Medical Caravan!

We've done much bumping and bouncing up and down our road over the last few weeks! The potholes seem to have grown deeper (compliments of the rainy season). :-) However, we ARE thankful for the road, even with all the bumps! This year---for the first time---the road allowed the annual medical caravan to go all the way to the community of Palmira. Wow! Just a year ago it was still a good hike! Of course, the medical crew had to put up with a good amount of jouncing to get there; and a downpour mid-afternoon turned the dry road into a slippery slide by the end of the day, but they made it! Many Awa, some of whom live still several hours'  hike beyond Palmira, commented to us how appreciative they were that the doctors had finally come so much closer to where they live!

This month has brought several different Awa with health needs to our doorstep:

• Over the last month we've been trying to help Gloria's husband Guillermo with some health needs, as he has been sick for most of the last year. Many tests have been inconclusive.
• Gilberto and his family came to the caravan suffering with a sickness (perhaps tuberculosis). Many family members are coughing, thin, and weak. Over the next few weeks, we'd like to try to help them get some tests done and hopefully figure out what is going on.
• Sandra and Jaime's baby Liseth has an appointment in Quito on July 12th. Liseth seems to be blind, along with other problems. Please pray with us for Jaime and Sandra as they face this trial, and that the specialist would know how to help Liseth.

I spent several Fridays in June helping at the school in Palmira, teaching the children how to type on the computers. Often we are happy to just have a reason to spend time with the folks in this community! Kathy and I have now been invited by the school director to come each week in the fall in order to continue to teach typing and to tutor students who are struggling. We are happy to have this 'crack' opening in the door! Our desire continues to be to make use of the two lots that were given us in this community for a center of sharing Christ's love. We'd appreciate your prayers that God would open that door in His timing.

Back in Rio Verde we are encouraged to see the believers moving toward a better understanding of how to forgive and restore Milton to the group. At the same time, Milton seems to be returning to spending time with his sister-in-law, under the pretext of visiting his little son Benjamin (now 10 months old). This has deeply saddened both us and his wife and children. It has now been well over a year that Milton has walked alone and kept away from the group of believers, and that has been very difficult for him. Please pray with us as we seek to disciple Milton's wife Delia, look for opportunities to talk with Milton himself, and also work to call the sister-in-law (who has been quite unhappy) back into walking with God. Many days our hearts are heavy over this situation.

Kimberly is enjoying her summer at Whispering Winds Bible Camp! The camp had a record number of campers the first week, and Kimberly said her first week working as a counselor went well, although her voice was hoarse from cheering her team on! Here is a link to Kimberly's camp letter, for those who are interested. We are really happy to have Kimberly, as well as our daughter Keilah and husband Jeremy come to visit us the end of July!

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy

<For a printable version click here>