JANUARY, 1980

aaaa

C.L.n.D.
[Capstan Latin American Division]
Jim & Ethel Galther, Missionaries
Cassiiia 7460

Guayaquil, Ecuador S.A.

Ethe/ buying vegetables

A NEW YEAR WITH PROMISE

For each of us, this New Year presents new nope and opportunities to work for our Lord. We can look back and reflect on the past year and see our many problems, victories, bad times and good times, but the point to remember is that we can change none of these. They have happened and are now part of our past history. What we can do Is learn from our
mistakes and then determine that we will do more

The following articles express our hope and faith for the future and it is our prayer that you can see the hand of God working in all that has been done and the need for continued prayer that He will continue to make very effort successful for His ultimate glory here
in Ecuador!

A new alliance has been formed which offers

things, better, in the coming year. Such is the

determination that both Ethel and I have.

great possiblities.l Last September, Capstan, Inc. called the Galther family to come and work with them. With the support and help of the Elders of the Checotah Christian Church and the directors of Capstan, plans were made
to continue the work the Gaithers had started in

Many things have happened and severe problems attacked the work here in Ecuador and almost destroyed what had been done. But, praise be

to God and the faith of the people and churches that

support this work, we were able to see the work
remain. Now what about the New Year and the future?

Ecuador. Capstan created a new division to include the work that we (the Gaithers) were planning to do in Ecuador. We then appealed to the churches that had supported us while we worked with the Ecuadorian Christian Mission to continue that support as we

changed our alliance. This they have done in a magnificent way. We again praise God for their faith in
us and in the work here. Now, to the future!

Praise God, we are more determined than ever to

see

the work go forward for the glory of God and His kingdom.

With our joining Capstan we will be able to work

together using the resources of knowledge, personnel,

Jim preaching in one of the services.

Here we are waiting for the rest of the church to come.

equipment and experience of this great work started by Robert M. Small many years ago. Robert Is a man
with a great vision for the world need of missionaries

carrying the Gospel to the far ends of the world. He has dedicated his life to helping missionaries get their job done. He and his lovely wife, Doctor Norma Sneed Small, make a great team working together in many areas of talent. Along with these we could name many more of that Capstan crew and their various talents. During the next year we will try to bring special articles concerning the various areas of work that Capstan is involved in and about the people who are working together as the Capstan Crew. You will also start receiving the CAPSTAN NEWS, a monthly missionary paper published by Capstan, Inc. With this missionary paper you wilt be able to learn about Capstan's work and people. You can also broaden your missionary knowledge by reading the many articles it contains concerning missionary workaround the world. I think you will be pleased by the promise of things we can do together to get the Gospel out to the world. Our plan is to publish our personal newsletter
once every two months and then include articles in Capstan news for the month between. We will have articles about our work here in Ecuador. Also, with Capstan's help, we plan to start sending slides and a pre-recorded tape to our supporting churches every three months, or so, as a special report. We have thanked God many times for letting us have this fine group at Capstan to work with. I am sure as time goes by that you will come to appreciate what they are doing for the Lord as we have.

Some of our children right after church. They love our

dog Muneca. Notice they all have rour)d badges that say "Jesus me am a" Jesus loves me.
We share Thanksgiving dinner with over 70 people. The dinner menu featured two very traditional

foods: pavo (turkey) and pastel de calbaza (pumpkin pie), which really made us think of home...till we went out of the air-conditioned house into the tropical. 85 degree heat! We also noticed the streets were filled with the usual traffic rush. Of course, here they don't celebrate Thanksgiving as we do. Some churches haye
come under the American Influence and do have a

THANKSGIVING DAY IN ECUADOR

As Thanksgiving time came to Ecuador, we received two invitations for the day. One was to share a pitch-in meal with many of the English speaking people we know and the second was an invitation to help lead In a joint Thanksgiving service. We accepted
both invitations.

celebration they call 'dia de acclon de gracias,' but it Is not really a holiday. We finally made it down town and there, once again, we found the English speaking community together for a service of giving thanks to God for the blessings He has sent our way. Here we found a lot of the American missionaries together on the program.
The American Consulate read the President's

Thanksgiving message and we ail participated together and enjoyed some very fine special music.

A baptismal service in v^hich "Manuel"a new convent helped. That is Manuel to the far right. Manuel was baptized about three wee/fs before.

A song and prayer service following a baptism.

The day was a little different than In the United States, but we still could thank our God for His many blessings sent our way. God Is the same everywhere.. .It Is tho people that change from place to place.
A HOSPITAL CALL

In the United States a preacher is expected to call on his flock, especially when they are in the hospital. Here it is not expected. Still, Ethel and I make these calls. It is not because it is 'our job,' but because these people need to know that God cares about them and can help. I am not suggesting that God always brings a cure, but simply that God does care and always sends his peace If we will accept It. And, we want them to know that we care about them,
too.

We have had two of our congregation who have been in the hospital recently and Ethel and I went to
visit. How different it Is here!

The people are put into wards with as many as fifty beds in each. There are no rules to govern the number or age of the people who can visit patients. Consequently, it seems like something of a mad
house with so many people visiting each person. One thing I have noticed, though.. .there are so

How about buying a bed and mattress out on the street? Yes, ttiis is the way it's done here.

importance here. Especially, I think, for our poor

people.

many that want you to come and have prayer with them. We never visit just our own people, we always
visit with others as well. We would like to see a

ministry started here In our large hospitals. I know much could be done for Christ's Kingdom through such a ministry. Please pray that doors will be opened
for this work.

Many of the poor...some say as many as 80% of our population.. .can't even be sure of their next meal or a place to sleep at night. They certainly don't have hundreds of dollars (sucres) to spend on Christmas presents that, in all probability, won't last through the day. But, with the New Year comes fresh hope. Maybe...just maybe.. .things will be better next year. Maybe some of the wealth of the world powers
will trickle down a little farther to some here.

ETHEL'S ETCHINGS

Prospero Ano Nuevo! A prosperous New year. This greeting is seen all over Latin America. While more and more emphasis is being placed
on the commercial side of Christmas all over the

Maybe...just maybe...some people will remember what Christmas really means and share a portion of their blessings. And, maybe they will continue their concern and generosity throughout the new year. Maybe...just maybe. I love you,
Ethel

world, the New Year still holds a place of special

Some of our ladies cool<ing dinner so Ethel will have

more time to teach her class for the ladies.

The man Is selling fish and Is cutting off a piece for

this family who ail came out to watch.

(NOTE: The following are excerpts from Jim Gaither's periodic report to the directors of Capstan, in this
correspondence Jim expresses some very real
concerns. This material was not Intended for inclusion

pay$560.00 per month in rent. To meet this obligation

we have stripped our emergency funds which means we have nothing in our accounts should a medical emergency arise or we be required to return to the

in this newsletter, but we at Capstan felt that it should be Included so that you could be made aware of the situation facing the Galther's. They did not mention these concerns in their newsletter t>ecause they did not want to appear to be complaining and begging. Still, the needs are real and only you..God's people.. .can meet these needs. And, we felt that because you are interested in the woric of spreading the Gospel around the world and especially Ecuador, that perhaps some reading this report might be able to come to their aid.)
As the financial picture has come into view this
month, we find ourselves far short of what we need to

States for any reason. What's more..and probably

worst of all.. .it leaves us without funds for teaching programs, legal work, Bible programs or financial help to our congregation. We also will not have money available to make any trips In order to follow up the leads we have for work outside of Guayaquil.
It may mean that we will have to return to the

States to help raise additional money. Yet, that poses

a serious problem in itself. First of all, we do not have the money needed for return fares. Also, where do we

store our furniture and our car? They could, of course, be sold, but then, when we return, we will simply have to buy new ones at an inflated price. Also, we will need a place to stay while In the U.S., a car to use and
expense money. Then, too, we will somehow need to

do the work here. We called our forwarding agent in December and we found that our average income over the past two months has been near $800.00 per month. If this figure reflects the amount we can expect for the remainder of our tour here, it is not enough to allow us to stay on the field. A low estimated budge for the
remaining time on the field calls for a minimum of $1,300.00 per month. It breaks down as follows:
Salaries Rent Utilities $700.00 300.00
50.00

inform our supportin churches so they will understand

the reasons for this decision.

It would certianly be best for everyone.. .the congregation here and for us...if we could simply stay on the field until the time of our regular furlough. This is a time of real crisis and we need your prayers. We are praying that the Lord will somehow provide us assurance of the necessary funds that we need by the middle of February so we can avoid this expensive and time consuming trip. There is so much happening here
that is favorable to the work...the future looks

Car expense Office expenses Language study

Total

75.00 50.00 50.00

$ 1,225.00 75.00

brighter than ever in so many ways. It seems doors are opening everywhere and It is frustrating to have our

hands tied by a 'lack of funds!' If we had proper

funding the Lord's work could be done In a fantastic

Stateside expenses
Grand total

way. This country and these people are ready and our
plans and program are valid and workable! I realize that my report seems negative, but it is only for financial reasons.

$ 1,300.00

These figures are actually bare minimums. Our stateside expenses could be much higher...printing of newsletters, postage, banking expenses, etc. And, we are presently under a rent agreement whicfi is effective until March 1st, 1980 which requires us to

(Pray for the Galthers. And, perhaps you can help by making a financial commitmentI It would be especially
helpful right now.)

Mailed by: CAPSTAN, INC.

R.R.2, Box 175-A5

Non-ProfIt

Organization
U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 12

Checotah, Ok. 74426

Checotah, OK.

C.L.R.D
n Latin American Division]
Ithel Galther, Missionaries
Cassilla7460

74426

uayquili, Ecuador, S.A.

FORWARDING AGENT Mrs. Carol Gamel Rt.2 Box 440

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012

ecui I

c:l.r.d^
[Capstan Latin American Division]
James L. Qaither
Director

R. R.2, BOX175A4 Checotah, OK 74426

Terrence Cusack

Forwarding Agent

Dear Friends in Christ,

Our purpose in sending you this letter is two-fold: one is to raise our working funds, and the other is to help raise support for our recruits, Richard and Carol

Small. We promised when we went to the field that we would keep you informed. letter and the enclosed report is an effort to do just that.

This

As I am sure you are aware, we have just gone through some very difficult times which have caused us to take a fresh look at ourselves and the work. As a result,
we came up with the enclosed budget of time, work and.finances. We feel that i t

accurately reflects what we are doing and what we plan to do for the next two years. Because of the deficit between what is now coming in and what is needed for the next two years, it was decided by us, the Board, and our forwarding agent that we return to the States to raise the needed funds. We arrived in the States in mid-March, and axe ready to take up this task.

We will need to raise close to $3,000,00 per month for the mission work fund.
We are asking all of our friends to join letter to our supporting churches asking amount in their area. Since the cost of we do not want to be gone from the field
this method to save on both.

us in this effort. We have sent a special them to help us raise a portion of this travel is prohibitive, plus the fact that any longer than necessary, we are using

You, too, can help.

We are also wanting to raise support for Richard and Carol Small, We need this couple on the field this year. It will take them about six months to adjust to the new language and culture before they will be able to work effectively, so we must

get them down there right away.

They will need $1,500,00 per month to cover their

salary and housing, and we would like to get this secured and started right away.
How can you help us? First of all, if you attend one of our supporting con gregations, you can offer your services there. If your congregation is not now supporting us, perhaps you can encourage them to do so by presenting our work to your Sunday school class, women's group, elders, etc. Or perhaps you can make a contact for us in another church where you have friends or relatives. We will do all we can in backing you up. We will supply display materials, slides, etc,, upon your request. Or, if you need it, we will be glad to come speak with your leadership.

If every one of us would work at this in our own area, we could save both

time and the Lord's money. With gasoline at over $1,00 per gallon, it doesn't take very many miles to eat up $100,00, So if you can help us raise individual
and one-time gifts, and especially regular monthly support, we praise the Lord!

As the enclosed Information clearly shows, there are some very positive things being done, and God is really blessing. The future of the work is very bright in deed, and God has opened so many doors, my mind is sometin^s boggled by these events* We find ourselves running, trying to keep up!
Please read the enclosed report carefully and prayerfully. I hope that i t will cause you to become excited with us for the things that can be done* Because time

is at a premium, we will await your reply anxiously, and stand ready to supply you
with any information or help you might need should you decide to become our partner

in doing the job. Send all correspondence to G.L.A.D., R.R, 2, Box 175^4, Checotah, OK 74iJ'26, Or you may phone us at 918-689-218^.
Your family in Christ's service in

Jim and Ethel Gaither

JG:cs

Enclosure:

Work and Finance Report

CAPSTAN, LATIN AMERICA DIVISION

WORK AND FINANCE BUDGET

1980-1982

C.L.A.D.

R.R. 2, Box 175A4 Ghecotah, OK 7i'26

CAPSTAN, LATIN AMERICA DIVISICW

WORK AND FINANCE BUDGET

1980-1982

This is a budget made up of both work and finances will try to make it possible for you to see what we are do in the next two years* This we hope, will help you and distribution* Ve will divide this into three major the things involved. At the conclusion of each program

for the next two years. Ve doing and what we propose to to see our financial needs areas so we can better see and its explanation, we will

list what that program needs financially. At the end of this report you will see a total and what we will need for the two years, and for each month.
A. CHURCH PROGRAM In this we are talking about the local congregation
with which we are presently working. At the present time, it remains our main congregation. In the past we had two congregations started, of which one failed when we returned to the States in 1977 on furlough. We have been unable to re-establish that work since most were workers at a job site and moved when the work ceased. We have

only been able to find one man and his family that attended that congregation.
We also had an English-speaking work which we discontinued when the Fenner

family left. Therefore, in this report, we will be talking about the congre gation that now meets in the home of one of the members every Lord's Day. The congregation has averaged 30 in attendance throughout January, 1980.
We meet every Lord's Day for a regular service conducted much as we do in

the States.

Since we meet in a home, we divide into two groups for our study

(sermon) period. The young people go to another home for their study. We
also meet in our home on Wednesday for a mid-week Bible study. We, as a con gregation, hold individual Bible studies in the homes. Our future plans are to start a youth program which will neet on Saturday night and Sunday evening early. This will be led by Fernando and Marianela Rosado. Ethel is planning a youth choir and drama group. These will meet regularly every week.
Our greatest need at present, is for a building in which to meet. Meet ing in the homes has many problems. Visitors and fjriends come by during the service. One Sunday we fought a mad dog which died there, and the next Sunday a drunk came to visit and interrupted the services. Other programs which should be held during the week are difficult to arrange as we have no central meeting place. Our proposal is that we rent or buy a place. The congregation could use the building on the days it needs and the Mission
could use it for special classes in the rooms that would house the class rooms

for the congregation. For example, we could teach a Sunday School class on Sunday, and then during the week we could use the same room for English classes, sewing classes, leadership training, etc. When we have this build ing, we will ask the congregation to pay us rent in an amount they can afford at the outset, and increase it as the congregation increases.

CIjA*D "

Church Program Budgett

(figures represent a two-year period)

$ 5000,00 1,500.00 500.00
1,500.00

Building rental Furnishings (tables, chairs, blackboards, etc.) Hymnals, Bibles (for pews)
Simday School and teaching materials

Home Bible study (filmstrips, booklets, etc.)

Choir and Drama Youth Group Total

500.00
600.00 500.00 $10.100.00

B.

MISSICW-EVANGELISTIG PROGRAM

ev^uigelistic programs.

Aside ftom the work with the congrega tion, the Mission is involved in other This we will discuss point by point.

1. Hospital Visitation- We are presently involved in a program of visiting regularly in the large main hospital in Guayaquil o From this program we have had three conversions.
2. Audio-VisualThese are presentations made in the homes

apart from those given by the congregation. These are usually held away from Guayaquil. We also propose to use the Mission building for regular evangelistic programs. All converts will be channeled into the congregations where new convert classes will be held.
3. Planting Songregatlons in Other Areas- At the present time we have started a congregation in Riobamba. We have had to postpone
this work as we do not have the funds needed to send Fernando to

Riobamba every week.

Fernando is a medical student at the university

here, and lives about if hours from Guayaquil.

He works at night to

support his family, and works with the church and evangelistic pro gram every spare minute he has. This pace is beginning to tell on his health, as well as the health of his wife. When they go to Riobamba, they stay Saturday night to teach, preach on Sunday morn ing, and then take the 5-bour bus trip back to Guayaquil for Sunday night services. We would like to relieve some of this load and put the congregation in Riobamba on a firmer foundation by recruiting a Spanish-speaking family to live there just for the purpose of work ing in that area. We are keeping the doors open by visiting as often as we can until we can have a faimily to go, and money to help. We also have three other areas where we have enough contacts to start congregations. Again, funds and personnel are the big problem.

4.

Bible Camp- A Bible Gamp was planned for this year (1980)

but had to be postponed for lack of funds. We had a full staff lined up for 1980, so I am sure we can do it for any year.
5. Bible DistributionBible placement is also an extensive

part of our past work. We have given away over 500 Bibles. now, this program is also not being funded.

Right

C.L.A.D, - Pg. 3

6,

Leadership Training-

These classes are "being held, "but with

Again, the building

no definite place to meet, it has been difficult.

would help.

7, Non-Religious Glasses- Right now these include English, and sewing and crafts* Each of these, however, make time for devotional or Bible teaching. They help the people financially, socially and spiritually. At the present time they are being financed out of the missionary's salary,
8, Evangelistic Team- We want to make up a traveling evangelistic team to hold meetings in all parts of Ecuador,
Mission-Evangelistic Program Budget:

Hospital Ghapleiincy (tracts, cards, Bibles, etc,) Planting new congregations (building rental, transportation, etc,) Gamp program (rent, food, supplies, tranport,) Bible distribution (1,000 Bibles @ $3.00)
Craft & Sewing class supplies

$ 1,200,00 6,000,00 2,000,00 3,000,00

700,00

Evangelistic team (travel, site irental, etc,)

Total
G, MISSICW-SUPPORTING PROGRAMS

2,000,00
$14^900.00

There are other activities in which we

are involved which cannot be said to

be direct evangelism, yet they are most necessary and Important to the mission work. Among these are the following:
1, Developing and producing materials to be used in all of the

different teaching programs. These must be made as there is very little available in Spanish that we can use. This Includes both printed and audio-visual materials, Richard and Garol Small are now

raising support to work with us in this area,

Garol is a graphic

artist and Richard has had experience in most areas we will be working in,
2, Office work is a necessity as we must take care of letter

writing, making reports (financial and progress), newsletters, taking

care of our library and files, paying bills and the list could go on
and on. We feel that a secretary is very much needed at this time. We will be actively recruiting one,

3,

Maintenance of Mission property, buildings and vehicles.

While native workers are available for most of our needs, they lack

the training to do the job correctly, and must be carefully super vised, Richard Small has had e3q)erlence both in construction and in vehicle repair, two areas in which we will need his expertise. His ability to do the job when it needs to be done, and do it right, will save us countless hours and expense. When the mission is able to

CLA*0* - Pg ^

enter into a Ixilldlng program In the future, Richard will be able to supervise this program also.

4,

Second Mission Building,

After much consideration, we have

come to the conclusion that two buildings are essential. Most of the people who now attend the present congregation are extremely poor, living In a section of town where the big share of the homes are oneroom bamboo huts. There are some permanent buildings in this area,

but most of them are businesses.

we hope to house the church. expensive mission equipment.

It is in one of the buildings that

This is not a good area in which to house Also, I would not wish to leave an

American secretairy alone in this neighborhood.

We have a group of Christians who do not attend services in^thls

area because of the definite class separation. This does not in any respect reflect on their Ghristianlty, only on their upbringing. The second Mission building wouH provide a meeting place for these Christians as well as provide offices, darkroom, printing facilities, library, storage, etc.
5# Time for planning and organizing must be included in our

schedule if we are to proceed with the work in a wise manner.

A major

portion of time must be spent in Spanish study (formal advanced language

classes), both in class and on our own. Extra study of the Bible in
Spanish helps us in learning theological terms. Then, there is the time needed to prepare sermons, and Bible lessons for Sunday services and mid-week Bible studies. We are occupied in shepherding the flock and counselling as your preacher is in the United States.
Mission-Supporting Programs Budget i

Building rental (approximate) Missionary's salary (Galther) Missionary's housing (Galther) Utilities (house and Mission buildings)
Spanish classes and materials

$ 8,000.00 16,800.00 8,^0.00 2,000.00

2,000.00

Printing and A/v supplies

Newsletter, printing and postage

3000*00
5000.00 4,000.00 1,000.00

Travel and car expenses Legal fees

Return fares (Gaither) Medical and Life Insurance (Gaither)

State-side expenses

800.00 2,400.00
1,500.00

Total - Mission-Supporting Program (C) Church Program (a) Mission-Evangelistic Program (b)
Total, all programs Monthly breakdown of expenses

$54,900.00 10,100.00 14,900.00

$79,900.00 $ 3329.l6

G.L.A.D. - Pg. 5

There are additional needs not reflected in this budget, which are needed in order for us to do a proper job here in Ecuador. They are as follows:
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

This is eqtuipment which we will need to take down to Ecuador with us.

We will need this equipment in order to carry out the various programs we have outlined earlier in this report. Listed is the bare minimum equipment that we can get by with,
2 Overhead projectors
1 Video Cassette Recorder and Camera

1 A .B, Dick Mimeograph 550 1 A.B, Dick Stencil Maker 580

1 Movie camera, Super 8 or l6mm

1 Movie projector for above camera 2 Filmstrip projector, 500W 2 Dukane A/V Matic, with built-in cassette player and 8"xl0" screen

1 Cassette tape duplicator

PERSONNEL NEEDS

As we mentioned in the body of this report, we are needing several families on the field now. Following is a list of those areas in which we need people, in the order of priority.

1, A/v - Printing, developing and producing materials,

2, Secretary

3 A Spanish-speaking family for Riobamba - now!

4, Medical team

5. Preacher and Leadership training

6, Bible correspondence course and Radio/T.V. 7. Personnel for farm, beginning with buildings (within five years)
We have a great need for an evangelist to begin his field training now. Our projected five-year goal is for four more congregations in Guayaquil, These are to be above and beyond those mentioned in Planting New Congregations in Section B. Since it takes people time to adjust to their new environment and to learn the new
language, i t is imperative that they be on the field prior to the need, for suf ficient time to accomplish these ends.