Update on shooting incident

According to the Ecuadorian newspaper "El Comercio," the four men involved in the excitement on Monday (two of whom we saw arrested, two escaped) are now all in custody. Apparently they had robbed a store manager making a deposit of $21,500. So now we know the rest of the story!

Exciting trip! (too exciting)

On Monday, Graham and two colleagues (Doug, Director of Media Ministries and Barry, Director of Information Systems Ministries) headed off to Shell to visit with the team there (HCJB Global has a hospital in Shell, on the edge of the jungle). While coming to the end of a bypass around the city of Ambato, they were suddenly passed by four guys on two motorcycles. Suddenly, around the corner, the police threw up a barricade. Graham came to a stop, one of the motorcycles went around the barricade, and the other motorcycle went down sliding into the barricade. Police immediately converged on the down bike and it's two occupants, and waved Graham and the others on. Meanwhile a couple of police on motorcycles and in a pickup truck pursued the motorcycle that had not stopped. "Wow, that was exciting."

A hundred yards later they suddenly heard gunshots (see video) and were ordered by the police out of the van and to lie down on the road. It seems the police caught up with the other motorcyle on the bridge you see in the video and they were exchanging gunfire with the guys who refused to stop. Approximately 8 shots were fired in all. In the video - at the very beginning - you hear one ricochet and police sirens. This was the end of the shooting (by the time Graham and the others were ordered out of the van it was almost over). But you can clearly see a white pickup (police truck) going across the bridge while the guys are scrambling to get out of the van (and you will hear Graham putting the parking brake on - safety first!).

We never did hear what the cause of the chase was or the eventual outcome. But God clearly protected us; a few seconds sooner and we would have been on that bridge when the shooting was happening. Life is never boring . . . .

HNIC and Thanksgiving

Wow. I was reading the news on cbc.ca and discovered there is a new theme for Hockey Night in Canada (not that it actually helped the Leafs on Saturday night . . . ). I did watch with interest as the great Canadian debate ensued last spring with the loss of the old theme. I don't understand why another network would pay so much $$$ for it when it will - for at least one generation of hockey fans - be associated with the CBC HNIC. Oh well, what do I know.

I'm curious - what do you think of the new theme? I listened to it several times and, well, it's not the same, but it is kinda catchy. Do you like it? What are people at Tim's (ah, Tim's . . . hmmm I could go for one right now!) saying?

Like I said, I'm just curious and we are soooo out of the loop. And, oh yeah, HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING, EH!

We have a new prez!

After several months of searching, we are celebrating today as our new president was presented to the mission. It is Wayne Pederson. His most recent position (that he is leaving to join HCJB Global) was as Vice President of Moody Broadcasting, and Manager of WMBI (AM and FM) in Chicago. He will begin his duties with HCJB Global on 1 Nov. Thanks for praying for God's leading - now celebrate with us in God's goodness!

And there were no primaries, no debates, no fund-raising, no running-mates :-) (I love to tease my American colleagues!).