How time has flown!!

Week 19

9th- 15th Jan 2012

This week was our last 'normal' week at the school as next week the children have exams. It has been a fun week with the children at the school and at the compassion project. Yet again we are slowly realising what life is like for the average Ecuadorian person. I was suprised to find out that Elizabeth the English teacher at the school only earns $250 a month she informed me that her rent is $100 a month. Leaving her and her son $150 to live of for the entire month!! In sterling that is 100 pounds. Perhaps then it is not so surprising that so many of the teachers don't indulge in christmas presents as they don't have enough money. Culturally Ecuadorians dont tend to practice saving as the majority of people don't go away on lavish holidays and houses are more reasonably priced instead the general trend is that people spend everything they earn each month on living and getting by.

In school we played a lot of hangman this week with 4th and 5th Basica and enjoyed helping the younger children with their writing. During break time Robin had fun playing football and  Basketball with all the small children. They in turn had lots of fun climbing all over us, sitting on our laps pretending to ride a horse and requesting to be dangled upside down! Two little girls in particular enjoyed standing on the bench behind Robin and flicking his ears!  

We where working with the teenagers at the compassion project who rather unsprisingly acted like teenagers. Blowing up a condom like a balloon whilst one of the leaders chased him round the court trying to get it off him! They are a very friendly bunch of teenagers and invite us to play football or hang out and listen to their music with them.

On thursday we took the school assembly which is a devotional time. We where up the front singing songs with actions and Robin read out his testimony. One of the teachers then read out the father's love letter (a collection of verses from the bible) to the children and we where amazed to see that the children actually stopped chattering away and listened to what was being said. For those of you who may not know 'The Fathers Love Letter' here it is:

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

We are both really enjoying our time out here and love spending time with this children so it is sad to think that next week will be our last at the school! How time has flown.

Please pray for our continued health and safety and for the lives of the children at the school and compassion project. As our return to England grows more imminent please pray that we will find the return jobs upon our return. Please also pray for Carlos as his son plans to leave soon taking his family with him to Belgium, please pray he wont be to lonely without them.

Take a look at this weeks photos by clicking on this LINK.

Other highlights this week:
-Joel a 4yr old with a serious case of sticky hands syndrome. Always picking up anything he can get his hands on and claiming it as his own! I found him using the teachers stanley knife to try and sharpen a pencil!
-The class getting locked out of the classroom as the headmaster took the wrong set of keys.
- Sat on the floor with the class watching the Barbie movie. I had a little girl on my lap called Valeria who farted on my leg and stunk both Robin and I out!
-Going to the cinema to watch the new Sherlock Holmes film in English!!
-Realising just how long it takes to feed small children. Robin was trying to feed Junior and Caleb  who barely finished their food before the end of break!