April 2024 - Living Water

 

April 2024 Living Water

We’ve had some unusually dry weather here in Ecuador over the last few weeks. Seeing the dry dusty road baking in the hot sun and our garden plants drooping limply reminds us how important water is for life. Our plants need water, our dogs and geese and chickens need it, and so do we!
 
The Awa Easter conference theme this year was “Living Water”: “If anyone is thirsty, come to Me!” Jesus said. How well the Awa understand that thirst for water as they hike along a trail or work with a machete out in their fields! At the end of one of the Conference teaching sessions, I asked the question, “Are you coming to Jesus for that Living Water?” For us, this was the highlight of the conference as we went around the group Awa-style, and one by one the youth and adults gave their answer:

• “Yes!! For many years I have been believing in Jesus and coming to Him!”
• “When I was little, I believed. But over the years Satan has tempted me to do wrong, and I haven’t always followed. But I am believing in Jesus and wanting to follow Him well.”
• “I am listening to God’s words. As a child I didn’t hear any of this, so it is new and different for me. But what I have heard is good, and I want to continue listening!”
• Three young women, with big smiles on their faces, for the first time said publicly, “Yes, I have come to Jesus!”
• One young fellow with much embarrassment admitted that he had come to Jesus but hadn’t been following Him faithfully. Another young fellow said he couldn’t quite say…. In both cases we appreciated the honesty!

Amidst all the fun, food, games, and fellowship, it was a blessing to us to hear these testimonies. Thanks so much for your prayers for these special days with our Awa friends!
 
If you’d like to see some extra Conference pictures, here’s an album: Conference Photo Album
 

Time in the USA

We are making plans to fly to the USA in mid-August for a six month visit! We are excited to see our family (grandson Miles has a new little baby brother!) and we are also joyfully hoping to visit friends and supporting churches during these months. We definitely appreciate your prayers for wisdom in planning as there are many miles to cover! And please let us know if you’d like us to stop in as we criss-cross the country. 😊
 
In His grip,
Kevin & Kathy

Many still need Jesus - March 2024K

 

Looking at the crowd of Awa standing around the burial site made my heart sad. Their faces were not just drawn and tired, but also dark and hopeless. Two nights of ‘velorio’ (the wake) had been exhausting as the family needed to stay awake all night. Some were drunk, dealing with their sadness in the only way they know how. One drunken nephew wept loudly; he had been close to his uncle who now lay in the casket ready to be buried. The widow had her head buried in her hands, crying and moaning softly.   Such was the scene that we were called to a few weeks ago. The family, feeling the need to be ‘proper’, had called me as well as the Catholic priest from Lita to make sure some good religious words were spoken over the dead man before he was buried. I shared about a God Who sees them and Who calls to them to come to Him. A few of the family and those gathered around listened half-heartedly. Exhaustion, discouragement, and hunger kept many unable to hear the very message they truly needed.   But unlike the crowd, Kathy and I did feel hope…hope that our friend Marco had understood the Gospel. Years before, Marco had been quite sick and left to die, not eating or drinking for many days. By the time we were heard the news and were called to take him to the hospital, his kidneys were damaged from dehydration. From that day on Marco needed weekly kidney dialysis in order to stay alive. As we helped Marco navigate the dialysis treatments, he started attending church services each Sunday in Palmira. He sometimes listened--and sometimes slept--through the service. On several occasions I sat beside him and shared the Gospel as simply as I could, while Marco would voice his agreement with my words. Did he truly understand God’s love and sacrifice for him? Only God knows! But God did lengthen his days, giving him the chance to hear and believe.   But the crowd of people there burying Marco still need to hear that message. Pray for our hearts and the hearts of the Awa believers to be tender to these hopeless ones. Pray for good opportunities in the days to come to share the hope of the Resurrection!   Over the last few weeks we are thankful to have finished several projects that have been on my To-Do list for quite some time! We now have a gate on our driveway to keep out roaming horses and cows, and the church in Palmira has a fresh coat of paint. We are still in the process of installing the septic for the bathroom there, but thanks to Abraham and his older brother, the hole is now dug!   We would appreciate your prayers for the annual Awa Easter Conference, just around the corner! Good Friday and Saturday, March 29-30, we are planning two days at the Mission property in Lita; so far sixty Awa have signed up to join us there. Easter Sunday we will be back in the mountains to hold our regular services. Pray for wisdom in planning and preparing the teaching and other activities. And pray that God will prepare hearts to share and take part and learn and grow.   And pray for the many Awa who still need Jesus! At least one couple signed up to join us for Conference are not believers, but sent word that they want to “listen a little bit”. Pray that the Holy Spirit will open their minds to understand what they hear.   May you be blessed with hope as you celebrate the resurrection! What a blessing it is to know the hope of the resurrection! In His grip, Kevin & Kathy

February 2024 - Teaching Truth to the Next Generation

 

Teaching Truth to the Next Generation -February 2024

Having worked here with the Awa for close to 29 years, we have seen this next generation grow up literally in front of our eyes! Over the years we have taught many children the truths of God’s word, and find such joy in seeing some of these teenagers and young adults continuing to grow in Truth as they keep listening to and following God.

The beginning of 2024 turned our focus in a new way to this young generation, as God gave several occasions to spend time with some of the Awa teens. January 27th we had our first “Sábado de Jóvenes” (youth Saturday) in Lita, which turned out to be a great time together. We left Rio Verde with 11 happy teenagers maxing out our truck space, and Graciela joined us in Lita. We watched the first “Tetelestai” video in Spanish, and we were blessed to see how well they listened! Playing games and cooking lunch and cleaning up together was all done with lots of happy chatter. March 2nd will be our next encounter and already more youth are interested in joining us.

January 31st our friend (and Word of Life alumnus) Pastor Walter and I took three of Paulino & Manuela’s young adults to Quito to visit the Word of Life campus there. The students and staff graciously received us and showed us around. Rómulo, Abraham, and Anahí went home with much to think on! They have shown an interest in studying there, but at the same time just the idea is daunting! The big city of Quito is scary, education at a higher level is challenging, and having a monthly bill to pay seems overwhelming. I encouraged them that if God has this for them, He will surely open the way before them.

This last Saturday we had a work day to earn money for some of the teens who signed up for the Mission’s Carnaval youth camp. For Jeison, Pedro, Anahí, and Jenny this is their first camp and it’s another stretching experience! Pray for the four of them, as well as Abraham, during this coming weekend (February 9-12), that their hearts will be encouraged to know God better. We think just seeing such a large crowd of youth also learning to follow God will really blow their minds!

So yes, please pray for the next generation of Awa who will be the future church here! The modern world is becoming more of a force in their lives through cell phones and high schools; they are facing so much more than their parents’ generation did even fifteen years ago.

Please join us to pray:
that God’s truth, poured into their lives, will be an anchor in the midst of turbulent times.
that out of these youth God would raise up those who would follow Him faithfully.
for Rómulo, Abraham, and Anahí as they consider attending Word of Life.
for Kathy & I to have compassion, patience, and energy! as we walk beside these precious young lives.
Praise – our coworkers the Shaubs are now back in Ecuador!
 
In His grip,

Kevin & Kathy

Jan 2024 - Rain and Sunshine

 

Rain and Sunshine -- January 2024

The rainy season began early and in earnest this year! In both November and December we received almost 2 feet of rainfall each month! January is so far promising to be just as wet. The Awa are happily planting their crops of bananas and plantains, naranjilla fruit, and yucca root. The rain also brings challenges in travel, as mudslides aboun!. In between our house and the community of Palmira there is a place where mud comes down each night with the rain; we are thankful that so far we’ve been able to get by each Friday and Sunday for ministry there! God knows how to open the way before us. 😊
 
We are thankful for each sunny day, those moments to get our laundry dry and to get outdoor work done! Like those welcome rays of sunshine, God has also sent us moments of joy in ministry. To share a few of those moment with you:

•  Seeing Meregildo, wearing a big smile!, waiting beside the road on Sundays to accompany us to the service in Palmira. 😊Years ago Meregildo and his family regularly attended church, but were much hurt by church leader Milton’s unfaithfulness to follow God. But after eight years, Meregildo is beginning to come again….and yes, with that big smile of joy on his face!
• Little 10 year old Nixon, with his brother and three cousins in tow, shouting out Proverbs 3:5-6, our latest memory verse. Nixon and cousin Ronni each proudly recited the verses in both Awa and Spanish and earned two prizes!!
• Getting a big “thank you!” hug from Mindy and sister Yumi last Sunday when they received their Sunday attendance prize. Last fall Kathy began a challenge with the Sunday School kids in Palmira putting stickers on a chart to encourage more faithful attendance. Each Sunday the kids excitedly count their ‘points’ and how much they lack to earn the next prize!
• Seeing mother Nancy show up for church for the third Sunday in a row! Her two children have come regularly for several years, but Nancy has been slow to join them. But little by little she is being drawn in, and it was a joy to see her happily joining in the busy visiting and chatter these last few weeks.

And with the new year arriving, it’s time to draw out a plan for 2024! Please pray for God’s wisdom as we make a few changes and additions to our schedule. We are adding a special youth Saturday each month, a time to gather for fun, food, and Bible teaching. And while we do faithfully teach God’s truth each Sunday, we’d like to put more emphasis on one-on-one discipleship this year. Thanks for praying for God’s help in putting this desire into real tangible moments of purposeful sharing.
 
One last prayer request: Ecuador has been suffering through an intense wave of violence as new President Noboa seeks to corral the rising drug-related gang and cartel presence here. Pray for wisdom for the police, military, and government in this difficult time, for many to turn to God in the uncertainty and fear of these times.
 
Happy new year!! May God encourage your hearts to see His ‘rays of sunshine’ even on those rainy days in 2024. May His faithfulness uphold you in the coming months.
 
In His grip,
Kevin & Kathy

December 2023

 

Beach blessings in November and the Light of Life this December

“Can you feel the world is broken?”

We love Andrew Peterson’s music (and his books!) There’s a line from one of his songs “Do you know that all the darkness won’t stop the Light from getting through?” that resonates in our hearts. Doesn’t the world seem like a dark place in many ways these days? Troubles around the globe, and so many that are suffering. Here in AwaLand we do feel that darkness, in hurting families and in aching hearts:

• Our neighbor’s 15 year old daughter recently ran away from home; she’s home again but rebellious and defiant.
• Another young neighbor recently stood on our porch with tears running down his face, telling us about the ugly words his brother and mother had spoken to him, because they were jealous of his new job.
• One young woman who comes to church faithfully each Sunday is dealing with a husband who now has another girl he is also spending time with.
• Many of the Awa men are working at the gold mine now, for 21-day shifts, earning a good wage but leaving behind children who miss their fathers.  
• And so much more…the drunkenness, the broken families, the hopeless faces.

But…Christmas-time is here!

I’ve just begun reading the book of John, and am fascinated anew by verses 4 and 5 of chapter 1: “in Him was Life and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it…” (Amplified)
 
Please pray that we would shine that Light to the Awa this Christmas. How we wish for the hurting to find hope in their darkness! We have programs this coming Sunday the 10^th and the 24^th. Many will come, hoping for candy and cookies; pray that we can offer them the more lasting Light of Life!
 
We are thankful for your prayers! We had a wonderful visit with our daughter Keilah and family in November, and were able to take some vacation days at the beach with them. Such joy! Our Kichwa friend Angel covered one Sunday for us here in AwaLand, and his heart for ministering to the Awa is also a blessing to us.

May God bless you with His Light this holiday season!!
 
In His grip,

 

Is He worthy?  He is!

October 2023

Sowing Generously and Reaping Abundantly

Reading in 2 Corinthians chapter 9, Paul reminds the people that “he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly….” (Amplified),  but that the one who sows generously and in order to bring a blessing, will also reap a generous harvest.
 
We find these verses to be a good reminder that we do want to use God’s precious “seed” to generously scatter abroad here among the Awa! Please pray with us that God will bring about that abundant crop of righteousness and blessing in the lives of many here in these mountains.
 
God provides opportunities and fertile soil on many levels:

• Teaching God’s word of truth on Sundays. Going through the life of Joseph has been such a clear and practical way to sow God’s truth, especially into the young lives of the youth and the children. We’ve been happy to see good understanding and responses each Sunday! The children are showing a better aptitude to learn new concepts (God didn’t forget Joseph, but instead He had a plan for Joseph’s life!) and it is a joy to hear young men like Jeison and Christian really tracking with Joseph’s responses in the face of temptation.
• Practical community help. Two Saturdays in September we hosted a large group of Paulino’s extended family here at the Outpost. Some unfriendly neighbors had set fire to their gate and made ugly threats; the family was wanting to discuss the issue together and come up with a solution that would help to resolve the problem. I helped with the meeting when possible, (and entertained a passel of kids!) while Kathy cooked big lunches to feed the hungry crew. We were blessed to see the way the family, many of whom are believers, work together to come up with a good solution, and we pray it will be carried out in a way that honors God.
• Godly counsel and encouragement one on one as we live and interact in these Awa communities. God provides many openings on a daily basis! Young mother Graciela recently came to visit Kathy, talking about the recent sightings of dead Awa and evil spirits that are bringing fear to many. What a blessing to be able to remind her that God’s presence in us is the best cure for such fear! On another occasion, Miguel was clearing jungle trees and had a big limb hit him on the head and knock him unconscious. I spent that afternoon and evening driving him to the emergency room at the hospital in Ibarra. Although Miguel, a baptized believer, has not been walking with God, he did recognize God’s grace in saving his life. I was thankful for another opportunity to not only show care and compassion for him, but to also remind him how important it is to be in a right relationship with God.

Pray for us, that our ‘sowing’ would not be marked by a grudging sparseness 😊
but rather by a generosity and a bringing of blessing to the Awa people!
 
We thank God for:

• For each of you! Many of you remind us of your support and prayers. You are a blessing!

• A peaceful election day this last month, electing Daniel Noboa as the youngest president in the history of Ecuador.
• His perfect plan for the ages, even as we see the turmoil and groaning of the world around us, especially in the recent invasion of Israel and the continuing war, as well as the earthquake in Afghanistan.
• His abundant grace given to us so that we are well-supplied to pour out to others. (2 Cor. 9:8)

 

We love seeing the big grins on these little faces! These four little cousins are regulars in Kathy’s Sunday School class in Palmira.
 
In His grip,

 

September 2023

 

“Who is my neighbor?” and Opportunities to Show Mercy

 
In Luke 10, Jesus encouraged a lawyer to love God and to love his neighbor. In return, the lawyer asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied with the parable of the Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-37) Afterwards Jesus asked the lawyer which of the men passing by proved to be a neighbor to the injured man. “The one who showed mercy,” was the lawyer’s answer. To which Jesus replied, “Go and do the same.”
 
Living here in the mountains among the Awa people, God often seems to bring into our lives many “good Samaritan” moments, opportunities to show care and mercy to our many ‘neighbors’. Sometimes these moments come when we are weary, or when we are hoping for a quiet afternoon. We greatly appreciate your prayers that God would continually renew our hearts with His mercy so that we can pass that on to the needy. Pray that we would not become weary or worn out as we interact with the people!
 
A few of these opportunities God has brought into our paths over the last few days:

• An Awa grandma came asking for food for her little 1 yr old grandson, who she said was crying with hunger as his mother is gone undergoing surgery at the hospital in Ibarra.
• Our neighbor Porfidio coming with hand cut on sharp rocks; we were glad to be able to help him with a pain pill and ointment and bandages.
• Neighbor boys coming by hot and sweaty after school begging for haircuts for their thick hair!
• Paulino & Manuela’s daughter Mónica is struggling in her marriage; this last weekend Manuela, and three other Awa believers came along with me to make a trip to visit Mónica and her husband and in-laws. I was encouraged by their gracious words to Mónica’s wayward husband, as we together encouraged him to do what is right. We went down some narrow and steep backroads and I was thankful to make it home safely that evening! Please pray for Mónica and husband Jesús.
• 10 year old Edgar showed up (at 6 AM! ) asking for homework help for his page of long division. His older sisters had tried to help but weren’t able to do the division. He was thankful for Kathy’s help!
• We mentioned Fermin’s death in our August letter. His widow came to visit one day asking for financial help; we offered to help her three youngest children with their school supplies as classes began. The youngest of the three, 10 yr old Alicia, was delighted to receive her notebooks and other items! Each Sunday since then Alicia has been waiting by the bridge in San Francisco to ride up with us for Sunday services in Palmira. Alicia is very quiet but the big smile on her face shows how much she is enjoying her Sunday school class.

We thank God for:

• A good retreat the last week of August with the rest of our Liebenzell Mission of Ecuador pastors and coworkers!
• God’s strength for the first month with our coworkers gone.
• Gloria is teaching her Sunday School class with passion and vigor each Sunday!
• Our mechanic in Ibarra has worked hard to keep our truck running despite the difficult road trips we often make!

In His grip,