Monday, June 25, 2012
3 Years in the Making
I live in the town of Curia and work a mile down the beach at the school in San Jose. The school in Curia is strictly Catholic and for the last 3 years has never been open to Christians coming into the school. BUT last night one of the parents of a child in Curia asked why we had not been teaching English in the school in Curia also. When we expressed that the principal was against it the parent went and got permission from the principal to allow us into the school. SO today for the first time we were able to go into the school in Curia and teach English! The kids were so excited! The principal has agreed to give us a trial run this week! Please pray that the principal is impressed and will continue to allow us to come into the school!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Captured!
Today was a fantastic day at school! Along with Megan and Anna-Kate, I taught the 5th, 6th, and 7th graders. We reviewed family members and numbers to 100. We played hangman, a card game, and raced to the correct number written in chalk on the ground. With the use of skittles I taught the kids how to say "My favorite color is..." The kids are so smart and so eager to learn and impress us Gringos (white people) with their English! The seventh grade class is my favorite. Today we laughed the entire time as we played a game similar to slap jack reviewing numbers!
Last week the first group of the summer arrived. We painted the school. This week my sister, Emilie, is here with the high school group from Savannah Christian Church. Emilie being here is such a blessing. I needed a little piece of home! I love being able to share my life here with her and watch her love on the kids here.
Emilie's group is building a fence around the soccer field in Curia and doing a sports themed VBS everyday.
On Saturday Joanna and Allison came over and we made, I mean burnt, brownies. We started playing a game similar to Scattergories and were having so much fun that we forget about the brownies, but I would trade burnt brownies for laughing with those girls any day!
Yesterday was a huge day here! Five people in the church were baptized. Two of our cooks, Marjorie and Gladys, were baptized. Gladys' husband, Isidro, and two others were also baptized. We had a huge celebration with cake and games as we welcomed them into God's family!
God is capturing the hearts of the people here!
Last week the first group of the summer arrived. We painted the school. This week my sister, Emilie, is here with the high school group from Savannah Christian Church. Emilie being here is such a blessing. I needed a little piece of home! I love being able to share my life here with her and watch her love on the kids here.
Emilie's group is building a fence around the soccer field in Curia and doing a sports themed VBS everyday.
On Saturday Joanna and Allison came over and we made, I mean burnt, brownies. We started playing a game similar to Scattergories and were having so much fun that we forget about the brownies, but I would trade burnt brownies for laughing with those girls any day!
Yesterday was a huge day here! Five people in the church were baptized. Two of our cooks, Marjorie and Gladys, were baptized. Gladys' husband, Isidro, and two others were also baptized. We had a huge celebration with cake and games as we welcomed them into God's family!
God is capturing the hearts of the people here!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Home Sweet Ecuador
Every day I fall more in love with this place.
I had the privilege of visiting Chimborazo a couple of weeks ago. Chimborazo is the tallest mountain and volcano in Ecuador. It was breathtaking, literally. We drove to 16,000 feet and it got harder and harder to breath. The snow-peaked volcano and the blanket of clouds beneath me covering the patchwork quilt farmland reminded me how good God is.
I have been teaching ESOL(English to Speakers of Other Languages) in the elementary school in San Jose everyday. Two college students from Savannah Christian Church, Meagan and Anna-Kate, arrived last Sunday. They have begun helping me in school. I love teaching alongside them and Karen, the pastor's wife. We play games and sing songs to teach colors, numbers, family, fruits, school supplies, and other English basics.
On Thursday a short term team arrived from Savannah Christian Church. They will be here for a week. It has been so awesome to see the team love on the children here despite the language barrier.
A few weeks ago the Georgia Tech group set up a computer lab in the school in San Jose using computers donated by Point University. I had the privilege of watching the kids use the computers for the first time. They were amazed. I have never seen someone appreciate a computer so much. They shouted "Mira! Mira!" ("Look! Look!") the entire time as videos of sharks and other sea life swam across the screen. Thank You Point! I am so excited that these kids will know how to use a computer, giving them the ability to succeed in high school and maybe even college one day!
I absolutely love the kids here. Their joy is so contagious. We are constantly laughing.
Karen, the pastor's wife, is my best friend here. Last weekend we had a sleepover. We have been learning to surf and I was actually able to ride a wave, once!!! Karen knows about as much English as I do Spanish and she has been so instrumental in helping me learn more Spanish. I talk to her in Sopanish and she answers in English. When I get stuck she is able to help me find the right Spanish word. We are constantly picking at each other and laughing together!
This summer, we are working to create a program for the older teenagers here. Our kids program is growing, but we really want to minister to all age groups. Yesterday, we invited Joanna and Allison, 18 and 14 year old sisters over to make Rice Krispie treats. Dessert is expensive and unrealistic for most families here, so it's a special thing for the girls here to learn to make desserts. I love to bake, so I was so excited to teach the girls. We made the Rice Krispie treats and then played an intense game of Chinese Checkers. God is so good. We had an incredible time, laughing and enjoying our dessert. I now know enough Spanish to be able to communicate pretty effectively and Joanna is taking Enghlish class in high school, so we have been able to get to know each other!
Every Tuesday night we have choir practice. It's definitely my favorite night of the week! About 5 church members come and we practice the songs that we sing in church. It's always hilarious as they laugh as I stumble over Spanish lyrics and we all worship Christ with joy and singing. Joanna, Allison, Jeanette, and I have been leading worship at church. AND the church here is growing. Now 9 families are coming. This morning, 2 new girls came!! In the next few weeks 4 church members are being baptized.
Three ladies cook for the groups whenever short term groups come. I have been able to get to know them, Gladys, Marjorie, Magdalena, and their families, very well. This past week Gladys and her mother-in-law began teaching me to crochet paja. Paja is a palm-like plant used for making hats. I'm a slow learner, but it has been so awesome to sit in these ladies' homes and learn from them. During my first lesson I was sitting in Gladys' mother-in-law's living room and a donkey just walked in the room with us. I just love Ecuador, for real! Even the donkeys!
Thank you so much for your financial and prayer support. God is doing big things here!
I had the privilege of visiting Chimborazo a couple of weeks ago. Chimborazo is the tallest mountain and volcano in Ecuador. It was breathtaking, literally. We drove to 16,000 feet and it got harder and harder to breath. The snow-peaked volcano and the blanket of clouds beneath me covering the patchwork quilt farmland reminded me how good God is.
I have been teaching ESOL(English to Speakers of Other Languages) in the elementary school in San Jose everyday. Two college students from Savannah Christian Church, Meagan and Anna-Kate, arrived last Sunday. They have begun helping me in school. I love teaching alongside them and Karen, the pastor's wife. We play games and sing songs to teach colors, numbers, family, fruits, school supplies, and other English basics.
On Thursday a short term team arrived from Savannah Christian Church. They will be here for a week. It has been so awesome to see the team love on the children here despite the language barrier.
A few weeks ago the Georgia Tech group set up a computer lab in the school in San Jose using computers donated by Point University. I had the privilege of watching the kids use the computers for the first time. They were amazed. I have never seen someone appreciate a computer so much. They shouted "Mira! Mira!" ("Look! Look!") the entire time as videos of sharks and other sea life swam across the screen. Thank You Point! I am so excited that these kids will know how to use a computer, giving them the ability to succeed in high school and maybe even college one day!
I absolutely love the kids here. Their joy is so contagious. We are constantly laughing.
Karen, the pastor's wife, is my best friend here. Last weekend we had a sleepover. We have been learning to surf and I was actually able to ride a wave, once!!! Karen knows about as much English as I do Spanish and she has been so instrumental in helping me learn more Spanish. I talk to her in Sopanish and she answers in English. When I get stuck she is able to help me find the right Spanish word. We are constantly picking at each other and laughing together!
This summer, we are working to create a program for the older teenagers here. Our kids program is growing, but we really want to minister to all age groups. Yesterday, we invited Joanna and Allison, 18 and 14 year old sisters over to make Rice Krispie treats. Dessert is expensive and unrealistic for most families here, so it's a special thing for the girls here to learn to make desserts. I love to bake, so I was so excited to teach the girls. We made the Rice Krispie treats and then played an intense game of Chinese Checkers. God is so good. We had an incredible time, laughing and enjoying our dessert. I now know enough Spanish to be able to communicate pretty effectively and Joanna is taking Enghlish class in high school, so we have been able to get to know each other!
Every Tuesday night we have choir practice. It's definitely my favorite night of the week! About 5 church members come and we practice the songs that we sing in church. It's always hilarious as they laugh as I stumble over Spanish lyrics and we all worship Christ with joy and singing. Joanna, Allison, Jeanette, and I have been leading worship at church. AND the church here is growing. Now 9 families are coming. This morning, 2 new girls came!! In the next few weeks 4 church members are being baptized.
Three ladies cook for the groups whenever short term groups come. I have been able to get to know them, Gladys, Marjorie, Magdalena, and their families, very well. This past week Gladys and her mother-in-law began teaching me to crochet paja. Paja is a palm-like plant used for making hats. I'm a slow learner, but it has been so awesome to sit in these ladies' homes and learn from them. During my first lesson I was sitting in Gladys' mother-in-law's living room and a donkey just walked in the room with us. I just love Ecuador, for real! Even the donkeys!
Thank you so much for your financial and prayer support. God is doing big things here!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
People
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.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
los fotos
Friday, May 18, 2012
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.
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!
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.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
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
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