Meet the Andersons: The family who is ready to immerse themselves into the culture of the Awa tribe in Ecuador to help spread the Word of God.
Steven and Gwen Anderson have packed up their family and set out on the mission of a lifetime. The family is currently fulfilling their goal of becoming long-term missionaries and spreading the Gospel to those who have not yet heard. Their destination is Palmira, Ecuador, a small mountainside village home to the Awa tribe. Their desire is to provide discipleship and lend a helping hand to the tribe’s new mothers.
Steven and Gwen have always been interested in the work of missions. Gwen, whose father was a youth pastor, inspired her passion for missionary work. “ When I was about 15, I started reading missionary autobiographies and biographies and they just thrilled me. At that time I became more serious about my faith,”
He was on a short-term mission trip to Guatemala in his early twenties when Steven felt his calling to missions. On a prayer walk, he came to a realization: “I just felt like this is it. This is the meaning of life. And if I’m not doing this with my life, then I’m wasting it.”
With the help of Liebenzell USA’s Mike Branch, Steven and Gwen were able to connect with missionaries Kevin and Kathy Bruce. They learned that the Bruces were just as passionate about missionary work as they were. Kevin and Kathy’s mission is to help build a church for the people of the Awa tribe in Palmira, Ecuador. After a short-term mission trip to visit them in Ecuador, Steven and Gwen knew that the Palmira mission was perfect for them.
It took a number of steps to get ready for the mission. Steven and Gwen had to attend cross-cultural training courses and take Bible courses and overcome the challenges of getting visas. And then came the complications of welcoming a third baby into the family!
Once they get settled in Ecuador, the Andersons will face new challenges like learning Spanish and the Awa language. Bringing three children under the age of five into an environment where they are hours away from an adequate hospital will also be an adjustment. However, the Andersons are determined to be faithful to their call. “I’ve prayed through a lot and feel that God’s saying to give it to him. If He’s called us, He has protection for my family and I’ve had to lay that on the altar a lot.”
Once they arrive in Ecuador, the Andersons will spend their first year in Ibarra, where they will learn how to speak Spanish. Once they learn Spanish, the family will move to the mountains of Palmira where they will be immersed into the Awa culture.
Steven and Gwen will not only be helping the Bruces with the ongoing mission of building the church but will also pursue additional ministry. Steven’s desire is to provide discipleship with the men in the tribe through Bible study as well as helping them with skills such as construction work. “My goal is really discipling the young men through various ministries,” Steven says. Gwen is looking forward to working with young mothers. “I love the thought of doing that and just educating them on health issues and then going through Scripture and studying it,” She explains.
Steven and Gwen ask for prayers in their efforts to learn the language of the Awa people well enough to share the Word of God with them. They also ask for prayers as they attempt to educate the leaders of the tribe. Steven says that if the leaders of the tribe listen and understand what the Bible has to offer the tribe, then the rest of the tribe will follow suit.
