Jan 2024 - Rain and Sunshine

 

Rain and Sunshine -- January 2024

The rainy season began early and in earnest this year! In both November and December we received almost 2 feet of rainfall each month! January is so far promising to be just as wet. The Awa are happily planting their crops of bananas and plantains, naranjilla fruit, and yucca root. The rain also brings challenges in travel, as mudslides aboun!. In between our house and the community of Palmira there is a place where mud comes down each night with the rain; we are thankful that so far we’ve been able to get by each Friday and Sunday for ministry there! God knows how to open the way before us. 😊
 
We are thankful for each sunny day, those moments to get our laundry dry and to get outdoor work done! Like those welcome rays of sunshine, God has also sent us moments of joy in ministry. To share a few of those moment with you:

•  Seeing Meregildo, wearing a big smile!, waiting beside the road on Sundays to accompany us to the service in Palmira. 😊Years ago Meregildo and his family regularly attended church, but were much hurt by church leader Milton’s unfaithfulness to follow God. But after eight years, Meregildo is beginning to come again….and yes, with that big smile of joy on his face!
• Little 10 year old Nixon, with his brother and three cousins in tow, shouting out Proverbs 3:5-6, our latest memory verse. Nixon and cousin Ronni each proudly recited the verses in both Awa and Spanish and earned two prizes!!
• Getting a big “thank you!” hug from Mindy and sister Yumi last Sunday when they received their Sunday attendance prize. Last fall Kathy began a challenge with the Sunday School kids in Palmira putting stickers on a chart to encourage more faithful attendance. Each Sunday the kids excitedly count their ‘points’ and how much they lack to earn the next prize!
• Seeing mother Nancy show up for church for the third Sunday in a row! Her two children have come regularly for several years, but Nancy has been slow to join them. But little by little she is being drawn in, and it was a joy to see her happily joining in the busy visiting and chatter these last few weeks.

And with the new year arriving, it’s time to draw out a plan for 2024! Please pray for God’s wisdom as we make a few changes and additions to our schedule. We are adding a special youth Saturday each month, a time to gather for fun, food, and Bible teaching. And while we do faithfully teach God’s truth each Sunday, we’d like to put more emphasis on one-on-one discipleship this year. Thanks for praying for God’s help in putting this desire into real tangible moments of purposeful sharing.
 
One last prayer request: Ecuador has been suffering through an intense wave of violence as new President Noboa seeks to corral the rising drug-related gang and cartel presence here. Pray for wisdom for the police, military, and government in this difficult time, for many to turn to God in the uncertainty and fear of these times.
 
Happy new year!! May God encourage your hearts to see His ‘rays of sunshine’ even on those rainy days in 2024. May His faithfulness uphold you in the coming months.
 
In His grip,
Kevin & Kathy