Whitefield Academy Ecuador Mission Team

EMT Day 10.5

2009-06-29T05:35:00.000-07:00

Hot bath, brewed coffee

I didn’t need my alarm clock. The excitement and anxiety of getting 21 kids to the airport in time to make our morning flight were enough to get me up at 4:30. I peeked out the front window of the apartment and heard…nothing. It was the first time I had experienced silence the whole trip, and I spent time with my Father, thanking him for many things…

Now, this morning, I wake up in my own bed. I flipped the switch on the Mr. Coffee and went out front to get the paper. The things we take for granted!

The trip home was long due to storms in Miami but everyone made it back and is safely home with their families. My apologies to those whom I did not connect with at the airport. I had hoped to greet you all personally.

So begins my thank you list:

•To the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who gave us health, safety, counsel, compassion, mercy, grace, and strength during this trip.

•To Jackie Tolford, for countless hours of planning and incredible skills of counseling and relationship building.

•To the Seniors whose leadership I admired and needed. I will miss you.

•To the Underclassmen, the leaders for 2010, who grew by leaps and bounds and learned the meaning of forgiveness and compassion.

•To the B’s (Banke, Brostrand, Bracher), Tom Wood, and Dr. Lindsell, for your support in allowing this trip to happen, especially with the help in fundraising. With no budget and an all volunteer force, it was crucial that we have you behind this.

•To the Business Office gals (Michelle, Arleeta, Laticia, Cynthia) who made it easy for me to stay accountable.

•To the parents and families of the EMT for your prayer, patience, and encouragement...and for letting me take your kids far away!

•To Linda Simpson and Leslie Hankey for helping us get the word out.

•To the LS families for your sponsorship and generosity. This is the first year I have taken LS “graduates” (Lila Knight and Jennifer Latimore. I hope there are many more!

•To the Kindergarten team for incorporating a math/Bible lesson (counting pennies/giving) for your service project to the EMT and hosting a lemonade stand!

•To Brian Coski for coordinating the Hasta la Pasta dinner along with the Spring Musical--incorporating announcements and so forth...thanks!

Until next year,

Mama Llama

EMT Day 9

2009-06-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Flexibility

My husband, Chris, a retired Air Force pilot, always used to say, “Flexibility is the key to airpower.” Like many of his military sayings and acronyms, I had no idea what he meant. But today we all understand this one.

Today was to be a day of celebration. The kids were going to watch VHS Disney or Veggie Tale movies and have a snack of popcorn or Dumdums.

Problem 1: There were supposed to be 2 TV’s. Only 1 works.

Problem 2: We found a DVD to use in my laptop. Unfortunately it was not a movie, but a Bible game. Not interested.

Problem 3: We resorted to Veggie Tales DVD in Spanish. Oh well. But it does not interest them. Bob is boring.

Problem 4: The power went out at 10:30 this morning. We pulled out Bingo games, puzzles, even math flash cards to keep them occupied. Lila says, “We are coloring up a storm in 3rd grade.”

I guess the movie “thing” was not meant to be. What’s important is that we are spending time with kids for whom we have become an example, we hope, of Christ’s love and compassion. If that’s not “airpower” I’m not sure what is. We have learned to be creative and flexible and patient. Well, at least 2.

As I close, I hear dinner dishes being cleaned up and Pancho’s family talking with the students. Tonight will be tough for these departing seniors. But we can’t wait to get home!

Mama Llama

P.S. Remember that we go through customs in Miami and likely land at the T-gates so we should be upstairs quickly!

EMT Day 8

2009-06-22T06:47:00.000-07:00

On the Road Again

Haha! The kids were shocked to learn they couldn’t sleep in on Sunday; in fact, church is at 8:30 in the school cafeteria so we actually had to eat earlier. But they rose to the occasion (no pun intended) and looked quite presentable!

It was interesting that the sermon, which we understood about a half of, was on Psalm 32 and referenced James 3. We had just covered that chapter Saturday night. It was good to see the kids in church that we had been working with all week.

After the service, we hopped on board our faithful bus and headed to Otavalo, boasted as the continent’s largest outdoor market. I don’t really think it’s that large area-wise, but they do cram a lot of vendors in a small space. The kids bought their obligatory llama jackets, some scarves, hats, and jewelry. Expect some nice looking gifts when we get back! The 2-hour bus rides there and back were pretty quiet as everyone either dozed or had their ipods plugged in.

We pulled into Quito about 7:30 and went straight to a hamburger place called Rusty’s. (Why is it that our hosts keep taking us to American type places?) Rusty is an expatriate with a handlebar mustache – the place mimics a standard Burger King or McD’s. The food is pretty authentic and the kids chowed after a day of snacks on the bus.

Finally, we got back “home” with our treasures about 9 and Pancho and Pity showed us a video about the Foundation and its purpose. (I didn’t tell them that the video is available when you link to CVI on our website.) I feel that our team has caught the vision of this effort. Our host’s enthusiasm is quite contagious! They asked the group to share some things they have learned this week and there was some good feedback. A lot of it was what they have learned about themselves.

I mentioned to you at our pre-trip dinner, that we would come to serve but in fact be served. I hope you witness the growth in your child after we return.
We will be on the road again for the long journey in less than 24 hours. Please continue to pray. This has been the healthiest of my 4 treks and I attribute it to God’s answering your faithful prayer.

From all, for Him,
Mama Llama

EMT Day 7

2009-06-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

A Taste of Home

This morning started out like the rest this week. Breakfast at 8 consisted of scrambled eggs with tomatoes and peppers, grilled mozzarella cheese sandwiches, bread, cereal, instant coffee  and the best fruit juice you can imagine. There is also a box of Froot Loops on the table for those less adventurous.

But instead of hopping on the bus with school supplies and recess beach balls, we loaded with our swimsuits on, towels in hand, and ipods in ear. We are headed to the thermal springs at Papallacta. It’s about a 2 hour drive out of the city into green mountains. The change in scenery is a healthy change; even the air feels better.

We arrive after a bumpy journey on a pot-hole filled drive. Our bags go into wicker baskets and we meander around the several steaming pools of various sizes and shapes. Words cannot describe how good this feels. After about an hour of soaking, some get out to retrieve water bottles. Why are we so dizzy? 12,000 feet of altitude, hot water, and our stomach alarms combine to make our heads light. We head to the bus.

Pancho has recommended a pizza place. Ok, whatever. I’m not sure if it was the altitude or the hunger, but we walked into this huge restaurant with beam ceilings, picnic tables, and the smell of yeast dough baking in the oven and it felt like home. We gorged on our first salads in a week, bruschetta, and 4 kinds of pizza. It was “yumi.”

We are back at the apartment and have just finished dinner and our study on James 3. The Senior boys have planned some sort of a good-bye party and they are on the balcony eating and carousing. This group of students is pretty special. I know you know that. Their prayer requests this week show a lot of introspection and compassion; they are all growing up. I cannot wait to have a real taste of home but I will always treasure the one here.

Mama Llama

EMT Day 6

2009-06-22T06:13:00.000-07:00

The Power of Prayer

It is 9:30 on a Friday night. The apartment is so quiet I can hear only the occasional car driving by outside. With 21 teenagers in the place how can that be?
Tonight we had a special prayer time with Pancho and Pity. They asked us to look deep inside and share the things on our hearts. I digress because it is so hard to describe. We are all just overcome with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Today was our last day of teaching in the classrooms; Monday will be more celebratory in nature!

I was able to stop by each of the classrooms this morning and snap some pics; a few are included. It’s impressive to see and hear how much a bunch of high school kids could accomplish in a week. Sure, there were a few students who didn’t participate and some who went in time out (!) but all were provided with good role models and shown the love of Jesus in direct and practical ways.

In the afternoon the team painted the last two classrooms; let’s say that none of them has a love for oil based paint. When you open their suitcases you’ll see why!
My afternoon was spent with the K-7th grade teachers in a math workshop. My theme was how to use the 5 senses to help kids learn concrete and even abstract concepts. They especially loved chocolate fractions and clothesline comparisons. Someone had donated 2 sets of base ten blocks and they loved the idea of modeling place value when adding and subtracting. (I know, math geek talk.)

Anyway, a good day and all are healthy. We are looking forward to a trip to the hot springs tomorrow. I know that the prayer coverage has been extensive and I cannot thank you enough. Prayers for travel mercies and continued health will be appreciated.

For Him from all,
Jan Llama

EMT Day 5

2009-06-22T05:47:00.000-07:00

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

It’s not that there were no photographic opportunities – those abound here. But from the moment we arrived at the school this morning Jackie and I were inundated with requests:

• We need more scissors.

• The TPR lesson went well; can we do the puzzles now?

• Can you show me how to access this website?

• Are there any bandaids?

• It’s Axel’s birthday; come sing and have cake.

• Will you drive with Jhonny and Pity to the store?

Before I knew it the teaching part of the day was over and it was time to paint. But I did manage a stop on the patio (playground) to round up my troops to start hauling the paint and brushed upstairs. Within seconds of entering the gate I felt 2 little arms around my legs, clinging. "Miss Jan, Miss Jan!" It was my sweet Rubi.

Rubi is 5 years old. She has been at the Love and Hope School since age 3. For her it is a sanctuary. She comes to school with bruises frequently and on some days her backpack has clothes for the next day because she is not sure if she can go home. At the school, she is learning that God, her heavenly father, will never hurt her but sent His son for her.

My husband and I have sponsored Rubi for 3 years through a program called Between Amigos. Our monthly donation of $45 covers her tuition, uniform, books, health care and 2 meals a day. Rubi’s sister Paola is sponsored by Drew Vincent, a recent Whitefield grad. In fact, many of the EMT members sponsor children.

At Whitefield’s Lower School Musical this past May, many families pledged to sponsor children from the Love and Hope School. This week we have the privilege of delivering cards and gifts to the children here from their sponsor families in Atlanta. For information, see the link to CVI on the EMT webpage (under Student Life.)

When we leave next Tuesday to come home, it will be bittersweet. I will get to see my boys, but I will miss my Rubi.

Thank you all for your support in prayer this week. Please lift up our last day of teaching and painting tomorrow. We have been blessed with little illness but are looking forward to a restful weekend. Monday will culminate our trip with a celebration at the school including popcorn and a movie, in English of course.

Mama Llama

EMT Day 4

2009-06-18T10:48:00.000-07:00

Teamwork

It is 10:30 and we just returned from dinner. So this will be brief tonight. If the email looks like this: jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj, it means I fell asleep at the computer.

The team is really clicking now in the classrooms. With the treasure trove of stuff we found in the supply closet, we have had lots of resources to use.

The painting today was brutal. They paint every wall with water based paint on the top half and oil based on the bottom. The paint is thinned to water to help it go farther. They do not use trays for the rollers, only buckets. So if you’ve ever painted you know what a hassle it is. But the kids are troopers and we’ve sort of got a system.

After returning to the apartment at 6, we washed up and headed to a really nice restaurant in north Quito called Pims.

I am hoping Chris makes it tomorrow but he’s flying standby so we’ll see.

No pics cause it's really late. All are healthy - keep praying!

Mama Llama

EMT Day 3

2009-06-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Treasures Abound

First, let me thank you all for the prayer coverage. Today went exceptionally well. No one is sick, although many are weary and a few homesick. Jimmy is feeling better but still a little below par.

I cannot begin to describe the difference today in the classrooms. The team was more confident, using a method called TPR (Total Physical Response) to convey the lessons. They are getting to know their students and their abilities. They are learning how to transition and how to keep the kids engaged. It’s pretty awesome. Mrs. T should get a round of applause at our debrief tonight.

My job today was to work with the principal, Karina, and see what resources were available on the web to help her write the math curriculum. I asked to look in the supply closet to see what they already had. UNBELIEVABLE. I found puzzles and games and manipulatives and rulers and protractors and scissors and crayons and on and on. Apparently the things that visiting groups had brought down were tucked away because nobody knew how to use them. I could have cried I was so excited.

The first thing I did was run to the store to buy plastic bins to organize it all. (Go ahead Chris; I know you are laughing at this.) Then Mrs. T helped hand out puzzles and games to the classrooms based on the lessons they were teaching, It was a godsend. This Friday I will be leading a workshop on math so all of this will be very helpful!

After a quick lunch we proceeded to phase 2 of our day. One group went with Mrs. T to teach English to the teachers. The feedback is amazing! My apologies to Andrew, Dmitri, Harris, and Katherine as I was not able to get to their room today for any photos.

The rest of the group took turns on playground duty or painting. We finished the 2 rooms we started yesterday and finished 2 more today. The classrooms look so much brighter but I have to think the teachers think we are crazy painting with only 2 weeks of school left.

Tonight we will resume in James and look at Chapter 1. Thank you for keeping up with us and please continue to pray.

Requests:
Healing for 1 sore throat and many sore muscles
Praises for success in the classroom today and our treasure closet
That the team would extend mercy to those kids who crave attention – so much abuse and violence in many of these homes. We can get annoyed when they ask for a ride on our shoulders for the thousandth time. Help us to do it 1001!

Again, thanks for the privilege of working with these amazing kids.

Mama Llama

EMT Day 2

2009-06-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

The First Day of School

In many years of teaching, I have never experienced a first day of school without butterflies in my stomach. I suppose that if that didn’t happen it would be time to retire.

Why is this? Partly it’s the call to teach. The responsibility is a heavy one; these children are in your care for the better part of the day. What if I mess up? What if I don’t explain something well? What if they don’t like me? WHAT IF I FAIL? This is why your children were nervous when we sent them into the classrooms today. They will learn about God’s sovereignty today…

We arrived at the school at 8:30 for the weekly chapel. Our team members were introduced and the kids sang for us. Muy precioso! Then the students were dismissed to their classrooms and we sent the teams off to their respective grades. It was like sending them off to kindergarten. I could tell there were jitters. These successful, accomplished upperclassmen were afraid of failing.

Jackie spent the morning rotating between the classes assuring and helping. My job is cheerleading – encouraging the “teachers” to change course if things don’t seem to be clicking. Have fun. Ham it up. Even now while I am typing in the office I can hear “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” from the floor below. We have to remind them that the children here don’t care if their teaching skills aren’t honed. They know how to speak English and the school children need to hear it spoken correctly. So no “Ya’ll”, no contractions, speak slowly, repeat.

It went well but we have adjustments to make. That’s true of my teaching every day–refining, tweaking, making your lessons fit the unique students in your class. Your children are learning; Mrs. T and I are very proud of them.

We then spent the afternoon painting, helping in a teacher workshop, or playing with the after school daycare kids. A long day! But an amazing devotional by Pancho and Pity after dinner energized us all and we are ready to give it another go tomorrow. (We didn’t get to James tonight but will continue tomorrow.)

Mama Llama

EMT Day 1

2009-06-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

Opening Doors

Let’s just say that our first few hours were not what I envisioned. Due to a burned out light on our plane, we were delayed in Miami over an hour and arrived in Quito after midnight. The immigration lines were the longest I’d ever seen. Many of the arriving flights’ passengers were wearing masks due to the Swine Flu scare. It was a little disconcerting and a little comical.
Pancho and Pity were there to greet us as well as our faithful driver Jhonny and the bus. Arriving the apartment at 2 a.m. we quickly lugged our bags up 4 flights of stairs then met briefly with Pancho and Pity to make introductions and give instructions. This is where the language barrier first caused us to stumble. He told us that one of the boys’ rooms did not have a key so not to close it. We assumed he meant not to lock it. But no, He really meant not to close it.

I had just finished brushing my teeth and was ready to crawl into bed. The girls were all asleep on the 2nd floor. I hear a slight knock and a quiet, “Mrs. LeCraw?” Years of parenting instincts tell me this cannot be good.

Harrison, Murphy, and Cole had shut their door to change for bed. They could not get out. We could not get in. We had closed the door.

With no tools accessible except a piece of rebar, we worked for over an hour to remove the knob. “How many ?? does it take to change a light bulb?” kept ringing in my head. Finally, out of sheer exhaustion I let George have his way. One quick kick and that baby was open. Naturally Drew was filming the whole episode so expect to see it at future wedding rehearsals and reunions. No need to say that we all fell quickly asleep.

Today was much better. We slept in and at 11 headed to the Equator where everyone got their first dose of cheap goodies and photo ops. We had an excellent lunch with an appetizer of cuy (guinea pig) which all newcomers had to try. Then we took a tour of the school where we will be working all week. The contrast of the small, ill-equipped classrooms to ours at Whitefield was a bit of a wake-up call for the new team members.

We rounded out our day with a yummy dinner of chicken breast, au gratin potatoes, and apple meringue cake. Pity’s aunt prepared dinner and it settled well. After dinner Mrs. Tolford briefed us on our teaching activities for tomorrow and we began our Bible study of James by having our drama members read it aloud.

How can you pray for us?

Read James Chapter 1 along with us and pray that the students are convicted by the exhortations.

Safety as we travel back and forth.

Continued good health. (Jimmy came here with infected tonsils and is running on low energy. Pray that the antibiotics he is on will clear it up.)

Pray that our students will be creative tomorrow as they play teacher. I sense they are a little anxious about whether they can be in a classroom for more than 55 minutes at a time, especially since they will be standing up front. One of the ways a missions trip brings us closer to God is it puts us out of our comfort zone and causes us to rely on him. This is “out of the zone” for your children.

Wisdom for Jackie Tolford and me. This is an incredible group but they are teenagers. (Thanks for trusting us with them.)

Jan LeCraw ( Mama Llama)