THE FAMILY TIES GROUP

This is such a great group!

Family Ties Shepherding Group is made up of married and single adults in their early 40's to early 60's.  Many have children in middle school, high school, and college.  Some are empty-nesters whose children are married and have kids of their own.

Our group starts at 9:30 am Sunday mornings (come earlier for coffee and snacks!), in the upstairs room or "Upper Room" of the Shipping Street Building - over where all the high schoolers meet. 

We like to have a lot of fun together and usually always find something to laugh about!  If you'd like to visit us just come on over!

The Easy Button

To see Jim Moon's article on "The Easy Button" click on the "Teaching" tab in the left column.

AMY QUIRING ECUADOR MISSION

Amy Quiring in Macas, Ecuador

December 31, 2009

Merry Christmas to everyone!

The Christmas season has been busy here, although in different ways than in the States, at least for me. Normally I'd be decorating my apartment, making cookies and hanging out with more family than normal (since they'd be in town and all). Here, the busyness came more from practice for our Christmas program than anything else. It was incredible to be privileged to be a part of an evangelical Christmas program at a school. Such a huge difference from winter concerts in the Salem-Keizer elementary schools! There's a family in the school who are new this year and are Muslim. It was very interesting to sit behind the mom, during the program, and pray and wonder what she was thinking through it all. The goal of the Christmas program was to present the Gospel to the parents, while allowing them to see their kids on stage. Each grade presented something, with the high school students choosing their gifting, whether dance, singing or drama. I was in charge of leading the second and third graders in a song in English, which is highly entertaining to me, as singing and music is NOT my strength! The kids did amazingly well, I think they were the best of the songs, singing the loudest so that the audience could hear them over the cd. Of course, I might be a tad bit biased, but then again... :) I spent Christmas vacation with Robin and Wendy and their family in Cuenca, the nearest large city, about 5-8 hours away (depends on whether you go by bus or car and who drives). I had a lot of fun, I always enjoy visiting Cuenca, seeing different parts of such an historical city, with Incan ruins more than 500 years old. However, I still had the sensation that it wasn't normal, since it was the first Christmas that I've ever spent away from my family. I did get the chance to talk to my family and a few friends, through Skype, though, so I wasn't completely without contact! :)

I continue to enjoy getting to know the different families in the school and church and watching the kids grow in their knowledge, both in English and the Bible. They continue to amaze me with their ability to understand English and remember things that we have done in class. This doesn't always translate to good behavior or grades, though! My biggest challenge is still to keep their attention long enough to complete an activity! Each class has it's own unique struggles and accomplishments. The 3 year old class has made huge strides in behavior, from crying and not being able to do anything, to understanding a story completely in English. The 4 year old classes are the same, although I sometimes feel like the 3 year olds are learning faster! :) The 1st graders (kindergarten and first grade are the same grade in Ecuador) have made the transition from not understanding anything that i say, to being able to follow nearly any instruction I give them, in English, without translation. Of course, they still tell their parents that they don't understand anything I tell them, which makes me laugh, since they do, they just don't realize it! The 2nd grade is my largest class and probably my most squirrely one, too. In any given class period of 45 minutes, I have the attention of everyone at the same time, probably about 25 minutes, or so. But yet, they are learning and nearly every single child knows the vocabulary that I've taught in class! My 3rd grade class is a lot of fun, for the mere fact that we can do more things in class, since they are capable of more. Anytime I write something on the board I hear about 20 some odd voices sounding out the words, and doing a decent job of it, even though we've only talked about short a and i (like dad and sit)! Of course, they wouldn't be my easiest class, since some have gotten to the age where they think they know everything they need to know, they don't see the need to pay attention in class (why is it that they're only 6-8 years old, and they think this way already?!), so that leaves them with gaps in their learning. My prayer is that they start to realize soon, that they really do need to pay attention in class, that I'm there for their benefit too, not just for their classmates! :) Needless to say, between all of my classes, I'm having a lot of fun, and yet being challenged at the same time!

I try to do better at updating my blog, than I have been writing to everyone, if you'd like to read there, I post different stories of what I've been doing, or experiencing. http://amaliaelis.blogspot.com is the address. I also try to put pictures up on Facebook, although I've been scolded by my sisters that it looks as if all I do is play, but I do teach, really, it's just that when I'm in the classroom, there's not much time for pictures! :) But here's a couple links to albums that I've put up Thanksgiving album, kids' album, Christmas album. As always, I'd love to hear from you all!!

Amy

Praise

~That my kids are learning and love English class

~That I've only had a few issues with my health

~For everyone who prayers for me, and/or writes to me

Prayer

~That the mountains would continue to receive rain, everyday the electricity is off for 2-3 hours because the country doesn't produce enough electricity for everyone

~That ALL of the kids would continue to learn and enjoy learning

~That God would open the kids' hearts to what He wants them to learn

~That I continue to learn more about and understand the Ecuadorian culture

Calling All Family Ties Members!!

Family Ties LAUGHS together, cries together, prays together, celebrates together, plays together and WORKS together, cuz that's what families do!  Do you have some favorite pix of family ties in the act of doing life?  Send them to Jim Schwager, JamesAndPatricia@live.com to share them with the rest of Family Ties.

Life is not only told through pictures but through stories as well.  We want to encourage one another through stories of faith and of community.  What is your story?  Family Ties community can share their stories with each other by posting them on these FT webpages.  Email them to Jim Schwager at …. JamesAndPatricia@live.com or give Jim or Pat a call at 503.851.4779.  Let’s share and practice our stories with each other.  Be encouraged by checking regularly for new stories being posted.

FAITH STORIES

Here is a letter from Katie Peyree, who was recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer.  Jim Moon was able to visit Katie with Linda Horton, a retired nurse who is also a distant relative.  Linda and Katie got along fine. Jim also delivered money from our Agape Fund which you gave for Katie. Thank you for continuing to pray.

Dear Family Ties,

Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness, and especially all your help. We got your gift today which we will be able to use to meet some immediate needs, including gas for medical appointments, and some immediate bills. Bless you for thinking of, and caring enough for me that you generously gave, especially in this present economical climate. Jesus said in Matthew 25:40 "when you do it for the least of these, you've done it for me".

Thank you for helping one of the least of these in your group, one who is in a completely helpless state in so many areas. My God has reached down through hearts, minds, wallets, prayers, efforts and offerings of His people to teach one such as me how to receive, and how to really trust He is who He says He is, that He does what He says He will do, and that He loves me enough to do it. Thank you for allowing God to bless you, as He uses you to reach out to a hurting sister and bless her. God doesn't forget His people's generosity.

As to the Cat Scan report, one of my favorite doctors, my radiation doctor, Dr Gordon, (he looks and acts a little like the Marx brothers but with lighter brown hair, great smile and positive attitude) that it looks like the cancer in my stomach is gone, and possibly in my liver as well. The tumor has shrunken considerably and is on it's way out in his opinion. He called me late and apologized for that, but I told him good news is welcome at any time!

On a new issue, I am considering putting to pen some children stories I've been carrying around in my head for quite awhile and would love to write these stories in such a way that God is glorified, my abilities and talents are used, and that through this I provide for my family Please be in prayer for that. In addition to the children's books I want to write, there are some other things kicking around that I think God wants me to communicate about. Please keep all of these in prayer.

God's grace, mercy, love, and generosity knows no bounds when we trust in Him. I'm still learning that lesson with this cancer and with my finances. For someone used to having up to 4 jobs at one time, and going from that level of independence to no jobs right now, it gets a little scary. But my God's bigger than I can even imagine, so as long as I keep my trust in Him, it's all good. As I make my way through Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Romans, Hebrews, and 1 John right now, God is helping me to realize and believe that He is who He says He is, He will do what He says He will do, and I can fully depend on Him for all my needs, and my heart's desires (Jeremiah 17:7,8). Well my dear friends, thanks again, and God bless. FIC, Love Katie

CHRISTMAS PARTY 2009

The FT Gang's All Here

What do you think, Mandy?

Sandy your so lucky!

Ron, you lucky guy.

Patty, what is it?

Patty L. executes the steal

Mike, who would have belived it.

Linda's Happy

Lot's of laughs