Missionary Spotlight: MK

 Ministry Spotlight: MK

The end of the school year is approaching and the MK's (Missionary Kids) are excited about summer. I have been teaching them art this past school year. Every Wednesday from 11:30-12:15ish, we get out the art supplies and have some fun.








We have done all sorts of projects, some that worked well and others not so well. But we have all learned and have had fun. We had done some things with shading, perspective, color, worshiping God through art, some 3-D projects, and currently we are making mosaics out of broken pieces of tile found around town. Here is one that we did as a group, each student got a part of this larger picture and had to draw and then color it in. The plan is to have it framed and hang it up at El Sendero (at The Way Coffee shop). http://elsenderocafe.wordpress.com/


The kids have been a delight to teach. I am looking forward to next year teaching them again! Several of them are going back to the US this summer for the upcoming year. It will be sad to see them leave, but that is the life of a missionary kid.

Lunch with Daisy

I went out for lunch today with a friend who had hinted that she was having a rough time. So we went out to eat. She started to share what was on her heart and mind. She is the type of person you don't have to pry to find out what is happening once she opens up it just all comes out. I was able to encourage her with some verses, parts of my testimony, suggestions and ideas. She said, "I had never thought of what was going on from that perspective." The conclusion of our time together was that we are going to start doing Bible study together once a week. Her heart is wounded and my prayer is through the Word of God she will see who it is she needs to trust, who can come to her aid.

Easter egg hunt, initiative, and funny tourists

Ministry Tid Bits

On Friday we celebrated Christ's last week of ministry with an Easter egg hunt, kids praying to receive Christ, songs, and of course sharing about Jesus sacrifice for us on the cross. Then Easter Sunday since we had some of the same kids. We did swords drills of reading different verses about Jesus' sacrifice then they decorated card board crosses where they wrote "Cristo Vive" (Christ lives). And when we were going back inside I told the kids in my Spanglish "Vamos adentro quietito." (Let's go in quietly). Haha.

God Teaching Me 

I walked as quickly as I could to get to the Claro Service Office (the cell phone company) to figure out how to get my phone working again. It hadn’t been calling or receiving calls for three days. So I quickly got in line and stood there for about 20 min. During that time the line advanced maybe about 5 people. With the change of perspective I noticed that there were two different lines parallel to each other, not everyone was standing in the same line like I originally thought. I looked about to see if there were signs to show what the two lines were for, none were to be seen. I had been watching the guard as he wandered around with a bored look on his face. Finally, I asked him which line I needed to be in and of course I was in the incorrect one. So I pushed my way between the two lines to get to the one I was supposed to be in. That line was shorter, much to my relief. I was standing behind only about five people instead of 15. When others heard what the guard told me and saw me change lines about six other people who were standing in the original line that I was in realized that they too had been standing in the wrong line. I realized that if I had taken the initiative to ask sooner, I would have spent even less time in line. But it was because I eventually took the initiative to ask, many others learned where they needed to be. I also noticed that if the guard who was bored, really wanted to do something more that look imposing and stand at the door passing back and forth he could help the customers get into the correct lines from the beginning.

That was a little thing that I took the initiative in, even though it took me waiting in line for 20 minutes before I did. It makes me wonder how many things are around me that if I just took the initiative my life would be different. If I took the initiative how would it impact the lives of those around me? If I took the initiative to stand boldly what would it look like?

I am deciding today with God’s help to take initiative- of course as He leads. What about you?

Daily Life

 One of the favorite pastimes of my sisters and me growing up in Mexico was to go downtown and watch the funny things the tourists did. Well today I saw something that a couple of tourists were doing that was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I was crossing one of the busiest corners in town and at the stop light I saw scarves being waved through the air. When I got closer, to my surprise there was a couple of hippies with dreadlocks, carpet bag, huge backpack and all begging to coins. (I wish I could have gotten a picture to post.)

Ministry Tid Bits
This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to do a three hour training at Semilla de Mostaza (Mustard Seed Church). I actually finished ten minutes early, that rarely happens, so I gave the 15 ladies who came to share something that they had learned. Here are some of their responses:
- "I was reminded how important it is to use God's Word as the main source of my inspiration."
- "I had never thought how we can actually help train the parents to teach their kids God's Word at home."
- "We have gotten so technologically inclined that it was nice to see songs written on poster board, I think I am going to do that once and a while."
- "I needed to be reminded how much value and importance God puts on my ministry."
I gave each one that shared a sticker (and they loved it).

It was blessing to be there with them. I learned things as well. I learned that I like finishing a little early so that I can get some direct and immediate feedback.

This week I have had the opportunity to meet with a couple different missionaries and talk about children's ministry. They gave me ideas, suggestions and most of all we prayed together. It has been wonderful to have their support and help in the ministry that God has called me to.

Daily Life
My kittens have grown big, yet they still act like kittens. One of their favorite things is in the evenings when I sit to read a book, watch a movie or listen to a story and play games on my computer, they both want to curl up on my lap. It is had to have 2 grown cats sitting on your lap.  Here is what happens on a daily basis.

> Oreo likes to push the Tiger off one side.
> Tiger will sit on the head of Oreo so that Oreo will move and Tiger can take his spot
> Oreo will bite Tiger's ears and pester him till he moves over a little bit.
> Tiger will bite Oreo's tail till Oreo cries out in protest.

Meanwhile I am trying to relax, watch the movie, enjoy my book. It is hard to do, but eventually they settle down and will sleep curled on top of each other for about 2 hours if I let them.

My kitties, finally settled down to sleep (here in my suitcase)

Highlights

* I had a beautiful time of prayer with my friend Maria
* I have nearly finished a little lap quilt (that was started at a retreat)
* Sammy (a year and a half year old MK- missionary kid) gave me sticky hugs and slobbery kisses
* We had 3 sunny days in a row

My Quilt almost finished

Evangelistic Outreach

We had our kids evangelistic outreach yesterday afternoon.

After 2 hours of blowing up and twisting balloons into animals, baking 4 cakes (I only baked 1, others from the church did the others), taking all the furniture out of the living and dining room to set up over 100 chairs, after much prayer- the time came for the party to start.

The kids filled up the living room and we stuck the adults on the dinning room. Instead of putting lots of words I will put up some pictures.

And I will send out an email to everyone this week, to tell some specific stories.

Kid's wating for the party to begin

After hearing the plan of salvation and how God can give us the best gift they got their Operation Christmas boxes

Party Time

We are working on getting things ready for a HUGE evangelistic party for the kids in the neighborhood.

WHEN: This Saturday from 3-6pm

WHERE: In Loja, our neighborhood

FOR WHOM: we had the kids from Adventure Corner (kids club) invite their friends and families who have never been to church.

HOW MANY WILL COME: We are expecting between 65-80 kids (maybe even up to 90 or 100), plus parents of some of the kids.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Pulpin the clown will be welcoming the kids, and they will be learning 5 things that God cannot do (1- God cannot lie, 2- God cannot let sin in heaven  3- God cannot help but love those he has made, 4-God cannot let sin go unpunished, 5-There is no person God cannot give salvation to a repentant heart), drama, songs, prizes, and much more

WHAT CAN YOU DO: Pray

WHAT YOU WILL GET NEXT WEEK: Lots of pictures of the event and stories of God at work

Trip to the jungle

Sitting in the bus rocking back and worth and the curves go left and then right. Around the next corner is a beautiful waterfall right next to the highway. I sit there half asleep on the bus as I think about my time in the jungle.

I went to teach some children's ministry ladies. About 12 ladies arrived from outlining communities up next to rivers, on the sides on mountains, all hidden away from the sight of most people. We talked about how to teach Bible verses and the importance of teaching God's word to the kids, but to first learn it for ourselves so we can more effectively teach kids.

Each teacher gave a quick report sharing about their ministry. One lady talked about how she and the other teacher are some of the only Christians in town and how they are reaching out to 20 kids each week. Another said that they have nearly 50 kids that come each week and how it is a challenge to teach them all by herself. Another told how most of the kids she teaches come from families that are believers. I started adding up the total as the different teachers gave their reports. It came to about 180 kids these ladies are reaching without a whole lot of support, materials. Their main prayer request was that God would continue to provide a couple of dollars each week to be able to make copies for the kids.

One lady asked me if I would come sometime and stay for a week. Teach them on the weekend, then go and visit each of them in their towns to see their ministry and then the next weekend teach them another class. I like the idea and might do that this coming summer when some other things settle down.

Over all it was a blessing.

Me trying on one of their hats- it is hard, and each person's hat has spots on it in different patterns to remember whose is whose.

The teachers listening carefully