Homeward Bound

"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him."
Luke 15:20

Dear family,

Today is our last day in Ecuador. Our team of eight worshipped with out friends at Iglesias Bautista Galilea. We had worked alongside several of their members over the previous ten days. Pastor Wilman Varela, wife Clemencia and family have become our close friends. The church made a presentation to our team, giving thanks for our willingness to serve, and for God's grace, love and sufficiency. It was a day of celebration. I was reminded of how much God has blessed the bride of Jesus, and how the body of Christ stretches around the Earth.

The team is staying tonight at the HCJB guest house. We will fly out early in the morning, flying to Miami then to Cincinnati. Will be home by late afternoon. I am looking forward to seeing each of you again.

Encouraged by His love,
Tim

Rio Verde

Dear family and friends,

Our team this year had nine members - me, Shelia (our leader), Phil (Shelia's spouse and translator), Leah (the Duncan's daughter and a nurse who coordinated the pharmacy), Corey (19 yr.old student, Leah's helper), Bill Harrell (pediatrician), Jan (peds nurse), Janet (home health nurse who saw patients), and Alvaro (a mental health worker in the public schools of Columbia who translated for Janet). We had a great and experienced team.

One act of God's providence occurred last Sunday on the way to Lita. A dump truck was sitting in the opposite lane as our bus was coming around a curve. A bus coming from the opposite direction passed by the truck, leaving our bus but a few extra inches on our side of the road. Many prayers of the moment went up in those few seconds, and the two buses passed safely by one another.

The first day in clinic at Rio Verde was a day of much activity and clinical diversity. I treated an asthmatic women with a nebulizer, a lady with pneumonia with an antibiotic injection, and a family of three children with bad cases of impetigo. One lady had a large ganglion cyst which required aspiration. We saw Gloria once again. She has had scleroderma for several years, and we bring her annual supply of medication. She is doing well. We met her daughter, who is on a national soccer team for Ecuador. One man we examined had been acutely confused for four days. His diagnosis eluded us, and we recommended cautious observation and hospital treatment if not improving.

One very interesting family was a couple in their late fifties or early sixties. They had two children - a son who is ten and a daughter who is four - both of whom had Down's syndrome. It was difficult for us to know how difficult a task these parents had in raising these children. Nevertheless, they were very kind and loving. Shelia hugged the little girl, who took a particular liking to Shelia's nose. She kept pulling on it until it became quite red. Then, when I had my back turned during my exam of the boy, he caught me off guard when he tweaked by backside. I jumped about two feet, and all six of us laughed!

It was a great two days at Rio Verde. God is surely bringing His kingdom to this remote corner of the world.

In awe,
Tim

Other stories from Pijal

"And this is love, that we walk according to His commandment.  This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it."   2 John 1:6

         This was our second year to hold a medical clinic at Pijal.  It is a poor community, nestled in the hills just outside Otavalo.  The Quechua women come with their children, walking alongside the chickens, sheep, dogs and pigs.  The concrete building in which we see people was once intended to serve as the health department, but now serves as a day care.   After sweeping the floors and hanging the tarps, we began seeing patients there yesterday.

        One lady we saw was brought to the clinic by her twenty-five year old son.  She had the usual Quechuan complaints of back pain and headache.  What caught Shelia and me by surprise, however, was that her son was her only child.  She told us that she had been pregnant seven times in her life.  She went on to say that her now deceased husband had brutally ended each of her first six pregnancies by beating her until she miscarried.  We were stunned to hear this, but it seemed to relieve her of an emotional burden to be able to tell a stranger of these tragic events in her life.  We provided some medications for her, and prayed tenderly for her and her son.

      Later in the day, we were heartened to see a lady that we had seen before last year.  Her three year old twin sons accompanied her, one of whom had been unable to walk or to use his arms when we saw him last year.  We gave her $30 last year to be used for regular physical therapy.  Indeed, she had been taking him to a physical therapist, and per our request last year, produced a receipt from his visits over the past year.  He is now walking, and is beginning to use his arms and hands.  He smiled as we examined him, and demonstrated improved strength in his limbs.  We attended to the other needs of the family, and encouraged his mother to continue with the physical therapy.  Shelia and I were encouraged as well!

        The day  at Pijal was a rainy one.  We were reminded of the simultaneous presence of hope and despair in that land.

Challenged and uplifted,
Dr. Tim

Wilson

"When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him....Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones."  Mark 5:2,5

          His name was Wilson.  His mother had brought him to the school at Pijal  to be seen by us.  Four years prior he had gone out with friends in his normal state of mind, but upon returning home that evening his mind was seemingly vacant, according to his mother.  Since that day, he would wander aimlessly each day, spending many nights without sleep.  His responses to questions were minimal, and he seemed to stare constantly into the distance, moving his hands without purpose about his head and face.  He denied seeing things that were unreal, and denied hearing voices. His mother had taken him to several physicians as well as to a psychiatrist in Quito.He was on several psychiatric medications, but was no better -- perhaps worse.  The mother begged that we help her son.

         After spending some time with this year man, Shelia Duncan and I wondered if there was a spiritual context to this young man´s plight.  Although he definitely seemed very depressed, he was able to give appropriate, albeit brief, replies to our questions.  He did not appear to be psychotic.  As we were talking with him, pastor Wilman stood alongside listening.  As it turned out, he knew the young man´s family.  Led by the Holy Spirit, he began speaking with Wilson directly, face to face.  He asked out sin, and this seemed to hit the target.  He began to share the Gospel with Wilson, and shared about the love of Christ, His sacrifice, and His offer of new life.  Wilson was slow in his response initially, but by the power of the Spirit, he slowly began to experience the tearing down of a stronghold.  By God´s grace, he professed Jesus Christ as Saviour!  Wilman embraced Wilson as the tears began to flow.  My thoughts turned to the passage about the prisoners being set free.

         Wilson is not yet emotionally free, however.  We did reduce his psychiatric medication regimen, and encouraged a followup with his psychiatrist.  We also strongly recommended beginning reading the Word, and to pray, and to attach himself to a local body of believers.  Wilman was going to assist him in this.  We prayed.  Once again,  everyone in the clinic was graced by the strong presence of the Holy Spirit.
                                                   Washed in the blood of the Lamb,    Dr. Tim

The Boy's Hand

¨Then He said to the man, ´Stretch our your hand!´ He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other.¨ Matthew 12:13

     The drive up to Rio Verde on this past Monday morning was glorious, as usual. We were blessed with a relatively dry road, and the chill of the air in the back of the pickup was refreshing. The Rio Verde was running with plenty of water, and the new bridge looked great. When we arrived at the Rio Verde school, a good-sized crowd of Awa were awaiting us. The team was glad to see our missionary friends Kevin and Kathy Bruce as well as well as Andy and Chrissy Schwab once again. Kevin had informed me the night before that their partners with the Awa mission these past sixteen years -- Doug and Dorcas Williams -- had made the difficult decision to begin their transition back to the US for the sake of their children. This will change life signicantly for the Bruces and the Schwabs.

  As we quickly set up the clinic in the school building, Kevin announced that a family was bringing their ten year old son to be seen. While working the day before, he had sustained a significant laceration to three fingers of his right hand. They hoped that we could repair the hand without causing much pain. As I examined his hand, I could see that he may have lacerated the extensor tendon of his index finger. In addition, he was none too happy to be at the clinic. Nonetheless, his parents insisted, and so we got started. I gave him two meds to sedate him, and an hour later he was able to rest on the table while we began irrigating his wounds with sterile saline. He tolerated the local anesthetic quite well. His grandparents - who just happened to be to the next patients to be seen by me -- sat alongside the patient as I began the repair of his hand. His third and fourth finger lacerations were only skin deep, and were easily repaired. The index finger laceration , however, was much deeper, but with the help of the Holy Spirit and good light, the tissue came together nicely and I believe the tendon was intact. After further irrigation, the skin was closed and his hand bandaged. His parents and grandparents were pleased, and the boy was glad to be asleep!

Later that day, Phillip Duncan (a member of our team) commented on how fortunate it was that the boy sustained his injury just the day before we were to arrive. Indeed, the team´s witness of God´s love and concern was magnified by this opportunity to provide needed care. Wilman (the Ecuadorian pastor and friend whose church assisted us this year) prayed with the boy and his family, completing a time in which we felt the presence of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Affected by His Touch,
Dr. Tim

Return from Rio Verde

Picture taken from Inguinchu toward Quito

"Lord, have mercy on my son...for he often falls into the fire...and the boy was cured." Matthew 17:15,17

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Peace and grace to each of you from God the Father and Jesus our Lord. I am here in Otavalo this afternoon, having returned from a day´s work at the beautiful community of Inguinchu atop the Andes in Imbaburra Province. The scenery there is spectacular, but the temperature was most cold all day. We had a good day in clinic, seeing about 100 Quechua people. We had exciting rides in the back of the pickup truck both to and from the site. All team members are healthy and happy.

Our four days in Lita and Rio Verde were filled with wonder and glory. Our friends from the Galilea Church here in Otavalo sent a team along with us to Lita to lead the VBS that took place for the children of Lita, conducted at the same time as the health clinics that we held for the Awa at Rio Verde. It was great working alongside them, and in sharing meals with them. We value the long-term friendships that have developed between us over the years.

There are several stories that came out of our time there, and it will take more than this email to tell them. But I will share one story with you now. His name is Luis. Luis is a 20 year old Awa male who has a seizure disorder. Two months before we arrived, he had a bad seizure at home, and fell into the fire his parents were using to cook a meal. He sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns of his right elbow. His family did the best they could do to take good care of his injury, but by the time I saw him his right arm was infected and badly contracted by scarring of the skin around his elbow. His parents were with him, and seemed very kind. Luis, naturally, was very apprehensive about being around people he had never met before. We spent time in listening to their story, and in soothing Luis. At last, he agreed to lie down on our make-shift exam bed. His elbow was swollen, and very sensitive to touch. Gently, we debrided and dressed his wound, and gave instructions about subsequent wound care, providing the necessary materials to his family. We also asked Wilman (our good friend and the pastor at Galilee) to pray with the family over Luis. There were no flashes of lightning, nor miraculous healing, but everyone there seem to sense the peace and love of God. I do know that Luis was calmer as a result. Please pray for Luis that his arm will become functional and without pain.

The team returned to Otavalo last night, and as usual had a great time in reviewing what God is doing here in Ecuador. I am doing well, and my left knee is nearly back to normal. I have nearly run out of jokes to tell, as well! Seriously, we have taken note of the many things that God has done here over the years. Many people have found temporary help for illness. Many friendships have been formed. Several churches have been started. And many seeds have been planted. We concluded that we really have little idea of all that God has done.

I will plan on writing again tomorrow evening, and tell more stories from Rio Verde at that time.

Still busy in Ecuador,
Tim

Lita Bound

Dear brothers and sisters:
       

Peace and grace be to you. Our team is preparing to journey to Lita, in the land of the Awa. We eagerly anticipate this each year, and so we do now. We will be out of touch with the world (including you) for the most part through Wednesday. The trip from here to there is beautiful, and look forward to a peaceful bus ride. We had a restful day yesterday, and had a wonderful time of worship at Galilea Baptist church this morning here in Otavalo. I also enjoyed a short ride by horseback at the hotel, but unfortunately missed my dismount and strained my left knee. I am hopeful that the knee will heal quickly. Our team has been talking about the necessity of depending on God moment by moment as we walk through these days. We pray that his power would be manifest both for the healing of those to whom we ministry and for His glory. Pray for the missionaries that we will be working alongside (the Bruces and the Schaubs). We have a good team (older and more male than usual). We look forward to seeing what God has in store for us over these next three and a half days.

Hobbled but Hope-full somewhere in the Andes,
Tim

Gualsaqui

"Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

Dear Ones in Christ Jesus our Lord,

It is Saturday morning in Otavalo. Our team continues to experience good things from our Father. Yesterday, we spent the day in service of the people of a rural village near Otavalo called Gualsaqui. Linda and I worked there two years ago. The pastor there - Roberto - is a wonderful man of God. As we arrived to set up for the first day of clinic, he asked if we could pay a visit to one of the members of his church (the Church of the Nazarene at Gualsaqui) at her home. Shelia Duncan, nurse Jan and myself said "of course" and pastor Roberto took us there.

We were graciously invited into the Quechua home, and stepped back 150 years in time. The construction was adobe, and within was one large room. An open fire was blazing in the center with a large kettle of potatoes aboil. An elderly woman was lying on the single cot to one side, with her husband alongside, and their daughter attending to meal preparation. About twenty guinea pigs (a local delicacy) were gathered along the edges of the room. There was one electric light, and by this we spent time with our patient. She was 84 years of age, and had suffered a stroke four months prior. She spoke Quechua only, so Roberto translated to Spanish so that Shelia could translate to English. She was to move neither her left arm nor her left leg. Because she spent all of her time in bed, she had developed contractures at her fingers as well as at her knee. Moreover, she lamented that she no longer had a purpose in life, and that she wished she could die. We learned however that she is a believer. After providing recommendations for daily rehabilitation exercises, as well as sitting an hour in the sunshine and taking an aspirin a day, we tried to encourage her with the truth. Roberto told her that her Father in heaven valued her not for what she does, but for who she is in Jesus Christ. This seemed to give her some hope. We finished by praying with her. I believe that her husband and daughter were encouraged as well.

We subsequently returned to the 21st century, and conducted the clinic at the church. Bill Harrell - our pediatrician - had a great day working with many children and mothers. Jan and Janet - our two senior nurses - worked with many people, while translation was provided by one of our friends here, Katie from Oregon. Shelia and I worked with many adults, one of whom had stomach cancer. We prayed with him, and hugged him. We gave out about one trunkful of medications. We finished at about sundown, and the weary team dined at a restaurant in Otavalo. I had some delicious sea bass.

Today, the team is resting and shopping. From time to time we encounter old friends on the streets here. Each night, we are engaging in our usual daily devotional. This year we are focusing on "Following Him", with daily emphasis on separate steps in that process. I shared last night about the value of "staying", with references to God's word to Isaac in Genesis 26 and Jesus´s word to the disciples in Luke 24. If we are to receive what God has promised to us, we must wait for His directions. Power has been requested for this year´s mission effort. We (and certainly I) must wait upon Him. My dear wife Linda has been encouraging me with daily notes that she packed in my travel bags. She includes a verse for each day. Yesterday´s verse was Psalm 27:14. It was ideally suited to the lessons of the day, for which I am thankful. This morning I read 2 Corinthians 9:8, which challenged me as well.

Waiting in an internet cafe in Ecuador,
Tim

Quito

Saints of Tatesbrook and dear family,

Greetings from Quito! Despite circumstances to the contrary, our team of eight missionaries arrived safely in Ecuador at 11:30 EDST last night. We are healthy and now this morning well fed and rested. We did have one or two delays, and a fairly bumpy ride, but overall a smooth trip. We stayed overnight at the beautiful HCJB Guest House here in Quito. It is operated by the HCJB Ministries, known these past decades for its worldwide broadcasts from atop the Andes here in Ecuador. Our team has just finished a great breakfast (complete with guananabi juice, Linda), and is now preparing to take a tour of the HCJB facilities, including the hospital. We are excited to hear about the history of God's grace and work in this place.

Speaking of which, God did provide me with the opportunity enroute from Chicago to Miami to sit beside a lady from Jamaica. Her name is Sandra. Sandra was extremely anxious about the prospect of air flight. She had not flown since coming to Chicago thirty years before. She had decided on the spur of the moment to return to Jamaica to see family. She was concerned about storms in the area as well. As she sat, she was trembling, had difficulty staying in her seat, and was suffering from a bad cold. At one point she expressed doubt about being able to complete the flight (!). She would hum songs to herself in an effort to calm herself. So, we subsequently engaged in a two hour conversation about her life, and about life in general. Suffice it to say that she had tried hard to enjoy life, but did not have peace. She apparently had attended church as a child, but said that she had not returned for many years. As the plane began its descent into Miami airspace she became yet more anxious. As I held her purse, I also held her hand, and we prayed. She did express a desire to know God better, and I believe that she experienced some of His peace during descent. Please pray for Sandra as well.

Until next time!
In His grip,

Tim

Traveling

"Now when they they had gone through Amphipolis and Appollonia, they came to Thessalonica." Acts 17:1

Dear Children of God,

Our group of five (Shelia, Dr.Bill, Jan, Tim and Janet) departed smoothly from Northern Kentucky this morning. We are presently in Chicago, and will fly to Miami in an hour. We will finally arrive in Quito at about 11PM, where we will be joined by the trinity (Phillip, Leah and Corey). God has blessed us with good health and safety thus far.

As your bedtime approached tonight, please pray that our team and supplies procede smoothly thru customs and security.

We will be spending the night at the HCJB guest house at the hospital in Quito (a treat).

Faithful is He, 

Tim