Matthew 6: 19-21 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(From a newsletter on October 18, 2003)
A few weeks ago, Steve and I went with our ministry partner, Linda Freeman, to the village of Chorocopte to assist her in teaching the “Experiencing God” study to a group of adults. I noticed that the children were expected to just stay out of the way and be quiet, so afterwards I asked if they were able to attend Sunday School somewhere. The answer was that the nearest evangelical church was too far away, and that the family business prevented them from getting to services on Sunday. So, I asked if they would like for me to prepare something for the children while the adults were having their study. The adults got very excited and immediately thought of more children in the area that they wanted to include. So, last Thursday, I found six eager children waiting to see what the gringo lady, Hermana Connie, was going to do. No, I didn’t sing “A Spoonful of Sugar” or fly in with an umbrella, but I did have an enormous bag of “tricks.”
Here I am with my eager students working on coloring sheets about the day’s Bible story.
My Spanish teacher helped me practice reading the story of Noah’s ark from a children’s Bible. I found some coloring pages in English that I carefully translated into Spanish. I used boxes of fresh new crayons that volunteers had brought in, and I carried by CD player with songs to teach, such as “Cantare de Te amor para siempre” (“I will sing of Your love forever) and, just for good measure, I had “The Hokey Pokey” and “If You’re Happy and Your Know It” in English!! I even took antiseptic handwipes (bless their little hearts) and cookies! They were smiling and giggling the whole time, teaching ME lots of new Spanish words and asking the English names of all the crayons. Four of the children had never heard that Bible story before and seemed fascinated by all those animals and all of that rain. It was by far the most fun I’ve had since we got to Ecuador!! The story of Naaman and his leprosy will be next, and I’m going to prepare for 15 children — knowing that the news of the cookies is bound to bring them in. My earthly reward for this effort was having a big piece of fried cuy (guinea pig) piled on my plate of rice and potatoes that was served afterwards!
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