Winning Bibles

Do you remember your first Bible?  Or are you like so many of us who recieved children's Bibles and children's Bible story books from so early on that you don't even remember the thrill of holding your very first Bible in your hands?

The families in our programs live below the poverty level.  Owning much of anything is a luxury.  A family Bible is a treasure.  A child's own personal children's Bible is a far off dream.

Thanks to a local ministry in Guatemala, we have been able to furnish most of the children in our Little Giants Bible Club with Bibles.  This local ministry donates all the Bibles we need, but there is a catch.  In order to obtain the Bible, each child must memorize 20 Bible verses.  This ministry provides a lively print out of the required verses for the children to take home and study.  On a set date the children show up, recite the verses, and leave happily with their own Bible.

Memorizing 20 verses is no easy task.  So the ABA staff takes it upon themselves to set aside 4 weeks of class prior to the "test" to help the children study and memorize the verses.  Through a series of games and memorization activities our goal is to review nearly all of the verses.  We choose 5 verses per week.  Then we brainstorm to come up with unique, interesting games and activities that will help the children remember the verse.  Some verses were put to song, others to chants and cheers.  Each verse was presented in a way that would promote memorization.

This year we found that class time did not permit us teach all 5 verses in one session.  So we challenged the children.  The challenge consisted of each child taking it upon him or herself to memorize the verses we studied in class plus the ones we didn't get to.  The following week the children who had successfully memorized the 5 verses from the previous week won a candy bar.

It was great fun to teach the verses and even more fun to watch the children as they put forth a valient effort to memorize the verses each week, then proudly choose a candy bar as a reward for a job well done.

Despite our best attempts to teach all the verses, we were faced this year with back to back tropical storms right in the middle of our Bible verse learning.  On one occasion we were forced to cancel classes due to the danger involved for the children and our staff to venture out in the weather.  However, even in the face of all the odds, 3 children were able to memorize the 20 verses and carry home Bibles this year.

In years past we have had as many as 15 children win the Bibles.  The discrepency in this year's number is easy to explain.  Each child may only win a Bible once.  While we allowed all of them to participate in the candy bar prizes, only those children who had not previously won a Bible were eligible for the Bible on test day.While only 3 children successfully learned 20 verses, several others came very close- memorizing 15 or so verses.  They were praised and encouraged to try again next year. 

Our goal is to see a Bible in the hands of every child.  And not only a Bible in every hand, but the verses in every heart and the principles lived out in every life.

2012 Graduating Class

Monday morning dawned drizzly and overcast.  Not a good start to what was planned to be an exciting day.  I was a bit worried about our graduates and their families walking a couple of miles in the rain to get to the graduation ceremony.

However, we continued on as planned.  I arrived at the ministry base around 9am to find the place already hopping.  Alfonso was busy in the kitchen doing wonders.  He has such a talent for cooking.  He makes our mouths water on a daily basis!  This time was no exception.  He had made a deliciousl chicken salad and cake for the snack after the ceremony.  As I walked in I found him chopping celery, onion, and other tidbits for the salad. 

Chrissy was in sweats, busy putting the finishing details on all the decorations.  You will see in the picture above what a great job she did adorning the room.  Yolanda was also in sweats, setting out chairs and getting things in order.

Just before the graduates arrived with their families Chrissy and Yolanda got changed.  Then the funniest thing happened, Chrissy noticed that not only had she brought along one black shoe and one navy shoe, they were also both right feet!!!!!!!  We laughed and laughed.  I am not so sure Chrissy was laughing, especially while she wore them and her left foot was killing her.  I wish I had a picture.  I love it when there is a gliche in the system, it makes for good memories afterwards.  Chrissy had to endure her shoes during the whole ceremony and snack afterwards.  As soon as the last person departed she made a beeline for the bathroom to change back into her sweats.  I don't blame her!!!!

 Here on the left you will see some of the graduates as the ceremony began.  They were so excited and we were thrilled for them.

We started out with prayer and then a message about what true success is.  I encouraged them to look back and take note of all the progress they had made over the past 3 years, I also encouraged them not to settle for just this diploma, rather to press on to greater things.  With God all things are possible.  We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. 

After the message we moved on to the diplomas.  First I honored Yolanda with roses to thank her for a job well done.  She did an excellent job of teaching.  Not only was she a teacher, but a counselor and friend.  As the students shared personal problems she eagerly prayed with them and sought solutions.  We love Yolanda - she is such an inspiration and encouragement to the whole team and to her class of students.



Take a look at a few of the graduates recieving their diplomas.

On the left you will see Doña Venancia.  She is the lady I wrote about in the last blog.  She, just like all the rest, recieved her diploma with tears in her eyes.  As the students passed up front to recieve their diplomas they all thanked us.  Many expressed themselves by saying that there was no way to repay what we had given them.  Before studying with us they couldn't even write their names, now they were reading, writing, and doing simple math. 

However, Doña Venancia surpassed all the rest.  While they completed the requirements in 3 years, she did it in 2.  While they often missed class she rarely did.  While she faced circumstances more dire than the others, she persevered even more. 

After giving the diplomas, Yolanda and I prayed for each student.  We entrusted their futures to the Lord, prayed for their circumstances, and believed God for each of them to have success and to continue to seek after God's plan for their lives. 

As we prayed for Doña Venancia (below) she prayed too, asking God to help her be a good example to her children and thanking Him for the many blessings in her life.  It was a special time to hear her heart poured out to the Lord as tears trickled down her weather worn cheeks. 

After the ceremony we all moved downstairs to the dining room to partake of the snack prepared by our staff, mostly by Alfonso.  Here you see him proudly displaying his handiwork. 

Yolanda made the flower arrangements.  She is has an incredible talent for flower arranging.  The flowers really added a touch of elegance to the tables.

Alfonso lead us all in a blessing before we ate. 

All in all, it was a special time of celebrating and sharing.  We are so thankful to all of the sponsors who made this program possible for the past 3 years.  Without sponsorship, we wouldn't have been able to provide this program to the community.  May God bless each and every person who has helped make the Literacy program posssible over the years.  Your gift changed lives forever.  Not only have these students gained an education, they gained a spiritual foundation as well.  THANK YOU!!!!!