Joyce Update September 5, 2011

Dear friends and family,
It is hard to think of the changing seasons in the U.S.  It is always
summer here, with a rainy season that lasts a few months.  This year
was more rainy than usual, but there was no flooding.  It seems to be
about over now.
A very tragic thing happened in Ecuador about a month ago.  Someone
that works in a brewery put a poison in some alcohol.  There were
several brands involved.  It is very toxic to people and the damage
was wide-spread.  The reports are that about 50 people died, and up to
500 have severe liver damage and blindness.  The substance eats away
at the optic nerves.  So many lives were changed in such a short time.
Last week I had the privilege to help translate for a medical team
that was here from the U.S. I had the job of asking the patients what
their medical concerns were and translating for the Americans to write
down.  I was happy for 2 reasons.  1-I now know enough Spanish to be
able to translate.  This was good for me to learn, because I honestly
didn't think I would be able to.  There were only about 4 people that
I needed to get someone to help me understand what they were saying.
2- I was able to spend time helping the Ecuadorian people and also the
Americans.  The ladies I worked with were so nice to me.  The week was
a blessing.
One man came in with his wife.  As they came to our table, I realized
that this man was not able to see.  He sat down and I asked him why he
was here today.  He told me that he drank some of this tainted
alcohol, and he became blind in a very short period of time.  It
really broke my heart to meet him.  It is one thing to hear this news
from other sources, it is another to meet a victim and talk to them
face to face.  Not only were his eyes blank, his face was also.  He
just talked like he was reciting facts.  He was so stoic.  I was able
to tell him that our only hope is in Jesus Christ, and His name has
power.  I also wished him God's blessing on his life.  What else can
you say?  They seemed encouraged by the words.  I had to take a minute
before I could talk to anyone else.  I was deeply affected by this.  I
was not able to sleep that night, and had to finally pray and give
this man and my feelings to God.  Whether someone is a vessel of honor
or dishonor to God, God is holy and Justified in allowing anything to
happen to His creation.
I want to be faithful in touching the lives that God puts in my path.
We all need to do this wherever God leads us.  A man whose parents
were missionaries when he was younger put it this way...But as my
father used to say, there are many people who yearn to serve the Lord
in a country where they don't know the language, in a culture they
don't understand, eating food they don't like, in a difficult climate,
and all the while they are surrounded by the lost, and they don't
bother reaching out to their neighbor, who speaks their language, who
would gladly accept an offer to come over for a meal, whose culture
they understand implicitly, and in a climate in which they were
raised.  Let us all be faithful to the work of the Lord.  Love and
blessings, Joyce