Repairing Engines & Building Relationships
"We live deep in the Ecuadorian jungles, far from urban centers. The cash needed to purchase engines for our canoes and chainsaws for clearing land, can be very difficult to save up. When we do manage to purchase a gas-engine in the city, it is expensive to fly it out to our village and even more challenging to repair when they break down after hard use. Broken down engines in our remote villages are 'piling up' like a 'graveyard' and we do not know how to repair them. Can you help us?"
These words summarize what I heard from followers of Jesus Christ living in remote villages of ethnic groups such as the Waorani, Achuar, Shiwiar, Záparo, and the Kichwa of the Amazon basin in Ecuador. My team from ITEC frequently hear similar challenges that Christ-followers around the world are facing daily. It would be easy for us to put together a team of qualified and willing individuals from first-world countries that could fix many of these engines in a relatively short period of time. However, we would almost certainly receive a phone call or text message from our friends that a fresh "pile of engines" is awaiting our next visit!
Our solution was empowerment through training. We worked with six participants, equipping them with essential skills to troubleshoot and repair small gas-powered engines. Beyond mechanical training, we emphasized the vision of self-replication—teaching them not only to repair engines but also to pass on this knowledge to others in their communities. This approach transforms mechanical skills into tools for spiritual discipleship and sharing the Gospel.
"Just like unused and broken engines, our lives suffer from the brokenness caused by sin. Jesus Christ took that sin upon Himself on the cross so that we could be 'made whole' once again and restored to the purpose for which God created us."
The words and spiritual application made by the Mechanic Trainers landed home. The training was not about learning new skills; it was about our relationship with Jesus Christ and leading others into a relationship with Him.
Over five intensive days, trainees worked on the piles of broken engines with renewed energy, driven by a sense of purpose. On the sixth day, discussions centered on sustainability—how to manage this ministry in remote, cashless societies.
Practical solutions emerged: charging modest fees, bartering skills for goods like fish or yucca, and creatively sourcing spare parts. These conversations were crucial for communities rooted in “hunter-gatherer” traditions to take ownership of their ministry and trust God for guidance.
Thank you for partnering with us as we come alongside indigenous Christ followers around the world with practical skills that meet felt needs and open up doors of opportunity to share the Gospel with those who do not know the Creator. If you would like to learn more about taking training on your next short-term trip, let’s connect! Visit itecusa.org today!