September update

  

September 17, 2025

Dear Partners,

 

Kathy and I greatly appreciate your prayer and support of our ministry of helping care for the LMUSA missionary family. We thank the Lord for being able to take what we have learned over the years and invest it in the lives of those who are doing the work.

There are some principles, basic realities, essentials, that we try to foster in our missionary family. We believe that these are very-much-needed in missionary service.

Longevity:

In past reports I have written about missionaries who leave their field of service too soon. Today, I want to showcase an example of servants who have hung in there over the long-haul.

The picture to the right is a familiar image. Just about all of us use some form of text messaging. I doubt, though, that you can decipher much of the message thread on the screen in the picture. The emojis are a universal language. Not a problem. “Kathy Bruce” is obviously someone’s name. Kathy is one of our LMUSA missionaries—a definite long-termer. Many of you recognize “Iglesia” as the Spanish word for Church, but what in the world is the rest of all of this? I only recognize one of these strange words, “aishtaish.” It’s “thank you” in Awapit.

Thirty years ago, when I first visited in the mountains of northern Ecuador, the Awa people (Awapit is their language) were almost all illiterate. The translation of the New Testament into Awapit had not yet been completed. There were only a handful of believers and no functioning church. Now the Awa believers are using their cell phones to make plans for a special service and meal. They are taking the lead. My pastor and his wife, who served for twenty years, or so, among the Awa, were the Bruce’s partners. They were recently in Ecuador for a visit. They were surprised with the level of change since they left Ecuador thirteen years ago.

Not long ago the Awa, walked, or on occasion rode horses, up and down the steep muddy mountain trails. Communication in their isolated communities was difficult. Now they ride buses to town, have electricity in their homes, and cellphones in their hands. Many of them are obviously literate. But more important than any of that is the fact that they now have much of the Bible (all the New Testament and portions of the old) in their language. There are functioning churches. Leaders are being trained and beginning to lead.

This kind of progress is not quick nor easy. Advances like this require long-term commitment and service.

Good health:

It’s very common for churches and individuals to pray for the health of missionaries. Please continue. Many of the LMUSA missionaries serve in places with poor health care. They are exposed to diseases that are unknown or rare in North America. The nature of the work is stressful. More important, however, than physical health is the emotional and spiritual welfare of these servants. The two kinds of health are connected.

Earlier this month I led our monthly online gathering of our missionaries who choose to join us online—it’s an opportunity, not a requirement. Odd as it may seem, the theme of our gathering was ‘having fun’. It is my observation that missionaries who don’t have times of fun and relaxation don’t last. Later this month, I’ll be taking a short trip to meet with one of the fine families that serve with LMUSA. Our mission wants to maintain good connections with those who serve “out there.” It’s our privilege to help with that.

Cooperation:

Believe it or not, missionaries face the same interpersonal struggles as the rest of us. In the intense work of intercultural situations, it is often not so much that someone is wrong, but more often that several someones are stressed. Pray that we can foster a culture of care.

Doing good things in good ways:

Like any organization, LMUSA has its systems and procedures. I’m glad to say that the administrators I’m privileged to work with want those systems and procedures to be tools not burdens. We want to serve our missionaries and make their work easier. Sometimes that’s hard. I’m privileged to have input on these matters. Pray that my colleagues and I will have wisdom, and that we’ll keep first things first. Next month Kathy and I will be at our headquarters in Schooley’s Mountain NJ. I’ll be involved with other mission leaders, seeking to do our job better. Please pray.

Solid church connections:

We believe that missions is the work of the church. We exist to assist. With that in mind, let us know if we can minister in, or to, your church. I’d love to talk to you about opportunities.

 

In short: We want our missionary family to be healthy, so that they can continue to serve over the long haul, and help The Church accomplish her Great-Commission ministry, all to the Glory of God. In a sense, Kathy and I are doing what we have done for most of our lives--caring for people. Only now, our congregation is very spread out.

 

How is Kathy doing?

Thank you for your prayers on her behalf. I’ll turn the keyboard over to her and let her answer the question for herself, as well as add anything else she chooses.

Hello friends!  I often tell people prayers are being offered all over the world for me/us!  Thank you to each of you who have held us up to the Lord as I have been having six treatments for breast cancer over the last four months.  I finished my sixth treatment August 25th and had my last hard days soon after.  I am so thankful to be finished.  Until next April, I will be continuing one medication which has mild effects and will allow my hair to begin returning.  I have also started a hormone blocker pill daily, which will continue for the next five years or more.  My strength will continue to improve.  For all of this I am thankful!  I am back to living a more normal life and work and ministry.  So, thank you once again for all your prayers.  I will still take all the prayers you care to give for us!  We pray for you!   ~ Kathy

 

By His Grace,

Howard Merrell
Liebenzell USA Missionary Care Associate,
North American Codirector,
Pastor Emeritus of Covington Bible Church
and biker (Kathy’s a walker)
(540) 620-8429, hmerrell@liebenzellusa.org, kmusiq@gmail.com