Baptism

Sunday the 1st of July was sunny in Glasgow. I woke up early, and soon after breakfast I got ready to go to church. I chose a smart long sleeved white shirt and a black tie, which matched my trousers. I put on a navy blue jumper and looked at myself in the mirror and decided my hair didn't need combing. It was a very special Sunday, because Samuel James Davies (that's me!) was going to be baptised by Rev. William Wilson in Burnside Blairbeth Church.

I was excited all the way to church. As we arrived at church some people greeted me and congratulated me on my baptism. They made me feel even happier. The front row of chairs in the church was reserved for my family and me; and there I sat with my parents, my brothers and my aunt Suzanne. When it was my turn to go up to the front and stand beside the minister I was nervous, and it was scary to see so many faces looking at me. I realised that they were looking at me smiling. So, I said to myself: "It can be scary at first, but you have to learn how to keep calm in exciting moments".

When the Minister sprinkled the water on my forehead, it felt cool and refreshing, and some dripped down onto my glasses. That was funny! And there was a ripple of laughter as I was drying them.   We think this was only the third time that an older child has been baptised here, as they usually baptise babies.  The Sunday Club gave me a "Seaside Bible for Children", the King James Version, in a box with the same cover as the bible, and a Baptism certificate.

Daddy's birthday

This week we celebrated Daddy's birthday.

Samuel and Benjamin used pipe cleaners and tin foil to make a sculpture for him.

Samuel got his idea from one of the many books he received as a prize from the collage competition.

Back at last

Since we arrived in the UK, it has been a bit cold for me in comparisson to I was used to in Ecuador.  We've been moving a lot so that I haven't had a proper time to rest and be calm.

First we spent some time with my cousins in England.  Then, we went camping.  It was fun to sleep in a sleeping bag, the view was espectacular, and we got to eat food cooked in a camp stove.

After our camping trip we went to the Keswick convention.  The program for people my age was fantastic:  catchy songs, fun quizzes, kind and cheerful leaders.

The following week we went to the camp for children like me, that recently had been living in other parts of the world.  We learned about Ruth and about God.  It was just great!

Once we arrived in Scotland I have had a better time and a little less frustration.  The things I enjoy most here are having my own bedroom and my new bicycle.  Last week I joined the Boys Brigade and the German After School club.  I am loving being in Scotland!

The collage story

I heard that there was a collage competition organised by the British Embassy in Quito.  I decided to enter it and do a piece of work for it.

I started by looking in the magazines what I could use to make it.

Then I started doing the background of my piece of art.  For the Tomebamba river I used a brown recycleable plastic bag.  And I used some green paper for the grass of the bank of the river.

Then I started to add what I was going to use for the windows of the "hanging houses" and trees and bushes.  For the sky I used some blue paper and toilet paper for the clouds.

To complete the work I added houses.

I realised my work needed a frame, so I worked on an orange one for it.

My artwork was complete now, so I sent it to Quito.

They called me from Quito to say that I was one of the 4 winners.

The British Ambassador gave me a nice diploma and a big gift.

Here I am standing with the other winners (one didn't manage to go to the prize event).

The box was full of exciting books, which I am sharing with my brothers.

I eat chocolate

This morning my brothers, my mom and I went to the centre of town.  We intended to go to a chocolate factory called Fatima.  It was a very small one, in an one floor building.  And although it was working, it was closed to the public and were not selling anithing at that moment.  I wanted to see around the factory.  The lady who opened the door said that we would have to go back again sometime between Mondays and Fridays.  If I manage to visit it, I will put here some photographs of me eating their chocalate!