July Happenings

Yes, we are now officially grandparents! Ronin Kai was born on June 28th, weighing in at 8 ½ lbs. He is a handsome and delightful little fellow :-) and has already captured the hearts of his grandparents, great-grandparents, and aunts and uncles! Keilah & Jeremy are doing a great job at working through the transition of being parents: the joys and the responsibilities alike (like those sleepless nights!) They are also in the midst of packing as they begin missionary training in August in Missouri.

Our hearts are thankful not just for God’s gift of little Ronin, but also for the special time He gave us with our family. Kenny & Sophia joined us from Virginia for a week, and we were even able to sneak away for a few days in Maine with them. We helped Kimberly get her driver’s license and to pack up for her coming move to Missouri (where she will be working in childcare at the same place Keilah & Jeremy will be students, the Ethnos 360 Missionary Training Center.) God graciously allowed us a few minutes with my (Kevin’s) beloved Grandma Natalie Bruce before she passed into the presence of our Savior this week. Good-byes are difficult, but our hearts are comforted in knowing that God is in control and we look forward to an eternity in Heaven together!

We appreciate our co-workers Andy & Chrissy Shaub holding down the fort in Ecuador while we were gone. It was not a time without difficulty: Paulino’s newest grand-baby (just 2 months old!) died, and Gloria was hospitalized with an esophageal obstruction. Keeping the two church services going each week was an extra challenge as well. As we return and jump back into the ministry, we’d appreciate your prayers for God’s grace as we walk alongside the Awa believers as they go through such times of suffering.

 Thank you for your prayers!
    • Seeing God’s faithfulness in each of our kids’ lives has been such a special blessing; how thankful we are for the opportunity to spend time with them and welcome baby Ronin.
    • Roughly fifty Awa were able to be seen by the medical caravan just before we left.
    • As we head back to living among the Awa we are relying on God’s provision of strength for each day. How we need His help and His wisdom!
    • A steady presence in the ministry has been an important need in this time. In 2019 we face a special challenge as we work toward a time of furlough for both the Shaubs and us; thanks for joining with us in prayer that God would work this out while still allowing the Awa church to grow and mature.

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy
 

Jeremy, Keilah (with Ronin), Kevin, Kathy, Kenny, Kimberly, Sophia, Nancy & Irvin (Kevin’s parents)