Bruce Brief - Aug 2012

About a year ago, we found an ugly note waiting for us on the trail coming into our houses. In crude writing was a threatening message. Immediately we guessed it had come from one of our neighbors (we’ll call him Dan) who has been somewhat antagonistic towards us over the years. The note was a reminder to pray for Dan, and we began to look for opportunities to do something kind for him and his family.

A few weeks ago Paulino came upon Dan sitting in his house, with a bloody cloth wrapped around his hand. Immediately Paulino took it upon himself to help him take care of his injury. Dan said several hours earlier he had been using a power tool, a grinder, when it jumped and ran across the back of his left hand, leaving a series of scrapes and rather deep cuts. “Let’s go to Lita, cousin,” Paulino said, but Dan refused. He just continued to sit there, watching the blood drip down. Paulino’s next suggestion was to find the community health promoter, who might at least be able to bandage it up. Again, Dan refused. “Well, let’s go up to the missionaries, then!” Paulino said at last. “They’ll help!”

And so the Lord gave us another opportunity to show kindness to Dan, as we stopped the bleeding, cleaned and wrapped his hand, and talked with him about what had happened. We sent him home with his bandaged hand resting in an arm sling, and with materials and instructions on how to clean the wounds and change the bandage the next morning. And we do pray that he also went home having experienced just a small touch of God’s love.

The Lord provides many opportunities like this (with never-ending variety!) each week here at the Outpost. Pray that we will be faithful as God’s ambassadors to not only show His love with our hands, but also to be His voice, calling this people to Himself. Often experiencing a touch of His love is the catalyst that awakens a hunger to later hear God’s word. (I suppose that is true of people of any culture!)

Family update:
The picture says it all! In August we had a wonderful three weeks in the USA with Kenny and Keilah and the rest of the Bruce family. We thoroughly enjoyed spending two Sundays at our church in New Hampshire and seeing many of our friends. We’re just sorry we couldn’t see the rest of you around the country!

The highlight of our trip was a week at my dad’s cabin with our three kids, Kenny’s girlfriend Hannah, and my parents. What a blessing! :-) We are now back in Ecuador with Kimberly, while Kenny digs back into his studies at Liberty in Virginia, and Keilah settles into her new life at NTBI in Wisconsin.

In Christ,
Kevin & Kathy

<FOR PRINTABLE VERSION CLICK HERE>

Maria Luisa

     The end of May, Maria Luisa was bit by a snake on her hand. Her family immediately took her to the hospital, but the doctors found no sign of venom in her body, so she was sent home. From our Western point of view, that might seem like the end of this story. But for the Awa, this is only the beginning. Snakebites are incredibly complex to them, and involve much more than just the venom.
Since the snakebite, Maria has been sick. She can feel the snake rise up inside her, travelling from her hand to her throat and chest. At times she feels like the snake is curled up on her chest. She is weak and bedridden, has no appetite, and occasionally faints.

     Maria’s story goes back three years to when she was a beautiful young girl of 18. At that time she took a husband from the neighboring Chachi village. She proudly brought her Chachi husband, Nestor, to our next Conference, and over the following years we did our best to teach him from God’s Word in Spanish, since he doesn’t understand the Awa language. At first Nestor showed some signs of being interested in the teaching, but slowly lapsed back into indifference. Now Maria and her two children are suffering as Nestor has not been a good worker or provider—at least by Awa standards. Her Awa culture is clashing with his Chachi ways; and although she desires to live as a believer, Nestor is just not that interested.
     Now back to the snakebite:  Several weeks ago Nestor decided to take her to a Chachi shaman, a powerful witchdoctor that his own people consider to be able to cure such sicknesses. Maria’s family, mostly believers, rejected this as witchcraft. One day her brother, Luis, had a punching knock-down bloody fight with Nestor over this issue. Now Nestor says Maria might as well die, he doesn’t care.
So…Maria’s father Alfonso and her brother Luis put her children in the care of her mother Julia, and, gathering several hundred dollars from different family members, have taken Maria to a far Awa community for a different type of curer—an Awa herbalist ‘curandero’. To their Awa minds, this is an acceptable alternative, although the herbalist will use many of the same tactics as the shaman, like blowing smoke over her and early morning ritual bathing, along with his herbs, for ‘curing’. The family expects that Maria, Alfonso, and Luis will be gone for several weeks.
     This is a difficult situation for us to sort through---and a tremendous trial of faith for Maria and her family. Please pray for them! Our prayer has been that they will turn to God for help, and that His Spirit in them will bear witness to what is of Him and what is of Satan. And that in the end they will be able to see God’s hand in what has happened, and give the glory to Him. Maria Luisa also faces a huge challenge in living as a believer in her marriage. We are reminded that God is well able to provide the help she needs, even in this difficult time. Pray that she will throw herself on His merciful arms.
     And I’ll close with a quick update on our family:  We are definitely in the nomadic stage! With Kenny beginning his second year at Liberty University in VA, and Keilah finishing up the camp season in Missouri and getting ready to study at New Tribes Bible Institute in Wisconsin, it would seem we are pulled in many directions.  In August we will be spending three weeks in NH with both of them, as well as a few of those days with Hannah Meyer, Kenny’s girlfriend. August 16th we’ll put Kenny, Hannah, and Keilah on the train to each head off to their respective schools….and return to Ecuador on August 22nd with just Kimberly in tow! (Or maybe she’ll be towing us after those three busy weeks!) :-)

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy

<for a printable version click here>

June Medical Caravan

The medical caravan saw and treated over 400 people in the three days that we attended the people here in Rio Verde. From a tiny newborn baby, suffering from congestion, to several old grandmas with painful joints, the doctors and nurses poured out their love and care to each and every one. It never fails to surprise me that Shelia and her crew are able to love these people—literally, holding the kids on their laps and even hugging each one—as they arrive one by one. While we have come to love this people over the years, we realize that many of the Awa come from miles away, and they are often dirty and sweaty, not necessarily easy to get close to. As each one took their turn on the examining table, I could see the muddy black boots sticking out at various angles. And yet, during the days of the Caravan, I believe each one felt the mercy and love that flowed from the hands of His servants.

Teresa came from the other side of the Lita River, with her small son who was sick with pneumonia and barely breathing. Those who were doing the reception area saw how sick the little boy was and moved them into the front of the line. Dr. Tim was worried the little guy would breathe his last right there on his examining table. He worked quickly to put an i.v. in him and give him antibiotics. Then Kevin quickly drove Teresa and little Benin and one of the nurses down to Lita to the small health clinic. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when we heard that Benin was still breathing when he arrived in Lita, after an hour of driving on the rough road. Later he was taken to the hospital in Ibarra and spent several days in the children’s ward in the social hospital there. This week Teresa was able to bring him home again.

Even as the caravan days ended, we heard the tragic news that a relative of Milton’s wife had been knifed and killed in a drunken fight in a community west of here. Another fellow was shot in the same fight. And we are reminded that most of the Awa live in a very dark world, without the light that comes from knowing God.

So we thank the Lord for the opportunity to shed His Light here in Rio Verde, and we pray for that Light to spread into the many Awa communities in the mountains around us.

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy

A Stretching Summer...

Although summer lacks a few days from its official arrival, dry season is clearly in full swing since we've had a good 3 weeks of dry weather. We are enjoying not having to slog through the mud! :-) Kimberly and I recently made the trek to Palm community, and although the trip was not without its adventures we did manage to arrive without getting any mud on our pants!

The bright blue summer skies are shining down on a very small crew here at the Outpost! May 28th we said goodbye to the Shaub family as they flew to the USA for a short 3-month furlough time. They have a packed schedule visiting churches, friends, and family for these few short weeks and I'm sure would appreciate your prayers. Keilah also flew with them, leaving only Kathy and I, along with Kimberly, to 'man the fort' here in RV. :-) Travel is interesting since we must find someone to watch the houses in our absence, but the Lord has been faithful to provide that help for us several times already! Last Sunday we stretched our 'skeleton' crew to cover the Bible teaching in two communities....Milton helping Kathy out in RV; and Kimberly accompanying me in order to help with the many children who come to the service in Palm community.

Another 'stretch-er' for me is serving as the interim Area Director for our field until our new director arrives in July. Daniel and Dana Sick leave on furlough this coming week, and Simone Erndwein will be visiting her ailing parents for two months in Germany. Mercedes Galarza, the wife of our Ecuadorian director, continues to undergo cancer treatments. Thus on the field level we are also a small crew! Please pray for me to be able to give wise counsel in several needy situations, and to balance the needs of the field at large with the Awa ministry during this time.

Kenny is on a long road trip this summer traveling from NH to CA...and back! He is delivering a Suburban to the Los Angeles airport for the Meyer family (New Tribes Mission) coming in from Indonesia on June 8th for a year of home assignment. Arriving back in NH the end of June, Kenny will work the rest of the summer until returning to Liberty University in August.

Keilah, our newly graduated senior, is in Missouri just beginning the counselor training program for her third summer at Whispering Winds Bible Camp.  She has been accepted to attend New Tribes Bible Institute in Waukesha, WI in the fall. We are very proud of her! Below I'll post a link to a letter from her.

This month we are also expecting our medical caravan friends from Kentucky. We are looking forward to spending three days with them attending the people from at least four different communities in our area. This year they also plan to hold a special VBS program for the many children who come. Thanks for praying for this special time showing Christ's love to the Awa.

Ok, here is the link to Keilah's letter - (Click here to read on our Blog) (Click here to download a printable copy)

Resting in HIS grace,
Kevin & Kathy

Keilah Graduated!

Rio Verde, Ecuador
May 26, 2012


Hello, everyone!

Yes! I have now officially graduated from high school! Both my mom and I are proud to have made it after all these years. Graduating in the mountains here in Ecuador means no fanfare—no cap and gown--but I'm okay with that. It certainly is a big milestone in my life, though.


So: I've decided to return yet again to Whispering Winds Bible Camp this summer, from June 5th through July 28th. For those of you who don't know, this will be my third summer in a row. This year I'm 18, which means I will be old enough to be a counselor. It will certainly be a bit different than the past two summers, where I worked on the camp crew and did cleaning, dishes, and lots of other odd jobs. I'll have to arrive earlier than normal to take a few days of counselor training as well. The idea of being a counselor and being responsible for the children under my care makes me nervous, but I'm excited about it too. I know that God will help me, and I'm praying He'll give me the energy to keep up with even the hyper kids!
If you would, I ask that you pray for me and the camp this summer. Pray that I'll have the grace, patience, and energy in dealing with my kids, and pray that all the children who come to the camp will not only have a great time, but be touched by God as well. Pray that their lives will be changed, and that God will make His will be done for every child, and for every minute of the summer. Pray that God will use the summer in my life, to change me and grow my faith.


At the end of this summer I'm heading off for two years of Bible college at New Tribes Bible Institute in Waukesha, Wisconsin. I am really hoping that God will lead and guide me through the next two years at NTBI, and show me what His plan for my life is. I've been unable to figure what I want to do next, whether become a missionary or study a career at a college, or both, or something else entirely. So, going to New Tribes Bible Institute will help me in two important areas: giving me two more years to ask God and figure out where I'm headed, and in the meantime, grow my faith and knowledge of God and His word. My brother Kenny assures me that it will also be a good time to adjust to life in the USA. I was born in South America, and have lived most of my life there—so, yes, I guess there'll be a few adjustments to make!


Working at camp this summer means that I won't be getting a job somewhere else, and earning money toward Bible college. However, Whispering Winds Bible Camp is doing a program this summer for the counselors where every dollar of support that comes in our name they will match, dollar for dollar, up to a hundred per week. So, for all those who feel led to contribute, your gift will be doubled! Regardless, thank you all so much for your time and thought, and hopefully your prayers throughout the summer!


Sincerely,

Keilah Bruce

P. S. Checks should be made payable to Bible Impact Ministries, with a note attached that includes my name. The mailing address is Whispering Winds Bible Camp, PO BOX 9, St. James MO 65559-0009.

May happenings

In May Doug and Dorcas made the trek back to Ecuador for a weeklong visit. Some things had changed, and others had not during  the year they had been away. One of the big surprises for them was arriving at the RV outpost without having to use backpacks, boots or sweating! Kevin was able to drive them right up in front of the house thanks to the road having come just that much closer. It was great they way they were able to jump back in to life and ministry up here just like they had never been away.

We praise the Lord for the profitable days we had together going over the Awa translation of portions first and second Samuel. We had a good group of Awa who were a great help as we read over each section and checked with them for meaning, readability and accuracy. It was always fun when we would get something stated just right and see their eyes glow with understanding and excitement of being a part of the process. We praise the Lord too for the special Sunday service we had during their visit. About 50 Awa from at least 5 different communities came for the double sermon service, and great time of fellowship over lunch together. Thanks for your continued prayers for the growth of the Awa church.

Kevin & Kathy

April Bruce Brief

We are amazed to find ourselves waking up into the month of May today! April passed by in a bit of a blur, starting and ending with trips to Palm community, with the Awa conference and a visiting church group sandwiched in between.  April also saw our Regional Director, Edgar Luz and family, hand over all their responsibilities and leave for a Mission re-assignment in Germany.  As deputy director until July (when our new R.D. arrives from Germany) my mind is still whirling as I work to balance my regular responsibilities with the new tasks. We are thankful for the Lord’s faithfulness (sturdiness!) even in such times of change.

Looking back over April: 

• Awa conference started with neither of the elders present, and with another believer, M., losing his temper in the first meeting. Whew! Needless to say the first night Kathy and I didn’t sleep much. Our minds were thinking something like…’what in the world are we doing this for???’  I read through the book of 1 Peter and we prayed together, committing the whole conference into His mighty hands. The next day both Milton and Paulino arrived, jumping right into the events;  M.’s attitude underwent a complete change; and our outlook straightened out, as well! ? Sunday morning’s service was a blessing to us as we listened to several giving clear witness to God’s salvation and work in their lives, including M.!
• During conference Saúl Paz, the Paez Indian pastor who has a vision for the Awa in Colombia, gave testimony to the spiritual need in remote areas there. Paulino especially was touched to hear this, and it was neat to see the realization and desire dawn in his heart to perhaps someday be a part of teaching the Bible in such areas.
• We thank the folks from Whitefield Christian Advent Church in northern NH who sent us a lively and hard-working team from April 11-18th! The team did a great job painting the front fence in Lita, as well as working on our driveway up here at the Outpost. They showered us with many gifts, and brought a suitcase-full from our home church, as well. Many thanks to all who prayed, gave, and took part in the team’s trip! 
• Our girls are in their last few days of homeschool for this year. We applaud their tenacity to persevere despite much craziness in our daily schedules! Kimberly is finishing up Geography and Physical Science in order to close up her 8th grade; while Keilah is rounding out her senior year by taking a driver’s ed course in Ibarra. Can you imagine learning to drive using a stick shift, with all the instruction in another language? Yep, it takes courage, and she’s doing a great job! 

Relying on His faithfulness,
Kevin and Kathy

Prayer points:

• I would greatly appreciate your prayers for our small band of missionaries and pastors here in northern Ecuador. This has been a time of transition with leadership changing, new missionaries arriving in the summer, and our Ecuadorian director living thru the difficulties of his wife’s cancer (Diego and Mercedes Galarza). We deeply desire His guidance and help in carrying out all that we do.
• Meregildo and Clemencia’s baby boy is doing reasonably well! We’ve been able to help them buy formula for the little fellow, and he has tenaciously held on during several sicknesses. 
• Thanks for praying for the couple who was spreading divisive gossip. Through the Bible study we have definitely seen the Lord’s hand working in this family’s hearts, and there have been many positive changes.
• Continue to pray for the elders as they try to be good Awa citizens of their communities amidst much pressure. Milton would like to leave his community soccer team, but each time he tries, the fellow players begin to blame God for Milton’s lack of enthusiasm to keep playing. This wounds him deeply, as he has a deep desire to be a Godly testimony to his people. While it’s hard for us to understand this heavy pull, in a community-based society, this is how social control works. In the end, Milton has to work this out between himself and the Lord….it’s been a heavy burden for him.
• The summer is looking a bit complicated, with Keilah graduating and the Shaub family taking an over-due short furlough. Thanks for praying as we try to plan for both ministry and family needs during these coming months!