Many are the plans...

 

September 2020

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

I read the above verse just the other day in a devotional that I was reading, and a day later shared it in an interview as being a verse that has been meaningful over these many years of ministry. Yet I did not foresee the change in plans coming our way this week!

To start with the plans that haven’t changed: We are excited to be able to fly back the USA for a short 3-week trip in just a few days for the birth of our second grandchild! Our daughter Keilah and her husband Jeremy are currently in New Hampshire in partnership development as they move toward serving as full-time missionaries in the country of Paraguay. They are awaiting the imminent arrival of a little sister for their son Ronin. 😊 We have been looking forward to this trip for some time and are so glad that international travel has begun to open up again making this trip possible. For the first part of our visit, we’ll be staying put (baby-arrival waiting AND quarantining.) 😊

What we were not expecting is that our coworkers the Shaubs would also have to make a sudden trip back to the USA at the same time, thus we have had to shift gears in how we left things here at the Rio Verde Outpost. So, this last week has left our minds in a bit of a whirlwind as we adjust. We are thankful for how God is helping to work it all out. We shared this Sunday about our need of someone to watch the Outpost and Gloria and Guillermo cheerfully volunteered. We greatly appreciate their willingness to help out during our absence. Please pray for the Lord’s blessing to be upon them. We are so glad that we can trust in a Sovereign God, and that in all the ups and downs, and twists and turns, His purpose in both our lives and the lives of the Awa believers will STAND!

On a lighter note: Last week we were able to make a fun trip hiking up from Palmira to a waterfall. Andy Shaub, along with four of Paulino & Manuela’s kids, and two other MKs, Joel and Amelia Farnsworth, came along. The Lord blessed us with a lovely day and gave our hiking muscles a good workout. (We have been a bit out of practice lately!) The beauty of God’s handywork is spectacular.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support.

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy

The August sun is out in full force!

 

The sunny, windy days of dry season are finally upon us! We enjoy the annual drying up of the mud, making it so much easier to get around. We have noticed the raised beds in our garden, which work so well during the rainy season, are needing constant watering, though! We are thankful for such a beautiful world God has graciously allowed us to live in. :-)

Church services begin

We are preparing for beginning church services again on Sunday--“curso pashpa” (baby ser-vices), as we are telling the Awa. We’ve received permission to begin short (40 minute) services with small groups, as long as we remember proper social distancing etiquette along with hand and shoe (in our case, boot!) washing. We are thankful for our mostly open-air chapels! So far children’s classes are not permitted, but we are excited to at least be able to gather even with the restrictions. Thanks for praying with us for the Lord’s guidance as we make preparations: The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps (Pro 16:9 ESV).

On being where God wants us…

As we’ve been able to interact with the Awa during the pandemic, with our regular schedule def-initely thrown out of whack!, we’ve had to rely on God to have us exactly where He wants us each day. On many different occasions God has put someone in our path at just that specific needed moment in time. Last Sunday Kathy and I went to check on a sick friend in a different community, only to disappointedly find an empty house. Across the road a voice called to us, “Hey, come on over and sit and rest!” We turned to see Fermin and his wife Ana smiling at us from their front porch. As we sat down on their wooden bench, Fermin asked if we could help him with some questions he had about a book. He went into their house and came back with an old Spanish Bible, saying that Paulino had given it to him many years ago. “Could you explain about this Book, what it’s about and what the different parts of it are?” he asked. Boy, could we!! :-) And thus followed a lovely time going over the big picture of God’s story found in that beautiful Book, and answering several other questions that Fermin had. An hour later we walked away, awed at God’s ability to direct our steps (even in our ignorance of His bigger plan.) That’s the truth of Proverbs 16:9 again!

In His grip,
Kevin & Kathy

P.S. Just a note: Ecuador’s postal system officially closed as of mid-July, so thus our post office box is no longer viable. At this point we don’t have any other mailing options (a couple of private companies do deliver here but the cost is prohibitive). So please send any mail to our USA address for the time being.

P.P.S.Our home office has been working hard to upgrade and update the mission web site. Please check it out and let us know what you think: https://www.liebenzellmission.org. Or for those who might be interested, just jump straight to our personal page there and check out the different projects that help our ministry: https://www.liebenzellmission.org/kevin-and-kathy-bruce

 

Picture of the Month The Department of Education is still deciding whether rural schools will be able to gather in the fall, or if teachers will continue to give out school-at-home assignments. If the schools aren’t in session, we will find it hard to have children’s Sunday classes. We pray for a wise decision to be made, so children like happy little Logan (Paulino’s youngest child, pictured here) can not only continue to learn not only school subjects but also increase in their knowledge of God.

June is past, but no sign of Dry Season yet!

The heavy rains of the annual Rainy Season have left our road a bit of a mess! Just past our house, between us and Palmira, the road bed gave way and is taking some work to get back in order. Still, we are thankful for many sunny mornings to get outside and get our exercise, work in the garden and yard, and soak in some Vitamin D. At this point, the rains come every afternoon, keeping our world bright and green.
 

Happy July 4th!

Such a challenging time for the world and specifically for our country...these present times remind us of the “groaning” that Paul talks about in Romans 8: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, goan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies...” vs 22,23 Oh, such groanings our country is feeling as we come to this Independence Day!

Recently we were considering restarting the Sunday services when a new wave of sickness hit our area. We’d appreciate your prayers as we help the sick and encourage the fearful and anxious. Some believe the sickness that is passing around comes because of witchcraft; reassuring the believers that God is with us and that His power is not diminished even in the face of tough times has been vital in these days. Many days here at the Outpost we have become something akin to Grand Central Station as many are not wanting to go to Lita or to the city for their errands. We are happy to help the people as much as we are able, through the internet or other resources. On any given day we may be the local gas station, Internet cafe and copy & technology center, hair salon, small engine repair shop, garden center, clinic, or elementary school...even the local news station. :-) Grandma D. comes every few days to ask: “Is the big sickness getting lost yet?”
 

 

The local kids are encouraged to get online to do their schoolwork, and one worried mother asked us to please start a school. With more or less 500 schoolkids up and down our valley, we aren’t sure how to provide all with help, especially without congregating in large groups. How we appreciate your prayers for strength and stamina, patience, and joy in serving the people here. May each one who comes up our driveway, a precious soul for whom Christ died, experience our Savior’s love through us.

• Please do pray for Kathy and I to have a right heart attitude when they come. We are not beyond having moments of selfishness in our hearts and seeing their requests as a imposition to what WE want to do at that moment…
• Continue to pray for Paulino’s parents, Jose & Senovia, as they have been sick and are presently seeking medical help out in the city.
• We ask prayer for God’s wisdom as we move forward into the month of July: for the timing of re-initiating Sunday services and for the best way to go about ministering to the people here.

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy
 

Pictures of the month:

June:

We are missing seeing the Sunday School children like Mauro and his little brother! Their family, like many in the community of Palmira, have gone to stay at their land further in. Thanks for praying with us for the right timing to re-initiate classes for children and for youth!
 

July:

Manuela, Paulino’s widow, has continued faithfully to follow God and to work hard at raising her kids. She often expresses her sadness to us, but even then she shows a steady trust in God. It is a joy to be around her!

Remembering…

Happy Memorial Day! As we celebrate in the USA the sacrifice of so many who have given their lives for our freedom, here in AwaLand we also had a time of special remembering of our friend Paulino’s life and legacy. May 24th marked one year since God called him to heaven. For most Awa, the year anniversary of a family member’s death is the time for the ‘honor’ drinking party, which the people believe plays a big part in making sure the spirit of their loved one makes the journey safely on to heaven. Instead of this party, we joined Paulino’s widow Manuela, along with six of her children, her son-in-law Jaime, and three grandchildren for a short graveside remembering service. “Paulino is with our Father God, and one day we will join him there,” we remembered as we read a few verses from 2 Corinthians 5 together. Manuela and her children cleaned the graveside, cut the grass, and planted and placed new flowers there. We would appreciate your prayers for Manuela and family as they face this anniversary, specifically to find their comfort in our Heavenly Father.

Would you join us in praying for Paulino’s two middle sons, Abraham (16) and Rómulo (18)? At an age when many young Awa guys are drawn into drinking and generally doing what they want, these two boys have shouldered heavy responsibilities as they work alongside their mom to keep the family going. Clearing mountainsides and planting corn and other crops, harvesting plantains for selling, replacing old wooden house posts, participating in community work days by swinging a machete for many hours….all of this has been a part of their lives over the last year. Rómulo is also beginning to farm the small plot of land he received as an inheritance from his dad. Both Abraham and Rómulo have expressed a desire to follow God as their father did and have asked to be baptized along with two of their sisters.

[Rómulo, Sergio, Alejandro and Abraham. The four cousins came by on Saturday to use our internet connection to check their Facebook and WhatsApp chats! ]
 

We have seen God’s hand of provision and protection as we have watched these two young fellows grow and mature over this last year. Will you pray with us:

• That both Rómulo and Abraham will grow in their faith and understanding of God’s word
• That they would faithfully help their mom and be good examples to their five younger siblings
• And pray that God would perhaps choose to use them as future church leaders

Red light, yellow light….
Here in Ecuador our province will soon be moving from a ‘red’ light covid-19 designation to a ‘yellow’ one. For us, this means we will be able to drive two days a week (rather than just one) and that the daily curfew will begin at 9 pm (rather than 2 pm). We are thankful that our province has not been so hard hit by the virus as other areas of Ecuador and also for the small advances in freedom of movement. Just like many churches there in the USA, we wonder what ministry will look like in the coming weeks and months. How we need God’s wisdom and creativity as we continue to share His message here with the Awa!

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy

Picture of the month!

Paulino’s elderly parents, José and Senovia, are both believers. José asked us recently, “When will we be able to meet again for church services? I am really missing church and feel like I am forgetting some of God’s word. Please let me know when we can gather again!” Senovia strug-gles to walk much as her knees give her much pain, and José is just getting over a time of sick-ness, but they still have their cheerful smiles when they greet us! Jose and Senovia are the head of a legacy of 10 children, over 50 grandchildren, and 25+ great-grandchildren (with more on the way!)

April –Is sure not the way my calendar originally looked!

In his recent book Coronavirus and Christ, Pastor John Piper encouraged us with the thought that this extraordinary time of pandemic is too big of an opportunity for God not to have big purposes in allowing it. Amen! We have prayed much that God will accomplish His purposes not just in us, but also in the lives of the Awa during this time.

For the first three weeks of the quarantine, we made many long trips to the city to help our Awa friend Marco get to his much-needed dialysis treatments. As our travel options became further limited by new restrictions, and the 2 p.m. curfew was enforced, we were thankful to make new arrangements for Marco. He spent a week with our Liebenzell pastor Enrique and family before finding more permanent housing within walking distance of the hospital. His nephew Lisandro has stayed with him and we are thankful to hear they are doing well. Thanks for your prayers!

Here in the mountains of AwaLand we have now had a full month of pretty much just staying put. We are sad not to be able to have Sunday worship meetings together and that we had to cancel our Easter Awa Conference (which hopefully we can re-schedule for a later date). But we are thankful for many blessings: our co-workers the Shaubs here with us, fresh produce that is locally produced (plantains, oranges, lemons, milk) as well as adequate supplies, steady electricity and internet access, and a country life that allows us a little more freedom to exercise and work in our backyard garden.

And we are also thankful that God has allowed us to accompany the Awa communities around us and is providing opportunities to serve the believers and other friends and neighbors. In this rural area where most all are occupied in the unrestricted work of agriculture, life for our neighbors continues much as normal. There is just a bit less traffic and meetings in groups is prohibited. In spite of that, I’ve been able to continue recording weekly Bible teaching and posting both on the little Wi-Fi server at the church in Palmira as well as to many individual cell phones. With our coworkers we also video recorded a few worship songs, which seem to be a big hit. :-) 

Our little Wi-Fi server

 

Grandma Delfina stopped to get the latest news on travel restrictions

 

With the only working internet in many miles, several young fellows often drop by to check email and do other on-line business. Three of these young men are local teachers who need to keep their official paperwork in order. Others stop by for news of the ‘big sickness’ or just for some words of reassurance. We’ve had many conversations along these lines: “You know, because of the big sickness, many people are afraid they might die. But if we are knowing God, we don’t have to be afraid, and we can pray and ask for His help. Right now is a good time to be looking for God and listening to His words.” Thanks for your prayers that many hearts (world-wide!) would turn toward God in these days.

In HIS grip,
Kevin & Kathy

Picture of the month:

How we miss gathering together with the believers on Sundays! Pray for God’s timing in resuming services again.

March – Let your light shine!

Greetings from Ecuador. As we follow the news closely along with all of you these days we are thankful that our HOPE does not spring from our circumstances or our trust in the authorities, but from the One who holds all the universe in the palm of His hand. Kathy and I are fine here, bracing for the ‘storm’ that may or may not be coming 😊 as this week brought the first confirmed case of corona-virus in our area. Thanks for your prayers! Pray that our light will shine in these days and that we might lead other to know the HOPE we find in Christ.

Ecuador has followed the example of most of the world, closing its borders and restricting travel and activities. So like many of you we are not able to do ministry in the normal ways, and are looking for creative ideas on how to continue to be a blessing. Streaming our Sunday services to the Awa is not a possibility, but I was able to put a little wifi accessible computer in Palmira and we will record teaching to put on it. Then, as in most households in Palmira there is someone with a smart-phone, they can walk close to the church and connect to the wifi which will have a simple web page where they will be able to download the message to take home and listen to with their families. For Palmira, which lies in a cellphone dark area and no internet service at all, we hope the novelty of it will motivate them to try it anyway! 😉

At present here in Ecuador the public bus system is also suspended, which means by default we become the local ambulance. 😊 One of our Awa friends in Palmira needs regular dialysis treatments which he can only get in the city of Ibarra. For the present some travel is permitted for personal vehicles for essential purposes, according to the last digit of your license plate, odd or even. By God’s grace, between the Shaub’s truck (last digit 7) and ours (8) we have all the days covered. So yesterday we drove our friend Marco out to Ibarra in Shaub’s truck and dropped him off at the hospital for his treatment, picking him up in the afternoon and bringing him home again in the evening. Pray for us to have wisdom to help Marco in these days; we are thankful that he seems to understand salvation and thus has a Heavenly Father to walk with him in these difficult days.

And we really do appreciate your prayers that in these days when our people are experiencing great fear, that we could be a Light among them and share the message of Hope.

Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

 

In HIS grip, 
Kevin & Kathy

 

Picture of the month:

Matthew 19:14 says, “but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven’” A few Sundays ago this was the text for my teaching — which was quite pertinent since that Sunday we had about a dozen 3-4 year-olds who not only don’t sit quietly but often climb like monkeys in the windows while I am teaching! 😊 These are two adorable little sisters, Daida and Maily, who sometimes come to church with their aunt.

FEBRUARY – IT’S ‘CARNAVAL’ TIME!

The happy sounds of children laughing and playing fills the air in these days of ‘Carnaval’ holiday-time. All across Ecuador, people enjoy this season by splashing water—and often other much stickier substances like eggs, borojó fruit, and brightly colored powders---on each other. These are the days of fun and celebration before Ash Wednesday February 26th, which began the more serious 40 days of Lent countdown until Easter week.

But in some ways the happy sounds are only a superficial mask to the darkness that reigns in so many homes here in AwaLand. As we get caught up on the local news, tales of immorality are rampant, unhappy homes and broken relationships. My heart was saddened this week as I sat with V., one of my Awa friends, and he openly shared with me that he no longer wanted to follow God. “I’ve watched the ones who supposedly are following God,” he said, “and I’ve seen their poor testimonies and immorality. And God took Paulino early, when he was young still. I’m just not wanting to follow that path anymore.” Please pray for V. – we know that God is not finished with him yet.

We are reminded of the seriousness of the spiritual battle that is taking place here in these mountains, a battle for the hearts and minds of the Awa. Please pray that, like Peter in the storm, our eyes would stay focused on our Father God!

Your prayers do make a difference! One way we have seen God at work answering those prayers (right in the midst of the battle!) is in Paulino’s family. During the last 8 months since their father’s death they have had many struggles, but we have seen signs that they are turning to God even in those trials. Last Sunday, while daughter Anaí said the six memory verses from Romans to our coworker Andy (and so earned her new Bible story book!), another daughter, Martha, came to me to ask about being baptized, along with older sister Monica and brother Rómulo.

Another one of Paulino’s sons, Abraham, bravely decided to attend the Mission’s Carnaval youth camp, even though he was the only Awa going! Our German Impact helper Lucas has been a great encouragement to both Abraham and Rómulo, encouraging them to follow God.
In HIS grip, Kevin & Kathy Bruce

                                                             Picture of the month:

2 Thess. 3:2-3 “…For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful….”