People

2nd Graders :)

Tuesday morning I began teaching English in the elementary school in San Jose. I was asked to teach the 1st, 2nd, and 5th grade classes for an hour each. Unable to communicate effectively, my first day was so frustrating. So after a bunch of googling ESL (English as a Second Language) games and ideas and having Carlos help me translate instructions to all the games in Spanish I went back to school Wednesday and it was so much fun. Prepared with plenty of games, a ball, and a bunch of songs and dances, the students and I had so much fun. I am teaching colors, number, and greetings in English right now. The kids are so eager. The school system here is a little different. The elementary school has seven grades with kids aged 4-12. 1st grade is 4 year olds. 2nd grade is 5 year olds and so on. The 7th grade teacher is also the director of the school and has been very resistent to outsiders teaching his class. All week he had me teach in all of the classes, but his. BUT on Friday he asked me to teach his seventh graders for an hour. After the hour was up the students begged me to stay longer. Jeanette pointed out to me that now the director is comfortable with us working in his class. The community here is small enough that everyone knows that Gringos (white people) are here working with the Christians in town. The director is now comfortable with Christians working in his class! Go God!!

On Wednesday and Thursday afternoons we had the kids programs. Marcello, a visiting pastor from Guayaquil, led songs and the lesson. Then we made lion puppets out of brown paper bags. So much fun!

Saturday morning was youth group. Four middle school girls and I hung out and painted our nails. We then played hand games. I was nervous about leading youth group because of my limited Spanish, but we had so much fun.

This morning, right before church started, Jeanette asked me to lead kids church. Ben Plummer, a missionary from Savannah Christian serving here for a year, and I read stories with the kids, colored pictures, and sang songs. We couldn't understand each other completely, but we had so much fun. We all laughed the entire time.

Ben said something last week that I have been thinking about a lot. In the states church and Christianity is all about ministry. It's all about getting people to the next church event, making sure the events run smoothly. But here, there is no ministry, so here it's all about people. It's all about connecting with people, getting to know them, setting an example, showing Jesus through what we do, through our attitudes, not about impressing people with a cool band and a dynamic speaker. Jesus was all about people. I want to be like that.

Life here is slower. People are never in a hurry. I'm learning the importance of noticing everyone around me and not just passing with a wave or a quick "hola", but stopping and getting to know them. I am constantly reminded that people were never an inconvenience to Jesus and they shouldn't be to me.

los fotos

CCF Group

Red Light, Green Light..I mean rojo y verde

My Polish Friends, Natan and Natalka

Sunset in my backyard

a house in San Jose

The Christian Center. This is where we have church, the kids program in San Jose, and eat meals.

Kids Program in San Jose

Recess at school

Unexpected Blessings

On Monday morning we woke up and began finishing repairs on the bridge that we started last week. The bridge that we are fixing here is so important to this community. The town of San Jose is split by a river. In order to get to school children have to cross the bridge everyday. When we arrived the bridge was in such bad condition that we were afraid to cross it. Random pieces of wood, even a window shutter, were laid across the rickety frame. The handrails were weak and did nothing to protect small children from falling in the water. Multiple children have almost drowned because they have fallen from the bridge. Yesterday we completed the bridge repairs. We added a new frame, new planks, and two handrails, the shorter one to keep toddlers on the bridge. Now the kids can run across the bridge and even ride their bikes.

My friend Karen, the pastor's wife, was out of town this week, so I was asked to lead the children's programs in San Jose and Curia. I was very nervous because my Spanish is not very good. However, Hana, one of my GT CCF friends, translated as I told the story of Jonah. We played red light, green light and made a fish craft with old cds. The kids glued a cd with the shiny part out to a construction paper fish, added a wiggly eye, and drew a little Jonah in the center of the cd. Thanks for the cds New Hope! We had so much fun! A cool thing about kids is that they love and have fun even when communication is limited.

I am learning a lot about the importance of body language and attitude. I can't understand a lot of what I hear and I usually have trouble communicating with the locals here, but with a positive attitude, a smiley face, and a few memorized phrases, I have made friends and fallen in love with a bunch of kids!

Wednesday night the Wawzryniak's, a Polish family that served with Savannah Christian Church for a year, came to visit Carlos and Jeanette's ministry here in Ecuador for a week. Immediately, the kids, Natan and Natalia, and I became friends. The parents, Daniel and Edyta, are an incredible example of a couple seeking God with their lifestyle, their occupation, how they raise their family, and even their vacations. The family lived with us, ate with us, and helped us as we taught in the schools, repaired the bridge, and led the kids programs.

I came to Ecuador expecting to serve others and do whatever was needed. I am doing that, but I am already getting so much in return. I have gained friends, mentors, and Godly examples to learn from. I've even learned a little Polish.

Week One

I left Atlanta at 6:30 am on Sunday with 13 other college students from Georgia Tech's Christian Campus Fellowship (CCF) and after a 12 hour layover in Miami and a 4 hour flight we finally landed in Guayaquil, Ecuador. We then took a 3 hour bus drive to our home in Curia.

My home here is beautiful. I am living in the home of Carlos and Jeanette Guererro. Their home is right on the beach, literally.

On Monday, my 20th birthday, we woke up and Carlos gave us a tour of the towns we are working in, San Jose and Curia. San Jose is a mile down the beach from Curia. Carlos and Jeanette work closely with both towns. The Christian Center is in San Jose. We walk down the beach every morning to San Jose where we eat our meals. Church is also in the Christian Center. After a tour of the cities we visited the school in San Jose where I began teaching English to the 2nd grade class.

I love the school! Every morning I go to the school to help Senora Lili. My friend Paige and I teach the kids English numbers and we sing songs. The teacher has to hand make all homework and worksheets, so I help with that too.

My Spanish is very basic. I only know the little I remember from high school, but the kids talk to me endlessly. The people here are so gracious and patient as I struggle to communicate with them. Because I usually cannot find the words to express myself I have to show Christ's love through my actions and my attitude. Not being able to speak fluently has forced me to listen more and this has enabled me to quickly learn to love the people here.

Karen, Pastor Luis' wife, is in charge of the children's ministry in San Jose and Curia. She speaks a little English and answers all of my questions and has taught me so much Spanish. I worked with her on Wednesday and Thursday with the children's programs in San Jose and Curia. I will be working with her all summer! She is 24 and I am excited to get to know her better. I love the kids here! They are so loving and always excited to see me.

On Tuesday night, the church had choir practice and my friend from Point University, Tyler and I, sang with them. We sang Hillsong songs in Spanish. Yesterday Curia had a Mother's Day Celebration and invited Tyler and I to sing a duet. We were nervous, but it went well.

This morning we had church. The church has about 7 members. There are two teenage sisters named Joanna and Allison that come to church. I am so excited to get to know them!

Please continue to pray for the people here. Poverty is sneaky here. Most people appear to be well off, but hunger is lingering. There is no industry here, so people struggle to make money doing random jobs to make a living. There is a large Roman Catholic population here that refuses to associate with the Christians. Please pray for my spanish as I learn to communicate better with the people here, to better show them the love of Jesus.

The group from CCF has been such a blessing. Half of the group left this morning. This week, the group worked on repairing a bridge, taught in the school, and got to know the people in the community. They also started preparing a computer lab for the school in San Jose with computers donated by Point University. Yesterday we had a community lunch and invited everyone for a free lunch. It was great to get to fulfill a need and get to know the community.

I feel so loved and accepted here! I am so excited about being able to continue to build relationships and shine Jesus' love here!

So much has happened in such a short time and I couldn't possibly write it all down. Please ask me questions! I would love to hear from you!

En el nombre de Jesucristo,
Kaitlyn