Day 11: Coming Home

You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 

On the second Sunday, the team of 26 Kentuckians and one Floridian travelled back to their homes. By all accounts, God’s will was fulfilled in the lives of many people, both Ecuadorians as well as Americans. God’s name was glorified, and He was praised for all that He has done, for all that He is doing, and for all that He will do. All 27 of us can testify to that! 

In addition, each team member is a part of the Body of Jesus Christ. Each of us are returning to a church. About 12 different churches were represented on the team. Each team member served as a letter from their church, written not with pen and paper, but with the Holy Spirit upon human hearts. Each church shared in the work that God did through our lives and work. Each church was blessed as much as any team member. Moreover, the Holy Spirit will continue doing in each Body what He started in Ecuador in the individual lives of the team. Each church cannot help but be changed by the lives of its members, including the lives of the members of the 2023 Mission to Ecuador team. 

In English: Hallelujah!! 

In Spanish: Hallelujah!! 

In Hebrew: Hallelujah!! 

In Greek: Hallelujah!!

Celebrate today the blessings and wonders of being a member of the Body of Jesus Christ! 

In the midst of His Mercy and Grace,

Tim and Kim

Day 10: Otavalo

I had many things to write to you, but I am not willing to write them to you with pen and ink; but I hope to see you shortly, and we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name. 

3 John 1:13-15 

Dear Saints, 

Kim with Olga

The last Saturday is always a day of rest for some, a day of shopping for others, and a day of organizing and packing for all. Additionally, it is a bittersweet day of seeing old friends and of saying goodbye. This is especially true for those of us who have been to Ecuador before. The photos below are representative, but by no means complete. 

The first photo is Kim with Olga, now a young mother who we have known for twenty years. She brought her one year old daughter for a medical checkup. 

Mary

The second photo is of Mary, a wonderful teacher who is a member at Galilea church and who has translated for us for many years. 

Tim with Kathy Bruce

The third photo is of Tim with missionary Kathy Bruce. Tim met Kathy at the Lita Center in 1999, when he was introduced to a few of the Awa people. 

Sheila and Wilman

The fourth photo is of Shelia and Wilman , the pastor at Galilea, greeting and embracing each other after a four year absence due to the pandemic. 

Kim with Israel

The fifth photo is of Kim receiving a gift from Israel, the son of Wilman and Clemencia, who is now serving as an associate pastor at Galilea. 

Sheila and Lucy

The last photo is of team leader Shelia Duncan being hugged by Lucy, who has served our team at Dona Esther hotel and restaurant for over twenty years. Shelia was the main person in encouraging Lucy to keep and provide care for Brandon, her son who was born with Downs Syndrome. Today, Brandon is doing very well and will soon be starting high school. 

Many new friendships were formed as well. Dr. Tim got to spend much time with his new young friend Carson Magill, who benefitted from exchanges of wisdom and humor. The last Saturday was also a time for Tim and Shelia to have meaningful conversations with Arthur and Wendy, the Dutch couple who have owned and managed Dona Esther these past twenty years. They are planning to sell the property, in order to spend more time with family in Europe. They expressed their love for our teams, and we advised them that not not only do we love them, but that God loves them yet more through His Son, Jesus. They understand this, and the question as to their love for Him is weighing on their minds. 

Saturday was a full day, covered with the peace of Jesus. 

Sincerely, 

Tim and Kim