There are many signs that spring is on the way! Having only experienced the changing of the seasons once every five years, we take great pleasure in watching the snow melt, the temperatures warm, and the trees begin to bud out. We saw a purple crocus in bloom over at my mom’s house the other day! These are such beautiful reminders of Jesus’ resurrection and cause us to look forward to celebrating Easter here in the next few weeks. It seems we have a new appreciation for God’s work of renewal in our own hearts, as well. We have much to be thankful for!
Kevin returned from his Haiti trip just in time to visit our friends at Hope Fellowship in Newport, and attend a men’s retreat from our church. A week later we travelled to take part in the missions emphasis week at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania. Our own hearts were challenged with renewed zeal even as we sought to challenge and encourage the students. We were reminded that not only is God worth giving our whole heart, but as we grow in love for Him, our hands will reach out to draw others into His kingdom. What a privilege it will be to someday sit in the mighty bleachers in Heaven with our Awa brothers and sisters in Christ!
The last weekend in February we stayed at Liebenzell headquarters in New Jersey, and visited Asbury United Methodist Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania; mid-March found us at Whitefield Christian Advent Church in northern New Hampshire for a weekend missions conference. Again, our hearts were blessed to see God’s people joining in the work around the world! We have a new and sweet appreciation for the family of God, and for the team standing behind the ministry. We do thank all of you for your hospitality and encouragement.
We are in the midst of updating our shots and getting our furlough physicals and some dental work done. Since we are now quite officially over 40, we hope it won’t be too discouraging! Heaven, here we come! :-) Kathy has been avoiding wheat for some time now, and confirmed with a GI specialist that she is ‘wheat intolerant’—at least that’s the official term he recommended using. Changing our diet has been a little challenging (but not impossible) and she is happy to have her digestive system back on track. The warmer temperatures have encouraged us to get out walking and jogging as we prepare ourselves for the mountains that await us...
Our minds are beginning to turn to our return to Ecuador this summer. The pieces are falling into place, beginning with our tickets for July 8th out of St. Louis. Kenny is hoping to spend the summer here in New Hampshire, working and helping out at our church, and Keilah has plans to spend a few weeks working at a Christian camp in Missouri. We plan to finish our homeschool year and move out of our rented house by Memorial Day weekend. So we have the rest of March and April before the suitcases come out!
In Ecuador, the Shaubs and Williams are preparing for the Awa Believers’ Conference, which will take place over Easter week. Doug has asked Milton to teach the account of Jonah, as they recently finished working on translating that OT book. Please pray specifically that God would bring the Awa that He wants to the conference, and that their hearts would be open to receiving the teaching and convicted by the truths taught. The Millan family has a big load on their hands as they run the Awa Center by themselves, as their co-workers, the Rosales family, recently moved back to Cotacachi. I know they would appreciate your prayers as well. They will be in charge of the children during the Awa conference.
Thankyou for your prayers!
In Christ
Kevin & Kathy
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