Embracing Restraints!

A happy Corban on his "big boy bike"

Just ahead my enthusiastic 4-year-old was gleefully riding his bicycle.  If riding is what you could call the way he wobbled and swiveled as he propelled himself along.  His voice carried on the breeze, inviting me to watch the new tricks he could do.  Although- he still confuses the Spanish word for trick and trap.  So, actually he was asking me to observe his new "traps".  I called ahead to correct his Spanish but he didn't hear.  He was too busy laughing, talking, and thoroughly enjoying himself.

In front of me my 12-month-old was struggling against the restraints of his stroller, fighting for his freedom.  He wanted to get down and run after his older brother.  But after seeing all of these amazing new feats being performed before my very eyes I was hesitant to let my toddler run willy nilly into the path of my daring pre-schooler.

I felt myself identifying with Cohen.  I, too, find myself wrestling with the confines in my life at times.  Too often I find myself dissatisfied with the place where the Lord has placed me- surely for my own good- and eager to run free into the many adventures I partook of as a young single missionary.  I sometimes feel too tied down as the mother of small children, no longer able to pack up and go or burn the midnight oil with mission teams.  It is tempting to wonder what I am missing.

As I watched my baby look longingly at his brother I knew that I have also been looking longingly at others, wishing I could run at their pace instead of my own.  I realized that surely I am in this place right now because it is the best place for me and my family.  Surely the Lord is teaching me enduring lessons about self-control, compassion, love, patience, understanding, and selfless giving.  Even in this place where it appears that I am held captive for a time the Lord is teaching me things of eternal value.

So today as I ask the Lord to help me find contentment in this place of learning and to be fruitful in this place where I am planted I find I am truly thankful for the "restraints" - especially the 2 I have just in front of me!

A God Connection

Pastors Cesar and Ana with team member Alfonso

The call came.  It was a call that every minister hopes to one day receive.  Pastors Cesar and Ana were calling to THANK us for all that we had sown into their church last year.  They were calling to tell us how much their lives and their church had been changed by the training classes we gave them in 2012.  They wanted to know if we would be willing to hold more training classes- FOR 6 AREA CHURCHES.  And they would host the classes. 
It is rare that pastors, teachers, missionaries, or ministers of any type receive such heartfelt gratitude.  It is an encouragement to hear that our labor is not in vain but rather is producing fruit and blessing many lives.  What could we say but YES!

So, last Saturday afternoon Alfonso, Yoli, and I packed up our supplies and props and headed to Pastor Cesar's church- Psalm 150.  There we assembled our teaching platform, arranged chairs, and awaited 28 representatives from area churches. 

Pastor Cesar's church is tucked away in a small alley on the fringes of San José Pinula.  The pastors are wholly committed to their congregation.  They have turned their garage and small garden into the church building, pouring their heart and personal though meager finances into this endeavor.  They have real hearts for the Kingdom and it was a true pleasure to work with them. 

After a warm welcome and brief instructions we began to teach on the God's view of children in the church, the purpose of a children's church, and the correct atmosphere including teacher's attitudes.  These are concepts that need to be changed in Latin America and in much of the world.  So often children are treated as a disturbance to the adult service.  But God doesn't see them that way.  Though children are small in stature, the Jesus in their hearts is not.  When God anoints children He doesn't anoint them with 25% of the Holy Ghost just because they have 25% of the maturity that we have.  NO!  Children may be limited in size and maturity, but they have no spiritual limits.  In fact, Jesus commanded us to come to Him like children--- He never commanded the children to become like adults.  How interesting. 

Besides laying a spiritual foundation for all that we do, we taught on practical aspects that these small churches with limited funds and exposure to the modern world have never considered.  We taught on using props, visuals, object lessons, dramas, music, games... and then things got interesting. 

To demonstrate how to make a children's church class interesting we used many of the techniques reserved for children's church right there in our training seminar.  The adults participated in games, in choreographies, and in answering questions.  We got their brain juices flowing by asking them to come up with ideas regarding specific Bible stories and then share their ideas with the class. 

Time flew by.  We barely noticed when 2 hours had come and gone and it was time for a coffee break.  We barely noticed when the last hour was dwindling down and the end of the program had arrived.  The teaching ended with a workshop on choreographies and their role in children's church.  Yoli taught on the Biblical aspect of dancing before the Lord and then led the class in 3 choreographed songs showing them how much children will enjoy worship if they are allowed to have fun with it. 

Yoli leading the class in a choreographed dance

the class learning from Yoli

The super busy hours passed by in the blink of an eye.  Our team was tired, but happy.  There is a certain satisfaction that comes from the tiredness you feel after a job well done.  All of the teacher's are anxious to return next Saturday for the conclusion of the training class.  We plan to give out diplomas to all those who participate in both Saturdays. 

As a ministry, we are extremely grateful for this opportunity to sow into the area churches.  We are thankful to the Lord for allowing us to meet with those on the front lines, those who are weekly molding and shaping young lives for the Kingdom.  We don't want it to end next Saturday.  Our desire is that this relationship will blossom and grow.  We hope to continue to support these churches and thereby see spiritual growth in the children and youth of San José pinula. 

We ended the session praying for all the participants then leading them all in intercession for the the children and youth in our community.  May God use us all to further His kingdom!

Participants very interested in the teaching and capturing every word.