Weary Travelers are home

Dear family and friends,

It is Sunday night, and the weary travelers have returned home. We are tired, but happy. God continues to be very faithful all around the world. Our health care team over the past twelve days saw between 1100 and 1200 people -- the most ever in the history of our missions to Ecuador. In addition, two men and three male teens carried many tons of sand, gravel, soil and block in the completion of the floor for the new Awa youth center in Lita. This was a task of great effort and dedication by the construction unit of this year's mission team, and the fruit of their labor will be realized for many years to come.

A bridge is being constructed over the Rio Verde (photos to follow)!! This river represents the edge of civilization to our mission teams. Most of the Awa live on the other side of the Rio Verde, and there are no semblances of civilization on that side. The Awa cross the Rio Verde to come to our clinic, and must traverse the river either on horseback, or by crossing over one of several five inch wide foot bridges. The new bridge will therefore change their lives. In addition, efforts are also underway in the placement of light poles and lights along the opposite side of the Rio Verde. This, too, will change life in these mountains. Undoubtedly, the change will be both for the good, as well (most likely) for the bad. But the change will come, and indeed is here. The missionaries (Bruces, Williams, and Schwabs) want the change to be entirely for the good, and by the grace of God it will be. But, much more work needs to be done. Education efforts are being planned to improve Awa hygiene and health. Likewise, the Awa church is getting stronger and more vital. It is the missionaries' prayer that the Awa church will someday be independent with regards to outside help. Our teams have been blessed to be a part of this growth and change.

Several team members crossed the Rio Verde on one of the foot bridges! Leading the way was new team member Dr. Bill Harrell. Bill is a retired pediatrician who joined the team at the last minute, in response to the great need for his services. Although initially tentative, Bill now rejoices at having found great purpose and adventure in this experience.

At our final devotion last night in Quito, the team reflected on what we had learned about ourselves, about God, and about other people. Several of us commented on how great is the kingdom of God, and how we so limit our experience of it by the smallness of our dreams. In the midst of this discussion, three guests at the hotel where we stay "happened" to hear us singing and come into the room where we were worshipping. They were from Venezuela, vacationing in Ecuador. We rejoiced to learn of each other's walk, and admitted the need for each other's encouragement. One of the young men gave me a bracelet, which he gave as a message from God to the Church at Tatesbrook. Its inscription reads "Vive con proposito en Christos", which means "Live with purpose in Christ". I promised I would pass that word along.

Please be in prayer for two Ecuadorian ministers who guide our efforts each year. Wilmon Varela was in a motorcycle accident eight months ago. He fractured his ankle, and underwent surgery, but continues to have a painful ankle. We are pursuing further efforts for treatment. Washington Pozo is also the pastor of a local church. He has been experiencing weight loss, fatigue, and chest pain. Despite a recent hospitalization, he continues to be ill. Please pray that both men will receive good medical treatment, and that they will know the peace and power that God offers despite difficult circumstances.


Mercy and grace to each of you,
Tim and Linda

Tim and Linda: Chapter Four

Dear friends and family,

Linda and I are back in Otavalo now. Resting, and shopping a little. The past ten days have flown by very quickly. We have been blessed. We returned from Lita and Rio Verde yesterday afternoon. Pleasant weather, beautiful sights, exhausted team, but peace.

Medically, there has been the usual great diversity of pathology seen in the seven days of clinics that our team has held. Included in the list for adult medicine would include a chronic tear gland infection (caused by parental abuse), probable tuberculosis, a piece of steel embedded in a cornea, multiple ear canals occluded by wax (and on two occasions, by an insect), fractures of a wrist and of an ankle (one sustained by falling from a bridge hanging thirty feet over the Rio Verde), endless cases of back pain caused by living in these mountains, several cases of pneumonia, PID, and cellulitis, one abscess of an eyelid, several major depressions, several cases of severe hypertension, one fellow with angina, another with phimosis and possible adenocarcinoma, multiple cases of roundworm infestations, one fellow with a colostomy wound abscess, etc., etc. One 40 year old man was blind as the result of an accident. He depended on his ten year old son to be led along. My compatriot, pediatrician Bill Harrell, saw many interesting pediatric cases, including a child with severe enlargement of his liver (probably due to a liver fluke), and one case of a pseudo-scorpion bite of the scalp (turns out the boy´s sister thought she saw a scorpion on the floor, and accidentally hit him in the head with a broom). All in all, a very interesting assortment.

Through all of this, the people we served were very thankful and appreciative. They showered us with smiles, hugs, kisses, handshakes and gifts. We felt as though we were able to help them. We of course recognized that most of the help given was short term, at best. But they were glad that we had come, and it spoke of the love of Jesus to them. The missionary family in Rio Verde -- Kevin and Kathy Bruce and their three children -- are wonderful people. They told us that in the fourteen years they have been serving the Awa people, that many of the Awa have rejected their efforts to bring the gospel and other help to them. However, as our team returns each year they are seeing doors beginning to open to deeper relationships with the Awa. This is of more lasting significance.

The apostle Paul wrote this to the people at Colossae: "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ..." I feel that this is why we go -- to be a part of the work to those here in Ecuador for whom Christ died, rose again, and lives today. The body has many parts, each playing a different role, but all significant in God's plan. We are blessed, and He is glorified.

Linda and I will be travelling with the team back to Quito this afternoon. We will fly out early on Sunday morning, and arrive in Miami around midday. We should arrive back in Kentucky around 5pm on Sunday afternoon. We look forward to seeing each of you in the coming days.

Awed by His bountiful love and power,
Tim and Linda

Tim and Linda: Chapter Three

Dear friends and family,

Linda and I have returned after our four day trek to Gualsaqui and Rio Verde. Had a great time. Will break it up into two parts, with a continuation to be given tomorrow.

The team travelled to Gualsaqui on Tuesday. This is a rural village up in the mountains near Otavalo. The people were very gracious and hospitable. They provided the team with lunch, despite their meager means. Saw the pastor there -- he related that he had had three ribs fractured a few years ago because of his commitment as a Christian. A 64 year old lady limped in, and asked for medication to help her with her hip pain. We learned that she had fallen and broken her hip 15 years earlier, and that her employer had insisted that she continue working, and not seek medical attention. Her hip fracture healed, but in an abnormal way, resulting in chronic pain and a limp. She continues to wash clothing four days a week, in order to earn enough ($5 a week) to keep food on the table. We were all humbled by our experiences in this place, but left with a deep joy knowing that these people fully trusted Jesus.

We travelled on to Lita on Tuesday night. This is always the great adventure of each year. The scenery is magnificent. We got settled in at the Awa Center, ate a quick supper, and retired early after devotion. Got an early start on Wednesday. We travelled the muddy road to Rio Verde, where about 200 Awa met us. It was a busy day, with many sick children and adults. Linda measured the vision of every patient, and played a key role in the overall care of people because of her good knowledge of Spanish. She was a real trooper. The medical and pediatric teams were challenged by the cramped quarters in the barn, and later were able to move to a tent. Much better ventilation and light there. The nurses also branched out, and started seeing patients too. Saw 200 on Wednesday, and again on Thursday. Good stories to follow.

Gotta go!
Love, Tim and Linda

Tim and Linda: Chapter Two

Dear family and friends,

Greetings from Ecuador! Linda and I continue our journey through this beautiful and diverse land. The mountains, sunrises and sunsets, lakes and vegetation have been more glorious than ever.

The past two days have been a welcome time of rest and relaxation. We went to the market here in Otavalo yesterday, and Linda was in her element, speaking and shopping in Spanish. She obtained several surprises for several of you. We have had very good times of evening devotion -- the team is excellent, and loves to tell stories. All have appreciated the blessing of hot water at Dona Esther, our hotel here in Otavalo. Food has been unusually good as well. We attended worship this morning at Galilea Baptist Church. Linda and I were impressed that services there are in many ways similar to those at Tatesbrook. The sermon (which I heard second handedly through Linda) was excellent. Wilmon, the pastor and our friend, spoke of Jesus´ call to each of us to come to Him, to take up His yoke, and to learn from Him. The youth group sang a hymn to us in English (very impressive). We enjoyed a pantomimed skit very much.

This afternoon the team enjoyed a picnic at Lake Cuicocha. This is a spectacular lake that rests within a volcanic crater. Wonderful views...good food. Had a great time. Rode there and back in the beds of two pickup trucks.

Tomorrow, we will be holding clinic at the Galilea Church. Please pray for pastor Wilmon´s right ankle. It is still painful despite surgical repair of a fracture sustained eight months ago. We will be attending to that, as well as the needs of the church and the local community. On Tuesday, we will be holding our fourth clinic at the village of Gualsaqui -- a poorer community that is near Otavalo. After that, we travel to Lita where we will be serving the Awa on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Pray that we will stay open to God´s use of our love and service there.

We love each of you, and look forward to sharing some of these stories with you in the coming weeks.


In Awe of His Light,
Tim and Linda

Tim and Linda: Greetings from Ecuador!

Dear friends and family,

Greetings from Ecuador! Despite some snags along the way, Linda and I have arrived safely.

We got off to a great start on Wednesday morning, and had no problems with flight changes in Miami. We and the rest of the team of 17 enjoyed the beautiful flight to Quito, but that's when the challenges began. All but one of us had cleared customs in Quito, when we learned that the officials wanted all of us to return to the airport when they discovered that we were carrying a large amount of medication. We spent the next two hours trying to resolve the issue that not all of our bags of medication had an expiration date. When the dust finally settled, about 200 courses of treatment (enough medication for about 200 people) was confiscated.

However, everything else (about 95% of our total baggage) was allowed into the country. The team worked superbly under some duress, and no one was arrested (although I did speak with some passion for one brief moment). We all got to bed at Casa Sol by midnight that night.

As is usually the case, we have been operating at full speed since. We saw 240 patients on the first day at the clinic in Quito, and we saw about 150 people today at the Punyaro school here in Otavalo. I saw lots of sick people both days. The team has had a great time, and Linda is doing great. She is in charge of measuring all patients vision. She has been given much adulation, hugs and appreciation.

So, although we are physically exhausted, we are emotionally and spiritually energized. I am looking to our first devotion tonight (which is now Friday). The team really is working well together. We appreciate all of you, and ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers. Tomorrow and Sunday are days for rest and for looking around. Linda gets to go to the big market here in Otavalo tomorrow. Many people we saw today expressed their thanks to you -- our family and church -- that we were here to serve them. I believe that God has already received glory. May that continue.


Love from Otavalo in Imbaburra province,
Tim and Linda