Day 3: Work with all your heart!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23

On our third full day in Ecuador, the team from Whitefield met the classes that they will be teaching throughout the week.  The morning started off with an assembly with the students in third grade and above.  Our team presented two songs and joined in the worship and devotional with the students from Amor y Esperanza.  Whitefield students spent the rest of the morning with their first taste of executing lesson plans, dealing with classroom behavior, and managing the language barrier.  After lunch, we held a VBS for 70 children ages 8 and up.    At the end of the day, one student said, "Well, that is exhausting physically and mentally -- I guess I know now what it feels like to be a teacher!" 

I am excited to share that these students are truly working with all their heart!  When teaching plans didn't pan out, or material was covered too quickly, the students improvised and created new activities, lessons, and games.  Despite frustrations, I witnessed each teaching team finding ways to connect to the children and to share their hearts.  The Lord is at work here!  Please continue to pray for our week as we seek to follow the spirit and His leading.  

Evan playing soccer with the students during VBS
-- he is serving as a translator for the team
helping all the Whitefield teachers in their classrooms.

 

Davis sharing a devotional with the younger
children during VBS time.

Riley and Jon teaching 5th grade -- this is 
the class that was adopted by Whitefield this year!
They are learning science through hands
on experiments. 

Nolan and Will are teaching English to a combined
class of 6th and 7th grades with 40 students!

Annie, Angela, and Megan are teaching the 3rd grade using
dance and movement. 

Daniel and Davis are teaching the 4th grade through 
the use of art and color.