National Children's Day

I sat in the shade on the step outside of the chapel for a much needed break.  Corban raced up and down the stairs still full of energy while I gathered my wits about me for a moment.  The rest of the staff was inside, busily packing all of our props and cleaning the chapel we had used for our event.  As I sat there, I reflected on the morning.

Friday morning had been full, very full.  Full of fun, full of activity, full of ministry.  123 Children total attended the event which we had been planning for quite a while.  The smiles and laughs confirmed for us that everyone had a great time. 

In the above picture you can see the girls side of the chapel.  We divided the room into boys and girls as we often do.  This picture was taken before the event actuallys started, by the time we began we were out of space. 

Unfortunately, some of the scenery didn't make it through until the end, as you can see here.  Before we begin the actual teaching we like to do a game or two with the children.  This helps get their attention and get the wiggles out a bit.  In this game the children were instructed to pass stuffed lions back to the Lion's Pit at the end.  Our theme was on Daniel and the Lions.  The trick was for the first person to pass the lion over the head, then the next person between the legs, and so on and so forth until they reached the pit.  The boys side won!  However, I did see them cheat just a bit.  hmmmmmmm

 To the left you will see Justin praising the Lord with us.  Yolanda lead the children in a praise song, then a slower worship song.  We are teaching these children how to enter into the presence of the Lord in worship.

After the worship time, Yolanda lead the children in a prayer.  It was the perfect moment to pray as they were already focused on the Lord through worship.  Amazing how our staff can keep the attention of 123 children where it needs to be.  I thank God for such a great team whose desire is to see these precious little ones grow in the Lord. 

Bible verse time!!!!  In the top picture I am teaching the verse to the children.  We shortened 1 Peter 5:9 to simplify it a bit, without losing the meaning.  I got the children to read the cards, then turned the children holding the cards around one by one... still repeating the verse as we went.  By the time we were done the children had memorized the verse completely.  To make it even more fun we tried repeating the verse in different tones of voice and volumes. 

After learning the verse, Chrissy played a review game with the children to test their skills and see if they had indeed learned the memory verse.  The object of this game was to take 2 "lion catchers" outside while the staff passed out the memory verse cards randomly among the rest of the children.  Those children with a card were the lions.  Once the lion catchers returned to the room their job was to find the color card assigned to them and assmeble the words in the right order.  A fun way to reinforce the lesson.

 Next we shared the story of Daniel and the Lions - told from the Lions' point of view.  It was great fun to be creative and imagine what the Lions' reaction might have been to all that happened in the Lions' Den that day!  Chrissy and Alfonso were the puppeteers.

This picture of Yolanda is blurry, but perhaps you can see her dressed up as a Lion.  She was the main character in the skit, telling how the Daniel came to be with them and how the Angel closed her mouth. 

She confessed that "acting is not her thing" and that this assignment really stretched her as a person.  We love to challenge our team members to do more and be more than they ever thought they could.  We always find that when they rise to the challenge God is able to form things in them that they never thought possible.

It was a long day for some of our attendees.

Snack time!!!!  A piece of cake, a hotdog, and chips.  mmmm, more like lunch, really. 


Take a peek below at how some of the children were enjoying their snack break.

what a sweetie!  notice how his front teeth have rotted away.  Lack of hygiene products and information.  One of our goals in CCJ is to provide the families with the hygiene products they need and give them the proper information.

Most of the children turned their chairs into makeshift tables!

Corban observing the hanging of the piñata- stick in hand and ready for action

Of course we can't forget the piñata!!!!  What children's event in Latin America would be complete without a piñata!?!?!?  The children were very excited about it.  I was a little nervous.  Imagining 123 children throwing themselves on top of one another to reach the candy was too much for me to ponder on for very long.  I forbid Corban from trying to get any candy this time.  That didn't stop him from taking a turn at hitting the piñata, though.  In fact, from snack time onward he wandered around searching for the hidden piñata and once they started to hang it up he grabbed the stick and refused to let go of it until after his turn was over. 

taking the first turn

look at the crowd waiting for the first drops of candy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alfonso dumping out the candy after the piñata was broken

After the piñata it was time to go home.  The children and their moms lined up to leave single file so that a bear shaped waterbottle and a stuffed animal could be given to each child.  Chrissy took her own funds to purchase stuffed animals at a second hand store.  Her smile matched the children's as she handed out the
toys!!!

Yolanda handing out waterbottles

happy kids with their gifts

Chrissy handing out stuffed animals

 
This event really turned out well.  The comments we heard as the parents and children were leaving were all positive.  A big thank you to Yolanda, Alfonso, Chrissy, and Trini - our staff and volunteers who worked so hard to make this day a success.  A big thanks to Chrissy and Yolanda for spending Thursday afternoon decorating the chapel.  Also a thank you to the SRY youth group who financially sponsored the event.  The snacks, chapel use, cake, and waterbottles were thanks to the offering they gave. 

The success of events such as these is due to the faithfulness of God, who provides our needs through the generosity of sponsors and donors.  Please prayerfully consider how you can help us make VBS a success.  In November and December we will be holding 2 Vacation Bible Schools.  One in San José Pinula, the other in Santiago Atitlan.  We need $200 for this.  If the Lord places it on your heart to sow a seed towards VBS, please see our webiste for giving details.  Keep us in your prayers!  The effective, ferverant prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

Also, feel free to check out our website for other information. 
www.crossculturejesus.org

God bless you!!!!

Thankful thoughts

As I sit here in my den with Corban playing nearby my heart overflows with gratitude.  The rain is pattering against the windows as outside the thunder threatens an even heavier downpour.  Yet, here I am, snug and dry with a cup of tea by my side.

I am so thankful for so many things.  Living in Guatemala has taught me so much about what has true value (although I am still learning) and how many things we often take for granted.

My heart gives thanks for my house, it is warm and cozy, modern and new, my OWN home with plumbing, electricity, warm water showers, filtered, pure water, area rugs and comfortable furniture.  I love my house. 
Praying for thoses who live in shacks with dirth floors which have probably turned to muddy messes in this weather.

I am thankful for my son and the one on the way.  I thank God for HIS faithfulness, fulfilling HIS promise of health and long life in the lives of our children.  Praying for all the families who are hurting because of sickness and disease.  Praying for mothers of terminally ill children.

Thank you Jesus for such a wonderful husband.  I hear others talk of problems at home and in the marriage.  I have seen marriages that were struggling.  Guatemala is plagued with machoism and unfaithful men.  Thank you Lord for the man of God you brought into my life who lives each day to serve and bless me as his wife.  Thank you for a man with a strong work ethic and sense of integrity.  Thank you for a husband that I can trust completely and who goes above and beyond the "call of duty" to assure that his wife is cared for, nurtured, loved, and blessed.  He truly loves me as Christ loves the church.  My heart bursts with love and admiration for him.

I am thankful for my car.  Sounds silly.  However, a good portion (probably most) of my friends either don't have a vehicle at all or must share one family vehicle.  My car was a blessing from a wonderful church.  It has served me well, and by doing that, served the Lord well.  Together (with my car) we have travelled to villages, mountains, orphanages, jails, slums, and feeding centers taking the love of Christ in the form of teaching and provision.  My car hasn't failed me once.  Not one time.  Just like my God.   Praying for the safety of friends and aquaintances who travel on the public buses in Guatemala.

Although I may not be a fashion diva.  Although my clothes might be second hand (more than half of them) and none of them are this year's fashion... I am thankful for a closet full.  I see children every day who are barefoot, dirty, with torn and tattered clothes.  I am so grateful to the Lord for allowing me to have a closet full of nice things to wear.  And my children!!!!  The clothes we have been given for them.  What a blessing.  Truly the Lord is providing for us.

I could continue to write, but Corban is getting restless.  Anyway, I don't think this blog could contain all of the things in my life I am thankful for.  God has been good to me.  It certainly isn't because of who I am or what I have done.  He is good to me because HE IS GOOD.  

Help me Lord to always be thankful for what I have and not to complain about the things I wish I had.

technical difficulties

dressed warmly for a cool morning

Last Thursday morning started out dreary and overcast.  After all, we are in the last stretch of the rainy season and it does seem to rain more this time of year.  I got up early and got into action.  Getting myself ready to go is easy enough when I have an early day.  Adding to that getting Corban in gear, dressed, fed, and all his snacks and extra clothes packed... well, it makes for a busy morning.



By 8:30am we were all loaded into the car and headed off to Brazos Abiertos to pick up Chrissy and Alfonso so that we could go to one of the orphanages.  The road to San Jose Pinula is a disaster!  So many potholes.  Corban was laughing all the way and exclaiming each time the car "jumped"... I was just trying to keep my faithful Xterra in one peice!  Some of the potholes are so large that they have tires laying in them to try to fill them up.  Dodging potholes AND oncoming traffic is more challenging than any video game I have ever played.

Once a month this orphanage has asked us that we do a special activity with the children during our regular classtime.  Thursday was the special activity with the older children.  Chrissy and Alfonso had decided to show the movie "Facing the Giants".  I thought this was an excellent idea.  What an awesome movie!  And  something that young people are interested in- sports.

Chrissy greeting one of the orphans

Before class started

Chrissy starting class

 After an introduction and prayer with the class, the movie was popped in.  The technical problem?  Apparantly the orphanage had misplaced the control to the DVD player.  This means we could not change the language selection of the movie.  This means that the movie was all in English!!!!!  Obviously these children weren't going to enjoy a movie they couldn't understand.  So, out came the movie.

Alfonso and Chrissy did a great job of improvising a class.  They quickly had a review of previous classes and handed out prizes for correct answers.  I was thrilled to see how much the children had actually learned during this school year.

The conclusion?  The next time we meet we will bring out own DVD player.

Corban sitting quietly with Mirian- the babysitter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 P.S.  I have no idea why all the pictures are sideways.  No idea at all.  And no idea how to fix it.

Planning makes perfect

If you have ever tried to pull off any event such as a birthday party, baby shower, etc without planning it, you know how crazy that can be!  We often find ourselves spending almost as much time planning the classes and activities we host as we spend actually teaching them! 

The September 30th National Child's Day event is no different.  We have already started planning, writing up an exciting new class, and started shopping for supplies.  Chrissy brought some jungle scenery with her from Texas which we plan to use to decorate the room.  In keeping with this jungle theme we decided to teach about Daniel and the Lions... but with a twist.  This time we will tell the story from the Lions' point of view!  A couple of weeks ago Chrissy, Yolanda, and I set off down the street in search of a "Lion costume" in the used clothing stores that are on every corner of San José Pinula.

a look down a typical SJP street

These stores are actually the front room of local homes where used clothes are sold for anywhere from 10 cents to a dollar.  As we walked into the first store we felt almost as if we were suffocating among the racks from ceiling to floor jammed full of dirty, musty used clothes hung in no particular order.  After making a quick search we abandoned the area.  At a little more than a dollar per item we felt the store was waaaay over priced!!!  The next few stores were similar (although cheaper).  The clothes were stacked in boxes on floor, hung on strings along the wall, and small children played with dirty toys or emptly glass bottles on the dirt floor.  Finally, among all of this, we found an orangish Liz Claiborne sweater type thing with ruffles around the collar!  Perfect for our Lion look!  We bought it for less than 50 cents and went back to the base very happy with our purchase.

Chrissy and Yolanda went to the center of the city (zone 1) to shop for other scenery ideas.  They found a few really great animal figures made out of styrofoam.  They also found bear shaped water bottles that we will give to each child. Lastly, Chrissy went shopping on her own with her own funds to find several used stuffed aniamls that fit in perfect with the jungle theme.  

Piñata at last year's National Child's Day event

girls enjoying last year's snack

We are looking forward to instilling in over 100 children the desire to make a stand for Jesus, just as Daniel did.  He stood up for God and for what was right in spite of some very difficult circumstances.  This is going to be a great opportunity to bless our regular attenders as well as reach some new families.  God is good!

We are very thankful for the Faith Landmarks Youth group who allowed us to take up an offering totalling $500 to pay for this event. 

In November we will host our annual Vacation Bible School.  If you or your church would like to help us by sponsoring the entire event or just a portion, please contact us at info@crossculturejesus.org  We need approximately $200 to cover the week.

Making headway in the Mountains

As you may recall from an earlier blog, one of my heart's desires is to be able to reach the remote, mountain communities of San José Pinula.  This is not an impossible task, just a tad difficult.  One of the difficulties is the long standing friction between the catholics and the evangelicals.  Quite often just knowing that a person or group is not catholic closes the door of opportunity.  These communities are particularily close minded, distrustful, and difficult to gain entrance into.

Fortunuately, ABA (Asociación Brazos Abiertos- as we are known in Guatemala) has a good reputation and working relationship with the public school system of San José Pinula.  Using this relationship we were able to gain entrance into 4 public schools in the mountain area.

Our first outreach was actually hosting the Solid Rock Youth Group of Faith Landmarks Ministries.  It was an amazing time!  2 teams of about 30 people visited 2 schools each.  Each team boarded their perspective buses and we began the hour and a half journey into the highlands.  Travelling on dirt roads we passed oxen teams hauling lumber, cowboys on horseback sporting machetes, broccoli plantations, and a huge dairy farm.  The temperature dropped as we climbed higher, but as the day wore on, the sun warmed up even the highest regions we visited.

After going to seperate schools, both teams began by playing games with the school children to establish a relationship with them.  The kids had a blast!  These rural schools rarely have any type of special events and when they do have and event it does not compare to what the SRY teenagers brought.

After a time of games and fun, 2 dramas were presented, and then an altar call.  There were tremendous respnses in all 4 schools.  Nearly every student and parent went forward to say the prayer of salvation!!!!  Amazing.  From what I can calculate, this was the first time many of these people ever truly heard the gospel.  It just shows that we are all in need of a savior and we are all longing to have forgiveness of our sins.

Altar call

After the dramas and altar calls bags of food were given to each family.  Most of these children suffer from malnutrition, it was great to see them eating on peices of fruit as they walked the dirt roads home.  Over 100 families were reached on this day alone.  Glory to God! 

What a way to bless the communities.  Every school invited us back as often as we can come.  The next challenge????  Making room in our schedule to go back!  Oh, there is so much work to be done for the Kingdom of God.  We really need more laborers.  Pray with us for the Lord to send more missionaries to join our team and help us carry the gospel all over San José Pinula.  Pray with us for sponsors to pay for salaries, allowing us to hire Guatemalans to help us disciple the hundreds of children that have been placed in our paths. 

Prayers for our People

I can hardly believe it has been a month since I have written.  Every time I thought I would sit down and write it seems like something came up. 
At this time, as I sit in the silence of my house (little guy is napping) I have only one thing on my mind.  PRAYER.  We need your prayers.

I have been living in Guatemala for 12 years.  Amazing to look back over the years and realize all the changes that have taken place in my life emotionally, spiritually, and every other way over the past decade plus.  It is also interesting to note the changes that have taken place in Guatemala.  Violence seems more prevalent now.  Or was I just oblivious to it before?  It used to be that the stories I heard of violent crimes were in the news or friends of friends of friends... But now it is my friends and neighbors that are the victims.  Thankfully, it hasn't been me or my family.

My next door neighbor was the victim of a hijacking attempt last month.  2 cars surrounded her on the highway and after trying to intimidate her by forcing her off of the road stopped in front of her to force her to stop.  Fortunately she had the forethought to jump the median strip and do a u-turn despite the oncoming traffic. 

Just a couple of weeks ago Yolanda was on a bus that was hijacked.  The attackers pulled guns on the driver and passengers, shooting and killing a man who was sitting behind Yolanda.  She told me afterwards that although she lives in the infamous neighborhood called La Limonada, she has never witnessed a killing before.  While the attackers were distracted she managed to throw herself from the moving bus, saving her own life. 

I have heard of friends being mugged at stoplights, in the mall, and worse.  Recently 2 candidates running for mayor of San Jose Pinula were killed.  I suppose that is one way to insure that you win the election!!!!!  Alfonso had been actively supporting one candidate.  He has wisely desisted from any furthur support at this point.

So, pray for us.  Pray for this nation.  Pray for peace and safety.  Pray for the government officials to have wisdom and INTEGRITY. 

Pray for the world.  So many nations are in turmoil even as I write this.  Droughts and famine in Africa are causing tragic human deaths. 

Apart from the violence we are living with, our team members are facing personal obstacles as well.  Alfonso recently suffered the loss of his father.  This was a difficult experience for him.  The ABA team is his family now and we did our best to support him during this difficult time.

Yolanda has her personal struggles as well.  Although I greatly admire her faith and determination, I know that there are moments when she needs encouragement and answers to prayer.

The list could go on... I will just leave you with this thought... pray for our people.  The ABA team needs your prayers.  The nation of Guatemala needs your prayers.  The world needs your prayers.

God bless.

Doña Ana and her tortillas

Right in front of the Asociación Brazos Abiertos Ministry base is a tortilla stand. 

The ladies who work there make just a few dollars a day and work from sunup until after sundown.  All day long you can hear the familiar smack as they slap their hands together to form the biggest and best tortillas around.  It takes just the right touch: just the right amount of cornmeal and just the right amoutn of water on the hands to keep the tortilla from sticking.  The "comal" is always full of fresh, hot tortillas ready for the customers to purchase.  4 tortillas for a little more than 10 cents. 

They and their families live in a small community just behind the tortilla stand.  You can see inside of it from the top story of our ministry base.  Often we wave to the children from our windows and they shout back greetings. 

Doña Ana making slapping a tortilla out in her hand.  In front of her is a comal.  Hers is gas based, most times you find them heated with firewood.  

Doña Ana is a sweet lady whose children are regular attenders in our Little Giants program.  She is always dressed in "corte" or typical mayan clothes.  She and her children speak a mayan dialect.  When we have missionary guests or family visiting we always take them to see Doña Ana make tortillas.  She is tickled that something so ordinary to her would be such a treat for our guests.  They often take pictures and ask questions.  she often gives them free samples...and sometimes even warms up her own lunch of beans so that the guest can have warm beans on a fresh tortilla.  YUM!  when she doesn't have beans to offer she is quick to pull out salt.  Tortillas with salt are a common meal for the poor folk.  Even my dear husband has memories of dining on just tortillas with salt.

 I have watched her youngest daughter, now 2 years old, grow up.  As an infant she was always in a sling on Doña Ana's back.  If she got fussy during peak times such as lunch then Doña Ana would begin to sway and bounce and shhh shhh shhh her, without ever letting her out of the sling.  There just wasn't time to feed or tend to a fussy baby during the lunch rush!  As little Marleny got older and heavier, she was confined to a tiny, square playpen placed in one corner of the small tortilla stand, conveniently out of reach of the hot comal.  There Marleny occupied herself playing with apron strings, chewing on tortillas, or whatver else she could find to do in that tiny space with no toys. 

The tortilla stand is dingy and dirty.  I always felt sorry for Marleny tucked away in one corner with no toys, no stimulation, no way to explore, crawl, and learn as a baby should.  But this is the way for most of the babies born to the lower class.  And this is just one of the reasons why they are slower than other children.  They were never given a chance to wake-up that mind of theirs.  They were always asked to be quiet, stay out of the way, and were always confined.

When Marleny would fuss Doña Ana would sternly rebuke her, then maybe give her a tortilla to naw on. 

At last marleny was walking and climbing out of her small jail.  So now she toddles around her mother's legs or toddles after her older siblings. 

here you can see Doña Ana tending to the tortillas on the comal while her coworker wraps an order of fresh tortillas in a tortilla napkin

Recently Doña Ana came to our Mother's Day celebration.  She had a grand time there as did all of the mothers.  She arrived a bit late because she had to finish the lunch rush first.  Still, for someone who spends all day every day in a tiny, dark, and dingy shed making hundreds of tortillas, it was a nice break and bit of spoiled treatment for her.  We were glad to bless her and her life as so often blessed ours.

here you can see a good view of the inside of the tortilla stand.  As you can see they sell chips, fruit, and other odd items as well.  The roof is tin and it can really be hot inside during the hotter months, but it is nice and toasty inside during the cooler months.