Of all the varied things we do here in Ecuador, teaching God’s Word to the Awa is central to our whole reason for being here among them. However, communicating clearly is often a struggle as we try to put God’s truth into words their hearts (or livers, in Awa-speak) can understand. Many times our prayer is that the Lord will take our attempts to communicate and ‘bridge the gap’ in the people’s understanding. We most certainly would appreciate your prayers in this regard! We thought we’d just quickly share with you a summary of what’s up with the Bible teaching.
Sunday teaching: Three Sundays a month we’ve been teaching the believers here at the Outpost, just finishing up the book of Titus and getting started into 1 Thessalonians. Last week it was a treat to have Doug Williams, our co-worker on home assignment in the US, here to teach! Please pray for the 10 or so believers who are regularly attending. Although at times it is such a struggle to communicate clearly, we’ve had many good conversations with these folks concerning the truths in these Scriptures. In several we’ve seen the willingness and eagerness to let God take pre-eminence in their lives, even when His Word clashes with their culture. Please pray for Delia, Manuela, and Cecilia—Awa women who faithfully attend but are quiet during the teaching, making it difficult to know where their understanding is at. Paulino’s daughter Sandra, and another young Awa woman, Elvia, have recently asked to be baptized. Paulino told both of these girls that they should think hard before they make the choice to be baptized. “Make sure that you truly you want to follow God’s path,” he told them, “because it’s not right to say you are going to follow and then just forget like some other Awa have done.”
Kids’ teaching: Each Sunday we teach the kids a Bible story. Milton faithfully and enthusiastically taught through Moses and the Israelites in Egypt using lessons our co-worker Doug had translated. At that point in the Old Testament story, we ran out of translated lessons, so it was back to me to teach again. Now we have reached the birth of Jesus and the New Testament lessons, and are happy that again Milton can teach, as we have the Awa lessons that he can study up and read from himself. Pray for Milton as he prepares—it is still hard work for him to read clearly and accurately. He often listens to the Scripture passage on the Proclaimer (the device that plays a digital recording of the Awa New Testament) in order to understand better. We are blessed by his diligence. As we get into Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, pray that these kids will clearly understand Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins. Cristian, Graciela, Yaneth, David, Salomon, Monica, Sergio….all are Awa kids for whom Christ died.
P. Community: One weekend a month I’ve been making the hike to Paulino’s home community to teach the believers at his house, reviewing the book of Ephesians with them. Paulino and his sister Gloria have told us many times that others in the community are wanting to hear God’s Word, especially Victor, Paulino’s neighbor, and Marco Aurelio’s family (whose two daughters were the ones who drowned back in June.) Two weeks ago, I was able to attend a community meeting there and asked for permission to begin teaching the evangelism lessons in the communal house. I received a guarded response—not exactly enthusiastic, but at least there was no outright opposition. Please pray for God to open hearts in this community, as I begin the teaching on August 16th. Also pray that Paulino and Milton will take an active interest and role in the teaching.
Meregildo’s family: Friday afternoons find me at Meregildo’s house to teach the Bible. I never quite know what will be waiting for me there…a pig-butchering, cows to vaccinate, even (about a month ago) a family argument to settle (between Meregildo and his brother Francisco. Now that was a puzzle to sort out, as both men talked heatedly at each other all at once, with me in the middle. I’m not sure I ever quite got the details down, although I think I might have kept them from hitting each other!) But at some point while I am there each Friday, Meregildo will call his family together to listen to the teaching. Right now we are studying the life of Christ together. Please pray for good understanding for this dear family.
B. Community: Once a month we drive the 3 hours to teach Alfonso’s family here in this community. We just finished studying the books of Acts together, and are just getting into Romans. We wish we could make it there more often, as this family is hungry to hear God’s Word. We are excited to have Humberto coming from this community to join us this coming week for some work on the OT translation with Doug. We’d love to see Humberto (one of the few in this family that can read) able to teach his own family, so that they can hear the Bible teaching more often. Please pray for Humberto to gain confidence that he can be God’s instrument in spreading His Word.
We want the Awa to know the same encouragement and help that the truths of God’s Word are to our own hearts. As the Lord brings the work here to your minds, we’d sure appreciate your prayers for the Bible teaching!
Kevin and Kathy
Kevin & Kathy Bruce
Liebenzell Mission
Casilla 10-01-692
Ibarra, Imbabura
ECUADOR
+593 9 478-7811
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