New Executive Director for Voz y Manos

In August the Voz y Manos Board appointed Andrés Stäubli as the executive director elect of Voz y Manos. Andres is Swiss-Argentinian and has served as a missionary in Ecuador for nine years. He will officially assume the directorship January 1, 2024. This four-month transition allows Andrés time to turn over his duties with his current mission and learn from Scott and others how to guide and serve Voz y Manos.

For us, this is a huge answer to prayer. It is wonderful to have the end in sight of Scott being interim executive director. Thank you for your prayers.

New Missionaries

In August, Stewart and Anna-Claire Cusick, with their new baby Erin, joined the Shell Community Development team. They volunteered with us this last year. Their resident visas only allowed them six months outside Ecuador, but they returned to Northern Ireland in March, raised their long-term support, had a baby, and made it back to Ecuador with five days to spare. Stewart is a water engineer and Anna-Claire is a doctor.

Travels

Our eight-day Ecuadorian trip this spring took us to the remote town of Chillanes to visit Martha Cramer and Linda Ahrens, two recently retired missionaries with over 40 years of service each. Our second stop was Shell for meetings with our team there. We went on to Papallacta for an overnight Labor Day (May 1) retreat for all Voz y Manos staff.

Our eleven-week Home Ministry Assignment (HMA) took us to Colorado, Oregon, and Washington for Reach Beyond Board meetings and time with supporters and friends (38 singles, couples, or families). A highlight was a family reunion at the Oregon coast to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. Thank  you for your prayers for our HMA. God provided the housing we needed and the connections we were hoping for with friends and family.

Praise God for:

• An executive director to replace Scott
• New missionaries
• Safe and productive travels
• Ten years with Reach Beyond (September 23) and nine years in Ecuador (August 15)
• A fun outing to Laguna Cuicocha with friends (photos below)

Ask God for:

• A smooth transition of executive director duties from Scott to Andrés
• Wisdom for us: how can we best use our remaining time here and when should we leave?
• Political stability and an improved economy for Ecuador
• God’s grace and healing for our various health issues