Look!

And you will have confidence,
because there is hope.
Job 11:18

Little boy with a balsa canoe.
Chupientsa, Ecuador 1957

photo by Bill Gibson

This little boy made this little canoe in Daily Vacation Bible School, and he is very proud of it. It was carved out of Balsa wood, a very soft light wood from which even very large canoes are made.

Mowing The Airstrip

Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Genesis 18:14

Gladis Gibson, mowing the airstrip.
Chupientsa, Ecuador, SA 1959

photo by Bill Gibson

Mowing the airstrip with a push mower! This was how my mom got her exercise. Every Saturday afternoon, she was out there mowing.

The airstrip had to be kept level, and well mowed. A pothole, a rock, a large clump of grass in the wrong spot, and the plane could flip and crash.

Each week, my dad walked the length of the airstrip and looked for ant hills. Ant hills very quickly turned into potholes in wet weather. We’d pour kerosene into each hole, and set them on fire.

I always felt bad for the ants, but it had to be done.

Street Meeting

The free gift of God is eternal life.
Romans 6:23

Bill and Gladis Gibson, conducting a street meeting.
Bill plays the trumpet and Gladis the accordion.
Mendez, Ecuador SA, 1958

The music would draw a crowd, and then my dad would preach. How brave and bold they were to step out in faith this way.

Mendez, the town where this picture was taken, is not in the Jungle, it is a coastal town. And the people are not Shuar, they are Spanish.

We did not ever live in Mendez, but I remember this visit. And my memories of Mendez are that the mosquitoes were terrible, the smell was terrible, the mud was terrible, the food was terrible… and it was hot. But the people were really nice.

Chief and Sons

I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
~Isaiah 41:10

Chief Chiriapa and his two sons.
Macuma Ecuador, 1953 Photo by Bill Gibson

The original photo is less than 1 inch square, dog eared and well worn as you can see, but I just love it.

The traditional dress of shuar man was a skirt or kilt made of hand woven fiber. Surprisingly, the men did all the spinning, dyeing and weaving of the cloth which was made from home-grown cotton.

The man in this picture is also wearing a headdress made from toucan feathers, and a necklace that he most likely made himself.

The Chief is on left, his two proud sons are on the right.

Gospel Missionaries

Each one helps the other, saying to one another, 'Take Courage!'

~Isaiah 41:6

The Gibsons, the Drowns, and a visiting family friend.

Macuma, Ecuador 1957

I love this old photo. The original is quite small only about an inch square, and it is a little blurry—but it has this wonderful nostalgic quality that melts my heart.

What you can almost see on my shoulder, is my pet monkey, Chit Chat. I spent a lot of my time pretending to be Dale Evans, and so the dog’s name, of course, was Bullet.

The other family in the photo is Marie Drown, with 2 of her children, Timmy (he has a parakeet on his shoulder), and Lolly, and a family friend whose name I have forgotten. Frank and Marie Drown wrote a book called “Mission to the Headhunters”. It is still available for sale, and a link to it can be found on the side bar of this page.

Bill's Message on Uncertainty and Fear

Is it possible for us to live contentedly amidst the changes that are ocurring so rapidly as we enter 2007*. The threat of war, depression and every on predicting disaster seems to be the order of the day. What is there that will help us to face the uncertainties and the fears that fill our hearts?

I believe that it would be good for us to take a look at some of the things that never change and that have never moved. The polestar that the sailors looked to for guidance has not moved. It is still in the same place and still guides the ships. Here are a few other things that have never changed and never will change.

God's Word never changes. "Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will never pass away." Matt 24:25. This is the Word that was once delivered. God never has to come up with a new edition, His Word will see us through anything that may come to pass.

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8. He has been the help of multitudes in times of greatest distress when they faced death and suffering for His Name. He was there with them each step of the way.

The Gospel has never changed. We come to know the Lord the same way as did those who walked the paths of Palestine with Jesus. Repentance and confession of sin and failure will still bring forgiveness and blessing.

There is a need for us to under stand that God is in control. God is still God and there is nothing that will ever surprise Him. No matter what may happen in 2007*, we who know Him need never fear.

The clouds hang heavy around my way

I cannot see.

But through the darkness I blieve

God leadeth me.

'Tis bliss to keep my hand in His

While all id dim,

To close my weary aching eyes

And follow him.

(From "My Heart is Tied"

by Florence Shillingsberg.)

Faith follows God in the dark.

And as I sit and write these words, the threat of war hangs heavy over our land and I am concerned for those who will be involved. We are praying daily for them that the Lord will protect and help them to be effective soldiers. So let us pray for them and for the families they represent.

For those with loved ones there, I would like to share a few things that were of special blessing to me when I was in the same situation.

1. Psalm 91. My mother sent me this Psalm just when it was most needed.
2. A little verse was also sent:

No bomb or shell may on me burst
except the Lord permit it first.
No bomb above or shell below
need cause my heart one pang of woe.
The Lord of Hosts encircles me
He is my Lord on land or sea.

Thank you very much
Bill Gibson, January 1991

*Note from Shirley: I changed the date from 1991 to 2007.

Psalm 91

Here is Psalm 91:

1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.


2. I will say of the Lord. He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.


3. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.


4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.


5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;


6. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that waiteth at noonday.


7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.


8. Only with thine eyes shall thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.


9. Because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;


10. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come by night to thy dwelling.


11. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.


12. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.


13. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.


14. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.


15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him.


16. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

Shaman

The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
Hebrews 13:6

Shuar (Jivaro) witchdoctor

transformed from enemy to friend through prayer.

Ecuador SA, 1953

photo by Bill Gibson

The shaman, or witchdoctor was greatly respected, feared and obeyed. Acting as the main leaders and focus of local conflicts, shamans were believed to both cure and kill through magical means.

It was very dangerous to have a shaman for an enemy, especially in the early days when heads were still being taken, and killing raids were not uncommon. Even as late as1980, group conflicts between local shamans still erupted into full scale feuds with loss of life.