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