January 2013

January 2013

Yummy smoked 'fatty'

Kathy, Kimberly, and I spent a wonderfully quiet Christmas week here on the mountain! I tried out my new 'smoker' barrel on Christmas lunch with delicious results, while Kathy and Kimberly added more yummy dishes to the menu. We also put together a puzzle, as we do each Christmas, and enjoyed chatting long-distance with Kenny and Keilah.  These days were especially relaxing since the week before, and the week after, were both a bit crazy for us....

The week before Christmas Kathy had an allergic reaction to something here at the Outpost. After  suffering with hives and itching off and on for two days, and finding little help from Benadryl, she went out to Ibarra with the Shaub family on December 16th. That night she woke up around midnight with her tongue and throat swelling, so Andy and Chrissy took her to the emergency room. At that point, we were all thankful she was in the city! The (very!) young doctor there, as well as the doctor she saw the next day, attributed the allergy to a local plant that is known to give strong reactions. Kathy hadn't been outside at the time she started with the hives, but I had been weed-whacking in the yard for several days prior to that, which might have been the source of her trouble. After several days on stronger medication, Kathy returned to the Outpost on the 20th, not without feeling a bit wary of the local herbage! We thank the Lord that by His grace she has been fine since then.

porch getting a bit crowded!

After Christmas, I spent several days in the city with our Mission co-workers going over our goals for the coming year. I came home just in time for a special Sunday with the Awa December 30th, celebrating both Christmas and the end of the year. While expecting around 80 people, we were happily surprised to have about 150 folks show up! (At one point there were over 100 people squeezed on our porch, while the rest sat on blankets on the hill just behind.) It did give us and the believers a few tense moments wondering if the food for lunch would be enough! But we had an especially good service with both Milton and Paulino sharing with the crowd; games; a feast of boiled pork, beans, yucca, rice and plantains; and the giving of the traditional animal cracker and candy bags. The Lord graciously stretched what we had and there was enough for all. Everyone left with a smile! It was an excellent opportunity to invite those who are interested to join us each Sunday. One couple, Silvio (a fellow who tried to commit suicide about a year ago) and his wife Pastora, as well as a 12-year-old neighbor boy, Edison, have joined us for several Sundays since. Please join us in praying that their present interest will turn into a lasting understanding of God's love for them.

Happy New Year!

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy

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