Erin Cole

Fiesta Camp

2008-02-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

In December of 2007 we had a camp for the children of San Pedro Carcha, Coban, Alta Verapaz. We had 120 kids at the 3 day camp.

we learned about Jesus

We had some great food

we played in the river, yes, the Zacapa river

we played games

we made T-shirts

and many other crafts!

Adam's wedding

2008-02-17T10:20:00.000-08:00

In October I attended my brother Adam and Amanda's wedding in Minneapolis.

Sanarate, Guatemala

2007-11-26T15:55:00.000-08:00

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving we were invited to a church "Camp Meeting" where several churches from different parts of the country met. I helped "Super Disciple" with the children's portion of the activity.
The children having fun with a game
Listening to a Bible story from Super Disciple and Chema

Thanksgiving in Guatemala

2007-11-26T15:38:00.000-08:00

The People for Missions family
A very exciting game of Pin the Hat on the Turkey

We celebrated Thanksgiving together at the House of Hope with American, Guatemalan, and Honduran missionaries and children. Each family contributed to the meal and we had a wonderful time fellowshipping together.

2007-11-21T09:14:00.000-08:00

Oasis teachers all dressed up for graduation night.

2007-11-21T09:08:00.000-08:00

At Oasis graduation in October, the teachers honored me with a basket of flowers.

2007-11-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

Playing games with the parachutes

2007-11-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

Here I am playing the guitar as we sing with the children.

Missionary Travels

2007-11-21T08:08:00.000-08:00

One of the many exciting opportunities I have had this year is to travel to different parts of Guatemala to minister to groups of children. I and some other teachers at school have used our school vacation days and weekends to make some of these trips. We have traveled specifically to the areas of Alta and Baja Verapaz, an area of Guatemala known for its cloud forest. It is a beautiful area and is also characterized by larger percentage of indigenous Mayan people than we have here in Zacapa. The leader of our group is a teacher we have on staff named Javier Gomez, aka Super Discipulo. Javier is invited to these areas to do ministry as the Super Disciple, and the rest of us go along as a support team. We do songs, games, a Bible lesson, and have ministry time. In one area we went to we had over 200 kids, and we were told we would have 60! In this particular center, the Bible lesson was translated from Spanish to a Mayan language. Many of the children understand Spanish, but their mothers that were listening in did not.
To see more photos of our trips as well as Super Discipulo, go to http://superdiscipulo.blogspot.com

Family Fun Day 2007

2007-07-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

On June 17 we celebrated Family Fun Day at Oasis. It is a time for all the students to bring their families out to campus and play games and eat together. Here is a father and some students in a race across the soccer field where the goal is to not touch the grass. It was our third anual Family Fun Day!

2007-05-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

It was so great to return to Oasis to a huge welcome from students and staff. I had a nice time with my parents in Minnesota. God is good and has provided a speedy recovery for my mother. The Lord also protected and blessed the ongoing work at the school in my absence.

Primero Dios . . .

2007-04-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

"Primero Dios" is a common frase here in Guatemala. The closest frase that we have in English is "Lord willing." It is much more common, however, here in Guatemala. People say, "I'll see you tomorrow, Primero Dios." Or any time they tell you about some plan they have for the future, Primero Dios. I am not in the habit of using the frase in English, so it seems strange to me. This week, however, I am reminded, that we do not really know what will happen tomorrow. My mother, Rita, suffered a stroke this week. She is doing well, praise the Lord, and getting the help she needs. It was such a shock to all of us as she is normally a very healthy person. It is really hard for me, being so far away.
I am reminded of the passage in James that says, "I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today-at the latest, tomorrow- we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money." You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."" (from The Message)
So, Lord willing, I am off to Minnesota on Thursday, next week, to see my mother and family. I will be there for a few weeks as she is recovering. Please remember us in your prayers.

Good Friday

2007-04-07T12:42:00.002-07:00

On Good Friday I invited the Oasis staff to my house for a special lunch. We played an interesting bilingual version of Pictionary and generally enjoyed each other's company. I am so grateful for the friendships I have developed here in Guatemala. What a wonderful way to celebrate the greatest gift of all time, the gift of God's son. In a country where this is observed with such mourning and heaviness of spirit, we can rejoice in the freedom we have in Christ. I feel that these moments are a small glimpse of heaven here on earth!

2007-04-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

On Monday of Holy Week the teachers and I went to a local waterfall. We had a great time hiking and playing in the water. We hiked to an area above the waterfalls where there is a natural pool. One of the teachers mothers made Caldo de Gallina (Hen soup) for lunch. It is considered a very special dish!

Law enforcement in Guatemala

2007-03-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

Laws in Guatemala are randomly enforced. Most laws are not ever enforced, like traffic laws, where you throw your garbage, where you can keep your pile of sand and rocks, where you can build a new wall, etc.
My friend Reneé went to Chiquimula one day to go to the grocery store. She parked her mini van slightly over a very lightly painted red line and the police put a "boot" on her wheel. She had to pay a fine at city hall to get it taken off. Last night, I went to an event in the open air theater. I parallel parked my car reasonably along the street. When I wanted to leave, I was parked in by 4 cars and a motorcycle, all at different angles. No boots in sight.

Guatemala

2007-03-17T14:07:00.000-07:00

Some interesting things about living in Guatemala (an ongoing list):

The customer is never right. Example: On the menu at a restaurant, the coffee is listed as Q5.50. When I get the bill, I am charged Q10. Reason? The menu is wrong, the computer is right, AND we have this special mix now that is more expensive. Really?
Pedestrians never have the right of way. Watch out.
A motorcycle is a perfect vehicle for a family of 5. Or a guy and his 2 buddies.
The term "Right now" can mean any time this year.

2007-03-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I had the pleasure of going to a concert with many of the teachers with Oasis. We had an awesome time listening to the music of Alex Campos, a Christian artist all the way from Colombia here in Chiquimula, Guatemala.

Mother's Day

2006-05-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

Oasis moms enjoying a day with their kids. We had about 100 women at our program on May 10.

2006-05-17T15:36:00.000-07:00

Here I am sharing some thoughts with the mothers at our activity May 10.

2006-05-17T15:13:00.000-07:00

Here I am in front of the house that I moved into in February. I have a roommate, Laura Knox, until June.

2006-05-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

Oasis Christian School was invited to participate in the inauguration of the National School Olympics in Zacapa.

2006-05-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

Pablo and Luis Fernando displaying their Earth Day project on animals in danger of extinction.

2006-05-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

Earth Day, April 21

We all wore green to school, cleaned up the campus, and planted trees. We talked about the responsibility we have to care for God's creation.

Macaw Mountain

2006-05-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

In April we were able to take a family trip to Macaw Mountain in Honduras. We had 130 people in our caravan of 2 school buses and family vehicles. We had a great time. It was fun to get the school families together for an activity. Here is a student enjoying the birds.

2005-08-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

Carlos David enjoying a Chocobanano!

2005-08-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

All the girls! Here I am with my teachers at the Mother's Day event.

2005-08-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

This is a training session with teachers at Oasis. Jan Friberg came from Minneapolis to train the teachers in the Responsive Classroom.

2005-08-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

Here I am eating a Chocobanano and hard at work in my office!

Hurricane?

2005-05-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

As I sit here in my house I am watching the news of Hurricane Adrian that is headed for the coast of Guatemala. Classes have been suspended nationwide by the ministry of education. There is not anything happening yet. It has just been very cloudy for about 3 days now. Today it has been drizzling off and on. This may turn out to be nothing, but it could be disasterous to the people of Guatemala that live in very poorly built houses.
Yesterday, as we sat in our teacher's meeting, we felt a tremor. It was such a wierd feeling. It is the first one that I have actually felt since living here in Guatemala. Others have occurred, but usually at night.

Support and Contact Information

2005-05-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

To support my ministry, you may send a check to People for Missions. Send a note that it is for Erin Cole`s ministry:
People for Missions
P.O. Box 916
Estero , FL 33928

Tel: 239-949-9403

My stateside contact info is:
Erin Cole
c/o Dan and Rita Cole
929 Deer Creek Parkway
Belle Plaine, MN 56011
952-873-2222

To contact me in Guatemala:
Erin Cole
Apartado 21
Zacapa, Guatemala
Central America

Tel: 011-502-212-3118

2005-04-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

On April 14 we went on a field trip to the local zoo. It was such a fun day. The kids had a great time. Here the zookeeper is explaining the zoo and rules to us.

2005-04-14T20:35:00.000-07:00

Oasis students watching while the zookeeper wakes up the crocodiles!

2005-04-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

Hector and Manuel get brave and pet the python!

2005-04-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

This is me with all the Oasis teachers at our field trip to the Zacapa zoo. We are holding a 170 pound Royal Python. I'll bet that doesn't happen on every zoo trip!

2005-04-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Erin speaking to parents at conferences

2005-04-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

Erin and Donna Richardson at Pasabien waterfall. Donna is visiting from Calvary Worship Center in Minneapolis, MN.

2005-04-09T11:57:00.001-07:00

Erin and Debbie at the top of Ipala Volcano in Chiquimula

2005-04-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

Mission Zoe youth group at the top of Ipala Volcano, which we climbed during Spring Break

2005-04-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

Debbie Lyon and Erin at a ranch in the mountains near Zacapa on Easter weekend

Parent teacher conferences

2005-04-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 8 we had our first Parent teacher meeting. It was very successful. We had a great turn out. We started with a general meeting where I addressed all parents with general school information and announcements. The teachers also greeted the parents. We sang the Guatemalan national anthem. One of the teachers, Jenny led the group in the song. Then the parents all went to meet with each teacher and receive report cards.
One of the hightlights was that we were able to have laptop computers on the students' desks showing projects they have been working on.

End of Unit 1

2005-04-07T20:46:00.000-07:00

2005-04-03T16:37:00.000-07:00

Pedro Luis, who likes to be called Peter and Melvin in their first grade classroom.

2005-04-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

Estuardo, Santos, Erin and Blanca at the sixth grade graduation.

Chicken Pox (Varicela)

2005-04-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

A week ago, the first grade teacher, Miss Odeth called me on Sunday afternoon. She told me she had the chicken pox. We had just finished our Spring Break week and were ready to start back to school. I didn't know what we would do without her! We only have one teacher for each class. Except Kindergarten, which has an assistant teacher. So I put the Kindergarten teacher in First Grade for the week. Things went very well in both classes. I was impressed by the teachers' flexibility. Miss Odeth called me last night and said she is better and will be at school on Mon. Praise the Lord!

News

2005-04-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

2005 marks the opening of Oasis Christian School. We have 50 students and 8 staff members. We are also happy to have several short term helpers online for this school year. I continue to be the only full time missionary working at the school. I have been blessed and God has added to my strength daily.