I am currently working on the next story for our quarterly newsletter. It is about the K-12 Christian school in Quito called, Alliance Academy. That will be coming out mid-November, so stay tuned.
I was on their website this morning and came across an interesting story. A group of art students were invited by a church to paint a large scale version of the creation story on walls of the birthplace of evolution - the Galapagos Islands!
Here is the link to the their website, then click on link for the story: http://www.alliance.k12.ec/
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
You are a missionary and you have a maid?
A common question I get from friends, family and supporters when discussing my life here in Ecuador is, "You have a maid? Some of your support money goes to having a maid?" Proudly, the answer is yes.
The change in culture here is different. As an American living in Ecuador, I am seen as wealthy solely because the color of my skin. For example, if I was riding in a bus and it was robbed, I would automatically be a priority target (even if I am not carrying anything of value with me). I usually carry only $20 on me during the day, but because of my skin color they would demand more of me.
With that in mind, there is a big population of people here in Ecuador that provide services like street vending, furniture making, neighborhood stores (tiendas) etc. You can buy gum out of your car window at almost any major street light. People (usually lower class) are always trying to make a buck. With much respect to that population of people, it is natural to give a quarter to a 7-year-old boy juggling in front of my taxi, just trying to earn some money as he lives on the streets everyday.
With that also in mind, my roommate Christy and I, just like every other American or wealthy Ecuadorian I know has a maid, also known as an "empleada" in Spanish. Do we need to live up to their cultural expectations as a wealthy person? Well no, we don't. We choose to. With the massive amounts of poverty in the country and even in Quito the capital city, having an "empleada" is providing a job for a woman who is trying to support her family, sometimes with a husband but usually on her own.
Our empleada, Gladys comes every Monday morning from an hour south of town to make $11. She comes at 8:30am and works till around 2pm for a mere $11 to us, but a solid wage for her. She has been cleaning for Christy for over a year now. This morning, like every Monday morning, Christy asked how she was doing this week. With just that simple question, Gladys began to tell her all about what has been happening in her life with her husband and family (it is common to have conversations, lunch and tea or coffee with your empleada. I have an Ecuadorian friend who's family empleada helped raise him and is now seen as a part of their family).
Gladys has 6 children and a husband who was recently injured and in need of a surgery. She began to cry as she told Christy that ever since she began leading the women's discipleship program in her church, life has been one thing after another for her family. And now, with her husband's condition, her family is looking to her to provide not only money but the spiritual leadership in her family (a gift that God has given her). Gladys is a strong Christian who has dedicated her life to the Lord and seems to be quite the prayer warrior for many.
This particular morning, Gladys and Christy were standing in the kitchen crying together at the pain that she is experiencing. With multiple hugs and encouraging words from Christy, they talked for almost an hour about God, family, work and life. The part that struck Christy was Gladys' overwhelming amount of thanks for the job that she has at our house. A few months ago, Christy went from having her clean twice a month to once a week. Gladys said that that change has helped her family immensley in these hard times.
It is natural for Christy and I as American's to want to hand her an extra $20 each week, but that would be like someone handing me an extra $100 every week. And even though that can be thoughtful from time to time, their is a level of pride that lives in every human being where thoughtfulness can lead to feelings of pity.
The amazing part of this story happens in the relationship. Gladys expressed so much thankfulness to Christy for not only giving her a job, but also for being her friend. For her to have a good and healthy work enviornment with another Christian makes her job so much more enjoyable and worthwhile. Just like we want to have good work relationships with co-workers or bosses around the water cooler or on lunch breaks, it is only natural for anyone in any work situation to want to have those benefits of a job.
So, yes, we proudly have a maid at our house and look forward to her arrival every week. We thank God for the amazing work she does here, but also for the opportunity that we are able to be a part of - providing a job, being a friend, and a living as sisters in Christ.
The change in culture here is different. As an American living in Ecuador, I am seen as wealthy solely because the color of my skin. For example, if I was riding in a bus and it was robbed, I would automatically be a priority target (even if I am not carrying anything of value with me). I usually carry only $20 on me during the day, but because of my skin color they would demand more of me.
With that in mind, there is a big population of people here in Ecuador that provide services like street vending, furniture making, neighborhood stores (tiendas) etc. You can buy gum out of your car window at almost any major street light. People (usually lower class) are always trying to make a buck. With much respect to that population of people, it is natural to give a quarter to a 7-year-old boy juggling in front of my taxi, just trying to earn some money as he lives on the streets everyday.
With that also in mind, my roommate Christy and I, just like every other American or wealthy Ecuadorian I know has a maid, also known as an "empleada" in Spanish. Do we need to live up to their cultural expectations as a wealthy person? Well no, we don't. We choose to. With the massive amounts of poverty in the country and even in Quito the capital city, having an "empleada" is providing a job for a woman who is trying to support her family, sometimes with a husband but usually on her own.
Our empleada, Gladys comes every Monday morning from an hour south of town to make $11. She comes at 8:30am and works till around 2pm for a mere $11 to us, but a solid wage for her. She has been cleaning for Christy for over a year now. This morning, like every Monday morning, Christy asked how she was doing this week. With just that simple question, Gladys began to tell her all about what has been happening in her life with her husband and family (it is common to have conversations, lunch and tea or coffee with your empleada. I have an Ecuadorian friend who's family empleada helped raise him and is now seen as a part of their family).
Gladys has 6 children and a husband who was recently injured and in need of a surgery. She began to cry as she told Christy that ever since she began leading the women's discipleship program in her church, life has been one thing after another for her family. And now, with her husband's condition, her family is looking to her to provide not only money but the spiritual leadership in her family (a gift that God has given her). Gladys is a strong Christian who has dedicated her life to the Lord and seems to be quite the prayer warrior for many.
This particular morning, Gladys and Christy were standing in the kitchen crying together at the pain that she is experiencing. With multiple hugs and encouraging words from Christy, they talked for almost an hour about God, family, work and life. The part that struck Christy was Gladys' overwhelming amount of thanks for the job that she has at our house. A few months ago, Christy went from having her clean twice a month to once a week. Gladys said that that change has helped her family immensley in these hard times.
It is natural for Christy and I as American's to want to hand her an extra $20 each week, but that would be like someone handing me an extra $100 every week. And even though that can be thoughtful from time to time, their is a level of pride that lives in every human being where thoughtfulness can lead to feelings of pity.
The amazing part of this story happens in the relationship. Gladys expressed so much thankfulness to Christy for not only giving her a job, but also for being her friend. For her to have a good and healthy work enviornment with another Christian makes her job so much more enjoyable and worthwhile. Just like we want to have good work relationships with co-workers or bosses around the water cooler or on lunch breaks, it is only natural for anyone in any work situation to want to have those benefits of a job.
So, yes, we proudly have a maid at our house and look forward to her arrival every week. We thank God for the amazing work she does here, but also for the opportunity that we are able to be a part of - providing a job, being a friend, and a living as sisters in Christ.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Wrong Date...
The date below is wrong...please note that I posted it on October 6, 2008.
Also, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY today to my parents Randy and Sheryl on the 30TH wedding anniversary! Wow!
and
Sara Westerhof and Jason Stout on their wedding anniversary today as well.
Love you guys.
Jenny
Also, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY today to my parents Randy and Sheryl on the 30TH wedding anniversary! Wow!
and
Sara Westerhof and Jason Stout on their wedding anniversary today as well.
Love you guys.
Jenny
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