In February we had asked prayer for our Awa friend Meregildo since he was facing some very difficult relationship conflict, especially with a brother. It seemed God was wanting to work on anger in his life. Since then we’ve seen God working peace into Meregildo’s heart.

The other day after Kevin had taught the lesson from Acts 2 about Peter preaching at Pentecost, they were reflecting how good it was of God to have worked in Peter, taking him from having denied him less than 2 months before to becoming the bold preacher after Pentecost.

Meregildo realized: “If it weren’t for following the Lord, I’d be dead by now. I would have gotten drunk and into a fight with my brother.”

That warmed our hearts, hearing Meregildo’s simple realization of God’s working in his life, freeing him from his former drinking and fighting.

Thanks for praying with us!

Andy
For Chrissy, Laura, Lena, Lee and Liana Shaub

With the Awa team in Ecuador

Greetings again from our soggy outpost! We’re in the middle of the rainy season. The trails are all churned up by the horses taking produce out to market and the daily rains keep it goushy!

MEREGILDO Our good friend Meregildo, a 40 year old Awa man, has been recently going through some really difficult times, with especially 2 of his brothers. After years of conflict, things came to a head about a month ago, with blows exchanged during the town meeting called to deal with the situation. Meregildo has a desire to do what God wants, yet it’s hard to not react violently to the unjust accusations. We’re praying that He will have God’s peace and wisdom, and power to choose God’s way as he confronts things. The old ways die hard and God’s ways aren’t so clear to him in regards to his anger. Kevin has been able to have some good talks with him, and has put before him the example of Christ silent before Pilate, yet there seems to be lingering anger ready to erupt.

On top of that, he has received reports that his teenage sons are not behaving in a good way, which only complicates relations with the community. Meregildo is the only one of his family who is a professing believer. In the past he has struggled with alcohol, especially when the community pressure is so strong to participate in the parties. But it’s been a testimony to God’s work in his life that he’s been able to stay free of that. So, please pray for Meregildo to find God as his satisfaction and clarity for what he is facing.

LANGUAGE STUDY This month has been an excellent study month. We’re getting an answer to prayer with more study rhythm and a few more pieces of the puzzle are emerging. Languages can feel like swimming in the immense ocean – so much you can never feel like you know it all. But it can be fun grabbing a bucketful and studying that. We’re getting more into text study, which is something I enjoy. Chrissy is keeping right up with me too!

EVANGELIST OUTREACH The outreach in Paulino’s home village is still in the process. This past month Kevin was sick so it didn’t work out and this month there is a scheduling conflict that we’re still trying to work out. Paulino and another friend, Guillermo, are the newly elected community leaders so that helps in such arrangements. We’re still concerned though with the folks only getting the teaching once a month so are looking into other ways for them to be hearing more, like with MP3 recordings. But naturally that makes for some complications as no one has MP3 players or knowledge of how to use them, etc. So, it’s something we’re asking the Lord about what He wants.

Your brother, Andy

For Chrissy, Laura, Elena, Lee and Liana Shaub With the Awa in Ecuador

Andy & Chrissy Shaub Casilla 10-01-284 Ibarra, Imbabura ECUADOR

Our team mates: Doug & Dorcas Williams, Kevin and Kathy Bruce

4 December 2008

Greetings friends and Merry Christmas!

EVANGELISM OUTREACH This past month of November we’ve seen signs of interest in the evangelistic outreach, particularly by Marco and his brother Lisandro. Marco is the father of the 2 girls that had drowned some months back. It was good to see both their interest in hearing and also the interest of Paulino and Milton in sharing God’s Word with them. They even made comments and asked questions – often there isn’t much feedback so you don’t know what is getting through. So, that’s something we are happy to see and thank God for what He is doing. Please keep praying for this. In many ways it is just a start, still feeling our way.

BAPTISM The Baptism was held in our Awa language helper Sandra’s home village. 4 were baptized: Sandra and her younger sister Diana, and a single lady Elvia, and our niece Keilah. J We had been praying that it would be a good opportunity to get the gospel clearly presented and it turned out to be an excellent time since many unbelievers also came to observe. Most are familiar only with the baby sprinkling baptism (so the baby can have a soul), so were curious about the adult believer’s baptism. Baptism for the Awa believers is a serious decision as they are taking a clear stand in front of their neighbors to identify themselves as an “evangélico” follower of Christ. In the attached photo, Diana is being baptized by Kevin and Milton.

CULTURE and LANGUAGE STUDYWe are making progress with language learning, but we would appreciate prayer as we continue to look for effective study routines. We’re still anticipating this to be a process of 4 years yet of dedicated study.

MURDER UPDATE In September one of our Awa friends had been murdered. An arrest warrant had been procured, but nothing more had come of it. In November one of the 2 murders was killed by one of his own family and the other has received a death threat from his cousin.

DECEMBER This month of December is already getting busy with various activities and complicating schedule changes! We were scheduled to start up the ALFALIT adult education study program this Saturday but just found out that there is a community work day scheduled to repair the dirt (or better said mud!) road. There is also a community Christmas outreach in the works ( possible attendance of 200 +) that is an opportunity to plant some seeds of truth.

So what are we wanting prayer for?

- Outreach in Paulino’s home village : for hearts that are responding to God’s Word, that they would be thinking and understanding clearly the message

- PTL for good baptismal service – For efficient effective culture and language study routines

- For God’s direction in the busy plans for December

Thanks again for praying with us! Andy For Chrissy, Laura, Elena, Lee and Liana Shaub

Awa team: Kevin and Kathy Bruce, Doug & Dorcas Williams, Andy & Chrissy Shaub ECUADOR – NTM

The biggest thing that we want to mention is how God has provided us with language help through Sandra, the 17 yr old Awa teen. It has made a huge difference for us language-wise. feels like we gained in 2 weeks with her everything combined in the 6 months before. And, it’s been great because Chrissy is able to keep right up with me in language learning, in spite of home schooling and running the house. We are very thankful for God providing Sandra.

At the same point, it is a challenge for us to come up with enough work to keep her busy. Sandra is a hard worker and quickly finishes the household chores that we have for her to do. We have come up with lots of ideas to help. Pray as we fit everything together in order to make this arrangement work for all involved.

I finally have my Ecuadorian driver’s license! At the end of May I returned to Ibarra to do the last step. What I anticipated to be an hour took all day. Some friends had been doing the same process for three days, so I got off light! There was a final test, that was almost impossible to pass – failed it the first time, but was able to retake. Also we were told we couldn’t be granted the license unless we submitted a document that only native Ecuadorians are granted, more waiting for the next and next and next window office worker to come back from lunch, and more waiting, all piled up to make it stressful. It was such a relief to get that little card in my hands! Whew!

Actually during the waits, I had some very real talks with an unsaved friend about whether man is by nature sinful. He’s into some “zen” philosophies that sound good but end up a warp of the truth.

We have two weeks ahead of us of intensive language learning. The kids will also be finishing up their school year, and then we will head to town for the monthly supply run, and a two-day mission retreat with our Liebenzell coworkers. Pray for us to use this time well, and get that much further in the Awa language.

Andy & Chrissy Shaub,

Laura, Lena, Lee and Liana

NTM

Awa tribe- ECUADOR

Now we’re getting ready to head home! Today we travel by bus to the closest town and then Friday we hike home. So far it sounds like we’ll be in for the long hike as the road still hasn’t been cleared of the land slides. We’re all so eager to get home that it doesn’t matter that much.

Thanks for praying for us.
Andy

For Chrissy, Laura, Lena, Lee and Liana Shaub

NTM Ecuador
Awa tribe

Friday, April 14th, we found out about an opening in the 3-week driving course required by law to acquire an Ecuadorian drivers license. On Sunday, we were on our way to Ibarra, thanking God for the opportunity, as the course was usually full for months. This Thursday, I’ll finish the course and take the driving part of the test, having passed the written test last week. At the end of the month I should be able to complete the paperwork, and have the license in hand.
So, we’ve been out in town, taking advantage of the time to get to know our fellow German and Ecuadorian missionaries with the Liebenzell mission who work in the area, and taking care of dental appointments and getting supplies.

Right before we had left, we had been able to have 8 good days of study with the 16 yr old Awa, Sandra. We found it to be an excellent language learning time, especially for Chrissy who naturally has much more limited exposure to the Awa people. This is a great provision from God for us. We trust we can have a more such consistent opportunities for language study with Sandra.

We’re headed up the mountain Friday! The extra rain this year has resulted in landslides blocking the road from the closest Ecuadorian town to our outpost . We may have to hike 4 hours up the mountain to make it home.

All for now,
Andy
For Chrissy, Laura, Lena, Lee and Liana Shaub
NTM – Awa tribe

Well, we just saw our coworkers Doug and Dorcas Williams off down the trail. Kevin and Kathy Bruce are taking them back to Ibarra for a day before they fly home to Virginia. Then Kevin and Kathy will be back for church time on Sunday and turn around to go back to Quito to pick up a work team from their home church in New Hampshire.

Conference went well. We were delighted with the good interaction and teaching time, and especially how our Awa friend Milton taught. (You can see him in the attached photo). Milton is one of the believers who lives nearby us and it’s encouraging to see his hunger for God’s word. There were about 75 Awa in total at the peak. We see the conference time as valuable in bringing together believers from 2 different areas of the Awa tribe, along with some of the Spanish-speaking Ecuadorian believers.

We had asked for prayer for the believers, to have a growing hunger for God’s Word, so it was of interest to hear how the missionary team has seen the growth in understanding and interest through the years. Hearing the spontaneous expressions of gratitude at the close of the conference was totally unexpected as we had already stood to leave, but then eventually sat down when several of the Awa wanted to express their hearts before everyone left. And then they all helped with the clean up!

There was a lot to do for the missionary team, but by God’s help we all came through it, encouraged to see God working in the hearts of the Awa. Our kids were a great help with the work too.

After the conference we came home and spent the Monday and Tuesday talking and talking and talking about the work and thinking through some strategy. It’s fun to be a part of the team here!

Thanks for praying and being a part of what God is doing among the Awa!

Andy & Chrissy Shaub

Laura, Elena, Lee and Liana