Old Mac Donald had a Farm

Did you know that animals in other countries don't say what American animals say. I was surprised to learn that animals in different countries speak their own language,

Cornbeef and Cabbage and other things I miss

Sometimes while reading my Facebook friends’ posts telling me about the flowers blooming, the first signs of spring and foods I can’t get here like corn beef and cabbage. I get a little State sick. I can’t say homesick, because I am home.

After brushing my teeth with sunscreen this morning--I don’t endorse it--I headed out to the Sunday market. There was a band playing, and I thought this beats elevator music. I walked the streets looking at fruits and vegetables that we wouldn't be able to purchase in the states. I listened to live music in the square that I would not be able to hear in the States. I bought my strawberries from the same vender I buy from each Sunday, who recognizes me and says hello. I am hoping one day to be able to say more than hello and how are you to her. I am able to walk a half a block to purchase fresh fruit and veggies. The total cost for two pounds of strawberries, a pound of carrots and onions and four plums was 4.oo.

We attended a house church way up a hill and listened to praise music over and over. Normally I don’t like praise music over and over, but I have found it is a really good way to learn a new language. What better way than to sing praises to God. I am standing there among brothers and sisters I had not met before, tears running down my face, raising my hands in praise, singing the songs over and over, not my normal Baptist worship pattern. I watched as one of our young students sang with her whole heart and lead others in worship. I watched as our older teens led in a drama depicting the Old Testament.

Yes I do miss the first signs of spring, corn beef and other foods I can’t get here and the old hymns, but I would not give up what we are doing for all the corn beef and cabbage  in the world.

 

Language Adventure

While in the states during the summer I didn't look or listen to any Spanish. When we returned to Loja, school was a main priority and I let learning Spanish slide. We have had a new infusion of short termers who are learning Spanish and I am embarrassed  that they are getting way ahead of me in the language area.

Sitting at Sendero I decided I needed to start back with language and have asked a friend to give me an hour a week of conversational Spanish practice.

I had my first lesson today and it was an adventure. My daughter Becca insisted that it would be better for me to go to Sandra’s house to have my lessons. I wanted to stay in our building and have Sandra come here. Becca’s reasoning was that I would get out of the building and that I would be making more of an effort to have the lessons. Well she was right.

I got out of the building alright and ending up in another building that was the wrong building. Terry walked me to a building with a gate that looked like wood and I buzzed the bell. I pushed on the buzzer several times. I was told it was the second one from the bottom. No one answered so I thought maybe it was the wrong one and buzzed the one next to it. In Loja you have a buzzer outside your building and you speak to the person outside before you let them in. No one said anything but the gate opened and my sweet husband said goodbye and he left.

Inside the building were a small boy and his dog staring at me. I climbed the stairs and there were several doors but no one was outside to meet me. I called Becca who said there should be a large mirror in the hall. Nope no mirror just a little boy with a dog staring at me. I realize I am in the wrong building and try to get out but I can’t find the gate button I start to panic. I am in a strange building and I can’t get out. As I am standing at the gate a girl opens it from the outside. I act like I was just visiting someone in the building, say hello and walk out into the wild blue yonder.

I walk to the next building with a metal gate that looks like wood and buzz, buzz buzz. No answer.. I call Becca again who tells me to call Dustan and tell Dustan to call Sandra so she could meet me outside the gate. Becca has no minutes on her phone so she can’t call anyone back and I don’t have Dustan’s phone number. I decided to call it a day and started walking back home. I called Becca to tell her I was on my way home. She talks me into going back to the metal gate that looks like wood and talks me thru buzzing the buzzers again. Becca tells me to buzz the ones around it. So I am buzzing several Apartments with no one answering.  I am about to give up when the gate opens. I see the large mirror and tell Becca I am ok. Sandra meets me at her door and I am able to tell her in broken Spanish that I have buzzed eight of her neighbors and if they ask her about a crazy gringa lady to tell them, I said I was sorry.

Faithful Prayers of Children

This past Friday our students had the day off of school activities to go to El Sendero and to celebrate answer to prayer. The last two years almost every morning our students have prayed that God would open the doors of Sendero. That they would be able to open later in the evenings and also be able to open on Saturday  for ministry activities.  God answered over and beyond what we had been asking for. Sendero has a new building and will be able to open whenever they need to. Now Bible studies, English Clubs and youth fellowship will be able to go on and will also be able to reach out to more students. Continue to pray for our ministry to the children of missionaries and for the ministry of Sendero. http://www.servantsinecuador.blogspot.com/

A New Year

I  looked at my last posting and saw it has been several months. I will have to catch you up to what we have been doing since September. I have made a resolution to post at least once a month. Terry (Nolan) and I have been very busy with the MK school. Sometimes time flies by and what seemed exciting and new has become routine.

Terry (Nolan) is working on his Spanish and becoming more fluent. I won't talk about my language learning. Let's just say I wouldn't be getting a good grade if I were in school. Terry (Nolan) is still working with his Bible Study group for men on Monday. The Sendero Ministry has moved to another location so we have been busy helping with the move.

In September and October the classroom was being re-floored so we had to move classes to the third floor meeting room of our building. We were able to set the classroom back up in November. We had our first parents night out for the school year in October.  

Friday is Specials Day at school. We have Art, Logic and PE. The student population grows from 7 to 10 or more.

Our Christmas program was a success and thanks to Northview Baptist Church and other friends our MKs each received a package of American candy and I received my M@Ms medication.

Terry (Nolan) and I were blessed to be able to travel to the Coast to work with the OMS Missionary children for their annual retreat. 





The OMS kids listening to Terry(Nolan) teach the Bible lesson for the day. 





Pray for us as we begin a new year working with the school and other ministries that we are involved in. 

Pictures of a school day

Morning view from our classroom window

                        Sometimes when life becomes routine, 
                            God sends me something special. 
                          Sometimes he sends them in three's.

This past week our school has been blessed to have a young couple from New Zealand visiting in Loja. Kevin Archer was kind enough to teach our students how to play rugby the past two weeks for PE. 

     
       Our students learned what Red Herrings are in Logic Class

And had a good time working on Pacific Island drawings and soap carvings

             John Micheal posing for a Pacific Island Totem ?

Thoughts on Green Trash

While preparing dinner Terry came in and told me about something that had just happened as he put the green trash out. Green trash is food garbage that is picked up every other evening. We normally don’t have much as I usually just put it into the black trash. Tonight we had a lot because several of us had lunch together and we had a wonderful time fellowshipping and sharing. There were a lot of scraps, mostly rice. 

Terry told me he had met a sweet older lady with a small grandchild outside the door as he was going out to run an errand. He greeted her and she in turn greeted him. He watched as she and the little girl opened the green trash bin. As he was telling me this my heart hurt, as did his. “Did she take anything out?” He said, “I couldn't look.”

This could be a story of poverty, which it is. But as I was finishing up our meal, I thought of the spiritual poverty of people all around us. We say hello and greet each other without knowing the needs they have. People are searching for spiritual nourishment while we as Christians sit at a banquet in our Bible studies and churches and don’t even share the scraps.