A few weeks ago we did our first follow-up visit with the people of Ortega. Back in July, Will and some guys distributed the tablets to the pastors and leaders of Ortega and Upala, and this was our first follow-up visit with them. They have two months to complete a class, so we visited them a month into it. We wanted to talk with them about the class they're studying, if they have questions, what have they learned, which part has impacted their lives the most, and if this material is applicable to them.
It was amazing.
We did not have our translator with us, so it was just Will and me talking with these people for about an hour. Will led the discussion and asked questions, and I listened and threw in my two cents every now and then. I enjoyed talking with the ladies when we arrived and trying to connect with them as much as possible. It's wild how you think the language barrier will be the only issue...the main issue I found was trying to find things to talk about! I mean, what do I have in common with these women? Not very much.
Just to give you an idea...Santa Cruz is the closest city to Ortega and it has about 45,000 people in it. From Santa Cruz, we turned down a dirt road and drove through the country for another hour. We had to dodge cows in the street, swampy roads and men on horseback the whole time. We don't have air conditioning in our car, so the dust and dirt just pours in our car windows as we're driving. So we're over an hour outside of the closest "town" and we come across this little church. When we get there we see about 12 people walking up from all different areas for our meeting about their first class on their tablet. The main concern of the people of Ortega is flooding during the rainy season...not that their houses will flood...but it's the issue of crocodiles that will float up and into their homes. Can you imagine?!?!
The weather is very hot and muggy there. Being so pregnant I was sweating to death, but oh well. There was another pregnant lady there about a month behind me and we swapped pregnancy stories. It was fun.
Okay back to the meeting...
The first class they are taking is called "Kingdoms, Covenants and the Canon of Old Testament". To hear them talk about all this material they have never heard before was awesome. Like how the Old and New Testament are connected together, how God is the same God today as he was then, and how being part of the covenant family is such a privilege. Most of them have never even completed middle school and are talking about such great theological truths. I am so honored to be a part of this!
Will leading discussion
It was amazing.
We did not have our translator with us, so it was just Will and me talking with these people for about an hour. Will led the discussion and asked questions, and I listened and threw in my two cents every now and then. I enjoyed talking with the ladies when we arrived and trying to connect with them as much as possible. It's wild how you think the language barrier will be the only issue...the main issue I found was trying to find things to talk about! I mean, what do I have in common with these women? Not very much.
Just to give you an idea...Santa Cruz is the closest city to Ortega and it has about 45,000 people in it. From Santa Cruz, we turned down a dirt road and drove through the country for another hour. We had to dodge cows in the street, swampy roads and men on horseback the whole time. We don't have air conditioning in our car, so the dust and dirt just pours in our car windows as we're driving. So we're over an hour outside of the closest "town" and we come across this little church. When we get there we see about 12 people walking up from all different areas for our meeting about their first class on their tablet. The main concern of the people of Ortega is flooding during the rainy season...not that their houses will flood...but it's the issue of crocodiles that will float up and into their homes. Can you imagine?!?!
The weather is very hot and muggy there. Being so pregnant I was sweating to death, but oh well. There was another pregnant lady there about a month behind me and we swapped pregnancy stories. It was fun.
Okay back to the meeting...
The first class they are taking is called "Kingdoms, Covenants and the Canon of Old Testament". To hear them talk about all this material they have never heard before was awesome. Like how the Old and New Testament are connected together, how God is the same God today as he was then, and how being part of the covenant family is such a privilege. Most of them have never even completed middle school and are talking about such great theological truths. I am so honored to be a part of this!
Will leading discussion
I guess I'm attempting to talk about something. I'm so thankful that I have a husband that wants us to be a huge part of this ministry as well. I decided that day that I can no longer take 5 hour bumpy trips out into the middle of nowhere until after Ally is born.
Emma and Jack brought a soccer ball to play with the kids and a bag of Oreos to share. That's all it takes to bond kids together. And they wanted to match and wear Angry Birds shirts that day.
They did an awesome job jumping in, playing, and using their Spanish
I was so proud of both of them...I hope they always remember these times
Those little girls loved Emma
Group picture in front of the church
No comments:
Post a Comment