Mission to Ecuador, 2008: A Post-Script

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I now sit in the comfort of my home here in Lexington. I wanted to share some final thoughts from this year's work in Ecuador. The team held its final devotional last night at Casa Sol in Quito. Following the reading of scripture, some music, and some teaching, team members shared their thoughts. We were joined last night by Phillip Duncan. Phillip and his wife Shelia are former missionaries to Ecuador. They now live in Catlettsburg, where Phillip works as a hospital chaplain as well as a minister at Lifesong Church in Ashland.

One of our new team members this year is Aaron Thompson. Aaron is a student in the physical therapy program at UK. He confessed last night that over the past week he had worked harder than he had ever done in his life. He said he was tired, but that it was a good tired. He felt full of God's purpose. I then related a story from Africa. The missionary there (Clay Coursey) had told me twenty years ago that children in Africa were raised to live in reality, whereas most children in the US were raised to live in a fantasy. I then surmised that God's purpose for our lives certainly consists of living in reality as we walk and live in Christ.

Phillip then related how, two years ago, he was standing outside our clinic for the Awa at Rio Verde. It was a very busy day, and there were literally hundreds of people waiting to be seen. Observing their poverty and disease, Phil confessed the anger he felt towards God in allowing such circumstances to exist. He asked God why this should be. He then told us that it was as if he was struck by lightning. He heard God say to him, "It is because this is why you are here. These people are for you, and you are for them. Live in Me, and love them." Phillip went on to observe that more than ever before in the history of the church, Christian people are going and doing, serving people like these. "God is moving" amongst His people, and the opportunity to join in that activity is before us.



Before flying back today, I donated the last of my money (about $15) for Ana's surgery (see the mission entry from yesterday). I did, however, save back one Sacageawa dollar coin. (This is a US dollar coin with an Indian woman and her baby on her back. They are used in Ecuador as well.) As I looked at that coin -- flying along above the wonderland of white clouds -- I observed how much the woman and child on that coin looked like the women and children I had been seeing over the past ten days. At the top of the coin on the front side is the word "Liberty", and to the side of the coin are the words "In God We Trust". Really, for me, that coin pretty much sums up this year's medical mission to the Quechua and Awa people of Ecuador. Just like us, they are searching for liberty -- freedom from political oppression, freedom from disease and poverty, freedom from addiction, freedom from sin, freedom from the law and the world and the Enemy. And we need not fly half-way around the world to find adults and children in need of the freedom that God offers through His Son Jesus. They live not far from us, right now.

As I was coming down the escalator to the baggage claim area, I saw my dear wife standing there. Just before she met me, a man holding a white sign spoke to her. The sign said "Liberty Mutual". God's humor and reminder was not lost on me this time.

Overwhelmed by the awesome love and grace of Dad,
Dr. Tim

The People of Ecuador

Dear family in Christ,

This has been a day of discovery and refreshing. The team has seen some of the city of Quito, including a trip by ski-lift to the top of a volcano, Guagua Pinchincha. It was a remarkable view, reminding each of us how creative our Father is. The Andes mountains are full of His wild grandeur.

I want to share with you a few of the stories of people from these recent days. First is the story of Ana. Ana is a young woman who lives in the city of Otavalo. She is the mother of three young children, but is not married. She has been attending the Galilean church which is pastored by one of our super Ecuadorian friends, Wilman. He tells me that Ana is searching for God, and is in great need now because of the development of abdominal swelling over the past month. She has been diagnosed as having a very large ovarian tumor, possibly malignant. She is scheduled to undergo surgery in a hospital in Quito on June 27. She is frightened, and is stressed because she is unable to pay the cost of the surgery ($800). As we prayed for her, she experienced emotional release, and expressed interest in knowing more about Jesus Christ. Our team leader - Shelia Duncan - promised to visit Ana in the hospital on the day of her surgery. Please pray that Ana will come through surgery well, that her costs can be covered, and that she will trust Jesus as her Lord.

Maria is a Quechua woman in her 50`s who lives in the community of Calderone on the outskirts of Quito. We saw her in the clinic we held there on this past Friday. Maria has hypertension, and when we saw her her BP was 180/110. She had last taken BP medication, prescribed by a local physician, about three years ago. She said she felt well while on the med, but could not afford to buy more. We provided a year supply of a medication donated by a US pharmaceutical company. We also advised her that this was done in the name of Jesus Christ because of God`s love for us and for her. Maria is a Christian. At this news, she broke into tears, and expressed her thanks. She told us that it was important that we continue to do this service for people like herself. We felt humbled to serve her. (See 2 Cor. 5:17-21)

Kevin and Kathy Bruce are missionaries in Ecuador. Along with the Williams family, they and their three children serve the Awa people of northern Ecuador. There are 50,000 Awa -- "people of the mountain". Kevin presented a 45 minute powerpoint presentation of the recent move that the Bruces and Williams made to their new home out in the forests of Rio Verde, near their older home in Lita. He showed photos of the cutting of trees in those forests, and the planing and notching of the planks made from them with chainsaws. He showed the construction of a foundation on the side of the mountain. There was the construction of a frame, carried out with the help of their Awa friends. There was the creative provision of electrical power with solar cells. He told us how the water supply ended up being a little too low, so that the family must tote water up to the home each day. The children are each responsible for washing their own clothing each day. Mother Kathy makes all the meals, and mends clothes, takes care of health needs for the family and community, etc. They then told us how this is much like their pursuit of a dream to establish a vibrant church in the Awa community. Through Christ living in them, they have sought to establish a foundation through friendships with the Awa. They have learned the Awa language (Doug and Kevin are probably the best non-Awa speakers of the language in the world) and they have learned about and lived in the Awa culture for years now. Finally, they are teaching the word of God and the living of the Word to these people.

When asked what needs they have, the Bruces mentioned the need for prayer -- prayer that God would continue to provide the strength they need each day, prayer for patience and persistance, prayer for security (Colombian rebels and other threats are not far away) and for good health. They also requested prayer for more male believers to function as leaders, and for Awa believers who would live lives that would serve as good testimonies to those Awa who are not yet believers. Finally, they asked for prayer for more wisdom in making tough decisions, and for continued development of their communication skills. In addition, they asked that we continue to come and provide help, as God provides the grace and ability to help.

Finally, Nick Ross is a 23 year old young man who is finishing his studies at Ohio State. I have had the privilege of getting to know Nick over the last 7 years on these mission trips. He is bright, energetic, and has a great sense of humor. Two years ago, after watching "The End of the Spear" while staying in Lita, Nick and others decided to visit the Shell area of Ecuador towards the end of their mission work that year. (Shell is the area where the Elliotts and other missionaries were serving in the 1950`s.) While there, Nick felt a strong call from God to enter the field of aviation missions. He is currently getting his flight training, and will soon be going to school to get his aviation mechanics license. This year, Nick received training as an on-the-field optician, and he and his helpers provided glasses for many Ecuadorians this year.

This year`s mission verse was Micah 6:8 -- "He has told you, O man, what is good: And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." That is what we have been thinking, and living, and walking, and dreaming about.

Looking forward to seeing you again,
Dr. Tim

Rio Verde and more

Dear family in Christ,

It has been five days since I last wrote. Since then, we have visited four communities, and held five clinics. We have treated about 900 people. We traveled to Lita, where we stayed at the mission facility built by Liebenzell for the Bruce and Williams families. They now live in a more remote area called Rio Verde. They moved there to be closer to the Awa people to whom they minister. Their situation is the closest I have experienced to the kind of missionary experience we hear of from years past with regards to Jim and Elizabeth Eliot, or Taylor Hudson. They serve with great dedication and genuine love for Jesus Christ. The Awa people love them as well. I have forwarded a recent email from the Bruce family, which includes a mention of our medical team`s work there as well as some photos. The work there is sometimes hard, but is very worthwhile. Though the environment is far from pristine, the people are very needy and very grateful for any help provided. Some people I see depend on our team for their annual medical care. One fellow (Byron) comes for an annual injection of a trigger point in his upper back. Turns out he works for a Swiss organization, teaching Awa people in remote (!) locations how best to raise chickens and grow crops for food. Other conditions and procedures I encountered with the Awa included drainage of a large axillary abscess, treatment of a corneal abrasion, splinting of a fractured wrist, removal of a skin lesion, and treatment of hypertension, depression, skin infections, UTI`s , etc. We saw no scorpions this year, but were regularly serenaded by tropical birds, chickens, horses, cows and pigs. A great time!

Our other clinics were held in Salinas (an African-American community), Galilea (a suburban community in Otavalo), and an inner city community in Quito. Many people presented with chronic conditions, some of which are people that we see each year. We provide free medications, and the people are always very grateful for this. We also treat some acute conditions, and that is important as well. The people are also grateful for the information we provide regarding their health and the conditions that they have.

All of this occurs in a spiritual context. All of the church people that attend acknowledge God`s provision for their lives and health. But the non-church people that attend also are open to the idea that God is providing, especially when they learn that these loving, caring people have come for no reason other than to honor and love Jesus Christ. It does impact their lives. And it also encourages the missionaries, their families, and the people that work along with them.

More tomorrow regarding stories of specific people.

In the deep embrace of my Saviour and Redeemer,
Dr. Tim

Letter from Kevin & Kathy Bruce

Greetings from the RV Outpost!

The summer begin with a tragedy in the community south of us. The first week of June our neighbor Milton went to go fishing and found the body of a young girl floating in the river down below us. For Milton it was an extremely upsetting moment, but after praying, the Lord gave him courage to tie the body up, get help, and find out what had happened. We were in Ibarra that week, and Kathy’s sister Chrissy was at the Outpost alone, but did what she could to help. Milton soon found out that the body belonged to one of two girls that were missing from a family 3 hours’ hike upriver from the Outpost. The girls had been returning from their country farm to the community center where they went to school, and had to cross one of the swollen creeks along the way. Apparently they somehow were washed downstream. Their family, along with many others from the community, searched for the next two weeks all along the river from their community to town, but were unable to locate the other body (about 25 kilometers of river). Please pray for the family of Marco Aurelio as they deal with this sad loss. Pray for Paulino as he reaches out to them and others there in the community. One day while searching the river near us, Marco Aurelio asked me if it was true (as he had been told) that people that drowned in rivers couldn’t go to Heaven. I assured him that drowning in a river made no difference to God---His acceptance of a person had everything to do with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and not the manner of death. I encouraged him to help his remaining family hear God’s truth. But our hearts are heavy knowing that likely neither Marco nor his girls have accepted Jesus’ payment for their sin. Please pray for this needy family!

The beginning of this week found us assisting in a medical caravan here in RV. A missions trip organized by our friend Sheila in Kentucky came down bringing medicine and doctors. This group is visiting different communities here in Ecuador giving a free medical checkup and medicine when necessary. They have come annually here to our community, and it was a joy to work with them again. In the two days here they saw around 350 people and showed Christ’s love in a very tangible way to the Awa people. We also took the opportunity to teach the Bible with all those who came, sharing that although when Jesus was here on earth he was concerned with the health and physical issues of the people, he came with the purpose to provide a cure for the even more serious disease of sin. Just as these doctors freely offered medicine, God freely offered his Son. Click here to see a few pictures

Thank you so much for your continued prayers!

Kevin & Kathy

PS: check out this big worm we saw while hiking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtaIpfJUqF0

Kevin & Kathy Bruce

Liebenzell Mission
Casilla 10-01-692
Ibarra, Imbabura
ECUADOR
+593 9 478-7811

http://brucekev.blogspot.com

Quechuan city of Otavalo

Dear ones of CAT and River,

Salutations! This Saturday night finds yours truly relaxed, well fed and grateful. We have had a good day of taking in Ecuadorian culture here in the Quechuan city of Otavalo.

Our day on Friday was a very blessed one. Our team of 13 had a great evening of devotion, singing and sharing. The mix of people is good, both young and older. Our youngest team member, Abby, confessed that she was surprised to find how much she liked the experience thus far. She said life was ¨"different" here, and that she felt good about what she was doing. Older team members shared how simple things like mountains, sunrises and clouds had spoken to them about God's providence, creativity, love and grace. The scripture teaching from Acts 14 and Romans 1:1 seemed more alive and dynamic. We sang with hope and compassion. We were gladdened.

Tomorrow, we will be attending church with our Quechua brethren, and then will pack up to travel to Lita, the land of the Awa. I look forward to seeing the Bruce and Williams families once again, and traveling back to Rio Verde to provide health care to the Awa on Monday and Tuesday. We will be out of computer and telephone range. Please pray for us that the power and love of Jesus Christ will be made manifest to those we serve.

I will check back on Wednesday.
With Joy,
Dr. Tim

Dr. Tim arrives safely in Ecuador

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ at Tatesbrook and the River,

Our team of 12 arrived at N.Ky airport at 5am on the morning of 6/12. We were immediately surprised to discover that none of our medical supplies could be transported to Ecuador because of a box embargo that had recently been instituted for that country. Consequently, we sent out a delegation to purchase duffels and suitcases, early that Thursday morning. God was at work. With about twenty minutes of time left before the doors to the plane would be closed, our delegation had returned with about twenty new bags. Over the next fifteen minutes, against impossible odds, we were Holy Spirit enabled to repack all of the mission supplies that had originally taken two months to pack. We sped breathlessly through customs and took our seats with no time to spare.

Our flight to and from Miami was without event, and our flight to Quito went smoothly as well. The team - now 13 in number - made its way through immigration and customs smoothly, once again. There was a question about one item not being listed on our letter of authorization, but someone from the Customs office suddenly appeared (mysteriously so) and advised the questioning official that we were "okay". We made our way safely to the hotel in Quito for our overnight stay. I should note that my number on the team is 13, and I realized only later on Friday that today is the 13th. My stay overnight at the hotel was in room 13.

My impression at this point is that God will take care of all things. He loves us with fearless passion, and intends to provide for all of our needs. But He wants us to know this, and must teach us this lesson recurringly, with various means. I also am impressed that He wants us to be involved in His doing great things through us. Today at the clinic at Punyaro (near the craft town of Otavalo) I met a man who had been a Christian for fifteen days. He was excited about his salvation and relationship with Jesus. He was telling everyone, and his smile was infectious. We spoke different languages, but we were able to communicate well through Christ living in us. I was impressed. Hopefully, his physical needs were well addressed as well.

Tomorrow and Sunday have been set aside for rest and relaxation, as well as shopping at the market on Saturday, and worshipping at Galilea Church on Sunday. I look forward to seeing what God has to say and teach on each day. Something odd did occur to me this afternoon. The old veteran is rooming with two young men this year. When you add their ages together, and then add ten more years, you have my present age. I have gotten old... a difficult thing to admit. Nevertheless, by God's standards, I am still quite young, and beloved in His sight.

Signing off for now. Faithfully,
Dr. Tim