If you are keeping up with this blog on a regular basis, I am sure you noticed that I did not get last night’s post actually posted until this morning. Machala is not the high tech capital of the world, and I am no techno-genius, which results in a deadly combination. However, we are back in Quito tonight and hopefully all will go well from here on.
This was a memorable Lord’s Day from the very beginning. The worship service and Bible study time was to begin at 9:30, which we have learned is “9:30-ish”. Our group arrived on time, but nothing actually happened until almost 10:30. The Christians in Machala meet under a free-standing metal roof in the Davila’s yard. Olen counted those present when the Bible classes started, and there were 73 people and two very docile dogs. Several people joined our group after the classes began.
There were two classes for children. Both of these groups meet in rooms in the Davila’s house. Ingrid taught the youngest children, with the help of some of our young girls. Children and their mothers are the same the world over. One small child turned over in his chair and had to be comforted by the teacher. Mothers of the youngest children tippy-toed out of the room while children were not looking and were distracted so that they didn’t know that their mother was leaving.
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The other girls in our group helped Ruth teach the older children.
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Vicki taught a class for the ladies with emphasis on teaching children truths from the Bible and discipline of children. The twenty-two ladies had never attended a class for ladies only, and never had a woman teach them in a class setting. They listened carefully, took notes, looked up scriptures, made comments and asked questions. There was no separate place in the small yard for them to meet, so they just sat in a circle behind the men and faced the opposite direction.
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Jim taught the men’s class, with Gary translating. If you look closely you will notice that Jim’s lesson put the dogs to sleep. From what we could see, the men in the class stayed awake.
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During the worship hour Tim delivered the lesson of the hour emphasizing how the church needs Godly leadership. Again, Gary translated Tim’s lesson into the Spanish. It was a wonderful hour of songs, prayers, communion and study of God’s word.
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After the worship time, the Davilas and other members prepared lunch for all of us…our group plus everyone who was at the worship service. What an effort! They brought out huge propane burners and cooked fresh fish and shrimp. The dinner was wonderful, but I will have to admit I have never seen that many shrimp in my entire life. Nellie manned the fish-frying, and did a great job.
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We spent a casual afternoon visiting with the brethren. The young people gravitated to one table and pulled out their playing cards. With help from a translator they explained the game of “Spoons” to the Ecuadorian teenagers, and after the initial explanation there was no problem with language or cultural differences. They laughed so loud that the neighbors must have wondered what was going on.
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While the younger group was playing Spoons, several of the adults began to ask Tim Bible questions, and he had the opportunity to lead an impromptu class on the teaching of the Bible on the subject of marriage. Vicki translated for Tim.
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Gary translated while Olen and Elias met to discuss the progress of the congregation and their needs. Lucy and Shirley had a nice visit with Nellie while Jaime translated, and they also visited with Ines (shown in the photo).
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We stayed there all day. At about 5:30 the bus came to take us to the airport to catch our flight back to Quito. Everyone who was still at the Davila’s house got on the bus with us, so about thirty of us rode to Santa Rosa together to give us a few minutes more of visiting.
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Once we arrived at the airport, Guillermo brought out his guitar and serenaded the girls. He and Mckenna teamed up to sing one last song, which was very sweet.
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All good things must come to an end, and by 7:30 there were hugs and tearful good-byes as we had to leave to go through the security checkpoint and board the plane. What a wonderful day of worship and precious time spent with fellow Christians! We hope your day of worship was equally special, and that your spare time was spent making memories with those who are dear to you.
This was a memorable Lord’s Day from the very beginning. The worship service and Bible study time was to begin at 9:30, which we have learned is “9:30-ish”. Our group arrived on time, but nothing actually happened until almost 10:30. The Christians in Machala meet under a free-standing metal roof in the Davila’s yard. Olen counted those present when the Bible classes started, and there were 73 people and two very docile dogs. Several people joined our group after the classes began.
There were two classes for children. Both of these groups meet in rooms in the Davila’s house. Ingrid taught the youngest children, with the help of some of our young girls. Children and their mothers are the same the world over. One small child turned over in his chair and had to be comforted by the teacher. Mothers of the youngest children tippy-toed out of the room while children were not looking and were distracted so that they didn’t know that their mother was leaving.
The other girls in our group helped Ruth teach the older children.
Vicki taught a class for the ladies with emphasis on teaching children truths from the Bible and discipline of children. The twenty-two ladies had never attended a class for ladies only, and never had a woman teach them in a class setting. They listened carefully, took notes, looked up scriptures, made comments and asked questions. There was no separate place in the small yard for them to meet, so they just sat in a circle behind the men and faced the opposite direction.
Jim taught the men’s class, with Gary translating. If you look closely you will notice that Jim’s lesson put the dogs to sleep. From what we could see, the men in the class stayed awake.
During the worship hour Tim delivered the lesson of the hour emphasizing how the church needs Godly leadership. Again, Gary translated Tim’s lesson into the Spanish. It was a wonderful hour of songs, prayers, communion and study of God’s word.
We spent a casual afternoon visiting with the brethren. The young people gravitated to one table and pulled out their playing cards. With help from a translator they explained the game of “Spoons” to the Ecuadorian teenagers, and after the initial explanation there was no problem with language or cultural differences. They laughed so loud that the neighbors must have wondered what was going on.
While the younger group was playing Spoons, several of the adults began to ask Tim Bible questions, and he had the opportunity to lead an impromptu class on the teaching of the Bible on the subject of marriage. Vicki translated for Tim.
Gary translated while Olen and Elias met to discuss the progress of the congregation and their needs. Lucy and Shirley had a nice visit with Nellie while Jaime translated, and they also visited with Ines (shown in the photo).
We stayed there all day. At about 5:30 the bus came to take us to the airport to catch our flight back to Quito. Everyone who was still at the Davila’s house got on the bus with us, so about thirty of us rode to Santa Rosa together to give us a few minutes more of visiting.
Once we arrived at the airport, Guillermo brought out his guitar and serenaded the girls. He and Mckenna teamed up to sing one last song, which was very sweet.
All good things must come to an end, and by 7:30 there were hugs and tearful good-byes as we had to leave to go through the security checkpoint and board the plane. What a wonderful day of worship and precious time spent with fellow Christians! We hope your day of worship was equally special, and that your spare time was spent making memories with those who are dear to you.
A truly wonderful day :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this wonderful journey with us. It has been truly uplifting. I wish I could have been with you. Praying for your safe return!
ReplyDelete