Last days in Ecuador

Saturday the team spent the morning at the middle of the world museum and activity center. They enjoyed seeing replicas of indigenous houses and learning about strange traditions, head shrinking!
On the actual line that represented the equator our guide did many interesting experiments. We learned that we weigh less on the equator! Some of the students were able to stand an egg straight up on a nail.

Trying to do the egg challenge 

Group at center of the world.

In the afternoon on Saturday we went to an indigenous market to purchase gifts for family and friends.

Today is Esater Sunday and the last day in Ecuador. The students participated in one last church service. Reagan gave her testimony all in Spanish and a few did the candle drama. This drama shows that the unity of Christians is stronger than Satan. The drama was followed by Dylan giving his testimony. Robbie then preached all in Spanish (as a Spanish teacher I was so proud!)

The team will be flying back to California tonight please pray for safe travel. This was a life changing  experience for all and we hope the trip continues next year!

Back in Quito

Thursday we did our last VBS together as a team. It was great. About 50 children came to an open court where we did our program. We then played with the kids for a couple of hours. Below are some pictures.

Friday we left Ninawachi and after saying goodbye headed to a place called Shandia and Pano.

In Pano we saw where Mrs. Kadle had lived as a child. We were able to go into the house her Dad built. We headed about 10 min down the road and walked into the jungle where we saw the house that Elizabeth Elliot used to live. It was very amazing realizing that Jim and Elizabeth Elliot had walked where we were walking.

Our last stop before Quito was at a zoo with rescued animals. Here we took a group photo.

Tomorrow Saturday we will going to the equator and to a artisan market. Sunday will be our last church service that we will participate in. 

Last day in the jungle

Today is our last full day in the jungle, we can't believe how fast the week has gone. Yesterday we celebrated Alex's Birthday with an amazing lunch followed by cake. One tradition here is to stand up and say something about the person celebrating a birthday. I believe it was a very memorable birthday for Alex and we were happy to celebrate another year of his life.

 

We had an amazing afternoon yesterday accompanying the seminary students as they did ministry. Some of our students played sports, gave testimonies, did crafts or just listened while people shared. It was more intimate then the big VBS programs we have been doing the past couple of days. It also gave our TKA students a taste of what the seminary students do on their Wednesday ministry days.

After dinner and a few testimonies we watched the documentary Beyond the Gates of Splendor. We were reminded once again of the faith of the 5 men who sacrificed their lives to bring Jesus to the Wowrani tribe. Tomorrow we will be visiting Shandia where Elizabeth Elliot lived.

This afternoon we are doing one last VBS as a whole group. Pray that we effectively share Jesus while we love on these children. We will also being saying goodbye to our friends here in Ninawachi tonight. Pray for travel mercies as we drive to Quito tomorrow. We will arrive late in the evening and spend Saturday and Sunday at a hostel.

Tuesday in the jungle

Tuesday morning we met again at 7 am in the prayer hut for devotions. The weather cooperated and we were able to do construction. Some were leveling ground for future class rooms. Others dug trenches to lay pipes for a site which will soon be housing for married students or staff.

After lunch we divided into 2 groups and did our VBS in different villages. We shared what Jesus had done for them and helped them make bracelets with colored beads to remind them of the Easter story. Our TKA students enjoyed playing with the children all afternoon. I am sure this will be a day not easily forgotten by all.

Today Wednesday we continue to help with construction projects and in the afternoon we are going out in smaller groups. The seminary students use Wednesday's as a day of ministry so we are accompanying them. Some TKA students will go back to villages they did VBS in and others will do visitation or discipleship.

Monday at VBS

Monday while in the prayer hut having devotions it began to rain. The rain continued all morning and we were not able to do construction as planned. In the afternoon we went to two different villages and did a VBS. At first the children were shy but then warmed up to us. At one village we had about 55 children and at the other we had around 25. We sang songs, did dramas, showed puppets and magic tricks. Robbie and Reagan shared the Easter story in Spanish. One used flannel graph and the other a picture book. In both villages children responded to the gospel and prayed to accept Jesus. In both places students from Ninawachi are working, so these children will be looked after.

Rainy morning

Brooke and Tirzah helping in the kitchen

Children listening to our VBS

Chris using magic to share the gospel

Praying to receive Jesus

Robbie sharing the Easter story with the help of Brooke and Darren

Coloring with the children

Hannah making sure everyone had crayons

Ian doing a drama

Darren assisting in the craft

Tirzah watching the little girl color

Playing games

Children praying to accept Jesus

Watching the VBS program

The puppets are always a big hit