Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me...” (Matthew 19:14)

The Lita River valley is home to seven community schools and about 400 children, a majority of whom are Awa. We often find ourselves involved in these schools in different ways: last week we handed out pencils and school supplies to the children in the La Colonia school. These kids are the next generation, a generation growing up in changing times as roads, electricity, and technology make their way into these mountains. We find it easy to love these little ones, and how we long to see them growing up with a knowledge of God. Would you pray along with us that in each of our interactions we could be a part of bringing these young ones to Jesus?

We continue to hold two services most Sundays, in Rio Verde as well as in Palmira. Our goal is to have a “united Sunday” once a month where we gather both groups for the service and a lunch meal together. Attendance dropped over the summer months as many Awa spent more time at their outlying farms, but some have returned since the beginning of the school year. The regular Sunday soccer games in Palmira have resumed, creating an area of conflict for many: how hard it is to choose to attend church when a rousing soccer game is on! Paulino’s wife Manuela also finds this difficult, as she cooks and sells “empanadas” (fried breads) and other food to the hungry soccer players. This has been a source of conflict for Paulino as he would love to see his whole family in church each Sunday. “But I can’t drag them here by force!” he says. Sound familiar? Yes, this struggle seems to be the same challenge in many cultures! Please pray with Paulino that his family and friends would treasure God above all else.

Our good friends and co-workers Andreas and Donata Schiller, along with daughters Noemí and Mattea, have recently returned to Germany to investigate some serious health concerns for Donata. The Schillers work with young people in ministries in and around Ibarra, especially with college-age youth. Please pray for the Schillers as they seek to find medical help. We would love to have them return to work with the team here in Ecuador, but overall our desire is to have them right where God would have them to be.

We appreciate your prayers! Here are a few prayer updates:

• Gloria is doing much better health-wise! She has more medical exams in November, but for the moment is happy to be able to eat more of a normal diet. (The picture shows Gloria with two of her five grandchildren.)
• The new internet connection has continued (mostly!) stable and we have been very thankful for the easier access.
• Milton continues to come most weeks for Bible study and also Sundays for church, although he often struggles with discouragement. We have wanted to help him to re-connect with his extended family, so that they are able to see that he desires to walk in obedience to God. Please pray with us that he would understand how to live in honesty and transparency before them.

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy