Christmas in Macas!

Since December has arrived, I've been trying to listen to Christmas music, but I'm having a hard time adjusting to Christmas music in 85 degree weather! It just doesn't feel like Christmas! Never-the-less, we've been in full swing at school preparing for this special holiday and also getting ready for exams!

We have two more days of school this week, and then exams begin on Wednesday! Last week was pretty crazy with late nights at school, grading papers, Christmas parties, getting grades in the system, and preparing for our Christmas Program on the 22nd, but the end is in sight!



We transformed our Thanksgiving Tree into a Christmas Tree!





Celebrated a few staff members' birthdays...





Some of my 3rd grade students!













And the 2nd graders!












My precious class practicing our song for the Christmas program!





Working on their nativity scene! We were able to talk about the REAL meaning of Christmas, beyond the lights, trees, presents, and Santa Claus. When our Savior was born on Earth in a manger! He is a KING! Why did He come to earth as a baby in a manger? Because He loved us so much and wanted to save us from a life without Him.

He loves us more than we could ever imagine! He wants to be our "Mejor Amigo" every day and for us to love Him with all our hearts!

I pray these students heard The Lord speaking to their hearts of this beautiful story of our Great Savior who loves them more than any one else ever will!



I asked some of the kids to tell me why Jesus was important to them...





Thank you for your prayers for these students and families as we ALL learn more about Jesus' Great Love for us this Christmas Season!



All for His Kingdom,

Laurita

Thanksgiving Wrap up!

Sorry again for the late Thanksgiving day posts!! Thanks to my tech-support amiga Leah, I can finally upload pictures easily!

These are some pictures from a school project that all the students were involved in! Our arbol del Día de acción de Gracias!







Teacher Miryam's High school English class!















All the students wrote what they were thankful for on a leaf and then colored them for our Thanksgiving Tree! It was a beautiful reminder of how much we have to be thankful for!

Think I'm finished with Thanksgiving and can move on into December now!

Pray for our students as we are teaching about the birth of our Savior during this Christmas season! Only 6 more days of school before exams!

All for The Kingdom,

Laurita

Thanksgiving in Macas

I hate that it is already December and I am just now posting about Thanksgiving, but I've been having trouble uploading pictures!

Although Ecuadorians don't celebrate Thanksgiving, because we are a Bilingual school, we decided to have a Thanksgiving Program for the kids in English!













The high school students put on a drama explaining about The First Thanksgiving (all in English) and did a great job! I think some of the other students weren't completely following all the English lines, but hopefully they understood the underlying message! :)









The advanced English students had several poems and short skits that Teacher Miryam helped to prepare!



Then, my 2nd grade class sang a song together with Teacher Ivonne's  6th grade class!






On Saturday, around 40 people gathered at Andrea's House to celebrate with a Thanksgiving Dinner! Andrea found the (live) turkey herself and did most of the cooking!!





Hermana Patty and two of her three daughters. Gisela, on the left is in my high school class. They are a precious family!!




This is Louis and his wife Maria...Louis teaching English at UECE for 8th-10th grade! He is from Louisiana and this year was his first time to celebrate Thanksgiving in 15 years!! He was pretty excited!





I brought the cornbread dressing and green beans! Andrea cooked turkey, chicken, corn, potatoes, jello salad, green salad and 4 pumpkin pies and a homemade ice cream with apple crisp! What a feast!!




This is Fernando, Ivonne's husband, who is responsible for taking all these pictures! He had too much fun! :)


After cooking in the HOT kitchen all day, I looked a little rough, but there was a good breeze outside!


With over 40 people, we were packed into Andrea's two-bedroom apartment! But we had lots of fun!!



Sweet Ivonne! She and Fernando find out this week if they are having a boy or girl! We are all very excited!







What a blessing it was to have a Thanksgiving celebration all the way in Macas, Ecuador. This year, my "list of thanksgiving" was much different from last year! I am so thankful to be in Macas, learning, teaching and growing, and also for my family and friends! Being away from home during a holiday makes me realize what a blessing and rich gift it is to have family nearby! I am so thankful for this time in Macas that The Lord is using to help me realize what things are more important and things that don't really matter.

He is so good!! So faithful!! All this He has given us is GRACE!

Much love to you from Macas!
-Laurita

(2 weeks from today, I will be home for a Christmas visit with friends and family! Hope I get to see you!!)