VBS Day 2

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 from Patate, Ecuador

With Day 1 under our belts, Day 2 should operate much more smoothly, unless of course it rains, which it did. We weren’t really sure how the school would respond since there’s an old belief here that the rain will make you sick. It was never a heavy rain, but slowed even more by the time we needed to get started. 

We played full-contact frisbee again in the little grassy area. Many of the kids remembered our names from yesterday. It’s interesting that fun doesn’t have a language barrier. If you smile at someone, try to play a game with them, throw a ball, or laugh, then the language doesn’t seem to matter all that much. I saw Larry jumping up and down in sync with a small child. Bob was learning about recycling of plastic bottles from a little girl. Amie kept telling one little girl about her brother named Jason, but after a little help, we realized Jason is actually her husband. The rain really didn’t slow us down. 

In fact, the rain was like a gift from God. The temperature was much cooler and the heavy clouds provided protection from the sun, which is especially powerful in Ecuador. So with the rain basically past us, we gathered in the little courtyard again to sing our VBS songs. 

The Bible story today was about how God granted wisdom to King Solomon who in turn rightly judged which lady was the mother of the baby. I dressed as King Solomon to tell this story. To help engage the children, I asked them how they would respond if they could ask God for just one thing. I don’t want to spoil this. We will share it at church, but their answers were just incredible. Liz and Marilyn dressed up as two Israelite women fighting over…an inflatable monkey. (I’ve learned that sometimes on the mission field, you just use what you have.) In crafts, the kids decorated paper crowns to represent the wisdom that is needed for a king. Boy did those kids love those crowns. Great job Vickie, Marti, Amie, Hannah, and Larry! In recreation, the kids seemed to love the John and Peter relay race and the parachute games. Bob, Jackie, Josh, and Chase are so creative with these games that have a message. 

After VBS was over, we headed back to Camp Chacauco for lunch. When we arrived in the cafeteria, we discovered there were camp t-shirts for sale. I think everyone found something and purchased a t-shirt. I normally wear XXL but in Ecuador I’m EEEG. You probably didn’t care for that fun fact, but I figured I’d tell you anyway. Lunch was fried chicken and rice with a slice of watermelon. 

We left to go back to the school at 2:00. We needed to continue work on stripping, sanding, and sealing the masonry walls. There are nine classrooms we are working on. One room is getting retiled. Jeremy and Larry are working hard to lay tile. They roped Liz in under the guise of needing a translator and she stayed to help pour and mix the mud for the tiles. Four of the other classrooms got at least one coat of paint. Somehow, Jackie, Josh, and Chase put four coats of paint on their classroom wall in 2 1/2 hours and were told that their room was “perfecto.” 

The rest of us worked to clean some black mold, seal, and paint the other classrooms. All the rooms have now had water sealant applied. Four rooms need a base coat and second coat. Three rooms need a second coat only. No additional work is needed for the room that is “perfecto.” 

The principal again bought us a treat: arepas, which are very famous in Patate. These were very good. They have the consistency of dense cornbread but with a hint of pumpkin flavor and chunks of cheese baked in. Everyone got to try it, even if our rooms weren’t “perfecto.” 

Dinner was beef tips and rice. Dessert was banana bread…or perhaps plantain bread? A local couple, who operates a mobile artisan market, set up in the cafeteria. They had some nice things and most everyone was able to find a souvenir or two. After completing our preparation for our last day of VBS we sat at the outdoor picnic tables for games of Phase 10 and Heads Up. It’s alway a good time, especially after Marilyn proclaimed, “The fun girls are here!” 

We’ve worked hard and we’ve laughed a lot. I believe both work and laughter are some of God’s best gifts to us.