“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away!” Matthew 24:35
“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” 1 Peter 1:24-25

Praise our Lord for an exhausted yet glorious year as we have seen God's divine hand at work not only in our own personal lives, but the lives we have seen changed through God's Word since our coming to Cuenca, Ecuador.

This month of December was very specila to us ae we spent Christmas with our new family in Christ and our new friends God has placed in our lives. It wa sexciting to see people more open about spiritual things because of the Christmas season, so we looked for opportunities to reach out in unusual ways. This last month, Ligia, Anna and Linda formed a choir with about a dozen friends and practiced Christmas carols for a couple of weeks. Then on December 23rd, we went to the local charity hospital and the alcoholic rehabilitation center and sang to the patients. Al shared the Christmas message and we prayed with patients and handed out bags of cookies and candy. We also caroled in several homes.

On the 26th, the Rodriguez', Ligia, and linda along with six other leaders, took off for the beach for a time of spiritual renewal. We spent four days breaking the waves, swinging in hammocks, and eating. We were all greatly encouraged by our times of sharing, praying for each other and singing hymns under the stars, with the roar of the ocean in the background. One man, who administers the place where we stayed, heard the gospel for the first time and prayed with Al to receive the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ. Now we’re praying that God will raise up a church in that small fishing town of Canoa.

Please pray for these people:

Josefina called on our 24-hour crisis hotline one Sunday evening when we were in choir practice at our house. She was on the verge of committing suicide. Lonely, unemployed, unloved and single, she could see no reason to live. Ligia talked and prayed with her on the phone. After she hung up, we all prayed for Josefina. Then Iván suggested we go to her house and bring her over to sing with us. So he and Ligia left and came back in a few minutes with a very sad looking woman. Her complexion was black from depression and she was quite a sight. Ligia asked me to pray with her, so I went and sat beside her, held her hand and prayed out loud, asking God to show her His love and acceptance, and to deliver her from her bondage of distress. I prayed that God would give us the joy of seeing her countenance change to one of joy and peace. Her life story is depressing, but as of December 17, 2006, Josefina began a new chapter in her life, as she gave in to the loving arms of Jesus and trusted him as her Lord and Savior. We were all filled with joy and we are still praising God for adding Josefina to our family. Please pray that God will give Josefina a decent job, a pleasant place to live, and a growing relationship to the Lord.

Segundo Vidal is a family man with a wife and six children. The pressures of life got to him and he suffered a stroke a few weeks ago and ended up in the government hospital with paralysis. On December 23rdh as he lay in bed feeling sorry for himself, Segundo heard a commotion in the hallway and then a chorus of hearty (if not heavenly!) voices began to sing one Christmas carol after another. When they finished, Segundo begged them to come in his room and pray with him. Al Rodriguez led Segundo to the Lord Jesus Christ, and Segundo began to have hope fill his heart. He called later and asked us to travel to his rural town to teach his family about life with God. We have been praying for Déleg for several years and we trust this is God’s opening for a new church in that community.

A note form Linda:Give thanks with me for the blessing that Al and Anna Rodriguez have been to us in 2006. Not only is our ministry enhanced with their gifts and enthusiasm, but our lives as well. God knew what we needed and has bless our friendship greatly. Al even taught me to make corn tortillas and now Ligia and I are so addicted to this Mexican staple I have to get up every morning a few minutes early to prepare us fresh tortillas for breakfast!

Thank you for your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Your prayers and offerings keep us going!

MAY THIS YEAR OF 2007 BRING GREAT JOY TO YOUR HEARTS, OUR DEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!

With love in Christ,

Al & Anna Rodriguez and Linda Freeman

IMB Missionaries to the Quichua People of Southern Ecuador

Casilla 328

Cuenca, Ecuador

South America
(509) 293-6032 Washington Phone number rings in our home in Cuenca.

Meet our Ecuadorian Quechua Missionaries. We all thank you for all of your parayers and support. We wish all of you a very prosperous 2007 and may the Lord contiue to use you and bless you in abundance with His heavenly riches. Please pray for each one of us that as we serve through out Ecuador from the metro cities to the high Andes Mountains, that we may not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up, taht we may press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. Left to right Linda, Amanda, Al & Anna, David & Debbie & Leah, Darrel and Rogene, Feltcher and Ruby, and Russ & Kylene and Alaina, Mirike and Katelyn. Not shown are Steve & Paula and Ruby, Brett and Brenda w w/Cristian and Quin.

Please pray for Pastor Pablo and his family. He has found himself in a slump and we have been getting together to encourage him. The back ground community you see in the picture is Chilchil not far from the community where he pastors in Ducur a small church of hungry people for God's Word. There are no evangelicals in Chichil and we are praying and planning to take some prayer teams to prayer walk. Pay for encouragement for Pastor Pablo and as we pray in that community, that the Lord will open the doors and lead us to people of peace where the gospel message will be accepted and start a house church.

These are pictures of the "Pase del Niño" celebrated in Cuenca on the 24th of Dec. where people from all over Ecuador come and participate in an all day parade beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending usaully around 5:00 p.m. if they are lucky. Animals, carts and vehicles are decorated with what they feel are their best gifts to the new born "King" Jesus Christ. Decorations very from candy, roasted pig, chickens, ducks, cuy (guinie pig) beautiful flowers, to bottles of liquor. It was very interesting and different for us. We have been be-friending our neighbors and witnessing to them from time to time. They were gracious in inviting us to this event and now they have agreed to start having a Bible study in their home. They are seeking to find out their purpose in life. Please pray for them as we plan to study with them our purpose in life through God's plan, Diego, Rosana, and their son Juan Diego age 3.

Pastor Vicente leading in worship with a few men who attended a men's retreat. They are learning how to draw closer to God and having a closer walk with Jesus Christ to help them be the loving husbands, fathers and Godly men they have been callled to be. Ivan, Manuel, Patricio, Maximo, and Juan. They are hungry for God as they are realizing how wrong they have been in being what God has called them to be. Pray they will truly be the changed husbands and fathers and begin to be the examples, head of the families and servants God can use in their homes and community.

What a treat after performing a wedding. Juan and his mother-in-law preparing the specialty meal cuy (guinie pig) for Al and Anna. What can we do but praise God and enjoy His blessings. Keep Juan and his wife Rosa in your as they begin their new life in marriage that God will use and prepare them for the ministry.

Pray for this community of Chunchi as we work together with Pastor Felix, his wife Maria Jesus and the leaders of the work to spread the gospel and start new works in and around the community. You also notice the construction of a new building to be used as a center to train new workers and use as a corporate worship center.

Meet our family, us Al & Anna with son Steve, dau Dina, and grandkids, Kiwi, Chandler, Angel, Nathaniel, and baby Terrell. Thank you for praying for us and our family and we praise the Lord as we were blessed with spending a few days with them after Thanksgiving back home in Wenatchee, WA. and meeting our new grandbaby Terrell. Please continue to pray for them that the Lord will call and prepare them for missions or to serve Him in ministry.