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Gwen & Mags December Update recently received into the SAMS office:

• December 1 [pdf]
• December 2 [pdf]
• December 2 [pdf]

Dear Friends,

We are now coming to the end of our school year with all its activities. It’s been a very busy year especially with our 50^th anniversary celebrations but everyone enjoyed remembering God’s goodness to us over the past half century.

We have had the most amazing storms. 104mm of rain fell yesterday in 40mins leaving the roads flooded up to waist deep in some areas. It was almost as bad this morning in the Primary service. Afterwards we took our shoes off to go to and from the cathedral getting it ready for our service this evening.

The youngest pupils finished their year first and all of them put on a performance for their parents. The nursery class had theirs on their last afternoon and the parents were delighted. The little ones have had a really good year in school and settled well. The next day the other two infant classes had their show. They did really well and their English was quite clear. Gwen hadn’t been part of the preparations for that but was thrilled to see how well they did with an ex pupil teaching them.

The Infants had their little graduation ceremony when they receive their diplomas. They are all ready for 1^st grade next year. It was also great to see how well the two boys who have difficulties have come on during the year and are ready for first grade.

The secondary had a final visit to the Sports ground for water day. They had a 13m high bouncy slide and fun and games with water balloons. In the hot sun it didn’t matter how wet they got. Mags has learnt and took spare clothes with her. A great soggy time was had by all.

Later that day the annexe infants did their show and were really good.

A week later it was the turn of  the primary children to finish their year. Primary officially goes up to 9^th grade and that’s the end of compulsory education. The children are fifteen years old by then. Last Thursday Mags went to the annexe for their service before all the pupils left and then returned later for a special ceremony for their 9^th grade leavers.

The next day our younger primary had their service in the cathedral. It was a lovely Christmas service. We sang 10 000 Reasons and the children really sang their hearts out. An ex teacher, Diego who is now a missionary in Africa gave such a clear Gospel message about John 3:16 inviting everyone to be part of change in the World.

In the evening it was our 9^th grades turn. The difference there is that ours don’t leave but stay on for the rest of their secondary education. The pupils led the service with Pastor Donald sharing about God’s love and living it out in obedience in the World.

Mags attended all of these events as Gwen was in Ecuador. Gwen was invited by the British embassy to attend a British universities fair in Guayaquil and Quito. One of the highlights of her trip was the discovery that Rosie Banbury (daughter of other missionary friends  and our god daughter) was in Guayaquil on her year out and so they were able to meet up. We hadn’t seen her for 5 years but hope she’ll visit us next year when she goes to spend some time in Brazil.

Our 6^th form have also finished all their exams and have almost left! We invited them to our house one evening along with their staff and we had a Sausage Sizzle in our back garden. It was a really lovely evening with them despite the heat and humidity! We brought the event forward by a day as the forecast was bad for the planned day. Even so, the humidity was building up ready for a big storm the next day. This class now wait for their final service where they will all be prayed for individually on December 5^th and then their official graduation the next day. Before all of these they have their own party on December 2^nd to which we have been invited.

We have more or less finished interviews for the nursery class 2014.There are so many brothers and sisters and children of ex pupils that we haven’t been able to look at anyone new. It looks like being the biggest nursery class that we have had for a long time. There are still many people looking for places for next year and recently we have had ex pupils back asking for places for their older children and it’s been very difficult having to say that we don’t have room for them.

It’s not long now till we will be heading back to the UK. We leave on the 18^th Dec and spend 4 nights in New York which we are really looking forward to. Hopefully we will see many of you in Jan.

Wishing you the joy and peace of Christmas.

Thank you for all your prayers and support this year.

Lots of love,

Gwen and Mags xx

Tester Christmas Update recently received into the SAMS office:

• Tester Christmas Update

Hello SAMS

Great news! I just phoned the detention centre to see if they could authorise one of my wee girls to attend our church service this Sunday as she is now allowed to go out and do something she likes until she gets her freedom. She told me she wanted to come to church so for the last three weeks I have been sending letters, making phone calls and seeing people to see if that was possible and I’ve just found out it is …….I’m so happy amigos

I’ve just phoned her and she is over the moon counting the days to visit church. So I just wanted to share this with you I LOVE WHAT I DO HERE!!!!!!! Thanks SAMS for supporting this ministry.

God Bless

Cecy