unless a grain of wheat...

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

 

Sunday May 19th was a happy day, as we gathered for worship in Palmira in Diosta Paikum Yal (God’s House of Prayer.) About 70 Awa came, and we noticed specifically that it was about half kids and half adults attending that day. During the service, as he always did, Paulino joined us singing at the front, playing the tambourine, and then later continued the story of the life of Joseph for the children. He animatedly told about how Joseph’s brothers had come to Egypt to buy food, and found themselves bowing right in front of (unbeknownst to them) their own brother, Joseph, just like God had said they would in Joseph’s earlier dream. Paulino also reminded the congregation how important God’s word is: to listen to it and to pay attention. Later, after the service was over, we laughed and talked together, and ate chickens, boiled plantains, and rice; a good time of fellowship for all.

Sunday May 26th, exactly a week later, we gathered with over two hundred Awa to put Paulino’s earthly body to rest in a hole dug on Paulino’s own land, a small knoll overlooking the San Francisco river. There was much sadness, and many tears were shed. A few days before Paulino had made a trip to Ibarra, where he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, and had died Friday evening in the hospital in Quito.

From the first phone call with news that Paulino was in the hospital, Kathy and I had a verse come to mind--John 12:23, Jesus’ words as He contemplated His coming death: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (We later received an email, also sharing this verse, and had others tell us that this was a verse that also came to their minds.)

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone…

 

The last four years have been a low point in the Awa ministry, as we first lost church leader Milton to the sin of adultery, and others made a choice to walk away from God. On Sundays as I lead the services, Paulino has been literally the only Awa man who has had the courage to stand with me and help to sing and teach from the front. During these last four years, Paulino’s heart ached for his oldest son, Salomon, and the many in his community of Palmira who week after week chose not to listen to the teaching and not to follow God.

And so God used this verse to prepare our hearts for what was coming. Paulino, 51 years old, entered the presence of His Savior on Friday evening. His casket was in Palmira by 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning. The next 30 hours was the ‘velorio’ (wake), with perhaps around 400 Awa and Ecuadorians coming and going. Some were crying, some were stoic, some were drunk, but all had words of appreciation for Paulino. During the night, we sang songs, played music, and showed the 4 hours of the Matthew version of the Jesus movie. Many watched from beginning to end. A year and half before, I had recorded a video of Paulino singing a song he had written and we played the video several times. Projected on the front wall right over his casket, large for all to see, Paulino’s image sang for his family and his people: “Kwisha watkultus, Dioskasa ɨrɨnash, pailta payukima, nane mintuchish,” (I am very happy, I am going with God forever, I am not worried).

...but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

 

We wondered if God knew what He was doing! Paulino, the only church leader we have…how can we continue the ministry without him?
And then we begin to see God at work:
    • Meregildo, fallen away from God and the church, crying on Paulino’s casket: “Oh, my brother, I’ve been so far away, but I want to return.”
    • Sandra telling us that her husband Jaime has been asking for several weeks now, “How would I study God’s word more? I want to be a Bible teacher. Are there schools for that?”
    • Romulo, Paulino’s 17 year old son, “I want to become just like my father and follow God strongly. And I want to be baptized.”
    • Gloria, telling us that her daughter Lorena wants to be baptized.
    • Cecilia, telling us: “For the first time my husband Porfidio pulled out his cell phone with the Awa New Testament and taught God’s word to our family.”
    • Milton, calling Kevin on the phone with words of apology, saying he would like to sit down and talk in the coming days.

This is just four days’ worth! Thanks for your prayers. There are still many tears being shed, as Paulino’s wife Manuela and the 12 children adjust to life without their husband and father. Will you pray with us that many hearts will be softened, and changed, and the ‘seed’ of Paulino’s life will bear an abundant harvest of fruit among the Awa people?

Paulino leaves behind wife Manuela (47) and 12 children: His oldest four kids are married, the first three have children of their own, for a total of 6 grandkids. The children are: Sandra (27, married to Jaime, with 4 kids), Diana (26, married to Patricio, with 1 little boy), Monica (24, married to Jesus, with 1 little boy), Salomon (21, 'shacked up' with Pacha, not sure if this relationship will last), Martha (19), Romulo (17), Abraham (15), Anai (13), Karina (11), Franklin (9), Maycol (7), Logan (4). Six boys and six girls; and six grandkids: three girls and three boys!

Thank you for your prayers!
In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy