Eyes to see

A slippery visiter

It’s been a full four months since our return in July! The days and weeks have flown past, as we have spent much time on the road between our mountain home and the cities of Ibarra and Quito. We have certainly had our share of adventures since we got back, starting with the girls’ flashflood escape at the river in July; then strikes and political unrest and propane shortages; vehicle breakdowns; some interesting 4-wheeling on our muddy road….and, just in case we have a monotonous day, there’s often a big, hairy spider or a snake that’ll show up just to keep us from getting bored. :-) But, while life can keep us jumping (literally!), that’s not really why we are here.

Keilah with her new puppy

And the paperwork…always a challenge! Looking back over our calendars, we counted 10 multi day trips to the city in order to finally have our permanent visas in hand. Based on having an Ecuadorian-born daughter, our new visas won’t have to be renewed, and have only a few restrictions (like not leaving the country for more than three months each of the first 2 years). This coming week we hope to get our national i.d. cards, the last step, and one more trip to Quito in this lengthy process. We thank the Lord for His help and protection in all of this!

And yet, paperwork isn’t why we are here, either.

Or maybe it is...

It’s the people, isn’t it? God’s heart is in drawing out a people to bear His name, and that must include the clerk and the lawyer in the paperwork offices, and the mechanic at the shop, as well as the many Awa around us. Since we’ve returned, we’ve learned that several of our Ecuadorian friends died while we were in the USA, including Keilah’s dedicated orthodontist, Dra. Correa, who died unexpectedly from cancer, and a fellow who Kevin enjoyed chatting with who ran a radio/electronics store.  We are reminded that this is why we are here…it’s the people that matter to our Heavenly Father.

Kimberly and her cousin
helping with the kids during
the literacy class

There’s Simon, an Awa fellow who has recently come several Sundays to hear the Bible teaching after a many-year absence, even bringing his wife and kids. And the young mothers who come to the Monday literacy classes, bringing a whole slew of not-always-cooperative toddlers along with them. There’s the kids in the community of Palmira that we’ll soon be teaching English to. And our neighbor, Nestor, whose wife just had a baby boy after years of one miscarriage after another. 

We desire to not only teach the Word on Sundays, but to see each face that God brings into our path as one that God loves. Something that’s easily forgotten when we get busy!

In the words of the singer, Brandon Heath, our prayer too is: Give me Your eyes...

“Give me Your eyes for just one second

Give me Your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken hearted

Ones that are far beyond my reach.

 Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me Your eyes so I can see”

Thank you for your prayers and support!

In His grip,

Kevin & Kathy Bruce

Brandon Heath - Give Me Your Eyes from Brandon Heath on Vimeo.