We have a lot to learn about love!

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  –I Corinthians 13 This week during 6th grade Bible class, we read these verses and were talking about what true love is according to God and the Bible. It was a fitting passage as it seems like everyday I hear about something unkind being said. That night I got a voice message from the mother of one of my students. She said her son was really struggling with being jealous of his brother and sisters. He had a very tough morning before school but when he came home and walked through the door he told his mom, “If I didn’t believe in God before I sure do now.”  He went on to tell her about reading verse 4, “Love is not jealous” and how God’s Word spoke to his heart.

Many days can be discouraging for me because my students can be so mean to each other. I have had several difficult parent emails and meetings recently as well. So hearing how God is working in the life of one of my students reminded me again that I need to remain faithful to God. During a recent discussion about heaven, another student asked me how he can know that he is going to heaven. This student has a hard heart but I was able to share with him. Please pray that God will continue to work in his heart and the hearts of my entire class! Scott continues teaching Hebrew 3 times a week. It keeps him busy preparing, teaching, grading and answering many questions. Pray that his students remain faithful with their studies. Also pray for Scott as he prepares each week.

Outside of ministry, our lives have been extra busy. We are working on renewing our Ecuadorian identification cards (similar to a social security card). First of all it required a trip to the South side of Quito. Thankfully we now have a subway that makes the trip in about 30 minutes instead of an hour or more. But we were told that when we received our residential visas about 20 years ago the entire family was given the same number on our visas. Now the system requires us to each have our own number. That’s where it has started to get complicated. Right now we are waiting for a notarized and apostilled letter from Avant in Kansas City in order to continue. Please pray for this process to go smoothly.

During our time in the states in December, Scott started feeling better than he had in months and was able to eat almost normal. Returning to Quito, it seemed as if the high altitude started affecting him and making it worse again. Slowly he began to feel better, still not able to eat too much fiber. But now the past month it has hit hard again and he is eating a super bland diet and trying to recover again. This week he saw a new doctor who is having him go through some more tests. Pray that we can find some new answers for Scott. Pray for our family: David and Shelby are waiting for the birth of their 3rd baby. Shelby has had a rough pregnancy having morning sickness the entire time. The Dr. is watching some complications with the baby very carefully as well. Now Shelby is on modified bed rest because of high blood pressure. They are hoping to get the baby to 37 weeks at which point they plan to induce, less than 2 weeks from now.

Joel and Jaden have been working towards fostering to adopt for the past couple of years. In March they had 2 sisters placed into their home who are 10 and 12. Next fall, after 6 months, they will be able to adopt these girls. We got to meet them for a short time right before we flew back to Quito in January. Of course, Joel and Jaden’s lives have been turned upside down. They are thrilled to be parents but often overwhelmed as well. Pray for their family in all of these changes and that the girls will feel loved, safe and secure in their new home. Luke and Chase are off on a mission trip this week to Guatemala. Luke is teaching Spanish at a small Christian school in Vermont. This school has had a tradition of going to help in a Christian school in Guatemala. They along with 2 other adults and 8 students will be gone for 10 days. I’m sure Luke and Chase are going to thrive in a Latin culture and will love being able to speak Spanish again. Pray for the entire group during this trip!

And Lindsey is finishing up her 2nd year at John Brown University in a few weeks. Pray for her with all of the end of the year projects and exams. Also pray for a summer job for her as well as some internship hours. It’s a big challenge to live up to the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13. We’re thankful that Jesus did it perfectly! Let’s celebrate that this Easter!

Fill my cup, please

 

What does a cup teach us about Jesus? One of the things I do in my Hebrew classes is to present studies on my students' vocabulary words. We sometimes look at how a single word is used in the Bible and observe how it supports the theology taught by the biblical authors. Recently we looked at the word for "cup."

"Cup" is often used to refer metaphorically to one's destiny in life. In the story of Joseph, both he and Pharaoh had special cups that spoke of their important position. Joseph's brothers and Pharaoh's cupbearer each found themselves at a crucial crossroads as a result of their interaction with these cups. (Genesis 40-44) The symbolism goes deeper in other verses where we are told that "Yahweh is the portion of my inheritance and my cup" (Psalm 16:5 LSB) and "Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup" (Psalm 11:6 LSB). God controls our destiny, whether positively or negatively. He even uses his cup to make the wicked drunk with his judgment:

Awaken yourself! Awaken yourself! Arise, O Jerusalem,           You who have drunk from the hand of Yahweh the cup of His wrath;           The chalice of reeling you have drained to the dregs. (Isaiah 51:17 LSB) These and similar verses are all in the mind of Jesus when he asks the Father to take his cup from him (Matthew 26:39). But because Jesus was willing to drink the cup of God's wrath, God offers to remove from us his cup of wrath (Isaiah 51:22; Revelation 16:1) and replace it with a cup of blessing (Psalm 23:5; 116:13). Our cup of salvation would not be possible without the work of our Savior. I'm very happy with the advances of those of my students who are working hard to learn Hebrew and see Jesus in all of the Bible. Even those who get tired and decide to quit get a good introduction to the language and a better understanding of how the scriptures all fit together. Our celebration of Christmas gets richer every year as we grow in our understanding of all Jesus is and does. My students are going to get a break in their studies for much of December and the first part of January. Kristi and I are going to the States to spend some time with our kids and grandchildren. Kristi will also undergo a minor surgical procedure during our break. I'm continuing to struggle with digestive issues. I have a tentative diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which apparently can only be diagnosed by ruling everything else out. (It's taken a while, hasn't it?) I've started taking some medication that might prove to be helpful if I indeed have IBS. Unfortunately, it might take weeks or months to be sure, and I may have to experiment with several different medications. Kristi is going to be very busy at school for the last few days before we leave, combining normal classes with additional activities due to local holidays and Christmas break. Her life is also greatly complicated by one specific student who is manifesting serious behavioral issues. Pray for resolution and growth in this child's life. Above all, pray that he would see his need for exchanging his cup for the one that Jesus is offering him. We are very, very thankful for each one of you. God is using you to fill our cup with blessings and to fill the cups of our students as well.

Health Update

Yesterday we were able to have a visit with the oncologist to discuss the results of Scott's MRI. We are glad to report that he is sure that Scott does not have cancer. Thank you for your prayers and your words of encouragement over the past days.

Scott does have a significant-sized cyst on his liver, and the oncologist suggested that we consult with a hepatologist. So that will be our next step to determine if this could be the cause for the digestive issues that he is having. We would appreciate your continued prayers that his digestion could return to normal.

In the meantime, Scott is taking a trip to Guayaquil tomorrow. He will spend a couple of days giving a theology conference in a church there. Pray for good ministry opportunities and for safety in a part of the country that involves risks that are a little higher.

We appreciate you and your part in our ministry!

Scott's Health

Yesterday we saw an oncologist to consider whether Scott might be dealing with cancer. He does have a tumor on his liver, but so far exams haven't been sufficient to establish whether it's malignant or benign. We have an MRI scheduled for Friday and another consultation with the doctor on Monday. There is a possibility he will also need to do a biopsy.

If the tumor is cancerous it would explain the stomach issues that Scott has had for the last few months. Nevertheless, bloodwork has shown normal liver function.

At this point there is a lot we don't know. We can't be sure that he has cancer, nor can we be confident that he isn't dealing with something serious. Either way, God is good and has been giving us peace.

We appreciate your prayers that God would help us figure out what's wrong, help us find the best solution possible, and continue to give us peace and wisdom in the process.

So far we are confident that Scott is receiving good medical care in Ecuador. If things begin to get more complicated we will not hesitate to return to the US for more advanced care.

This is the day the Lord has made!

 

I have this verse posted outside of my classroom this year and it is a daily reminder to me that each day is the Lord’s and because of that we can rejoice in it! We can rejoice even in the days when things are difficult and know that even the hard days are days the Lord has made!

Ecuador has been in a severe drought, the worst drought in the past 60 years! Most of the electricity in the country of Ecuador comes from hydroelectric plants and in all of those reservoirs the water levels are very low. We are beginning our 3rd week of rolling blackouts. The first week we only had electricity for 12 hours a day. Thankfully, we have been having nearly daily rains for the past week so this week we are only losing power for 4 hours a day, from 2:00-4:00 AM and 8:00-10:00 PM. Last spring we had some electricity cuts and made the decision to buy a small generator. So it is getting used again these days. It is enough power to keep our refrigerator cold, keep the internet on, and be able to use a couple of lamps during the evening hours. We rejoice in the rains God is sending our way and for the electricity we do have!

Ecuador imposing overnight blackouts as drought saps hydroelectric power capacity

Ecuador Is Literally Powerless in the Face of Drought

Also because of the drought, we have had some severe wildfires close by. A couple of weeks ago, Quito was covered by smoke, and school was canceled for 3 days. Well, actually we met online. Many people had to evacuate and some lost their homes in the fires. We rejoice that God provided safety for us!

Ecuador battles wildfires near capital as drought grips South America

Scott started a new Hebrew class 2 weeks ago with about 40 students. Opportunities to reach people from all over continue to increase. He now has Spanish speakers connecting to his classes from 15 different countries. Scott is able to continue his studies and preparations for class even when the electricity is out because of the generator. In fact this evening he is teaching class using the generator. The blackouts keep some of his students from being able to always join class and makes it difficult for some of them to have enough time online to do their homeworks, but creativity and extra patience go a long way to help them achieve success.

Kristi’s school year continues on. The school also has a large generator, enough for teachers to use internet, projectors and have lights on during the day. This year in some ways is going better for Kristi but she has 1 student who is very difficult. Please pray that this student would awaken a desire to make changes in their life, and allow others to love and help them. Pray that Kristi remains consistent and loving toward this student in particular. We rejoice that God is with Kristi through the hard parts of her day with this student!

Scott continues struggling with his health. There are many days when he is not able to eat very much. He has tried many different kinds of medications and now is going through quite a few other tests trying to find an answer. His primary care doctor is sending him on to a specialist and he has an appointment with this new doctor next Monday morning. Please pray that we can find answers! In the meantime we rejoice in the day the Lord has given us and trust him with Scott’s health!

We are so thankful for each one of you and your faithful support for us through the years! We are thankful for your prayers for us! They make a difference! Looking back at the past month, we have faced a lot of difficult situations, but God has been with us and because of Him it has been a good month and we rejoice in it!

A Crazy Wonderful Summer

We are back in Quito after a whirlwind of a summer.  We drove over 5,000 miles, visited 9 states and 2 countries, and slept in 13 different beds. It really was a wonderful summer as we got to see each of our children and granddaughters, parents, and some of our sisters and families, as well as visit several of our supporting churches and individual supporters. Thank you to each of you who hosted us and encouraged us in many ways during these 7 weeks! Here are some of the highlights! God’s provision of a reliable car Sharing about our teaching ministries Time with our 2 granddaughters (and their parents) in California Celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary

A summer job for Lindsey in a physical therapy office in Kansas allowing us to spend some quality time with her So much encouragement from the supporters we were able to visit Time with Joel and Jaden including helping them put siding on a backyard shed A trip to the Dominican Republic to celebrate a 2nd wedding for Luke and Chase in the country where she grew up

Kristi is back to teacher meetings at school. She is expecting 24 sixth grade students starting the middle of next week. Pray that God gives her energy and lots of love for this new group of students. Scott is getting ready to start a new Biblical Hebrew class before the end of September. He has lots of interest once again so pray that each of the new students will follow through by faithfully doing their studies. This week he resumed meetings with his other 3 Hebrew classes. Pray that his students return energized after a long break and ready to learn again. Also pray for Scott as he is busy once again creating lessons, grading and helping his students.

Another prayer request is for Scott’s health. He has dealt with stomach issues for many years, but this past spring it got so bad that he could barely eat and was losing weight. He went through a treatment of 2 antibiotics as well as different acid reducers, etc. and got better for a short time but then was struggling again. He just finished up another 2 antibiotics. He is slowly feeling more normal but still super careful about what he eats. Please pray for a complete healing for Scott and that he can gain some weight back as well. We would also ask you to pray for Joel and Jaden. They feel called by God to foster to adopt an older child. They have been working on it since last December when they met a couple of teen sisters. Unfortunately, that fell through in June. They are now waiting and looking for another child. Pray for God’s guidance for them and for the right child to be placed with them!

This week marked 22 years of living and working in Ecuador! It brings back memories of arriving with 3 young boys! We are so thankful for God’s faithfulness through the years! He has used many of you to make it possible for us to be able to be here in Ecuador and we are so thankful for each of you, your interest, prayer and financial support!

We celebrated a special 4-year birthday!

God-given Unity

 

We’ve been thinking about unity a lot lately, related to both ministry life as well as family activities. In March we made a quick trip to Chicago for the wedding of our son, Luke, and Chase Trautwein. Chase is also a missionary kid from the Dominican Republic, has a heart for people and loves adventure. The wedding was beautiful and we had some great highlights: having the entire family together including several extended family members, time with our 2 granddaughters and even getting to be present when Lissie first started walking.

We had an amazing time celebrating Luke and Chase! We are thankful to God for another daughter-in-law added to our family. Luke and Chase are living in New Hampshire. Luke is working at a facility for foster children and gets to take small groups out on fun adventures. Chase is working as an ER nurse.

Please pray for them as they begin their new unified adventure together!

Scott stays busy teaching 3 classes of Hebrew a week. In one class he has students united from three separate continents! They are connecting for class from Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Italy, and Ecuador each week. Learning Hebrew seems to be the new thing to do. Unfortunately, we have seen people in Ecuador who use Hebrew to make the Bible say what they want it to say, so we believe it is important for some faithful Christians to learn Hebrew and be able to defend true doctrine. Scott’s most advanced group has been studying for around 3 years and are able to understand many things as they read in their Hebrew Bibles.

Working with the Ecuadorian Quichua church continues to be another of Scott’s responsibilities. Through the years we have often seen a lack of unity among the many groups of Quichua churches. One of these groups recently received papers from the government recognizing them as an approved organization of churches. Thankfully, they are a group which is biblically sound. Please pray with us that others will join this organization and that God would produce supernatural unity between them.

We recently met a man named David at our church. He is a Jew who is learning to know Jesus. He and Scott have begun to meet together as he wants to learn more about Jesus. They have been talking together about how the two testaments fit together with one important and unified message. Pray for Scott and David to have productive conversations. The war in Ecuador against organized crime continues, but it doesn’t affect our daily lives very much. There are parts of the country where we should not go, so we are being a little more careful than normal in that respect. It seems like just about every day new criminals are being captured. Sadly, sometimes they are also freed later when the judicial branch of the government says there is not enough evidence to hold them. This happens even when there is general consensus that they are guilty. And yet, we recognize that is the price to be paid for living in a country that cares about protecting the innocent, which we all know is important. Please pray that law abiding citizens and honest government officials will band together in unity to defeat the rampant evil forces in this nation. Here's one brief article among many options you could read if you want more information:

Thanks for uniting with us to help make a difference in Ecuador and even beyond!