund or Mission
House Fundraiser)

Ecuador Missions is a charitable

activity of Covenant Christian URC
of Wyoming, Ontario
Mailing list or address changes to
Diana: emcnewseditor@gmail.com

KEEP IN TOUCH:
Josh & Michelle Vogel
Phone: 519-800-8056
(no long distance charges)
Whatsapp:
+593-99-994-6579- Josh
+593-99-995-2533-Michelle
Email: j.vogel.113@gmail.com

1 • ECUADOR MISSION NEWS • Winter Edition 2022

SEMINARY ON A MISSION
The MINTS Ecuador Seminary had some novelties and chal-
lenges at the end of 2022. Even though courses are held regu-
larly on our calendar schedule, adjustments along the way are
necessary. Dr. Cornelius Hegeman was due to visit Ecuador in
October but had to undergo surgery. This caused changes in
the calendar of the courses and we had to look for other teach-
ers to cover his absence. Likewise, the graduation of 26 students
at the Certificate level was scheduled on those dates, but the
process of issuing and sending the diplomas took longer than
expected. The diplomas will be brought to Ecuador by MINTS’
new Hispanic Coordinator, Brother Esaú Reyes of Mexico. He
will visit Ecuador in the first quarter of 2023 and during his visit
the graduation event will be held.
We have had some difficulties with the students that are in
prison in Ecuador. Sadly, the country is experiencing episodes
of generalized violence in prisons, with riots (more than nine in
the country) and deaths (more than 400). Brother Gerardo Re-
calde, coordinator of these groups, shared that there is a lot of
risk in the work today. In the last riot that took place at the end
of October in the prison of the city of Latacunga, south of Quito,
violence took the life of one of our students. For this reason,
visits to this prison are suspended for the next two months. But
work will continue in Prison No. 4 in Quito.
Work with the Reformed School of Biblical Formation, of the
Reformed and Presbyterian churches, has continued its regular
activity. This is the third year of classes. Several of our students
have been considered as candidates for offices in churches that
are part of the Reformed Church Fellowship, and they are part
of the group that will graduate in 2023.
Our courses continue to offer Reformed biblical training. The
method of studies is now mixed, because we have restarted
with the initial conferences of having the students present in
class at our office building and the succeeding group classes
are via Zoom. This has given us some flexibility to include stu-
dents from the province of Esmeraldas, and we are promoting
MINTS outside the orbit of Reformed churches. Please pray
that the Lord will open the doors and put in the hearts of more
brethren the desire to prepare to serve Him in
the ministries of the churches.
Luis Carlos Moreno,
Academic Director of MINTS Ecuador
and Seminary Professor
2 • ECUADOR MISSION NEWS • Winter Edition 2022
UPDATE FROM JOSH & MICHELLE
Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Greetings and blessings from Ecuador. As you are reading
this, we are getting closer and closer to the Christmas season,
and something we have been reflecting on lately is Emmanuel:
God with us!
Ecuador in general – but especially in the coastal regions – has
become more and more unstable in the last number of months,
as officials have begun putting more pressure on the drug car-
tels. Obviously, the cartel’s response has not been favourable,
causing lots of tension – including assassinations, car bombs,
and other forms of violence. The insecurity also causes more
lower-key violence, such as robberies and hold-ups, as the po-
lice are otherwise occupied. At the time this is being written, we
have been placed under a military-enforced curfew from 9pm
to 5am, in order to try and curb some of the after-hours gang
activity, and general police and military presence has greatly in-
creased. For us, it is a tangible example of the wickedness that
arises out of a heart that does not know and love the Lord. As we
seek to minister in a fallen, sinful, and unstable world, we pray
that God will use us to shine the light and share the good news
of our great Savior who promises to always lead and guide His
people home. We make you aware of these situations not only
to ask you to pray with us for Ecuador, as well as for safety for
the mission team and our family, but also as a reminder and
encouragement to remember Emmanuel: God with us. He has
not, does not, and will not fail. We are very thankful that He has
given us much peace amidst all that is going on.
Now, a little about us! From mid-August to mid-September,
we were back in Quito to welcome our fifth child, Derek Peter,
who was born on August 29. We returned with a mountain of
paperwork to complete in order to apply for his Canadian cit-
izenship, as well as lots of construction planning for the mis-
sion home. Unfortunately, we did not start building the Mission
House over the summer, as there were more details to work out,
but we are optimistic that most details will fall into place very
soon. It was an exciting day when the grader came to clear and
level the land where the home will be, as well as a soccer field
to go with the pavilion at the property of the medical clinic.
The pavilion still needs a few finishing touches and some
clean up, and then will be ready to be put to use. There
are lots of dreams for what will happen there, and we
pray that it will be a place where many are blessed.
We are increasingly finding ourselves more involved
and making more acquaintances. For this we are thank-
ful, and yet we pray for wisdom to know what and where
we should invest our time and energy at this stage. In No-
vember I began preparing and delivering messages for the
weekly mid-week family service for the families or caregivers
of the children that attend the Malecón project. We have been
learning about the 10 commandments; learning about the natu-
ral state of man, the importance of the law of God, what each of
the commandments really mean, and how with God’s help, our
good works can become pleasing in God’s sight.
Since our move in May we have regularly been worship-
ing with a small (around 15 members) body of Reformed
Baptist believers, a small but faithful Church, growing in
sound theology as well as in love for God and each other.
 MISSION HOUSE
FALL 2022 FUNDRAISING REPORT
We are thankful to the Lord for faithful giving through many
churches, individuals, and fundraisers such as the on-line
auction (which raised $5400 CAD) and the October “Brims and
Bonnets” initiative. As a result, we are now at $115,000 CAD!
There are, however, challenges that we face. In the spring 2022
newsletter we mentioned that our goal of $140,000 CAD was an
estimate based on limited available information. Over time the
price point on many building materials has moved upward. We
in turn, simplified the design. This reduced
the square footage and eliminated
Hosting the Reformed Baptist Church many outdoor mold sensitive
features while retaining
We had the opportunity at the end of October to host the
the multipurpose
members and more regular attendees (30-40 people) for their
potential designed into
6th anniversary celebration; it was a blessed and encouraging
the Mission House.
time together.
At the same time,
On a recent visit to Quito for more citizenship paperwork, we
we believe it is wise
had the opportunity to stop in and see Javier who is again in
to use quality building
a boy’s home, studying in Quito. (Javier attended the projects
materials able to withstand
as a child, and Josh met him when Javier was 12, over 5 years
earthquake conditions while
ago, during a work team trip.) A number of months ago he
limiting future maintenance costs. As a
left the boys home and went back to Quinindé due to family
result, with these cost cuts (while not
complications, but he has recently returned, and is doing
sacrificing quality) multiple quotes
remarkably well. By the grace of God, it seems as though since
still indicate that we can anticipate
he was there the first time, he has had a major change in his
an additional cost of $40,000 CAD.
attitude and efforts in not only his studies in reading and writing,
There are other strategies such as
but also in his desire to grow spiritually. He was eager to show
Josh purchasing materials himself, his
us his new-found reading ability, as he (very slowly and carefully)
oversight and volunteer labor which
read to us a small portion from Scripture. It was such a joy to
we hope will help control costs, but
see him growing and maturing in these ways. Please thank the
these things are harder to estimate.
Lord with us for working within his heart and creating the desire
With a “for sale” sign posted at
to work hard at his studies, as well as a genuine interest in the
the Vogel’s rental property we are
Word of God.
thankful that current funds will take
In closing, we ask that you please keep our family, the
us a long way towards completion!
town, and the work of the mission in your prayers, especially
All approvals are in place, the ground
during this time of insecurity. We know that nothing is
has been leveled and we anticipate (the
impossible for the Lord, and we pray that He will use us to
Lord willing) that construction will be
do His will in Quinindé.
well on its way when the next newsletter is released.
Please continue to remember this cause both in
“So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear;
prayer and giving.
what can man do to me?” -Heb. 13:6

In Christ, and for HIS glory, Do you have a fundraising idea you can
run locally to help us reach the top? Please
Josh & Michelle & Family message emcnewseditor@gmail.com

ITEMS FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

1. Pray for safety for Josh & Michelle and the family during this time of unrest.
2. Pray for those in the projects that are affected by the violence.
3. Thank the Lord for the safe arrival of Derek Peter.
4. Pray for wisdom in decisions regarding the Mission House building.
5. Thank the Lord for the mission’s financial status and the generous giving of its donors.
6. Thank the Lord for relationships that have been established in Quinindé
7. Pray for Javier, that his desire to know Christ will grow each day.

3 • ECUADOR MISSION NEWS • Winter Edition 2022

 Grading the land for the Mission House

First time giving the mid-week message at the Malecon project.

4 • ECUADOR MISSION NEWS • Winter Edition 2022