Monday, April 7, 2014

New jobs and new ministries

Here's an update on everything from school - to youth - to Casa Hogar - to my new found talent as an actress...

Starting with the school…
Classes at Colegio San Lucas started back up again at the beginning of March.  It was a crazy several weeks getting back into the swing of things and taking on some new responsibilities.  

The first two weeks of school Kym and I were THE English teachers, not just helpers.  With no books, curriculum or material we pulled together lesson plans and began teaching the primary grades.  Then after those couple of weeks a teacher was hired.  After a big meeting to discuss the whole English program (the Director, the English teachers, and Kym and I) we made some changes that we think will benefit everyone - students and teachers.

So, I am now teaching English in the secondary grades (equivalent to our 8th - 12th grades).  The teacher that had been teaching these grades wears many many hats in the school and is stretched incredibly thin.  This is allowing him a little bit of a break, and also giving me some more responsibilities.  The secondary grades do not have as many hours of English class each week, which allows me to lend a hand in the library when Kym needs help, and in the primary classes (as I was doing last year). 


Yes, we are working with the basics right now & please ignore the face I am making... 



So that's the update on the school! Now for the youth…

I mentioned previously that I have begun helping out with the "grupo de jovenes" (youth group) at Iglesia San Lucas.  It's been really awesome to see all the hard work the leaders are putting in striving to grow and improve their ministry.  And it's paying off - the group has grown, and each Saturday when we meet it's more and more fun!  I can't explain how grateful I am that this group has welcomed me in, made me a part of everything, and given me the opportunity to help out.  


And now Casa Hogar…

Several of the older girls have asked me lots of questions since I've been here about boys.  And it got me to thinking - these girls don't really have anyone to talk to about any of the issues that teenage girls face. I don't just mean boys... I mean everything from leaving home and going into the world, choosing a career, choosing a good group of girlfriends, what to look for in a future husband,  starting a family, being a daughter of our King, and being a woman of God. So, I asked Kym, Padre Daniel and SeƱor Pedro (the director of the home) if I could start a small group with the older girls at the house.  They all were very encouraging of the idea.  Now on Saturdays when Kym and I go to Casa Hogar to do Bible studies, I break off with the older girls and we have our own Bible study.  We have had 2 thus far, and man is it a challenge!  It's hard enough leading my first Bible study, much less in Spanish! But the girls seem to understand me, they seem to like it, and I'm hopeful for the months ahead. 


And now the one you have all been waiting to hear about, my new found talent as an actress…

We had a service for the World Day of Prayer at both of our churches here in Arequipa.  This year we prayed for Egypt, and the group of us putting on the service dressed up as Egyptians from different time periods - ancient Egypt up to modern day.  Well I love to dress up (my friends and family who really know me are shaking their heads in agreement), so I jumped at the opportunity to dress up as the ancient Egyptian.  I even found a black wig for $6 because I didn't think a blonde Egyptian would quite cut it.  All or nothing, right?  The service went well! We read the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman from John 4,  prayed for the country of Egypt, and did a short time of self-reflection.  
Rehearsing the week before



And lastly I have some prayer requests!

1. Colegio San Lucas: for the teachers, students, and parents.
2. The youth group at Iglesia San Lucas: for the leaders, youth, and its continued growth
3. My ministry with the older girls leading the Bible study at Casa Hogar


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