Last Friday, the 17th, we left for Baeza, stayed overnight there, and then traveled 2 hours or so to Guagua Sumaco. It is a small jungle village, where they have quite a large school-definitely larger than what I expected. Our friend and fellow missionary, Mandy Hjelm went with us to help me with translation for the class. As you remember, 2 weeks ago we tried to go but got stopped because a bridge was out. This week, however, we made it with no difficulties (besides Simeon vomiting on the curvy roads). The first part of the teaching session was about disabilities in general-causes, types, etc. Throughout this first session, we had a few different activities which I think the kids really enjoyed. These were to help simulate what it would be like to do certain activities with a disability. I think the kids enjoyed this and it hopefully got them thinking about disabilities and what it would be like. The 2nd session was about prevention. Unfortunately, it was difficult to incorporate activities, so it was a lot of info and then a video.
All in all, I think it went pretty well for my first teaching. I have to say, I was pretty nervous. I have never done this before and being in MANY, MANY classes over my lifetime, I know it can’t be easy to teach-especially easy to teach and keep the attention of students. It was a good experience for me. Check out some of the pictures below of our time in Guagua Sumaco!
P.S. Thank you, THANK YOU for those of you who prayed for us as we traveled. God was certainly around us during our trip.
Kim and Mandy teaching and translating
The young people from the class working through the 1st activity
Another activity-he's trying to unwrap a piece of candy
Students doing another activity. Simulating what it would like to have a learning disability by trying to write their names this way.
The Santiago Partnership