It’s a beautiful day here in the mountains. The sky is blue with just a few wispy clouds. The sun is shining on the mountains all around us, just warming the cool morning air. A light breeze is ruffling the leaves on the palm trees around our house. It’s hard to believe that all of this God-created beauty exists right beside the sin and ugliness we’ve seen over the last week here among this people. Many of you responded to our note a few days ago about Alfredo’s death, and we are grateful for your prayers. Last Thursday was the day Alfredo’s cut-up body was buried. As we accompanied the family, our hearts were struck with their hopelessness. Although the Awa appear so stoic and emotion-less, there were tears and much sadness evident. But the topic on everyone’s tongue was how to get revenge. Several Awa (including two of the believers) had gone to the community where Alfredo was killed and had grabbed a little 10-yr-old boy and another young fellow, both relatives of the two fellows who supposedly did the killing (both of whom had fled.) The Awa had tied the boy and other fellow up and had taken them down to Lita, only to find that the local sheriff was gone and the police basically refused to help. So they came back to Rio Verde and the two were brought to the graveside, as everyone talked about how to organize themselves to go and get the guilty ones. The Awa were angry, they were exhausted from the all-night wake, some were drinking, tempers were short, and opinions were many. Everyone was afraid---afraid of Alfredo’s spirit (along with other bad spirits that are around at such times) as well as afraid of the murderers (and their families) who were already making death threats against others in Rio Verde. Kevin was able to say a few words by the graveside, but it seemed like the words didn’t do much to penetrate the darkness. Only a few of the believers seemed to listen.
Now, six days later, Alfredo’s family is organizing themselves to pursue justice (and revenge). Alfredo’s brother German is saying he’s going to bring some of his guerrilla cousins to kill the two fellows. From the guilty families in the RV Medio community have come threats against Alfredo’s best friend, Gilberto, as well as against those who had grabbed the little boy and other fellow (who were finally sent home to take the message that they should turn in the murderers.) There is an abundance of sadness and fear. There was one sighting of a spirit or other being at the graveside (a big black thing). Paulino even warned us to be really careful, especially not to leave our houses and walk out on the trail in the dusk or darkness, presumably because of spirit dangers.
How can we help? How can we make a difference? We often don’t know how to respond, how much to get involved, what to say. But the Lord has used His word to encourage us to keep teaching and living as a light in this community. We are thankful that Alfredo had come to church one last time, and that we had one last chance to encourage Alfredo and the other young fellows to live the way God is calling them to live as believers.
Milton has also been an encouragement. He told us yesterday, “They may want to kill me too, as I’m a brother-in-law. But I don’t want to be enemies with the folks in Rio Verde Medio.” We know where Milton’s heart is at, as he regularly goes to that community to check on a Proclaimer that one of the families has, and to encourage them to listen to God’s Word. He desires to see the folks in this community come to know the Lord.
Please pray that we will be able to share the reassurance that we find in God’s word with the believers in these days. Pray for the many unbelievers who are captives to the drinking, fighting, and fear that is a regular part of the Awa world. Pray for many opportunities to shine God’s light of truth into these mountains.
Kevin & Kathy Bruce
Liebenzell Mission
Casilla 10-01-692
Ibarra, Imbabura
ECUADOR
+593 9 478-7811
