November 2008

November 2008 

Dear friends and family, 

We hope this letter finds you well as autumn wraps up.  We were fortunate that the timing of our trip to New England in October coincided with beautiful foliage and beautiful weather, not to mention the wonderful time we had with some of our friends and loved ones.  We spent a terrific Columbus Day weekend attending close friends' wedding, catching up with others, and seeing Trish's family and other dear friends in Rhode Island (including meeting a 14 month-old niece for the first time!) for 24 hours.  From there we headed to Connecticut to visit a group of churches that supports our work and the Diocese of Central Ecuador to give a presentation on our life and work in Ecuador.  And we spent the remainder of the time in the Boston area, working out paperwork for our Ecuadorian visas, meeting with our bishop in Boston, Chris having a final psychological exam for the ordination process, spending time with those at St. James's Episcopal Church and seeing many people we care about.   

With regards to Chris, his ordination process has been moved to the Diocese of Central Ecuador and it has been approved by the Commission on Ministry here in Quito.  He is now a member of Iglesia Cristo Libertador and is involved in youth counseling and ministry in the parish, as well as participating in Sunday services whenever he is in town to do so.  As a family it is good to be going to one congregation regularly, and the girls are enjoying becoming a part of Sunday School. 

In these past two months Chris spent ten days in Sao Paulo, Brazil, first in September for the board of directors' meeting for Agencia Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Comunicación, and again in November for CLAI's regional and program secretaries' meeting.  Here in Quito in September there was also a week-long meeting of the board of directors and in celebration of the 30 year anniversary of CLAI. 

The Diocesan library continues to be a main project for Trish, as she sorts through several boxes of donated books.  She also finds herself starting to seek funding for the refugee project for 2009, as well as attending to the daily, continual needs of people with scarce resources and the constant issues of how to pay for rent, food, and the routine needs for their families. 

The girls are well and enjoying school.  Both were extremely eager to return after our trip in Boston, so much so that when we arrived at our apartment from the airport at midnight the night we returned, Isabel asked for her bus to pick her up and take her to her preschool.  It is a good feeling as parents to know that they feel so well placed. 

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.  They are a continual source of sustenance for us. 

Much peace,Trish, Chris, Claire and Isabel 

 …………….....

 

Our photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/morck.

 

www.stjames-cambridge.org/morcks

 

Iglesia Episcopal del Ecuador

F. Sarmiento N39-54 y Portete

Quito

Ecuador