Bruce Brief - Nov

Thanks for your prayers for Maria Luisa! We have seen God’s hand working in their lives. This week, after hearing rumors from several relatives that Maria’s family was moving her closer to our location, we did some searching and finally located Maria and her parents staying in the common house of a small Awa community north of us. It was so good to see them face to face, after weeks of just passing messages and hearing news from afar! Maria began to talk as Kathy perched on the edge of the bed beside her, and she kept talking and crying for almost two hours straight as she told and re-told all that she’s been going through. I sat on another bed with Maria’s father Alfonso, while he also shared with me the difficulties they are passing through. Their story is full of fear---fear that Maria will die; fear of her husband and his family, who supposedly want to kill them; fear of the hex and the shaman; fear of losing their house and land, as a family of squatters have moved in. At the same time, we saw signs that they are being reminded to turn to the Lord in this difficult time. Maria’s sister Gloria had visited the week before and encouraged them to ask God for help. After going to many different ‘curers’, some of which used marijuana and other remedies that ‘made me worse’, Maria said, they are now going each week to the government health center in Lita. Maria is under treatment for an ulcer, and feels like her stomach, where she feels the ‘snake’, is getting better.
“My father says I need to have faith in God,” Maria told Kathy. “But I’m sick, and for weeks I haven’t been getting better. I don’t know if God is remembering me.” We were so thankful for the chance to encourage them that God never ‘throws us away’ (as Maria’s husband is doing to her), but sees us in our struggles, and is present with us at all times. We prayed together with Maria, and invited the family to come up to stay with us next week for several days. Please pray that we can use the time of their visit to encourage them with God’s truth in many different ways. And pray that the believers in our community will also rally around them!
In other notes of news:
• After a long summer break, we have started up the adult literacy program again! Each Monday we gather with the students to study reading, math, and now something new---an hour of Bible School! Adapting some materials from our national churches called ‘The Good Servant’, we are presently studying the basics of salvation, and memorizing Romans 3:23-24 together. This is an excellent opportunity to work on spiritual terms in Awa, as we begin by talking about such concepts as ‘sin’ and ‘justification’. Last week it brought us great joy to see a new level of understanding dawning in Jaime’s eyes as we talked about how sin separates us from God. As a new believer, there is much that is new to him!
• I was thrilled to finish editing and formatting the portions of Exodus that our co-worker Doug has translated. What a joy to print out an updated version, all ready for use! At this point, the next step will be to read over the portions several times with the Awa, revising any mistakes or misunderstandings that we find.
• Holiday separations as a family are not our favorite thing. But we have seen the Lord’s provision in many ways for Kenny and Keilah as they both are learning and growing in their studies. We are thankful for the many ways to shorten the miles between us—email, Facebook, phone texts, and Skype, to name a few!
In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy

Maria

Back in June we told you a little of Maria Luisa’s story.

Maria’s situation has continued to go downhill. The Awa curer that her family took her to informed the family that Maria’s husband is the initiator of the problem because he wishes to take a new wife. The curer went on to say that Nestor has put a hex on Maria. The original snake that supposedly bit her was a spirit-snake, put there by a hex.

She continues to lose weight and cannot eat more than a few teaspoons at a time. The family says she cries for hours at a time, and is cutting and hurting herself. She has episodes where she feels like she can’t breathe, and often faints. The family has heard through the grapevine that the Chachi shaman has Maria’s spirit in a bottle. When the shaman puts the lid on the bottle, Maria can’t breathe and faints, and she only comes out of the faint when he takes the lid back off again. The Chachi have told the family that for this hex, there is no cure, and Maria will surely die.

The situation is very complex, with rumors that Maria’s family is interested in getting revenge on Nestor and his family. Because of this, the other Awa that live near the Chachi village are preparing to move, as they are afraid that they will be killed, such as by poison being put in their water supply.

This week the family moved Maria Luisa to a local Awa community center, where they are calling all the family together to do another evil-spirit-curing ceremony.

In all of this, we haven’t seen Maria or her parents, who are believers, run to the Lord for help. Please pray that as they will see that He is their refuge! It is easy for us as Americans to disregard many parts of Maria’s story. But for the Awa, the world of witchcraft and shamans is very real, and even scarier because they don’t understand the Chachi culture and the implications of what the shaman has supposedly done. And yet the Gospel message that we are here to proclaim is that GOD IS STRONGER! We ache to be able to help Maria and her family, and remind them of this truth.

Maria’s older sister Gloria is a believer, and lives in the city. Last night we had a chance to talk and pray with her. While she is not oblivious to what she has heard of the witchdoctor’s curse, she told us that she knows that God is bigger, and able to help, but fears her family is forgetting this. She has begged for time off work so that she can visit Maria and her parents this weekend. Please pray for Gloria as she visits the family, that she will stand firm and be able to encourage them. We are able to send a message to the family thru Gloria, as well.

Since Maria’s extended family includes many of the Awa in Ecuador, there are many Awa watching this drama unfold. We ache to see God’s glory upheld here among this needy people. Please join us in prayer for this difficult situation.

In HIS grip,

Kevin & Kathy

New Babies

Paulino's granddaughter and son born on the same day

Settling back in

As we get back into a regular fall schedule, once again we are working as a team to ask the Lord to direct us with wise strategy for setting goals for this new school year. We appreciate your prayers as we get the homeschool year going; make plans for beginning adult literacy classes again; set up a schedule for teaching in Palmira; and take part in working with Liebenzell Mission Ecuador to set up priorities and goals for the ministry in the northern part of this country. The last weeks were filled with a short, but refreshing, conference with our missionary co-workers and a visiting pastor from New Hampshire; Mission planning meetings; and Awa Team meetings as well.

Sandra and Jaime on Sunday

Kathy and I visited Palmira this last weekend, teaching a Bible lesson on Sunday morning. Our last words to Paulino’s family as we left to hike home at noon on Sunday were that we would be praying for safe deliveries for the two babies due at their house. Paulino’s son Salamon brought big news on Thursday—both Paulino’s wife Manuela and his oldest daughter Sandra gave birth on Wednesday at their home. The local birthing helper had attended both births, for which they were thankful as Paulino’s little son ‘died’ (as the Awa say) for a few minutes during the birth. Oswardo, the birthing helper, was able to resuscitate him, and we pray all is well with this precious little fellow now. Paulino’s grandchild was a little girl---Paulino says it’s just like having twins! What a joy to receive these two long-awaited babies—Paulino’s 11th child and his first grandchild!

For those of you who wondered how the time went here at the Outpost while we were in the USA:

Paulino’s wife Manuela and daughter Monica did an excellent job watching our houses and animals. We found all in order when we arrived the end of August. One surprise was the dishpan with about 140 eggs they had saved up for us—we had encouraged them to eat the eggs, but they just didn’t consider it good Awa etiquette! Thankfully we found very few rotten eggs in the batch—and yes, we were able to generously share the eggs to everyone who came by in the next few days!

Paulino & Milton

Paulino was able to hold the monthly church service in Palmira, although he said that because of school vacations, it was mostly just his family that came. Milton carefully prepared and taught the three lessons on the life of Christ, although he was also disappointed to see that not many folks showed up for the services. “But the Lord knows their hearts, and I think it was just that they were busy,” he told us. He refused to let it discourage him! The first Sunday we were back, I had Milton do a review of the three lessons he had taught, and was amazed at his thorough knowledge of the passages and material. He had definitely done his homework! We praise the Lord to see his ability to handle the Scripture portions!
In HIS grip
Kevin & Kathy

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Bruce Brief - Aug 2012

About a year ago, we found an ugly note waiting for us on the trail coming into our houses. In crude writing was a threatening message. Immediately we guessed it had come from one of our neighbors (we’ll call him Dan) who has been somewhat antagonistic towards us over the years. The note was a reminder to pray for Dan, and we began to look for opportunities to do something kind for him and his family.

A few weeks ago Paulino came upon Dan sitting in his house, with a bloody cloth wrapped around his hand. Immediately Paulino took it upon himself to help him take care of his injury. Dan said several hours earlier he had been using a power tool, a grinder, when it jumped and ran across the back of his left hand, leaving a series of scrapes and rather deep cuts. “Let’s go to Lita, cousin,” Paulino said, but Dan refused. He just continued to sit there, watching the blood drip down. Paulino’s next suggestion was to find the community health promoter, who might at least be able to bandage it up. Again, Dan refused. “Well, let’s go up to the missionaries, then!” Paulino said at last. “They’ll help!”

And so the Lord gave us another opportunity to show kindness to Dan, as we stopped the bleeding, cleaned and wrapped his hand, and talked with him about what had happened. We sent him home with his bandaged hand resting in an arm sling, and with materials and instructions on how to clean the wounds and change the bandage the next morning. And we do pray that he also went home having experienced just a small touch of God’s love.

The Lord provides many opportunities like this (with never-ending variety!) each week here at the Outpost. Pray that we will be faithful as God’s ambassadors to not only show His love with our hands, but also to be His voice, calling this people to Himself. Often experiencing a touch of His love is the catalyst that awakens a hunger to later hear God’s word. (I suppose that is true of people of any culture!)

Family update:
The picture says it all! In August we had a wonderful three weeks in the USA with Kenny and Keilah and the rest of the Bruce family. We thoroughly enjoyed spending two Sundays at our church in New Hampshire and seeing many of our friends. We’re just sorry we couldn’t see the rest of you around the country!

The highlight of our trip was a week at my dad’s cabin with our three kids, Kenny’s girlfriend Hannah, and my parents. What a blessing! :-) We are now back in Ecuador with Kimberly, while Kenny digs back into his studies at Liberty in Virginia, and Keilah settles into her new life at NTBI in Wisconsin.

In Christ,
Kevin & Kathy

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Maria Luisa

     The end of May, Maria Luisa was bit by a snake on her hand. Her family immediately took her to the hospital, but the doctors found no sign of venom in her body, so she was sent home. From our Western point of view, that might seem like the end of this story. But for the Awa, this is only the beginning. Snakebites are incredibly complex to them, and involve much more than just the venom.
Since the snakebite, Maria has been sick. She can feel the snake rise up inside her, travelling from her hand to her throat and chest. At times she feels like the snake is curled up on her chest. She is weak and bedridden, has no appetite, and occasionally faints.

     Maria’s story goes back three years to when she was a beautiful young girl of 18. At that time she took a husband from the neighboring Chachi village. She proudly brought her Chachi husband, Nestor, to our next Conference, and over the following years we did our best to teach him from God’s Word in Spanish, since he doesn’t understand the Awa language. At first Nestor showed some signs of being interested in the teaching, but slowly lapsed back into indifference. Now Maria and her two children are suffering as Nestor has not been a good worker or provider—at least by Awa standards. Her Awa culture is clashing with his Chachi ways; and although she desires to live as a believer, Nestor is just not that interested.
     Now back to the snakebite:  Several weeks ago Nestor decided to take her to a Chachi shaman, a powerful witchdoctor that his own people consider to be able to cure such sicknesses. Maria’s family, mostly believers, rejected this as witchcraft. One day her brother, Luis, had a punching knock-down bloody fight with Nestor over this issue. Now Nestor says Maria might as well die, he doesn’t care.
So…Maria’s father Alfonso and her brother Luis put her children in the care of her mother Julia, and, gathering several hundred dollars from different family members, have taken Maria to a far Awa community for a different type of curer—an Awa herbalist ‘curandero’. To their Awa minds, this is an acceptable alternative, although the herbalist will use many of the same tactics as the shaman, like blowing smoke over her and early morning ritual bathing, along with his herbs, for ‘curing’. The family expects that Maria, Alfonso, and Luis will be gone for several weeks.
     This is a difficult situation for us to sort through---and a tremendous trial of faith for Maria and her family. Please pray for them! Our prayer has been that they will turn to God for help, and that His Spirit in them will bear witness to what is of Him and what is of Satan. And that in the end they will be able to see God’s hand in what has happened, and give the glory to Him. Maria Luisa also faces a huge challenge in living as a believer in her marriage. We are reminded that God is well able to provide the help she needs, even in this difficult time. Pray that she will throw herself on His merciful arms.
     And I’ll close with a quick update on our family:  We are definitely in the nomadic stage! With Kenny beginning his second year at Liberty University in VA, and Keilah finishing up the camp season in Missouri and getting ready to study at New Tribes Bible Institute in Wisconsin, it would seem we are pulled in many directions.  In August we will be spending three weeks in NH with both of them, as well as a few of those days with Hannah Meyer, Kenny’s girlfriend. August 16th we’ll put Kenny, Hannah, and Keilah on the train to each head off to their respective schools….and return to Ecuador on August 22nd with just Kimberly in tow! (Or maybe she’ll be towing us after those three busy weeks!) :-)

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy

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June Medical Caravan

The medical caravan saw and treated over 400 people in the three days that we attended the people here in Rio Verde. From a tiny newborn baby, suffering from congestion, to several old grandmas with painful joints, the doctors and nurses poured out their love and care to each and every one. It never fails to surprise me that Shelia and her crew are able to love these people—literally, holding the kids on their laps and even hugging each one—as they arrive one by one. While we have come to love this people over the years, we realize that many of the Awa come from miles away, and they are often dirty and sweaty, not necessarily easy to get close to. As each one took their turn on the examining table, I could see the muddy black boots sticking out at various angles. And yet, during the days of the Caravan, I believe each one felt the mercy and love that flowed from the hands of His servants.

Teresa came from the other side of the Lita River, with her small son who was sick with pneumonia and barely breathing. Those who were doing the reception area saw how sick the little boy was and moved them into the front of the line. Dr. Tim was worried the little guy would breathe his last right there on his examining table. He worked quickly to put an i.v. in him and give him antibiotics. Then Kevin quickly drove Teresa and little Benin and one of the nurses down to Lita to the small health clinic. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when we heard that Benin was still breathing when he arrived in Lita, after an hour of driving on the rough road. Later he was taken to the hospital in Ibarra and spent several days in the children’s ward in the social hospital there. This week Teresa was able to bring him home again.

Even as the caravan days ended, we heard the tragic news that a relative of Milton’s wife had been knifed and killed in a drunken fight in a community west of here. Another fellow was shot in the same fight. And we are reminded that most of the Awa live in a very dark world, without the light that comes from knowing God.

So we thank the Lord for the opportunity to shed His Light here in Rio Verde, and we pray for that Light to spread into the many Awa communities in the mountains around us.

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy