Day 6 - Scenic Loss of Power at Rio Verde

"By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
Ezekiel 47:12

Dear friends and family,

On day 6 (Monday), the team returned to see Awa patients at Rio Verde. (The night before we experienced the loss of all electrical power in the area. We had devotion time by flashlight -- the singing was strong -- and then contemplated how dark the world can be without light.) the trip to the village is always scenic, and this year the team was treated to some great views of the Rio Verde.

 We saw about 60 families of varying size at the clinic that day.  Problems included back pain, headaches ( including migraine), gastroenteritis, sciatica, cerumen impaction, small cuts, plantar fasciitis, warts, asthma, pneumonia, and probable tuberculosis.

We also saw patients we have seen before, including an older couple who have two young children with Down's syndrome.  They have done a great job in raising the older son and younger daughter, despite having had no access to resources.  This year, however, the team was joined by a pediatrician from Otavalo who attends a church pastured by one of our friends.  We asked Dr. Jose to see these two delightful children, and he helped direct the couple to some available training locally to address the daughter's inability to walk.  Shelia and I enjoy seeing this courageous family.

As the team drove back home that night, I reflected on how circumstances had improved for this Awa community.  Their road was better, they had light available with the introduction of electrical power, and through the lives of Kevin and Kathy Bruce (as well as others) God had brought them the life and hope found in Jesus.  The scripture found in Ezekiel 47 seemed very prophetic and pertinent.

Encouraged by what He is doing,
Dr. Kim and Dr. Tim

Day 5 - Worship with the Awa

Dear friends and family,

One of the biggest treats for this year's team was to worship with the Awa people at their new church building.  It was built about two years ago, and is located adjacent to the homes of the missionaries with whom we work - Kevin and Kathy Bruce, and Andy and Krissy Shaub.  These two families live on a ridge, high above the community of middle Rio Verde where the team holds its clinics for the past several years.  It used to be that the only way to get to the ridge top was by walking (See Trail of Mud), but now there is a road of packed dirt and rock that can be traveled by truck.

And so it was that our team of twenty (ten Kentuckians and ten Galilea church members from Otavalo) joined the missionaries and about sixty Awa in worship on Sunday morning.  Kevin played guitar, and Andy played flute, while Kathy led the singing.  We had song books with both the Spanish as well as the Awa words to the songs.  The presence of the Holy Spirit was strong as people of three languages lifted up praises to our Father.  I especially enjoyed the song "Family of God". The views from the ridge were majestic.

Interestingly, the verse of the week was Colossians 1:17, which we at TCAT have been studying as well.  Some of the teaching was given by Awa leaders, and the sermon was given by Kevin, taken from the book of Hebrews.

After church, all of us enjoyed a meal in the missionaries home. It was great. Afterwards, the team provided dental, medical and optometric care for all the church down at the Rio Verde clinic.

Blessed to be a part of the family of God,
Drs. Tim and Kim

Day 4 - Gathering Gifts in Otavalo then on to Lita

“For as therein and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:10-11

Dear saints,

The team had a good night's rest last night, and today we are enjoying obtaining gifts for many of you.  It rained for awhile here this morning, which is uncommon here in Otavalo.  The soil here is usually dry, but the plants nevertheless flourish with the small amounts of rain that they receive.

Our Christian brothers and sisters here also seem to be flourishing, despite difficult circumstances.  They struggle each day to make a living for themselves and their family.  Hard manual labor is a way of life.  Yet, God has given them deep faith, and a joy and love that sustains them.  As we encourage them with our care and resources, they encourage us with their love and faithfulness.  They are treasures to us.

So it is with God's word.  We need it to grow.  And He has a purpose for it in each of our lives.

This afternoon, we travel to Lita where we will work with the Awa people at Rio Verde.  The climate there is tropical, which appeals to those of us who love adventure.  Please keep our team and our mission in your prayers for the next two days.

In His mercy and in His grip,
Drs. Tim and Kim

Day 3 - Gualsaqui blessings and miracles and prayer

“I will open rivers on the bare heights and springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land fountains of water."
Isaiah 41:18

Dear saints,

Pharmacist Jessica mixing meds at clinic

Today the team went to Gualsaqui, a rural community where our friend Roberto pastors at the Nazarene church.  He is looking healthy and strong these days, after years of persecution for his faith.  He says that God is doing great work in this land, as many are coming to faith and the church is being blessed with good growth.

Shelia Duncan started the day off with two home visits.  Our dear friend and pastor Wilman drove us and Roberto to the homes in the Trooper that our team gave him last year.  The first patient we saw was Manuel. He had been unable to walk without falling for six months. He had previously been injured when a bus ran over him. We determined that he now was weak on the right side due to a stoke.  We provided exercises for him to do, along with some medication. He was Quechua, so Roberto translated for us, while Wilman lifted him in and out of bed, and demonstrated the exercises.  His family was very supportive, and Roberto told us that he was a believer.  We prayed over him in three languages.

The second visit was with a lady who had had a headache and fever. We treated her with two medications, and learned that she too was a new believer.

Dr. Kim and nurse Lynn bidding farewell to their patient

Kim was busy all day seeing patients, assisted by nurse Lynn, who is from Vermont.  Randy and Connie Baker took care of many dental patients, despite back pain suffered by Randy.  Please pray for relief for him.

We had a very blessed day.  I was especially impressed by Roberto's prayer to begin the day.  He was joined by 10-12 members of his church who were volunteering to help for the day.  Their praying was powerful, as many tears came forth.  We were able to help most of the patients we saw, by the grace and power of God.  Everyone left at the end of the day in a state of peace and contentment.

Tomorrow, the team takes a day off to see the sights of Otavalo on market day. The tomorrow afternoon we travel to Lita and the land of the Awa.

Mercy, peace, and grace to each of you,
Tim and Kim

Day 2: Water in Otavalo then Punyaro

"...but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
John 4:14

Dear friends,

The team is eating breakfast, ready for a new day. We rested well here at Dona Esther Hostal in Otavalo, high in the Andes.  Today we serve in the village of Punyaro, where the local pastor has made arrangements for our first clinic to be held.

Our devotional theme this year is water.  How critical to life is water?  Completely!  We cannot live long without it.  As we serve those with needs today, we will seek to educate them about basic principles of good health.  One of those is to drink plenty of clean fluids every day.  Indeed, every team member will be carrying a bottle of clean water.  We are teachers more by what we do than what we say.

Jesus is our true Water.  He is our life.  We will watch today for living evidence of that fact.

Dependent on Him for life,
Drs. Tim and Kim

Mission to Ecuador 2014: Day One

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
James 1:17

To the saints at Tatesbrook and to all who may read this letter:

Mercy and peace to each of you, from the Son and the Father. 

Dr. Kim and I greet you from the sunny land of Miami. Our team of ten assembled last evening in northern Kentucky, and departed early this morning. Everything went remarkably smoothly, in accordance with your prayers.  Our two hour flight was both comfortable and beautiful.  Praise be to God!

Our team consists of two nurses (Leah and Lynn), two physicians (Kim and Tim), a dentist and assistant (Randy and Connie), a pharmacist (Jessica), an optician (Thomas), a student (Tatum), and one organizing director supreme (Shelia).  It appears to be a well balanced and effective mission organism.  The Body of Christ has enormous, yet unrealized, potential. Christ in us enables us to be used for God's purpose over the next seven days in the rugged mountains and green forests of Ecuador.

The people we will be serving eagerly await our arrival.  We join them, with the anticipation of discovering what God has in store for us to live out, together.  All praise, glory and honor be unto Him!

Following His leading,
Dr. Tim

Multiplication

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 

2 Timothy 2:2

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 

2 Corinthians 12:10

 
And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

Matthew 4:19

One last word to follow,
Tim

Reflections - Last day

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Dear friends and family in Christ,

Today is our last day in Ecuador this year. We are resting, and packing up, planning to begin our journey home very early on Tuesday. We had a fantastic day yesterday, visiting a few of God's amazing creations here in Pinchincha province in northern Ecuador.

Each year, as we prepare to leave, I ask the question: What lasting results came of our time and efforts here? The answers to that question are sometimes difficult to express, but one eternal result is the multitude of relationships that were either nurtured or started. Our relationships with people like Wilman and Clemencia, Kevin and Kathy Bruce, German and Luz, the members of Galilea church, Paulina and Milton in Rio Verde, pastor Roberto at Gualsaqui, and the students serving on the Liebenzell Impact team have eternal consequences. They are part of that great cloud of witnesses that the writer of Hebrews mentions in chapter 12. These people are dear to us, and we love them very much.

There, of course, are also the people we serve each year, whether in the clinics, or with the children in schools and on playgrounds. As God brings help, healing, and encouragement through us to them, it is our prayer that they will come to know God as they see and experience Jesus in us. Indeed, pastor Roberto told us this morning that four families we served during the week came to his church for the first time this Sunday.

Then, too, there is our team itself. God does great work in the lives of each team member each year. We were privileged to have two members on the team this year from Columbia -- Alvaro, whom we have known for many years, and his friend Jacob. Both of them work as counselors and social workers in Columbia, teaching children the skills of conflict resolution and how to live at peace. Jacob's spiritual walk has been less developed, and he was interested in growing. His life was strongly impacted as he worked and worshipped with the team each day. He shared on his last night with us that he felt he understood what it meant to live in Christ for the first time, and he plans on finding a Christian fellowship in Columbia where he can continue that walk.

I look forward to returning home, and continuing my walk with each of you.

Amazed by Him,
Tim

Precious Gifts from Ecuador

Becca in bunny hat (gift from church members in Ecuador).

Sent from...  Wait.  Where am I?

Rest

“ Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy- laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." 

Matthew 11:28-29

Dear friends and family in Christ,

It is early Sunday morning, and I am sitting here in the reading room at the Dona Esther hostel where the team stays in Otavalo, Ecuador. It is a quiet, peaceful day. Our tired team had a free day yesterday to relax and enjoy the climate and culture of this place. Last night, I enjoyed hearing all of the stories that each person had to tell. I was tired, and retired early, and had a refreshing night of sleep. In conversation yesterday with Randy Baker (our team dentist), we shared the idea that this was a "good tired" because it was used by God to fulfill His purpose as comfort and care was provided for His children. There is much peace to be found in such an experience.

Today, we are having breakfast with the German students on the Impact team. Afterwards, we will all walk to the church at Galilea, where we will worship with Wilman, Clemencia, and the rest of the people who make up the Body there. After a quick lunch, the team will travel to Lake Cuicocha for a boat ride, followed by a walk to the local waterfall. We finish the day with a time of celebration at Galilea church. Our Father gives us Life and purposeful action. He also gives rest and peace.

Hungry for breakfast,
Tim

God Will Provide

...for for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

Matthew 6:32-33

Dear friends and family,

The last day of clinic this year was held at Galilea Baptist Church. Pastor Wilman Varela, his wife Clemencia, and their children have become our very good friends over the years. They work very hard, pastoring their church, taking care of mission teams, and earning a living to support their family. Wilman was involved in a bad vehicular accident several years ago, and his employment has been hampered as a result. The family has badly needed a reliable vehicle for several years, and the team has been aware of this. Remarkably, a donor at Lifesong Church made a sizable donation this year, enabling our team leader Shelia Duncan and a good friend to select and purchase a used four-wheel drive Chevrolet Trooper. We kept the purchase a surprise, and presented the gift to Wilman and Clemencia at the end of clinic on Friday. The two of them were ecstatic, and later revealed that they had very recently been struggling with the decision to take out a large loan to buy a vehicle. Their plans, however, were thwarted by an administrative problem, no doubt orchestrated by the Holy Spirit! They said the vehicle purchased was one of the ones they were considering. 

As this year's mission work finished, the team was impressed with how God provides in order to fulfill his purpose. This reminds us of how important it is to follow and rely on God. As Frank Viola writes: "...first I learned how to work for God. Then I learned how to work with God. Finally, I learned how to watch God work." The team, I believe, is being taught that principle as we listen, live and serve each day here in Ecuador.

Tired in a very good way,
Tim

Providence

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 

2 Corinthians 9:8

Some days are hectic for the team. We spend months planning and gathering supplies, but when we arrive in Ecuador, we hit the ground running. We unload and carry all twenty trunks of supplies many times. To the supplies brought, we add the inventory stored from last year. We sort and resort, providing care for friends and family as we go along. In the midst of this frenetic activity, various supplies get misplaced, lost or forgotten. Early on during this trip, we did not have enough (or any) urine test strips, ACE bandages, lidocaine, alcohol pads, and syringes with needles. As each need became emergent, however, we prayed for provision, and within hours (sometimes minutes) we would come upon the needed item, seemingly out of nowhere. With each discovery, we gave God the credit more and more readily.

This was also true for the needs of the people we served. Last year, the team was unable to hold a clinic at the school at Gualsaqui because the director of the local health department refused to grant permission. This year we held the clinic at the church, and there was no problem. Pastor Roberto greeted us with open arms, and many sick people were treated on Thursday. When we saw Roberto and asked about his needs, he advised that he had been unable to pay his son's tuition, and he was in jeopardy of losing credits earned. By God's providence, however, we were able to pass along money given by a church member at Tatesbrook for just such a purpose. Roberto received the funds with tears, gratitude, and a hug.

Likewise, at Lita, we learned that both missionary families (the Bruces and the Shaubs) had badly worn tires on their two vehicles. Through the generosity of a church member at Lifesong Church in Russell, KY, the need was fulfilled. Kathy, Kevin, Chrissie and Andy were very grateful.

In all these matters, we prayed aloud, giving God the praise and the glory. The team was thrilled to be an instrument of God's work. But there is more....

With a grateful heart,
Tim

Third Rio Verderonians

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Romans 12:15

Dearest family of God,

Today was an emotional day for the team, filled with joy as well as sorrow. We finished this years clinic work at Rio Verde, having seen about 450 people over three days time. We rejoiced with Kevin and Kathy Bruce as God continues to produce fruit in the lives and community of the Awa people. We also rejoiced with Paulino as he and his family seek to share the gospel not only in Rio Verde, but someday in Columbia where 10,000 Awa live. Finally, we rejoiced with the Impact team as they served alongside our team, providing translation services. This group of eight students from Germany are very impressive to us, not only because of their language skills, but also because of their remarkable faithfulness and passion for Christ.

It was also a time of sorrow. We bid farewell to German and Luz Millan as they prepare to return to their homeland Columbia. German and Luz have served as wonderful hosts for teams residing at the Awa center these past eight years. Following an expression of our gratitude, and a song from the Impact team, we enjoyed another great meal cooked by Pat and Corey Boggs, and the Galilea Baptist church team.

On returning to Otavalo on Wednesday, we met with Olga and learned that her sister Jessica tragically died this past February due to complications of her cutaneous lymphoma. Shelia and others spent over an hour comforting and weeping with Olga and her mother. The team was comforted to learn that Jessica had kept materials given to her during a VBS conducted by one of our teams about ten years ago, during which she prayed to receive Christ into her life. We look forward to reuniting with her one day at Home, free of all disease.

Ready for rest,
Tim

Second Rio Verderonians

Dearest family of God,

The team's second day in Rio Verde was very busy. It had rained heavily the night before, but by God's grace there were no landslides blocking the road. The day was beautiful, and many Awa people had gathered at the new health center. Some people had walked as much as twelve hours to get to the clinic. Six different Awa communities were represented in the three days of patient visits. Some of the patients were folks we had seen every year for eight years (such as Gloria - who has scleroderma), while others were seeing us for the first time ( such as the man who had had pneumonia for two months).

This year, we did a lot of orthopedic work, including splinting and knee injections. Word gets around, and many older people sought our help. We noticed this year that many of the children were smiling, and they seemed less afraid of us. Fathers and mothers often accompanied their children. Pathology identified included impetigo, congenital heart murmur, a fly in an ear, ascariasis, abscess of an eyelid, trachoma, scabies, Downs syndrome, leg length discrepancy, hypertension, a large ganglion, asthma and an old fracture of the wrist. It was great to see Gloria. However, though her skin and hands are stable, her ability to swallow is getting worse. Kathy Bruce will try to get her in to see a gastro-enterologist in Ibarra. Pray for healing.

At worship that night, our unique mixture of English, Spanish, German and Awa gave loud praise to God in song. We were deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of God's work in these people's lives.

Listening to a tropical evening rain,
Tim

First Rio Verderonians

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 

2 Corinthians 5:17

The team's first day back to Rio Verde brought new revelations, the chief of which was that we would be conducting clinics in the new health center that had been built last year. The building is white, and sparkling clean inside. The new community health coordinator appointed by the health department is named Jose. He is very diligent, seems to be well-trained and seems to be committed to providing care for the people. The clinic was also equipped with exam tables, chairs, diagnostic equipment and a dental chair.

The team was duly impressed, and was able to organize more quickly than usual. On the first day we saw about sixty families (about 250 people). We have a great pharmacist (Jessica Marsee) who keeps us organized. We have a great dentist and a great dental assistant (Randy and Connie Baker), both of whom have big hearts. We have a great optician in Larry Maynard, who is capturing the hearts of the Awa each day as he helps them to see better. The Cross Extreme team (led by Pat Boggs, and including Becca Eby) is working each day with over 100 kids at the school in Lita. Kim and I, along with nurses Angie and Leah, are injecting lots of knees, buttocks and shoulders with steroids and Rocephin. Shelia Duncan, in concert with the Holy Spirit, is directing the activities of the whole team.

Our first day at Rio Verde was very busy, but very blessed as we were constantly reminded of the fact that God was causing the growth and fulfilling the prayers for blessing in this community. We worshiped that evening with passion, and slept through the night as rain fell.

With Jesus Living in Me,
Tim

New Health Center in Rio Verde

Trained Health Workers ( Doctor and Nurse )

Equipment in Health Center

Healthy Awa Family

Breakfast Guest

All the nations

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen. 

Romans 16:25-27

Dear family and saints of Tatesbrook,

The team enjoyed an excellent morning of worship at Galilea Baptist Church on Sunday. The associate pastor shared from Matthew 5, telling us that we the church are the light of the world. We ate lunch, and then traveled with our Ecuadorian friends as well as the Impact team from Germany to the distant town of Lita. Once there, we unloaded our supplies and enjoyed a dinner of roast beef, yucca, passion fruit juice and rice. After dinner, we heard from Kevin Bruce. Kevin and his wife Kathy have served as missionaries in Ecuador with Liebenzell ministries for the past eighteen years. It has been their purpose to bring the gospel to the Awa people who live in this area. We were privileged last evening to hear from the first Awa believer, Paulino. He came to believe through the work of George Hege, the predecessor to The Bruces. Paulino said that God had placed a strong desire in his heart to learn about the gospel from George, who made the twelve hour journey every week to meet with him. Following his profession of faith in Jesus, Paulino's life changed. He has shared his faith with other Awa, and they too are believing. We heard from his brother Milton, who shared his testimony. There is now a growing church in the community of Rio Verde, and new believers are being added each month.

As I looked around at the different people listening to these stories, including Hispanic Ecuadorians, Americans, Germans and Awa, I realized anew how awesome is our Lord. He is accomplishing His purpose of placing His life into the hearts of people from all nations on this planet. How great is our God!!

Amazed by His love,
Tim

Day of rest begins with worship

I was in prison, and you came to Me

For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. ’ 

Matthew 25:35-36 

Usually on Saturday, the team spends a leisurely day shopping and eating. But for four of us on this day, we went to prison.

Two weeks ago Shelia received an email from pastor Wilman, stating that a man he knew needed surgery for his torn rotator cuff. His surgeon had written him a prescription for a rotator cuff anchor, which the patient would need to buy. Wilman asked if we could obtain this. I called a surgeon friend in Lexington, who advised that two or more anchors would be needed. He directed me to the orthopedic supply coordinator at CBH, who directed me to the local representative of the company which makes the anchors. He contacted his boss, who gave us six anchors at no charge on behalf of the company. Yesterday, we learned that the patient is an inmate at the provincial prison in Ecuador, and was a part of the church in that prison. So this morning Wilman, Shelia, two men from the team, and myself went to the prison in Ibarra.

 As it turned out, the man had been taken to the hospital to have an abscess and hematoma in his arm drained. But since we were already there, we saw about twenty of the inmates, providing them with glasses and medical evaluations. Afterwards, we toured the prison, up close and personal. The central courtyard was about 30 x 60 feet, in which were standing about 500 men and women. The sleeping areas were very small, and the bathrooms were few. Several inmates shook our hands, while others asked for money. The experience left a strong impression.

We did eventually visit the patient (William) at the hospital. We learned from him that he had been in prison for ten years, following the murder of his unfaithful wife. He later encountered Jesus, and now is an impassioned believer. He wept openly, moved by the gift of the anchors. As we recounted the long series of people involved, I suggested that he "pay forward" the gift. He plans on writing to the company, and to dedicating his life to caring for his children and his wife's parents. He is scheduled for potential parole this year.

With eyes opened to what God is doing,
Tim