Feb 2025 - Ready or not

 

“Are you ready?”  February 2025

There is a question that we have been asked often over the last few weeks as we prepare for returning to Ecuador. That question is “Are you ready to go back?” Over and over our answer has been a resounding YES. And no, it is not because we want to flee the cold weather….we actually enjoyed the winter! 😊
 

 

Many commented to us as we shared with them our ‘Home Assignment’ schedule and the many miles we were traveling to see people, churches, and family, that they thought we came home to the USA to rest. And yes, rest was part of the equation as we planned our days here, but not the primary reason. Paul in Romans chapter one, when sharing of his desire to go to Rome and share with the believers living there, says this in verse 12: “that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”  As we sought to share with you how God’s grace is reaching into our lives personally and into the lives of the people in Ecuador, we also received much encouragement from your faith as well! That is how Kathy and I view our time of home assignment: as a time of mutual encouragement. As we rub shoulders with each of you, hearing and seeing firsthand how God is at work in your lives, we are re-energized and strengthened. That’s why we can say ‘Yes’--we are ready to return.

So this week we packed our suitcases, dusted off the car, and said goodbye to our bungalow in snowy New Hampshire!
 

We are looking forward to many good things. Our new coworkers the Andersons arrived safely last week in Ecuador. They are settling in and ready to embark on learning Spanish and adapting to the Ecuadorian culture.  Our Awa brothers and sisters are planning a welcome feast for our arrival. We heard the news that there were 13 chickens promised for the meal! We feel super blessed by their generosity towards us! Coworkers Andy and Chrissy are also looking forward to us being there to help carry the ministry load. 😊 It will be exciting to dig into the Old Testament translation project, as we seek to incorporate a discipleship component to our group work sessions with our Awa brothers and sisters.

Lord willing, our next update will come to you all the way from the equator! A big thank you to all of you who hosted us, fed us, and blessed us by your generosity. We pray that we have in some small way also been an encouragement to the many of you we were able to see over the last six months

In His grip,

Kevin & Kathy