Author: Matt Hopster

Here are a few pictures of our week! Would you please continue to pray for our students, the NILI program and the families who assist in ministering with us to these students!   What an amazing week we have had! Last Friday we went to Basílica de Voto Nacional and the Church of La Compañía de Jesús. Each of these churches have unique historical value to the city of Quito! Basílica is...

Eph. 6: 18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." We experienced so much within this last week! Our friends Paul and Alyssa Clark, who have been serving with their family on this field for 4 1/2 years, headed back to the U.S. to pastor Lewiston First Naz (Lewiston, ID)....

Welcome to NILI! Bienvenidos a NILI! Our Field Office on Campus! Nuestra oficina en el seminario! The view from our apartment! La vista de nuestro apartamento! Learning to live at elevation! Walking to our apartment! Aprendemos vivir a la elevación! Caminamos a nuestro apartamento! Thank you all so much for your prayers and support! We just wanted to share a few photos of our new surroundings!...

...to be a missionary.   National Cathedral Colonial Williamsburg    Pre-Travel Covid-19Test  We have heard this phrase many times as we have prepared for our upcoming missions assignment. As we mentally, spiritually, and emotionally prepared to be flexible while in Ecuador, we did not expect to have to be flexible before we left. On Tuesday, 12 hours before we were to depart...

Moving towards the Mountains These past two weeks we have been able to spend quality time with family. Last week we spent time with Matt's family in Las Vegas and now we find ourselves in Virginia with Andréa's family. We were able to share our story at Hopewell First Nazarene here in Virginia, and are now spending the holidays here resting, preparing and enjoying time with loved ones. As we...

Moving Day! As we visited family for Thanksgiving (safely), we are now preparing to leave our apartment this weekend! So many emotions as we leave our favorite apartment we have ever lived in! This is the area where we met, began dating, and returned to when we thought our lives were settling down (little did we know)! As we move out of our apartment, we will next move our belongings into...

2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. 1:2-3 Moving is... Challenging, emotional, stressful and yet it is a time to be blessed! We have had such great support...

"Closing time, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay.....here." When I worked at Starbucks, I would often sing/speak these lyrics to customers at the end of the night. This song is so special to Andréa and I because of the memories it holds. Yet this week we started to feel the song in a different light. As we near closer to reaching our timeline goals of heading to Quito, Ecuador in...

Oakdale Family Church of the Nazarene We were so excited to visit our friends Pastor Chelsea and Pastor Jeremy Peugh! Chelsea and I have worked in the Southwest Field NYI for around two years! Their kids were awesome too! We got to tour the town of Oakdale, get Dutch Bros. Coffee and visit the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi, the Knight's Ferry Bridge. The people we met at OFC Naz...

Anniversary Weekend! This past weekend Andréa and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary! It was an awesome weekend reflecting on our wedding day, where life has taken us, and how God has grown us closer together through it all! As we are inching closer to leaving where we have spent our entire relationship, we spent the weekend exploring Los Angeles. Have you ever acted like a tourist in your...