Drought & Power Outages

Ecuador is in its sixth week of power outages. Up to 14 hours per day, they are sort-of scheduled, meaning the schedule can change without warning! Drought is the main cause; not enough rain has fallen where the hydroelectric dams are.

For us, it’s an inconvenience. A generator at the mission compound provides power for work. We have candles for our dark evenings.  But for those who need daytime electricity to support themselves, it is very difficult. Please pray for rain in the right places.

Plans & Hopes

Lord willing, we will move back to the U.S. next spring. August 15 marked ten years in Quito, fulfilling our initial time frame of “three to ten years.” However, our hope is to return to Ecuador for two or three months each winter, as Scott sees multiple projects he can do for Voz y Manos and other ministries here.

If you are a donor to Reach Beyond on our behalf, we will be on payroll at least through July 2025. After that we will be volunteers and able to use funds in our ministry account for ministry expenses (such as travel to and from Ecuador) and to supplement our retirement expenses.

Work Changes

January 1 Scott stepped down as Voz y Manos’ interim executive director as Andrés Stäubli took over. Scott is enjoying having one main hat to wear, although he is still a member of the board of directors for both Voz y Manos and Reach Beyond.

As Voz y Manos’ finance director, he is training others to take over his duties. He also may do some accounting and advising from the U.S.

Jody “retired” from her volunteer position in the Personnel Office the end of September. Between major changes in the office, her declining eyesight, and reaching age 72, she decided it was time.

So what’s she doing now? She’s giving informal classes in bread baking and quilting to friends from the mission and from church. (A photo of a friend and student’s project is below.) She’s also organizing and planning for the move back to the U.S. – what to ship, what to sell, what to give away?

A Major Loss

A recent shock and sadness was the sudden passing of one of our long-time missionaries, Hermann Schirmacher, at age 57. Born in Paraguay and with family all now living in Germany, Hermann served faithfully for over 20 years, most recently as the executive director of The World Radio Missionary Fellowship, the organization we came to serve in Ecuador. For the last several years he commuted every few weeks between Germany and Ecuador. He is missed.

We thank and praise God for:

• A milestone ten years of service in Quito
• Graciously providing all that we need
• Our colleagues who serve and those who are being served by Voz y Manos’ ministries

Please join us and pray for:

• Rain in Ecuador
• Guidance about our move back to the U.S.
• Comfort for Hermann’s wife Irene and family
• Improved economic conditions in Ecuador and a reduction in violence and crime