Day 8: An uplifting smile for a weary team

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness."

Malachi 3:1-3

The team has returned from Lita and the land of the Awa. The sixteen of us spent four days conducting Bible school sessions and health care clinics. We had nearly 200 patients a day for health care. We saw the usual aches and pains, as well as less common diagnoses such as the residual of snake bites and traumatic eye injuries. We served in Lita, Rio Verde and Palmira.

The road to the remote community of Palmira has undergone impressive improvements. The team was provided superb transportation to and from these communities each day by means of dump truck.

The Bible school team was assisted this year by the work of fireman Pat Boggs. Pat taught the children about fire safety, as well as how to respond in the event of fire. He was well received by all.

A big event for the medical team this year was the provision of a pair of hand prostheses for the man we know as Augustine in the community of Rio Verde. We have known him for many years as the man who had lost the distal half of each arm in a dynamite accident many years ago. Remarkably, he has managed to get by over the years with help from family and friends, but I had never seen the man smile. At this year's global missions conference, Shelia Duncan discovered an entity that provides prosthetic hands, so we obtained six of them. With Shelia, Connie Baker, missionary Kevin Bruce, pastor Wilman Varela and Augustine's son in attendance, adjustments were made, and Augustine was fitted with a new pair of hands. He was able to feed himself, and to pick up a cup. It will take time to learn how to use the prostheses, but for the first time, we saw him smile. We pray that God will continue to soften his heart so that he will be able to receive Christ soon.

We returned to Otavalo tired, but it was a good tired. God is working in each of our lives, continuing to remove the dross. Today (Thursday) we go to a new community to continue providing service.

In His grip,

Tim and Kim

Day 4: A dentist on fire

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16

The team has been here in the province of Imbaburra for three days. We have been catching up with old friends and adjusting to the culture so different from ours in the USA. The weather has been excellent. The Andean mountain air is crisp and cool.

We have had one health care clinic thus far. We were at Gualsaqui where our old friend pastor Roberto welcomed us. We saw about 50 people, and treated them for their many ailments. One elderly man had a toothache. Our faithful dentist, Randy Baker, could not be with us this year due to illness, although his wife Connie is leading the Bible school team. Anyway, he had a dental abscess, and several loose teeth. I pulled two of them, gave him amoxicillin, and he was pleased (believe it or not).  Roberto told us about one of our patients, and older man who was a leader in the community, and a former dedicated persecutor of the local church. His life was being transformed by the light of Christ, over the years.

We have devotion time each night. This year's theme is about allowing the fire within us to burn. One of our team members is a fireman. He is training the local fire department about how best to prevent fires in people's homes. But at the same time, we are encouraging each other in how to let the light of Christ within each of us to burn brighter and hotter. That light is intended to illuminate, warm, and transform.

Today, we are going to Iglesia Bautista to worship. This afternoon, we travel to the humid climes of Lita, where we will work with the Awa.

God's blessings to each of you.

Love,
Tim and Kim

2017 Mission to Ecuador - Day One

"So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread."  

John 21:9

The mission team this year consists of 16 Kentuckian, plus a larger number of Ecuadorians. Our team this year will deliver health care services, VBS events, and instruction in preventing and fighting fires.

We will be serving two people groups - Quechua people in the mountains, and Awa people in the mid-range of the northwestern forests. Presently, our team is divided into three groups - two people already on-site, twelve in the air on their way, and two doctors waiting to depart from Miami.

We believe God is sending us with the purpose of loving those in need in Ecuador, coming alongside missionaries whose lives are dedicated to bringing the good news of the gospel. We will be sharing our lives with good friends already known, as well as with people we have yet to meet. In the midst of it all, we intend to spend time with Jesus our Lord, and are expecting to enjoy all that He has prepared in advance for us to do and to give and to learn.

Kim and I invite each of you to share in this journey. Please remember our team as well as the people we are serving in prayer!