Roads, Rain and Sowing the Good Seed

 

January & February 2022 Roads and Rain

We are SO thankful that the road to the city of Ibarra is mostly open again! After the engineers examined the area and gave the gloomy pronouncement of six months before the road could be open again, the regional tractor drivers courageously just went to work and managed to clear a pathway through the rockslide in just a month. At the point where the roadbed fell, the crew used dynamite to make a narrow passageway just wide enough for one vehicle to pass. This past week rain continues to fall and more mud and rocks have fallen in various places along the 50 mile stretch of highway, so there are days when the road is closed again (like today). These days travel at night, with the heavy rains, is not a good option. For the most part though, we are back in business, and we are grateful for the much shorter and more direct trip to the city. Thanks for your prayers!
 

Sowing the Good Seed

In our last Bruce Brief we asked for prayer for recently widowed Oso. We are pleased to report that he continues to come to the church service each Sunday and, yes, he continues to bring a pack of grandchildren with him. The first Sunday he returned, we asked him how he was doing, to which he replied somewhat dismally, “Well, I’m not dead yet.” We recognize the reality of the sad loneliness he is experiencing in these days, and therefore we are glad to see him seeking out the comfort of the truth of God’s word.  Thank you for your continued prayers for him, that the “God of hope would fill [him] with all joy and peace in believing” (Rom 15:13) until that day when God does call him home.

We’ve been going to visit Paulino’s elderly parents, José and Senovia. They are less mobile now and are not able to come to church, so Kathy & I take my guitar and sing and go over a short Bible lesson together with them. Grandsons Jeison (14 yrs) and José Freddy (13) are there listening as well. Please pray for these two young fellows who have lived with their mother and grandparents since their father Alfredo was killed in a drunken fight many years ago. Pray that the good seed of God’s word would be an encouragement to José and Senovia, and that Jeison and Jose Freddy would allow the truth they hear to truly take root their hearts.

With continuing covid sickness, school continues to be ‘hit or miss’ for youth in our valley. With the boredom that comes from not much going on, these young folks are open for Bible study! 😊 Just recently the last three (Avelino, Aida, and Emma, pictured above) finished the Samaritan’s Bible study book, making for a total of 25 youth who have done this study. And there are 26 young folks signed up for the new Bible study we’ll begin this coming Sunday, February 6th! Pray that this book Rey de Gloria (King of Glory, a panoramic overview of the Bible) will be like that good seed in Jesus’ parable of the sower. Pray that the seeds sown will bring forth a harvest of much fruit in these young people’s lives.

Thankful for your partnership in prayer,
Kevin & Kathy

If you are interested in checking out the King of Glory material in many different languages, you can find it here: www.king-of-glory.com.