Camila

photos taken by Fraenzi, 22nd Nov 2010

Camila has arrived

Camila was born wednesday 17th November 2010 at 3.37pm. She weighed 6 lb 7oz and was 48cm long. We are back at home and doing well. Benjamin is coping well with the new arrival and is trying to be gentle and helpful!

November Praise and Prayers

This is my second attempt at writing to you all... the first was out of date before I was able to post it.

Those on Facebook might have been following our saga with Alfredo’s cousin Daniella. At 21 weeks pregnant her waters broke. She went into hospital to be induced but found that despite the lack of amniotic fluid the baby still has a strong heart beat so was put on bedrest... in our guest room. The baby fought for two weeks but Dani was finally taken into surgery last Friday. Little baby Trinity Renata was buried in Puyo on Saturday. Thank you for praying with us during this hard time. Renato (Dani’s husband) was able to find a job and we all had a peace as we waited out God’s plan.

As for my pregnancy, we are waiting for the contractions to start! Due date is the 15^th Nov, but Benjamin came early so it could be any day. Praise God that I have had an easy pregnancy because with all the people in the house I haven’t had much time to rest!

Alfredo, Steph and Fraenzi went to visit the community Samikim and after various meetings the community decided they do want the water project. Alfredo has to now get paperwork with the local government sorted for the finances.

A work-team from the Harrison’s Harrogate church came through Shell and we got two nice meals listening to ‘funny’ UK accents!

On the 30^th October we went to the dedication of the rebuilt ‘Nate Saint’ house. Nate was one of the 5 missionaries killed by the Aucas (now Waorani) over 50 years ago. The house has been turned from a termite hotel to a museum and meeting room and is beautiful.

Praise:

· For the care Dani received at HVO and that Renato found a job.

· For time with family over the long weekend

· For the good trip to Samikim

· For the work the Harrogate team did in a Chimborazo community.

Prayers:

· For Daniella, Renato and the family as the mourn their loss.

· For the quick and painless (?possible!?) birth of our daughter

· For Alfredo as he works in hospital maintenance this month

· For Steph and Fraenzi as they visit communities in the Makuma area to evaluate the finished projects

· For the Samikim paperwork and for the government to give the finances without problems.

We’ll let you know when the new Leon arrives!

Blessings, Alex, Alfredo and Benjamin.

The hospital has a new postal box… so try sending post to:

APARTADO POSTAL 16-01-844, PUYO, PASTAZA, ECUADOR and we’ll see if it gets here quicker than recent packages.

October Praise and Prayers

Hi All,

Our latest newsletteris out... sorry it has taken so long to get one out to you all! I’ve included lots of photos of the past year to show you what we’ve been up to. Let me know if you want to receive it and feel free to pass it on to interested friends or post up in your church.

In the past month we’ve been up to Quito for meetings, celebrated Benjamin’s second birthday and Alfredo managed to get the local government to pay us for the projects we finished last year. Things in Shell are more settled now and I’ve almost managed to clear our store room to make it into Benjamin’s new bedroom.

Ecuador has been in international news in the past week... did you see it? On Sept 30^th the Police held a strike against having their bonuses cut and it escalated into an attempt at ousting the president, with a gun-battle between the Police and Army outside the Police hospital in Quito where the President was being held captive. He was rescued and returned to the palace to give his victory speeches and all returned to normal the next day. We in Shell didn’t know anything was happening till family in Quito phoned to ask if we were ok and told us to watch the news!

In October Alfredo has a couple of jungle trips planned in order to get everything done before he’s Shell-bound waiting for baby to arrive in November. He is upset at missing the next HCJB Global Haiti trip as they don’t get back till November and we don’t fancy baby arriving early and him being in another country.

Alfredo has started working part time in the hospital maintenance department, helping out with the long-term projects that never get seen to. He is currently committed to a week per month and is working on sorting out the key system! This gives him some guaranteed Shell time and means when all our working visitors leave and he’s alone in the office he has some time as part of a team.

Praise:

Taisha government have paid us the remaining project money

Benjamin celebrated his 2^nd birthday

Steph and Fraenzi are settled into Shell and jungle life and are busy evaluating completed projects.

We have new neighbours, including 5-yr-old Victoria who loves playing with Benjamin.

Prayers:

For the ‘community assembly’ that is being held at the moment. This is where the communities decide with the local government what projects they want next year and is key to whether we receive government funding for projects next year. Steph and Fraenzi are attending because we have to attend Alfredo’s brother’s weddings on Friday and Saturday.

For wisdom in knowing what projects to take on in the next year. A community evaluation in Samikim will happen this month.

For the engineers who go to Haiti on this next trip to train Samaritans Purse in spring protection.

For continued health in the pregnancy and that we’ll be ready for the arrival!

Thank you for keeping us lifted up in prayer.

Alex, Alfredo and Benjamin Leon

Some new family photos

Thanks Fraenzi for the great photos.

Benjamin's 2nd birthday

Benjamin talking to Granny in England

opening presents

cake with his friends from nursery

helping Mummy make birthday cake

cake number one in Quito with family last sunday

Yesterday Benjamin celebrated his 2nd birthday. The day involved lots of phonecalls and cake and a house full of people, all things that make him very happy.

September Praise and Prayers

Dear friends,

After a month back in country we are now getting back in to a routine. Benjamin is going to a local Spanish-speaking nursery every morning so he has some social interaction and so I (Alex) can help do office administration. Alfredo is working on his taxes and a report for Taisha so they'll pay us for a project we finished in December.

We were invited to be part of the Shuar bible dedication in Makuma last Saturday. The full story with photos is below.

We have had another echo and the doctor is sure the baby is a girl, due mid November. Alfredo's family are getting excited as boys dominate the Leon family.

Praise:
That Benjamin was able to get a space in the local government-run nursery and enjoys going.
That we were able to participate in the Shuar Bible dedication in Makuma.
That the pregnancy is going smoothly and the baby appears health

Pray:
That the new bible may impact the Shuar people
For the community development planning meetings in Quito this month
For Steph (working visitor) as she works on finishing the water projects in Pastaza and for Fraenzi as she finishes language school and moves to Shell mid September.
For Alfredo as he goes to Taisha to get payment for finished projects and discuss future projects with the local government
For the medical team currently in Haiti.

Thank you for your interest and prayers for the work we do in Clean Water Projects with HCJB Global in Ecuador.

Hugs and Blessings
Alex, Alfredo and Benjamin Leon.