We will attempt to include panoramic pictures taken from the school. The school sets on a small mountain and from there the view is spectacular.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Education For Us
Today was another learning day at school. Not for the students; for us. School government and school planning is not what we are use to in the States. Several examples follow.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
First Day of Work
The banquet went well last night. Was most interesting to see the entire staff. About 25 people counting some assistant pastors from the church attended. The teacher of English was assigned to sit by me and translate for the evening. His English was really very good. Things were normal and calm until a cat from under the table scratched Mary Jane´s legs. A little jumping around and pushing back from the table ensued. We still don´t know why Mary Jane was selected by the cat twice for this treatment.
The approximation of time is beginning to be the expected. We were to be at work at 8:00 this morning. We arrived at a little past the hour only to find the gate locked. We held an English language instruction session on the bus with about four teachers for 30 minutes. Someone discovered you could lift the security fence and crawl through. A memorable first day entry to the place of work.
The teaching staff and the bus driver all apear very interested in learning English. We had several impromptu sessions of instruction throughout the day. We are impressed with the warm welcome in general we are receiving.
We spent much of the day (which ended at 1:30) looking through the British English text materials. I just can´t imagine how these materials work in actual practice. We want to be surprised that they work well.
We discovered that all the books shipped from Iowa and Florida have arrived. Now we have an interesting situation in that anything beyond the text book is considered än extra¨. The writing of a scope and sequence curriculum which is taught with whatever assists in meeting the goals of the curriculum is a new idea. We will work on this idea.
The approximation of time is beginning to be the expected. We were to be at work at 8:00 this morning. We arrived at a little past the hour only to find the gate locked. We held an English language instruction session on the bus with about four teachers for 30 minutes. Someone discovered you could lift the security fence and crawl through. A memorable first day entry to the place of work.
The teaching staff and the bus driver all apear very interested in learning English. We had several impromptu sessions of instruction throughout the day. We are impressed with the warm welcome in general we are receiving.
We spent much of the day (which ended at 1:30) looking through the British English text materials. I just can´t imagine how these materials work in actual practice. We want to be surprised that they work well.
We discovered that all the books shipped from Iowa and Florida have arrived. Now we have an interesting situation in that anything beyond the text book is considered än extra¨. The writing of a scope and sequence curriculum which is taught with whatever assists in meeting the goals of the curriculum is a new idea. We will work on this idea.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Touring Puyo & Shell
On Monday we did some basic shopping in Puyo. We were treated to a great tour of the area by assistance pastor Tomas and his wife. Actually his wife, Gladys, extended the tour throughout the afternoon.
We visited the MFA (mission flying service) hangers. This operation continues to be very large serving the remote villages of this region. While there is regular service to about 25 locations, I was told there are some 170 landing areas served. A major purpose of this flying service is to keep remote villages in conctact with medical services provided in Shell.
The hospital in Shell continues to be very busy. There are beds available, but a major service is to serve outpatients. The waiting room was full. As I walked through the lobby, someone shouted my name. I was sure that no one here could possibly know me and so I quickly concluded it was the voice of God. To my disappointment (I think), it was Craig with whom we had shared the van ride from Quito to Puyo two days prior. He was supervising his two daughters who were taking a series of rabie shots.
We also visited the church camp where we had spent two 2 week periods of service in January of 05 and 07. Was great to see camp managers Carmelo and his wife Maria again.
Also had a chance to visit two local resorts. One was a type of spa and injured wildlife refuge. They had a lot of facilities for a relaxing day. We also visited a fancy pool and resort in Puyo. We had no idea the town had these upscale facilities.
Last night the electrcity went off about 7:30 and remained off for several hours. It was early to bed last night. It began raining shortly after and it rained all night until about 7:00 this morning. I wouldn´t say we had a lot of rain but I saw several ducks walking around with snorkles. I knew that with two previous rain free days, we would pay for it sooner or later.
Tonight we are off to the ¨back to school¨banquet at a nice resturant. I think this is also a ¨meet the American creatures¨night. More later.
We do recieve email at our regular address if you have ¨personal¨responses to make.
We visited the MFA (mission flying service) hangers. This operation continues to be very large serving the remote villages of this region. While there is regular service to about 25 locations, I was told there are some 170 landing areas served. A major purpose of this flying service is to keep remote villages in conctact with medical services provided in Shell.
The hospital in Shell continues to be very busy. There are beds available, but a major service is to serve outpatients. The waiting room was full. As I walked through the lobby, someone shouted my name. I was sure that no one here could possibly know me and so I quickly concluded it was the voice of God. To my disappointment (I think), it was Craig with whom we had shared the van ride from Quito to Puyo two days prior. He was supervising his two daughters who were taking a series of rabie shots.
We also visited the church camp where we had spent two 2 week periods of service in January of 05 and 07. Was great to see camp managers Carmelo and his wife Maria again.
Also had a chance to visit two local resorts. One was a type of spa and injured wildlife refuge. They had a lot of facilities for a relaxing day. We also visited a fancy pool and resort in Puyo. We had no idea the town had these upscale facilities.
Last night the electrcity went off about 7:30 and remained off for several hours. It was early to bed last night. It began raining shortly after and it rained all night until about 7:00 this morning. I wouldn´t say we had a lot of rain but I saw several ducks walking around with snorkles. I knew that with two previous rain free days, we would pay for it sooner or later.
Tonight we are off to the ¨back to school¨banquet at a nice resturant. I think this is also a ¨meet the American creatures¨night. More later.
We do recieve email at our regular address if you have ¨personal¨responses to make.
Monday, August 27, 2007
First Church Service
Life is not boring. Sunday morning at 8:20 the pastor showed up at our door and asked if we could be ready for church in 10 minutes. (No previous warning) He wanted to present us to the congregation. We hadn´t showered and we looked like we had just gotten out of bed. NOT FIT FOR PRESENTATION TO ANYBODY!!! He said he would be back in 15 minutes. We did ¨the flight of the bumble bee¨ and were ready when an assistant pastor returned.
Mission emphasis is strong in this church. We were playing a role that we were not use to. A lengthy explanation of the importance of English for students, and assistant pastors was given. (A translator, a pilot from MFA flying service, was standing behind us to give us the word in English) My first sentence was in Spanish stating I was sorry I didn´t speak Spanish. He translated the sentence into English. Got a good reaction from the congregation. The pastor invited the entire congregation (300 in this service) to be sure and visit us. He then gave everyone our address. Not sure what to expect!! We have coffee and cookies ready. He also encouraged the congregation to invite us to their home for a meal. WE came down here to lose weight!
A local family was also presented. They plan to go to Morocco in a year as missionaries. The dynamics of this congregation is one of getting things done with congregational support. This is a dynamic we are not use to. The service itself was also dynamic from the singing to the sermon. Even though we could not understand the words, the atmosphere spoke for itself!
We were officially welcomed with a lunch with the senior pastor and an assistant pastor and wives present. The assistant pastor and wife took us on a tour of the school and other things during the afternoon. The final word was we would begoing to work this morning. A call at 7:30 this morning cancelled the work because the school is still on vacation.
Next entry will cover our tour today.
Mission emphasis is strong in this church. We were playing a role that we were not use to. A lengthy explanation of the importance of English for students, and assistant pastors was given. (A translator, a pilot from MFA flying service, was standing behind us to give us the word in English) My first sentence was in Spanish stating I was sorry I didn´t speak Spanish. He translated the sentence into English. Got a good reaction from the congregation. The pastor invited the entire congregation (300 in this service) to be sure and visit us. He then gave everyone our address. Not sure what to expect!! We have coffee and cookies ready. He also encouraged the congregation to invite us to their home for a meal. WE came down here to lose weight!
A local family was also presented. They plan to go to Morocco in a year as missionaries. The dynamics of this congregation is one of getting things done with congregational support. This is a dynamic we are not use to. The service itself was also dynamic from the singing to the sermon. Even though we could not understand the words, the atmosphere spoke for itself!
We were officially welcomed with a lunch with the senior pastor and an assistant pastor and wives present. The assistant pastor and wife took us on a tour of the school and other things during the afternoon. The final word was we would begoing to work this morning. A call at 7:30 this morning cancelled the work because the school is still on vacation.
Next entry will cover our tour today.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Quito to Puyo
Yesterday we spent most of the day making the trip to Puyo. We had some time in the morning to rest and then finally at about 3;00 PM we set out for the long trip to Puyo. Two people, an assistant pastor and the director of the school, rode a bus five hours to meet us. We also rode in a van with Craig, a younger man with a family in Shell. (Near Puyo. He and his family of wife and four daughters are managing the construction of an orphanage for handicapped children of the rainforest tribes. What a project!
We stop in Ambato at a large mall including a supermarket to shop a bit. We purchased basic groceries since we were informed we would be living in a small apartment about an hour earlier. The last hour of travel through the mountains was more hectic than we remebered because of some major landslides which had taken place since January. The were a number of places where the drop off down the mountain would have benn disasterous. Darkness helped us avoid the full picture, but the driver had his share of vision problems as fog began to roll in. We arrived safely around 10:00 PM to our new home.
The apartment is about 600 sq. ft. Small but clean and quiet as it is located at the back of a compound that is gated and walled. We feel very safe. We have a new frig and stove and a good bed! What more do you need?
In the next posting we will describe the church service today.
We stop in Ambato at a large mall including a supermarket to shop a bit. We purchased basic groceries since we were informed we would be living in a small apartment about an hour earlier. The last hour of travel through the mountains was more hectic than we remebered because of some major landslides which had taken place since January. The were a number of places where the drop off down the mountain would have benn disasterous. Darkness helped us avoid the full picture, but the driver had his share of vision problems as fog began to roll in. We arrived safely around 10:00 PM to our new home.
The apartment is about 600 sq. ft. Small but clean and quiet as it is located at the back of a compound that is gated and walled. We feel very safe. We have a new frig and stove and a good bed! What more do you need?
In the next posting we will describe the church service today.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Greetings From Quito
It was an eventful flight here through Bogata. Things went well until we were to leave Bogata, Columbia. Quito was fogged in and so they finally took as to a hotel in downtown Bogata at about midnight. A fine five star hotel it was! We left for the airport at 4:00 AM. In spite of the long night, we are pleased with the great service of Avianca Airlines (Columbian). Meals were great and service was outstanding. We arrived in Quito about 8:30 AM. Checking in to the country went well. We did not have to stop at customs here. Had another breakfast here at the guest house.
We met people staying here who knew some people we knew in Bahrain. Small world!!!
Today we will head to Puyo by car. We anticipate leaving about noon and will arrive by evening if all goes well.
We met people staying here who knew some people we knew in Bahrain. Small world!!!
Today we will head to Puyo by car. We anticipate leaving about noon and will arrive by evening if all goes well.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Volunteer Visa Acquired
A fourteen hour trip from North Port to Miami resulted in a visa for our stay in Ecuador. Predictability as to what is needed for a visa is not as high as the 13 requirements listed on the Ecuador web site would suggest. By taking along most everything we could think of, the mission was successful.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
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