March – Let your light shine!

Greetings from Ecuador. As we follow the news closely along with all of you these days we are thankful that our HOPE does not spring from our circumstances or our trust in the authorities, but from the One who holds all the universe in the palm of His hand. Kathy and I are fine here, bracing for the ‘storm’ that may or may not be coming 😊 as this week brought the first confirmed case of corona-virus in our area. Thanks for your prayers! Pray that our light will shine in these days and that we might lead other to know the HOPE we find in Christ.

Ecuador has followed the example of most of the world, closing its borders and restricting travel and activities. So like many of you we are not able to do ministry in the normal ways, and are looking for creative ideas on how to continue to be a blessing. Streaming our Sunday services to the Awa is not a possibility, but I was able to put a little wifi accessible computer in Palmira and we will record teaching to put on it. Then, as in most households in Palmira there is someone with a smart-phone, they can walk close to the church and connect to the wifi which will have a simple web page where they will be able to download the message to take home and listen to with their families. For Palmira, which lies in a cellphone dark area and no internet service at all, we hope the novelty of it will motivate them to try it anyway! 😉

At present here in Ecuador the public bus system is also suspended, which means by default we become the local ambulance. 😊 One of our Awa friends in Palmira needs regular dialysis treatments which he can only get in the city of Ibarra. For the present some travel is permitted for personal vehicles for essential purposes, according to the last digit of your license plate, odd or even. By God’s grace, between the Shaub’s truck (last digit 7) and ours (8) we have all the days covered. So yesterday we drove our friend Marco out to Ibarra in Shaub’s truck and dropped him off at the hospital for his treatment, picking him up in the afternoon and bringing him home again in the evening. Pray for us to have wisdom to help Marco in these days; we are thankful that he seems to understand salvation and thus has a Heavenly Father to walk with him in these difficult days.

And we really do appreciate your prayers that in these days when our people are experiencing great fear, that we could be a Light among them and share the message of Hope.

Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

 

In HIS grip, 
Kevin & Kathy

 

Picture of the month:

Matthew 19:14 says, “but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven’” A few Sundays ago this was the text for my teaching — which was quite pertinent since that Sunday we had about a dozen 3-4 year-olds who not only don’t sit quietly but often climb like monkeys in the windows while I am teaching! 😊 These are two adorable little sisters, Daida and Maily, who sometimes come to church with their aunt.