Dear family and friends,

Right after we wrote our last update Chris’s parents came for a visit. We spent a wonderful time with them, and Claire and Isabel loved the many hugs and kisses given by their grandparents too. And the family continues to grow – Chris’s sister had a baby girl on May 1, Noelle Grace Stanley. We are very thankful for the safe and healthy arrival of this new niece, and pray for the same for two more nieces that will arrive this summer! We also had a visit from our wonderful friends from Massachusetts, Stacy and Kaya (who is Claire’s age).

The work here continues to be full and busy. Chris has starting to write pieces for the CLAI monthly paper, Nuevo Siglo. Two new responsibilities also started in March and April. Trish started teaching English at the Episcopal elementary school in March, a school serving lower income students. The students had not had an English teacher since January when the school was returned to the Diocese from the former ex-bishop, and hence the kids were behind. As it was impossible for Trish to fill in for all grades for the whole week, she is teaching the 5th and 6th graders, the ones for whom catching up in English is most crucial, and the other grades have another teacher. It is challenging and rewarding, and a lot of work. But she’s seeing progress, and enjoys challenging the students to be confident in themselves and their ability to learn and speak English.

Chris has started working in earnest with FEINE, the indigenous Ecuadorian church organization, in their process of training and educating indigenous church leaders. This program is being led by FEINE and facilitated by a Colombian Mennonite missionary couple who have been here for seven years. Chris is working in the development of a series of 12 one-day workshops for indigenous leaders that are being held throughout the country. In the next few weeks he will go to the southern Ecuadorian Andes and the Amazon to help facilitate workshops on Pastoral Counseling and Conscientization. It is difficult work that requires contextual information and education that indigenous leaders bring plus the education and resources that César, Patricia, and Chris provide. It is an extremely rewarding collaboration.

Claire and Isabel are well. Claire continues to do well in school, and her Spanish is improving by leaps and bounds. She gave a presentation about toucans the last week of April, all in Spanish, and did wonderfully. Trish went and videotaped it. It’s not fair how easy it is for children to pick up language! Isabel is now 10 months old, crawling everywhere and walking around holding onto furniture. Seven teeth, not much hair…it’s hard to believe she’ll be a toddler soon. She’s making all kinds of sounds, including something that sounds like “Papa,” and will give kisses if you say “kiss” or say “good-night.” She’s a pretty happy kid, and her parents are pretty happy because she’s finally starting to sleep through the night!

So join us in being thankful for good, rewarding work; health; and many opportunities to learn from those around us. Please pray that we will balance work and family time well; that we will work here in humility and with an openness to always be learning; and for many events that are coming up in the next months (indigenous church leader workshops throughout the summer; a visit from the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, in July; a visit from the Seabury Deanery in Connecticut in August). Thank you all for your continued thoughts, prayers, and support.

Love,
Trish, Chris, Claire, and Isabel

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Iglesia Episcopal del Ecuador
F. Sarmiento N39-54 y Portete
Quito
Ecuador