May 2018 update

Wishing all of you a happy spring! Having the church functioning in Palmira has been a joy! Finishing up the weeks of construction and conference has allowed us to focus more on the PEOPLE God is bringing each Sunday. Having two services each week---first in Rio Verde, and then in Palmira--has made our Sundays a bit crazier :-) but has also brought new faces to join our fellowship. Oso (in the picture) is Paulino's uncle who lives just down the mountain from us. His wife Delfina has been attending church for over a year, joining us each Sunday in Rio Verde with a passel of grandkids. It was a joy to have Oso join her and the grandkids this month! Margarita has been coming to the service in Palmira, along with her son Omar. Her husband Ricardo has a colorful reputation, and at present is living with two wives. Margarita's face reflects a hard life. For both Oso and Margarita the Bible teaching is completely new--and from their point of view the teaching must be somewhat overwhelming! Please pray that God will give them ears to hear, and hearts (or livers! as the Awa say) to understand what they are hearing. Another concern is for the youth of Palmira. Abraham, Paulino's 15 year old son, is a typical Awa "musittu" (youth). He goes to school each week, although he puts more energy into the hours of soccer games rather than much actual schoolwork! :-) While there is always work on the family farm, there is little entertainment available. Most of the youth in Palmira live with much boredom; many marry young and there are a number of teenage single moms. We would like to reach out to these young folks in a wise and helpful way--please pray for wisdom in finding a good way to do this! March and April brought a higher level of crime and violence here in the northern part of the country. It would appear that several drug cartels are vying for control of the drug transportation corridor through this area. Bombs, bomb threats, land mines, clashes with the military, and kidnappings have all played a part in the chaos. While we are thankful for a peaceful zone in our immediate area, we are seeking God's wisdom in knowing what precautions we should take. We appreciate your prayers for this situation as well! In HIS grip, Kevin & Kathy