Missionary Prayer Letter- January 2009

OUR FAMILY

Special greetings in this new year! We had a special time together at the end of the 2008. We set new goals and dreamed for the future. Don't forget to pray for our financial support because it's very low right now.

OUR MINISTRY

• We had a special celebration for the 15th birthday of a sweet girl who is part of Candelaria Baptist Church. Joselito preached at the service and guided the party.
• Joselito also preached for a deacons conference at our home church (University Baptist Church). He also preached two sermons on Ephesians in the Sunday services.
• We are providing pastoral counseling to a few Christian's families.
• We had the first intensive course in Tambo-Cañar (an indigenous province) of the School of Ministry. Joselito taught a course on Missiology (eight hours each day for one week) to thirty five students from the rural areas.

MISCELLANEOUS

• We had a special meeting with the board of the Ecuadorian Baptist Theological Seminary at Chacauco Baptist Camp. The meeting was in Patate, 130 miles from Quito. We discussed the possibility of reopening the intensive program of the EBTS at Chacauco Baptist Camp. We also discussed the option of joining with the Pacific Baptist University there. Please pray for this as it is a big long term goal of many Ecuadorian Baptists.
• Joselito is now the assistant to the Pastoral Council of the Baptist Association in Quito. He is training the council in ethical issues.

OUR PRAYER REQUESTS & NEEDS

• Pray for Anita as she prepares for graduation from her Master's Degree program
• Continue praying for our budget! We are looking at other options of economic support
• We also need special funds to print our own books and for other ministry funds

Missionary Prayer Letter- December 2008

OUR FAMILY

Special Christmas greetings to you. Our prayer is that in the New Year you can enjoy the complete grace of our Lord Jesus every day. Anita visited her father in Guayaquil for a few days because he is very sick. We had a few Christmas parties during this month, especially at our daughters' school and our various churches.We want to say thanks so much for your love and care for us, during 2008. It has been a wonderful experience of God's grace to serve together to our Lord and Savior Jesus. Thanks forever!

OUR MINISTRY

• We have discovered that the website, www.fcbh.org has the NIV version of the New Testament in Spanish and Quichua. It's a very helpful tool for Bible study with illiterate people. Praise the Lord for that!
• We have planning meetings at Candelaria Baptist Church every Tuesday. We are charting their structure and strategic profile (vision, mission, budget, organizational chart, rules, etc.) for the next five years.
• Joselito led a special conference for deacons in our home church (University Baptist Church)
• We are counseling a few Christian couples.
• We had the annual meeting of our home church, University Baptist Church, and the people told us that our continued help was their greatest need. So Joselito will continue as associate pastor and Anita will continue as the women's ministry leader.

MISCELLANEOUS

• We are participating in missions study by a US-based academic institution www.pacnet4mission.org with other seminaries in Ecuador.
• We had a special meeting with Steve Thompson, missionary with Global Outreach, to discuss the possibility of reopening the intensive program of the Ecuadorian Baptist Theological Seminary at Chacauco Baptist Camp. In the future, we also want to start Pacific Baptist University at that location. Pray for this significant dream that is held among Ecuadorian Baptists.

OUR PRAYER REQUESTS & NEEDS

• Pray for Anita and her master's degree.
• Don't forget to continue praying for our budget! We are looking other opportunities for economic support. We are losing donors due to the economic crisis.
• We need special funds to print our own books and funds for other ministry expenses.

With love in Christ, Joselito & Anita Orellana (Galatians 2:20)

Missionary Prayer Letter- November 2008

OUR FAMILY

• Anita visited her father for a few days in Guayaquil because he is terminally ill.Galilee graduated from the missions program Sunbeams in our home church. We were very excited for her. Genesis is well; Bethlehem was somewhat sick with the flu, but she is much better now; and Michelle is ok too.
• We are enjoying the grace of our Lord Jesus, even though the economic situation (in USA and Latin America) is having a significant effect on our budget. We are wondering how to increase our support for the next year and hoping to get some local support in Ecuador. Currently, we are not receiving any support from here. We are praying about this need and sending a few letters to the local leadership asking them to help.

OUR MINISTRY

• Anita continues visiting the women's prison in Quito every Wednesday along with other missionaries from USA. She really enjoys this ministry, but is also very broken for the situation these women are facing.
• Joselito taught an intensive course (three Saturdays, eight hours each) on Introduction to Theology at the Baptist Seminary in Quito. This was the first course in the current academic year.
• We had the final intensive course for one week (eight hours per day) of our School of Ministry in Quito. Joselito taught a course on Missiology. We went to the middle of the World monument as a special trip for the end of the activities in this year.
• Joselito taught at a special couples conference on romance in Christian marriage. We are also helping with pastoral counseling to some Christian couples.
• Anita taught at a special conference for ladies in our home church (University Baptist Church). That's part of series of conferences, about the women in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus.
• At the end of this month, Joselito preached in our home Church (University Baptist Church).

MISCELLANEOUS

• We had our annual meeting of the Ecuadorian Baptist Convention in El Tena, in the Ecuadorian Amazonian region (250 miles from Quito). We have big goals for the next year for our seminary. For example, we hope to recover our some of what we have lost in recent years through restructuring and economic hardhsips. Joselito assisted with some of the conferences about theological education.
• We are helping Candelaria Baptist Church with their strategic plan for the next five years. They need a lot of help because it is the first time they have gone through this process in 29 years.
• We had the annual meeting of our mission agency, Palm Missionary Ministries, here in Quito. Anita attended to represent our family because Joselito was teaching in the Baptist Seminary.

OUR PRAYER REQUESTS & NEEDS

• Pray for Anita and for her Masters degree final homework.
• Don't forget to continue praying for our budget needs!

With love in Christ, Joselito & Anita Orellana (Galatians 2:20)

New Photos!

Missionary Prayer Letter- October 2008

OUR FAMILY

We celebrated Bethlehem's birthday at her school with her classmates. She was very excited. Pray for Michelle because she started her dental treatment that will last for the next two years. It is very expensive and painful. Michelle celebrated her fifteenth birthday on October 27. We are going to have a special service for her on December 6 because November will be so busy for us.

OUR MINISTRY

• Anita has begun going to the women's prison with a group of female missionaries every Wednesday. She teaches Bible studies and counsels the inmates.
• Joselito preached at New Life Baptist Church and Anita taught children's Sunday School. We were also there for the vote on the national constitution.
• Joselito also preached in the celebratory service for the anniversary of Candelaria Baptist church. It was very nice experience that ended with a special festival of indigenous food.
• We have continued teaching the Introduction to Bible course at Candelaria every Wednesday. We also led a special marriage conference for them.
• We also began the regularly scheduled classes at the Ecuadorian Baptist Theological Seminary in Quito. Joselito taught a few special conferences on God's call and the importance of theological education.
• Joselito preached at "Love Built Baptist Church". This is part of our goal to visit every Baptist church in Quito sometime in the next year to encourage them.
• Joselito was invited to attend a Pastoral Training School for two days in Quito. It was a time of spiritual refreshment for him. This program is supported by Woodstock Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia and Northside Baptist Church in North Carolina.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Joselito taught an intensive course on missiology at Vision International University.
• Our marriage mentors Jim & Hilda Miller came for a visit. It was wonderful to see again them because they were our teachers at the Ecuadorian Baptist Theological Seminary in Quito and they also served as mentors when we were preparing to get married.
• We had special retreat for two days for strategic planning for Candelaria Baptist Church, in La Merced Baptist Camp.
• We participated in the ordination of two pastors at Shekinah Baptist Church in south Quito.We received training from the Ecuadorian Bible League to use special recorders to share the Bible with people who cannot read and write.

OUR PRAYER REQUESTS & NEEDS

• Pray for Anita and her final coursework for her Master's degree.
• Continue praying for the increase our monthly budget, please.

With love in Christ, Joselito & Anita Orellana (Galatians 2:20)

Missionary Prayer Letter- September 2008

"He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon" Rev. 22:20

OUR FAMILY

Our daughters started the school year this month. We are very excited because Bethlehem started school for the first time. She is very interested but it's a little sad for us to see her beginning school. We would like to take the family to the Galapagos Islands to learn more about this marvelous place. However, it's very expensive, so we are looking for funds for that.

OUR MINISTRY

• Joselito preached in our home church (University Baptist Church) twice this month. He preached on: the biblical understanding on the Great Commission and on the process of evangelization.
• We held another intensive course. The class met for five days, 8 hours per day for our School of Ministry. This time we met in Ducur, Cañar province (430 miles from Quito). Joselito taught Christian Ethics (A Study on the Ten Commandments). We had 50 indigenous students. Joselito also preached in evangelistic services each night.
• We began weekly services in the new Baptist church. We are praying for a regular place to meet and for a future chapel.
• We are counseling a few young Christian couples in serious family crises. Please pray for us to have wisdom and understanding.
• We had a special meeting with the mission team from Candelaria Baptist Church that we are leading. We will be helping with the new Baptist church in Calderon.
• Joselito is teaching an exposition of the book of Titus in Sunday School and preaching through the book in the Sunday service as well.

MISCELLANEOUS

• We had a special retreat with our faculty from The Baptist Seminary in Quito. The purpose was to enjoy fellowship and to have special meetings before classes begin in October.
• Joselito is hoping to print his book, Toward a Baptist Identity in Quito, but I need funds to do so.
• Pray for this, please, because I want to have this book ready for the annual meeting of the Ecuadorian Baptist Convention that will be held on November 1-3.

OUR PRAYER REQUESTS & NEEDS

• For a special place to build the Chapel for the new mission in Calderon
• For our budget, we need to grow our economic support very quickly. It's very low.
• Joselito needs to publish his books. Please pray for the funds to do that please as it is very expensive in my country.
• Pray for the special trip to Galapagos and for the finances for that.
• Pray for more donors and partners for us, please.

With love in Christ, Joselito & Anita Orellana (Galatians 2:20)

Missionary Prayer Letter- August 2008

OUR FAMILY

We are doing well and enjoying the abundant grace of our Lord Jesus. Praise to the Lord for that! Please forgive my tardiness with this prayer letter. We had a very busy ministry over the summer.

OUR MINISTRY

• We hosted a short term mission team from our church in the USA for 10 days earlier this month. We had Vacation Bible School, evangelistic messages, Bible studies, special music, personal testimonies, personal evangelism, and discipleship. It was a great experience because we were able to begin a new Baptist church in an indigenous community near of our home.
• We went to Puerto Lopez (at the beach 440 miles from Quito in Manabí province) on a family mission trip for few days. We led the group of a total of 50 people from Candelaria Baptist Church. The purpose was to fellowship with the Baptist church in Puero Lopez, to support their ministry, and to enjoy the sea and other tourist places. We were able to observe the whales at sea. It was a wonderful experience for us.

MISCELLANEOUS

• The Baptist Seminary in Quito will reopen in October 2008. We are very excited for the opening and expecting the Lord Jesus to bless the efforts.
• Joselito resigned his position as president of Palm Ministries in Ecuador due to time obligations. He is very busy with his ministry and family. This situation has been difficult, but it was necessary to make the change. He served in this capacity for one year and now He needs to focus on his family and ministry.

OUR PRAYER REQUESTS & NEEDS

• Pray for our budget, we need to increase our economic support quickly. We need to buy the materials for our four daughters to the new academic year.
• Pray for Joselito’s new books. Is not easy to print those books because it’s very expensive in Ecuador.
• Pray for more donors and partners for us, please.

With love in Christ, Joselito & Anita Orellana (Galatians 2:20)

Missionary Prayer Letter- July 2008

OUR FAMILY
We are fine in the grace of our Lord Jesus. Our daughters are on vacation this month. They need to rest and enjoy this time. It is a busy time of ministry for us because we are expecting several missions trips.

OUR MINISTRY

• We continue with our ministry in the indigenous church, Candelaria Baptist Church. We lead Bible studies every Wednesday, hold conferences and Joselito regularly preaches. We are also going to work on a new Baptist church plant in our neighborhood. Pray for that please.
• We had another intensive course for our School of Ministry. This time the meeting was in Pedro Vicente Maldonado (85 miles from Quito). Joselito was teaching Bibliographic Research eight hours per day). Also, he was preaching in evangelistic services each night.
• Joselito went to Guayaquil for the Ecuadorian Baptist Theological Seminary board meetings. He also taught an intensive course on theology at Vision International University.

MISCELLANEOUS

We are helping reopen the Baptist Seminary in Quito. We have been updating the curriculum and addressing other issues. The seminary in Guayaquil is doing ok.

OUR PRAYER REQUESTS & NEEDS

• For Joselito’s health, he has some upcoming medical tests.
• Pray for Joselito and his new Doctor of Ministry program.
• Pray for our monthly budget. We need to get more donors and partners.
• Pray for our next mission team from USA. They are coming at the end of August.

With love in Christ, Joselito & Anita Orellana (Galatians 2:20)

Missionary Prayer Letter- June 2008

OUR FAMILY

We are fine in the grace of our Lord Jesus. We have been sick, but are feeling much better now. Our daughters are on summer vacation from June 25 until August 25. They are very excited for the time off to play and have adventures. Please pray for us and our monthly budget.

OUR MINISTRY

• This month we hosted a family from the USA who came as short term missionaries for three weeks. They are students at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky. They have six children; three girls and three boys; aged 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1. They came to serve with us in our ministry for three weeks. It was a great experience for us for to share our family, ministry, language, country, and ministry with them.
• We had many different ministry opportunities while they were here for the mission trip. For example, we visited a few Christian camps, shared personal testimonies, met with representatives from many missions agencies, conducted bible studies & seminary classes, preached at Candelaria Baptist Church and evangelistic services; visited an orphanage, and taught in a Back Yard Bible Club. We also had the opportunity to visit a few famous Ecuadorian places, such as: Chacauco- Patate, Latacunga, Otavalo, Cotacachi, Cuicocha, Colonial Quito, Mitad del Mundo (the middle of the world), Teleferico in Quito, Pululahua Volcano, Tungurahua Volcano, Pichincha Volcano, and many others.
• We have continue with our ministry at the indigenous church, Candelaria Baptist Church. We teach Bible studies every Wednesday, lead special conferences, and Joselito often preaches. We are also going to help with a new Baptist church plant in our neighborhood. Please pray for these efforts.

MISCELLANEOUS

• We helping with the reopening of the Baptist Seminary in Quito. We are updating the curriculum and other aspects of the program.
• As President of Palm Ministries in Ecuador, Joselito is helping with the administration of the local Palm Ministries office. It is not easy to add this responsibility to all he is doing, but he needs to help his fellow missionaries and brothers & sisters in Christ.

OUR PRAYER REQUESTS & NEEDS

• Pray for Anita. She is completing the requirements for her master's degree.
• Pray for Joselito's new books. We need quite a bit of money to print some books for indigenous pastors in our own country.
• We really need some time to rest and are looking for a way to take a vacation. Pray for the necessary funds for that, please.
• Pray for our next mission group that is coming from the USA in July.

Missionary Prayer Letter- May 2008

OUR FAMILY

We took a family vacation to rest and spend time together. We went to Imbabura province with our family as well as some extended family- my father, sister, niece Michelle, and nephews Italo and Andres.

OUR MINISTRY

• We are offering a new Wednesday night Bible study on Survey of the Bible every Wednesday night this month at Candelaria Baptist Church. Joselito also preached in Sunday morning service at Candelaria and served the Lord's Supper.
• Joselito taught a special conference on biblical fatherhood for Christian's couples in our home church.
• Joselito preached the funeral of a very good friend, engineer Walter Chavez. He was president of the Ecuadorian Baptist Convention twenty years ago and was a wonderful believer in Christ and servant of Lord Jesus.
• We held the graduation ceremony of the Ecuadorian Baptist Theological Seminary in Quito in his honor and memory. There were four students who graduated with Bachelor degrees and two students with Elementary Certification.
• We had another session of our School of Ministry in our home church. Joselito taught on Biblical Hermeneutics and wrote special material for this event.

MISCELLANEOUS

• We helping with the reopening of the Baptist Seminary in Quito. We are updating the curriculum and other issues.
• We are going to host a special missionary family in June. They are from Kentucky in the USA and their interest is to work alongside us for three weeks. Please pray for this time and ministry.
• I'm receiving many notes from different countries around the world from my web site. I'm very excited for this new ministry aspect of my ministry and want to give many thanks to my Lord Jesus for those blessings.

OUR PRAYER REQUESTS & NEEDS

• For wisdom to focus our ministry in the most important and specific areas.
• Pray for Anita. She needs to complete some tasks for her masters degree program.
• Continue praying for Joselito's health. He has significant back pain.
• Pray for Joselito's new books.

With love in Christ: Joselito & Anita Orellana. (Galatians 2:20).