HOMESCHOOL.

I think I might just stop there.

Ok, maybe not!  I have been homeschooling my kids since my oldest started K4, so for about 9 years now! Last year while we were on furlough in the US, my kids had the opportunity to go to a local Christian school in Alabama, it was a great year for them and me :)
Now we are back in Ecuador and already going strong in school, yes, homeschool!

Many people ask me why my kids don't go to a local school or how in the world I can teach them with so many other things going on... Well, it's pretty simple really... Because I don't have another choice that best suits my kids and until God tells me otherwise, this is what I will do.

Is it hard? YES!
Do I love it? It's a love/hate relationship, lol!
Why don't I have another choice? We have a standard for education in our home. We, as parents have decided to give our children the best opportunity in education in life as much as we are able to. 

One of the hardest things I've ever done in life is teach my kids but at the same time, it has been one of the most rewarding things I've done.  Many years ago, I struggles with the idea of homeschool. I don't have a teaching degree, I don't really like teaching early education and I'd really prefer to be doing just about anything else except homeschooling my four kids every day. I am super involved in our ministry here, I run a girls home, I administer our accounts, I cook, clean, put clothes away, etc.. so to say that I have all this extra time for homeschool is just crazy and I struggled with it for a long time.
But I will never forget when the Lord spoke to me during a time of prayer and fasting one year. He simply told me that in everything I do, my biggest ministry is my kids, especially at this young age when we have the opportunity to guide and shape them for the rest of their life.

Am I a perfect parent/teacher? By no means but I do believe the Lord has given me the opportunity and the honor of being a huge part of my kids structure in life. Until I am released from this task, I will make the most of it and thank God everyday for the opportunity!

This year the Lord has made it possible for us to combine homeschool with the Richardson's, another missionary family that works with us here in Sucúa.  I am so thankful for Ashley and look forward to teaching together this year!  We have a super cute little school house and are already off to a great year!

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it" Pr.22:6

    

When the Jungle Calls

A few weeks ago, over a bowl of chicha (a drink made from yuca that has been chewed, spit and fermented -yum yum) I sat on a dirt floor in a jungle village after a long hot day of VBS (Vacation Bible School) with a group of my friends, three Shuar pastors and an Argentine missionary that has been working with us for several years. We began talking about the village of Achuntsa deep in the Amazon jungle and how we would really love to take a group to do VBS before school starts. And thus the Jungle calls! A few weeks later, along with four Ecuadoreans, two Argentines, two Columbians and one Salvadorian, we began our trip to Achuntsa. At 11:15pm on Wednesday night, we took off on a bus that would take us to the end of the road, a port to the River Morona, we arrived at the port at 4:00am and had to wait on the side of the river until daylight to catch a canoe down river. At 7:00am we divided our team in half in order to fit in two wood canoes. Two hours later, we arrived at our destination where we would hike into the village of Achuntsa.

The women of the village had made us breakfast, fish head soup, yuca and plantain. A good way to start the day! Shortly after, we gathered all the children of the village to began VBS. At first they were very timid and shy, it was the first time they had ever had VBS in their village but they got the hang of it very quickly and before we knew it, they were yelling "Chicos, chicos" and "Chicas, chicas" for their team! There is something about being with children, especially these who have no electricity, phones, iPods, Xbox, etc... they are so innocent and so open and excited about learning about the Armor of God, about the stories of the Bible, learning our silly movements to new songs, playing with a ball or a rope. Their hearts are pure, their hearts are open and it blesses me so to see a smile of their face just because you
 showed up!


Just show up! Those words are what have always driven me and my husband in our ministry. When we first began working with the Shuar people over 15 years ago, we showed up and developed a wonderful friendship and when we had to leave, the question was always, will you return? Every time we returned, our friendships went a little deeper and there was more confidence gained. When I sit with these people and listen to their stories and hear their heart, I hear their heart cry "Just show up". We were received with so much love by the people of Achuntsa, they served us many meals, including some snacks as well, Muquindis (big fat juicy worms, raw and cooked)

They opened their hearts as we shared the gospel. We sang together, prayed together and listened to the stories of all that the Lord is doing in their community, they are a strong family of believers and have so much hope as to what the Lord is going to continue to do. One man and his granddaughter walked an hour from a village downriver just to be a part of the outreaches, they are the only believers in their whole community and they are praying for their village, that they will open their hearts as well. How encouraging! Although we were only there a few days, I am so blessed to have gained brothers and sisters from Achuntsa and now have the privilege of praying and believing along with them for the many unreached that have yet to hear that there is Hope in Jesus! -Leah