Wilson Family Missions- November Update

Greetings from Ecuador!  It is now November and we have gotten quite settled here in Quito, Ecuador.  We are really enjoying our home.  I can honestly say, I feel at home here.  Things are also going really well at the school.  As in all things, there are issues, but God is faithful.  The kids are really enjoying the school.  They have adapted very quickly to our life here.  Carolina has faced some difficulties, but as I'm sure most of you know, she is a trooper and presses in and does her job extremely well.  I'm so proud of her!  Please keep her in your prayers.  For me, I love my classes and all the opportunities to share, challenge and encourage my students to go deeper in God.  It is not easy, but it is only my job to pursue intimacy with God and then release the passion for Him before my students.  It is the Holy Spirit's job to draw them.  (You can see the pictures of my 4 classes here in this post).  Please keep my students in prayer.  I have great expectation that God is going to do great and mighty things in their lives throughout this year.

Apologetics Class

New Testament Survey

Aplogetics Class

New Testament Survey

There are a few exciting things that have taken place for me personally at AAI.  About a month ago, I had a female student (also a volleyball player) come to my class with a torn muscle in her arm.  She was in a lot of pain when she came to my class 3rd period.  She had shared with me that a few other teachers prayed for her and she was so excited because she was able to move her arm a little and felt God was doing something.  So, at the beginning of my class I invited any student who had faith that God could heal her arm to gather around her, lay their hands on her and begin to pray.  I stated prior to praying, "wouldn't it be an incredible testimony if you were able to play volleyball today?"  We prayed and she was overwhelmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit.  After class I asked her, "How is your arm feeling?"  She stood up and began to move her arm in a full throwing motion.  She had no pain and was completely healed.  She said, "I always thought healing was something we hear about just in the Bible.  I never expected to see it happen and never thought it would happen to me."  God is so good.  I have so much hope and expectation for more supernatural healings to take place in my class, at AAI and in Ecuador.  Please pray for an increase of the anointing of the Holy Spirit in my life, specifically in the supernatural. 

Another thing I'm excited to share is that I have started a worship group with some male students.  Every Wednesday the high school has discipleship groups.  There are many groups, all with a different activity/focus (like basketball, soccer, martial arts, board games, etc).  I chose to have a Worship focused group and I have 9 young men who signed up to be a part of it.  I am very excited to see how God will develop this ministry.  I pray for great opportunities to pour into the lives of these young men both spiritually and musically and challenge them to live lives of worship all the days of their lives.

That should about do it.  A few areas to be praying for:
- Please be praying for us as a family to go to deeper levels with the Lord, for an increase and spiritual awakening in the lives of the staff and leadership of the school and for the lives of our students to be changed and transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Increase of the anointing of the Holy Spirit in my life in worship and the supernatural.
- Finances- things are quite expensive here.  Pray for divine provision from the Lord.
- Carolina's family- please keep them in prayer.  My father-in-law is quite sick with emphysema.  Each lung is only functioning at 20%.  Also pray for his salvation, along with many others in Carolina's family.
- Finding a home church- We have been to quite a few churches and are still looking to find the place God has for us.  Pray that God will clearly show us!  

To close, THANK YOU to all who are supporting us in prayer and/or financially!  It is such a blessing to know we have family in the body of Christ lifting us up and supporting us every step of the way.  If you would like join in partnership with us financially, click HERE!

Lord bless you all!  We look forward to sharing more with you about all the things God is doing in and through our lives here in Ecuador.  Thank you and we love you!!!

Caleb, Carolina and kids!!!

PS...the volcano Cotopaxi is still quite active.  It could erupt any time, but we're praying God's grace (favor & blessing) over us.  We're not fearful, but know it could wreak a lot of havoc in the lives of many people here.  Thank you for your prayers!!!

Wilson Family Missions- September Update

Greetings from Quito, Ecuador!  

(Here's the volcano Cotopaxi that erupted last month.  Yes,we're ok)

It’s been 2 months since we left South Bend to begin ministry here in Quito, Ecuador.  We are so happy to be here, but these past 2 months have been trying times for us as a family, but God has been faithful every step of the way.  Here's a quick recap:

July 1^st:

Upon arriving, we hit the ground running.  We found out that our living arrangements had fallen through and that we were going to have to begin searching for a place to live. We also had (and still have) a lot of paper work to get done.  As we began looking for a place to live, everything we found was at least double the price what we had planned on paying.  We searched well over a month and came to the conclusion that we would just have to pay those prices since there was nothing else (over $1,100).  To make a long story short, 3 days before our container was delivered, God blessed us with a wonderful place for much less than all the other places and it was the first place that met all our wants and needs.  God is so good. 

August:

The same weekend that our container arrived to our home, both Joaquin and Milena became very sick and had to be hospitalized.  They had an intestinal virus and were so dehydrated from vomiting that they had to get IV’s.  They were there 4 days.  That was an extremely eventful weekend, but we’re so grateful to the Lord that the kids were ok.  The doctor said if we would have waited until the next day to bring them to the hospital, it would have been really bad situation. 

Immediately after that weekend, we began a month long orientation at the school.  It has been very busy trying to move in, work full time (all day meetings) and prepare for school to begin, but we’re getting there.    

September 1-4:

Tuesday we had our open house at AAI, as classes began on Wed.  We have been so busy with school meetings, that we’re not completely prepared to teach, but we’ll get there.  We’re really excited to finally be able to begin ministry here with the students.  I’m also very excited because I had the chance to lead worship for our staff communion time and Wed-Fri for our school’s opening Spiritual Emphasis Week (video of first day at AAI  it shows me leading worship at the end of the vid).  There are many students who do not have an intimate relationship with Christ.  Please pray with me for my students that I will have this year.  Pray that God’s presence & truth will pierce their hearts as they are exposed to the Word of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit.    

Finally, we want to thank all who have supported us financially and those who have committed to continue supporting us.  Your partnership is greatly appreciated.  Your prayers, financial support and love bring such an assurance that we are not alone.  May the Lord bless you.  We love and miss you all, but are so grateful and blessed to be living out God’s plan for our lives.  Though nothing has gone smoothly in this transition, God has seen us through and proven Himself faithful every step of the way.  We look forward to sharing great testimonies with you as the year gets underway.  We love you all!

In Him,

Caleb, Carolina, Joaquin & Milena

PS…We are still currently without internet at home, which makes communication more difficult.  My plan is to send out monthly/bi-monthly updates of all that God is doing. 

Wilson Family Missions- 2015 (part I)

It was a Sunday night back in 1994 when I stood in the back of the sanctuary at Calvary Temple crying out to God, “What do You want me to do?” “Where do You want me to go?” I was desperate for a response, but totally unprepared for the response the Lord would give.  I heard Him say, “South America, South America, South America”.  I thought, “South America…where’s that?”  I didn’t know a single Spanish speaking person, much less anyone from South America.  It was a bit confusing, but God had everything under control. It was soon after that the Lord brought a family of Ecuadorians into my life, which is where my journey to South America began.

Now 20 years later, my family and I will be stepping out and into the calling of the Lord for our lives in this season. My passion and purpose in South America is “to touch a generation of young people for Christ through Worship and the Word.” 

Therefore, in June, 2015, we will be moving to Quito, Ecuador to begin our lives as missionaries. The doors have opened for us to teach & serve in ministry for 3 years at a Christian-American school called the “Alliance Academy International”.  This is not a new job opportunity, but an open door to minister the gospel to a very diverse group of young people from over 30 nations. I will be a Bible teacher in the High School and discipling students, as well as pursue my vision to develop a worship-training center to impact the city of Quito and beyond.  Carolina will serve as a primary teacher and Joaquin and Milena will study there also.  This is such an amazing opportunity and entry point for us to minister.  I truly see this as just the beginning of many fruitful years of ministry in Ecuador & South America.  Whatever the timeframe, we just want to live faithful, obedient lives to the Lord and the calling He has for our lives. 

As we prepare to go, we recognize the great need and desire to have those who have loved, cared for and invested into our lives over the years to be part of this next portion of our journey.  Some of you I’ve known all my life and others we have just recently met.  Some of you we see all the time and others we haven’t seen in years as God has lead us in different directions.  Regardless, everyone of you hold a special place in our hearts and history and we want to share in this journey with you.  Having spoken with other missionaries and heard them share about the importance of partnerships, we want to ask you to prayerfully consider partnering with us on our journey & ministry.  You may ask, “What do mean by ‘partner’?”  Well, that is what we ask you to pray about.  On this journey, as it is for all believers, we know that God is our source and our trust is completely in Him.  But, we also know the importance of the body of Christ.  Prayer, encouragement, financial resources, connections, etc are all specific needs in a partnership.  So, we would like to ask that you please take some time to look over the following list and pray about how the Lord would have you partner with us as we step into this new and exciting chapter of our lives.  We love and appreciate you all.  May the Lord richly bless each and every one of you and we pray that you too would dream God’s big dreams for your lives!   Love always!

                                                                                 Caleb, Carolina, Joaquin & Milena

Partnership Areas: Please prayerfully consider how you can partner with us in light of the needs listed below.  If it is your desire to partner with us, please visit: www.wilsonfamilymissions.com or contact us at:  calebwilson1980@gmail.com

- Preparing to Move:

-       Prayer that we sell our home quickly for the price we’re asking!

     Raise money to ship our belongings. (Cost: $10,000 -Things are 2-3 times the cost of what they are here, so it benefits us to take our things.)

- Life in Ecuador:

-       Every person who serves at the school goes as a missionary and must raise support.  The school gives a small stipend, but not near enough to live month to month.  We need a minimum of $2,000 p/month in financial support to meet our monthly expenses!  

(ex. 50 people at $40/mo =$2K, about $1.33 p/day)

-       Prayer that my paperwork for residency & citizenship run smoothly and quickly. 

-       Prayer that we quickly find a quality, affordable home.   (Housing is quite expensive, especially when compared to South Bend cost of living.)

-       Prayer for health and protection over our family! 

- Ministry in Ecuador

-       Prayer for favor & divine connections as we prepare for & begin life & ministry in Ecuador. 

-       Prayer for the power & presence of the Holy Spirit to work in and through us as a family to touch the lives of many people for God’s kingdom!

For more information: www.wilsonfamilymissions.com