By God’s grace, December finds us back in Ecuador

We flew back to Ecuador on November 22nd—many thanks for your prayers! God brought us here safe and sound, despite a travel day with some additional stresses along the way, which seem to be the new normal. One big stress was having to leave two of our check-ins behind in New Hampshire due to a last minute Ecuadorian government change in regulations. But there were also blessings as well, like getting moved to more comfortable seats at no cost on the last leg of our trip.

“Business as Usual”

The recent uproar over the new Omicron variant is taking Ecuador (and the world) by storm this Christmas season. The government is struggling to know how to respond, and we hear daily news of new rules and regulations. At the same time, rainy season has hit early, and we are being deluged with daily rains, triggering major mudslides and road closures.

The main road between us and the city is now closed for perhaps the next 6 months as the engineers try to figure out a way to move a large section of the mountainside to re-construct the fallen roadbed. Our alternate routes are currently very long and sometimes a bit tricky to navigate being over the steep mountainside on just dirt (muddy!) backroads. Amidst this chaos, we were recently encouraged by the phrase “Business as usual” --- God’s call to keep going about the business of teaching and discipling. People need to know Him, and amidst the craziness of the world situation, that is still our call!

Kathy read this phrase from Isobel Kuhn’s book In the Arena, from the Kuhn’s struggle to continue with ministry in China during the tumultuous years leading up to World War II.

Isobel writes: “Those days the whole world was learning from England what a boost to a nation’s morale is the spirit of blitz or no blitz, we carry on business as usual! The Christian missionary surely should have equal courage and faith. This was the reason we decided to ignore the danger zone and go quietly on with our usual programme. It had a wonderfully stabilizing effect upon the whole countryside, for the Lisu [tribal people there with whom the Kuhns worked] were jittery at the presence of so many armed men and ready to desert their villages for caves and other places of refuge high in the mountains.”

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son….” John 3:16

December 12th the German Impact youth were here, sharing a Christmas message with a simple drama. What a thrill to watch many of the Awa’s faces as they leaned forward taking in the action and songs. One of the mothers of several of our regular Sunday School kids, Berta, caught my attention. Berta’s husband Simón recently took a job in a far community and spends most of each month away from home. A few days before the program, Berta had come with her son Klever asking for homework help, and she shared with us how much they were struggling not having their husband and father in the house. She asked if it was okay if she joined her children for the coming Sunday program. She did come, and it was a joy to watch her face as she intently listened to the message of a Savior who came to give hope! Please pray for Berta to understand the Gospel.

On a sad note, this past week grandma Delfina, a faithful attendee of our services in Rio Verde, went to be with the Lord. She was instrumental in bringing many of her grandchildren with her each Sunday to hear God’s word. Please pray for her husband ‘Oso’ who also has some health issues. I’m sure adjusting to life without her will be hard for him! We praise the Lord that we were able to be here to help during her burial, and to have an opportunity to preach the Gospel to all those who came. Pray also that many of those grandchildren (seen in the picture to the left) will continue to come and learn of Jesus who takes the sting out of death!

We thank you for your prayers! Pray that we would be steadfast in taking each opportunity that God provides to share the message of the coming of our Savior.

And we wish each of you a belated Merry Christmas and a blessed new year! May each of the ordinary moments of your days be blessed with the joy of knowing Jesus.

By God’s grace carrying on ‘business as usual’,
Kevin and Kathy