September 2016 - Back to School!

 As the fall season starts up here, Kathy and I are happy to be going 'back to school' along with the Awa children! :-) We have been invited to help in the Palm community school, teaching English and computers. Although there has been opposition to our participation (because we are 'outsiders'), God worked through a government requirement to teach English in the 2nd grade to open this door of opportunity. Raúl, the 2nd grade teacher, and school director Teacher Andrew are especially happy to have us come each week. It is a blessing to us to be able to walk among the 250+ Awa people that call this area their home.

And...exciting things are happening in this same community! In a meeting that we did NOT attend, the believers asked for permission from the people to build a church (calling it 'God's House of Prayer', avoiding the use of the word 'church' which has some negative connotations) and received the approval of the group. Paulino and sister Gloria are spearheading getting the church lots ready for building. Their goal is to have a simple building ready for hosting the Awa Conference in April of 2017. They are so excited! This is an occasion calling for much sensitivity on our part--this project is best done by the believers' initiative. Pray for wisdom to know how much we should be involved. Over the years, God has opened different doors of opportunity here, and at times we have taught the kids or held monthly services, but more recently the community had not wanted Bible teaching to be held in the school buildings. Any gathering here easily means 50+ may show up, with the rainy weather calling for some overhead roof needed...making it difficult to do much over the last two years. Kathy and I will immensely enjoy spending time in this community each week with 'front row seats' to the action!

In February we helped Paulino's daughter Sandra and husband Jaime celebrate their wedding. Just a few months later, we shared with you a prayer request for their baby Lizeth, who was not developing normally and seemed to be blind. The Shaubs were able to help Sandra and Jaime make three long, complicated trips to a children's hospital in Quito where it was determined that Sandra had had an infection (toxoplasmosis) while being pregnant with Lizeth. The doctor said that calcification on the optic nerve is the cause of Lizeth's blindness. There is hope that Lizeth could continue to develop at a slower pace, and that she may even regain some sight. Because they were some of the first believers willing to stand up in front of their whole community and celebrate their wedding in God's eyes, it was hard to see them so quickly face this trial! But Jaime and Sandra have handled this situation with faith in God and much patience, and we have seen God use it to pull them together as a couple. They would appreciate your prayers for little Lizeth's continuing recovery and development.

Some added notes for prayer and praise:

• Gloria's husband Guillermo continues to struggle with his health. His digestive issues seem to have been resolved, but he still has little strength. He continues to desire to follow God in the midst of this trial, although he has many discouraging days.
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  The Liebenzell Mission Ecuador team is experiencing some growing pains! Over this last year we have added Walther Pullugando & family, a new pastor for the Cotacachi church, as well as ordaining two other young men for ministry. Several new churches wish to partner with us in the coming year or so. Such growth creates new needs for leadership, training, and fellowship, along with other changes in our organization. We'd appreciate prayer for wisdom as these challenges are faced.
• Kimberly is hanging in there at NTBI in Wisconsin, adapting to school life. She is working part-time, which along with her studies keeps her quite busy! Thanks for continued prayers for her.
• PRAISE God that the land issues in Rio Verde have been resolved! The partitioning off between Paulino's brothers and sisters is finished. Whew! We are happy to see the end of the conflicts that this issue fostered. At one time we had hoped to buy the land where we are settled for the church. Paulino's sister Cecilia is the new owner of our section, and while she does not want to sell the land, she has been content to just charge us a small monthly rent, which works out well.

In His grip...and confident that He is able,
Kevin and Kathy

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