Sum '19 -- Day 6 -- Perseverance

Today was another rewarding day of hard work here in Ecuador! We got up, ate a delicious breakfast, and hopped on the bus to Carmen Bajo for another day of teaching and construction.

It is such a joy every day to see the children at Amor y Esperanza in the morning. No matter how tired you feel, the kids have a contagious enthusiasm to learn each day. Every single morning, I have walked into my class and after greeting me, the kids immediately ask what we are going to do that day with a huge smile on their face. The kids have such a love for us and many of them hug me every time I walk by. Even when I feel like I haven’t prepared enough lesson plans, the kids continually show me that they are so grateful for us and that they are willing to try any activity we set before them.

After class, we ate lunch and enjoyed some fellowship with one another. I have loved getting to know people in other grades that I wouldn’t normally talk to on this trip. We have had so many opportunities to bond as a group and really get to know every person on the team.

Once we finished lunch, everyone boarded the bus once again for the short drive to the new building. It is amazing to see all the work that has been accomplished on the building, especially since I came to Ecuador with my family two years ago. I think it is very special that once the building is done, the team will be able to come teach in the new school and know that all the previous Whitefield teams had played a huge part in the construction of the building. I feel God is really working through us, especially through the construction of the building. It feels so good to give rather than receive and see the progress that we have made. This week, different groups of the team have been sanding and plastering the walls, painting, and tiling the floors. We have made a huge amount of progress due to the hard work everyone has put in!

Though this trip has been very hard work and we’ve stayed up late every night and though I was feeling like I just couldn’t teach anymore, the Lord always picks me back up and allows me to persevere. The work we have done has been so rewarding, both through the kids’ lives and the construction work, and I can’t wait to see what the Lord will do in the next few days!

-- Zoe

Sum '19 -- Day 5 -- Soccer!

After work yesterday afternoon we came back to the Seminary to rest and invest some time in soccer. Due to rain, we practiced indoors prior to the annual USA vs. Ecuador game slated for Wednesday night. Through a few slippages and scares we made it through practice. Then we had dinner and devotion with Poncho and Pitty. Dinner went well, and I shared a devotion on Jeremiah 29:11, a verse written on my heart for this trip. Although difficult and at times stressful, we’re all making it through with good intentions and full hearts for the classes we teach.

After devotion we were all sent out to create our own worship songs, some individual and some as groups, as I’ve written mine alongside Zach, Cole, Bryan, and Justus in our cabin. We then planned for teaching and went to bed, hoping to rest as much as possible.

We awoke to a breakfast consisting of various fruits with the main excitement being bowls of chocolate sauce for us to dip breakfast in. Soon, we packed up and headed to Amor y Esperanza in Carmen Bajo, where we’ve been teaching during the mornings. My class of 5^th graders were very, very excited to see the gifts and supplies we had brought them. We’ve enjoyed making their math and science curriculum enticing and full of laughs through games and prizes.

I’m currently writing on the bus as the others have gone ahead to begin construction at our worksite. Work has been a learning experience, and we’ve made friends with our fellow workers. We have even bonded with each other through the processes and tasks we face. It may be strenuous, but it’s how we are called to serve.

Other than my feeling a little lethargic for the first few days, we’re all staying strong and coming closer together as Poncho and Pitty, Mr David, Mrs Lindsay, and Ms Christ, lead the way in strength and perseverance. They are setting a striking example of how we can lead not just here but at home as well.

We’re just a few short days from coming back to whence we came, and we are all excited to act in the ways of love and perseverance we’ve learned through serving here in Quito, Ecuador. Quito, the kids, and amazing leaders here will be missed, but the strong hearts, bonds, and examples we have learned from and formed will not be shaken.

From this trip, my main hope is to serve better in Atlanta and remind ourselves of the many blessings and freedoms we have in the United States that we often take for granted. We must live with love in our hearts, live for the betterment of others (and self), and live in gratitude. Ecuador may be unfamiliar and strange (to me at least), yet God’s love stays faithful and powerful as ever--wherever we may be.

Now I will head to work and anticipate our traditional “soccer game of the nations.” At 5pm central time, remember to chant USA. We will check in soon, hopefully with a title to our name and even more strength in our hearts.

Finally, we are so very, very thankful for Poncho and Pitty’s blessings and help as we navigate physically and mentally through Ecuador, as well as our strong Whitefield leaders. Thank you all.

– Christian 

Sum '19 -- Day 4 -- Teaching & Construction

Today was another great day in Quito! I, Zach, am teaching fourth grade with Micah and Adria, about the days of creation, and it has truly been a joy watching their faces light up as they color and sing our creation song. The children of Amor y Esperanza never cease to amaze me with their fullness and joy despite their incredible need.

One child in particular truly amazed me today. His name is Abel, and he is in the third grade. Abel is a special needs student at Amor y Esperanza, and he cannot walk without assistance. Despite the challenges he faces every day, Abel sang the loudest of any kid when the school gathered to greet us on Monday. Abel also received a new walker today. During recreo (recess) while the other kids played tag, Abel tried out his new walker. He was so joyful to be able to walk around at recess in a proper walker. Walking is something we take for granted every day, and we complain about the most trivial issues, but Abel was full of gratitude not only to be able to walk, but to praise God louder than any of his classmates or any of the mission team—and all of us can walk.

Today was also another great day of construction. The building is truly unrecognizable from the skeletal structure we left behind last year. The Lord has provided so much for this beautiful school in one short year. We continued to plaster the walls to prepare for painting, and we laid down tiles in the hallway. It has been truly amazing to walk in a building we built with our own hands and to plaster a wall that one year earlier we worked to put up.

The building has truly reflected a theme of the Ecuador Missions Team—trust the Lord. We did not know what the walls we put up would look like. We did not know the blueprint or the finished product. We just followed directions and had faith. Now we can see a structure we helped to build—a truly beautiful structure that God provided every step of the way.

We look forward to another great evening of fellowship, soccer, and hopefully some rest for tomorrow. Adios from Ecuador!

-- Zach

Abel with his new walker

 

Abel

Sum '19 -- Day 3 -- 1st Day at Amor y Esperanza

This morning the team woke up feeling refreshed from a peaceful devotional the night before. It is amazing how strong God’s love feels amongst the mountains of Quito. We started our day with a hardy breakfast of bacon, egg, and cheese bagels (or parfaits for our gluten-free friends). After breakfast, the whole team loaded on the bus to begin our first day on the trip at Amor y Esperanza.

When we arrived at the school, we were quickly ushered out to the patio across the street from the main school building where the students play. There, all the students of the school greeted their new teachers for the week with smiles and songs of praise.

After the morning assembly, each teaching group split into their assigned classrooms. When Grayce and I walked into our Pre-k room, we were immediately greeted by hugs from some of the little ones and timid smiles by the others. Our class’s theme for this week is “God’s Creation,” so today we learned about nature by finger painting trees and sculpting our favorite animals out of playdough.  Trying to communicate with the students and the teachers was a humbling experience that served as a good reminder of the work that will be necessary to make a lasting connection with the children this week. Nevertheless, the Pre-k class was very understanding of our broken Spanish, and continued to be our friends even once it became clear to them that we had no idea what they were saying.

At 12:30, we met in the kitchen for a delicious lunch of homemade burritos, beans and rice. After we were fully nourished for the workday still ahead of us, we again loaded the bus and made our way to the construction site.  Nearly every returning member of the team’s jaw dropped when we arrived at the construction site. What had just six months ago been a barebones structure of cinderblocks and concrete was now taken the shape of a real school building. All of the walls are now built and the window frames are placed. For the first time, it is easy to imagine the building crawling with lively children.

While much progress has been made on the building in Whitefield’s absence, there is still much work to be done. Today, we split into three groups, one sanding the walls, one putting stucco on the walls, and the last painting the window frames. The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather for our work, and it was so satisfying to get to see the building coming together.

As we continue on this amazing journey in Ecuador, we ask that you keep the team and the school in your prayers. While the work we are doing is certainly not easy, the spiritual rewards we receive from it are priceless. By God’s grace, though, we come to Ecuador each year to serve others; however, we always return home feeling that we are the ones who are truly blessed.

--Annie 

 

Sum '19 -- Day 2 -- Equator

Today was our second day in Ecuador! This morning, we woke up (with some difficulty) and had a wonderful breakfast of french toast and eggs, sang worship songs led by Annie and Maddie, and then had a devotional.

Mr. David started out by talking about laying burdens down on the Lord. He used Matthew 5:11 (oh wait, Matthew 11:28) (little inside joke) as the basis for his devotional. This verse specifically impacted me because it really spoke to the burdens that I (and we all) carry around every day. After that, Ms. Christ and Mr. David washed everyone's feet as Pitty and Lindsay prayed over each person. This was a very powerful example of service and reminded everyone that we are here in Ecuador to serve, not to be served.  My favorite part of this time was when the students' feet had all been washed and all of the students circled around Pitty, Ms. Christ, Mr. David, and Lindsay to pray for them. This devotion time was impactful and emotional because it showed the power of God to bring so many different people together to pray for each other.

After breakfast and the devotional, we headed off to the Equator. There, we learned a lot about Ecuadorian culture. We took the tour, had many good photo opportunities, and did challenges on the equator line. A select few managed to balance an egg on a nail and earned the esteemed title of "Eggmaster". Everyone found out how difficult it was to walk straight with your eyes closed on the equator. We enjoyed some delicious popsicles at the "real" equator, and then proceeded to the "fake" equator. There, we enjoyed some nice views and did a little shopping. God's glory was definitely displayed in the huge mountains that could be seen from the large monument at Mitad del Mundo ("the center of the world").

After all that sightseeing, we headed off to Crepes and Waffles, where we enjoyed some of the most delicious food. It was a great time to talk to everyone on the team and enjoy fellowship with one another as we prepare for our first day of teaching and construction tomorrow. 

Right now, everyone is relaxing and playing some soccer as we look forward to dinner and an evening devotion with Poncho and Pitty. I know that God is already working in our hearts, and the devotion this morning really prepared me for the week as I was called to cast all my burdens on the Lord. We are all looking forward to starting our week of teaching and building tomorrow! 

Thank you for keeping up with us!!

-- Zoe

Equator

"EggMasters"