August 2023

Summer is winding down! June and July had us going at fullspeed…. even more so than we had originally planned. We felt like God opened doors for added activities and occasions and pray that He was accomplishing His purposes through our sometimes-weary efforts. Thanks for your prayers; we can truly say that it was His strength that upheld us!

Occasions of happiness:
•    Doing VBS programs in two Awa communities and in one local Ecuadorian church was a lot of fun! This year our VBS programs highlighted Noah and the flood; the kids had big smiles as we sang, learned about God, and made backpacks together. 

•    Three of Paulino’s children graduated from high school in the first gradua-tion in the Awa community of Palmira! It was a joy to accompany Paulino’s widow Manuela and Rómulo, Abraham, and Anahí on this special day.

•    Four Liebenzell USA summer interns accompanied us for the month of July: Marlys, Javier, Annkathrin, and Molly. We were thankful for their help (es-pecially for the VBS programs!) and enjoyed spending some sightseeing days with them as well.

•    After two years of wanting to re-roof our house in AwaLand (and living with a permanent drip bucket in our upstairs), the week of July 24 our Kichwa friend Angel came with a crew and CHANGED OUR ROOF!! We thank God for His provision and safety!

 

But also, some sad days:
•    July 6th, we watched the first joyful graduation in the Awa community of Palmira; less than a month later one of the recent graduates, Gloria’s nephew Steven, died after a night of heavy drinking. Steven’s family has spent the last years making a living from selling liquor, and he was often drunk. Years before, Steven sometimes came to Sunday School and was a bright and intelligent young fellow with much potential. Steven was just 19 years old.
•    I was recently called to pray at the bedside of an Awa fellow on his death-bed. We have known Fermin for years but neither he nor his family have had a desire to listen to God’s word. We ache for this family who have suf-fered poverty and drunkenness, a son committing suicide, and now the death of their father without the mercy and comfort of having a God Who sees and helps.
And we remember why God has us here:  as His ambassadors to offer His words of Life. Thank you for your prayers; thank you for participating with us here in the joys… and the sorrows… of walking alongside the Awa folks here in Ecuador.

We’d especially appreciate your prayers for us as we anticipate the next five months without our coworkers! After passing his final language check (Yay!!), Andy and Chrissy are taking a short time of home assignment to visit their churches and have time with family. They will fly mid-August and plan to return in January. Pray with us that God will help us make the needed adjustments during these months it is just Kathy and I here at the Awa Outpost.

In His grip,

Kevin & Kathy