“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
Being
here in Missouri this week was a bit unexpected! A week ago Sunday our
daughter Keilah was bitten by a large copperhead snake while she and
Jeremy were heading out for a swim at the lake here at the MTC
(Missionary Training Center) where they are students. Keilah was in
front, pushing our grandson Ronin in the stroller, and they were just
arriving at the lakeside when she felt the snake bite her (none of them
saw it til afterwards). We are thankful Jeremy was able to rush Keilah
to the hospital right away, as she went through several hours of
miserable pain and vomiting before being released the next day. Over the
next few days the redness and swelling increased, but now, a week
later, Keilah is recovering remarkably well. We
are glad that we were able to travel down here to be with her and
Jeremy as she recovers from this traumatic event. Of course we always
enjoy the time with little Ronin as well! We thank God that the snake
did not bite one of the many children who were around that day
(including Ronin in the stroller!) as the bite of a copperhead, though
rarely fatal to adults, can be to children. Today, just over a week
later, Keilah was even able to attend classes here at the MTC! 
