The Fun of Things

Last week I climbed into the driver's seat of my car and felt a rush of nastolgia.  Cohen was buckled into the back seat happy as a lark to be going with me anywhere.  Memories of Corban so small and going with me places flooded my mind.  Where has the time gone?

Cohen sang songs all down the finally finished road from my house to the Bible Club.  It took 5 years or more, but at long last the road is finished and bump free!  At least for one year.  We will see what the road is like by the end of one rainy season!

We pulled onto a private dirt road and parked on the edge alongside a hedge of trees.  I greeted children who rushed by in their eagerness to get to the class.  Cohen, my timid one, was suddenly shy and asked if we could please go home.  I reassured him that this would be fun as we trekked up the hill to the chapel where the Bible Club would be held.

The Impact Team did an amazing job presenting the lesson that day.

 

Anita is truly gifted in choreographies.  She, Lili, and David led the children in some lively praise which ended in reverent worship.

I am awed and humbled to see how these children have grown in their relationship with the Lord in the years that we have been teaching them.  They have grown from 1 rowdy group of 20 to 3 hungry groups of 50 (or so).

After the praise and worship Tía Lili reminded the children of the rules of our class and how to win a prize for good behavior.

This always gets their attention!  Suddenly we had over 30 children sitting still and staring straight ahead with rapt attention!




 

David taught the Bible Verse and led the games.

 

The story of Moses was told using the kids as key actors in the drama.  The theme of the class was cooperating as a family using Moses and his family as an example.

acting out the story of Moses

And the youth were seperated to recieve their own class.

 

as always, we have older siblings caring for younger ones

by now Cohen was feeing at ease enough to push into the youth class!

 

Craft time for the litte ones.  As for many of our children, this was Cohen's favorite part.

Cohen stretched out "doing his homework"

Lili helping her group

Xiomara helping her group

It was a great class.  The children had a wonderful time learning how God wants us to cooperate in our families and help each other- just as Moses' sister helped.  The children left animated and hopeful for next week's class. 

Cohen was worn out from all the fun and ready for a well earned snack.  So after dropping the team off at the base I stopped my car by a tortilla stand and bought tortillas.  Cohen is a huge fan of fresh tortillas!

hungry after a fun morning

And so, with Cohen in tow... it appears that I am now back into the fun of things!

The Biggest Little Giants

Spread out across the floor of my office are various sheets of paper in various colors---

Scribbled on these miscelaneous sheets of paper are the testimonies of children who have grown up in the Little Giants.  They are not so Little anymore and their stories inspire us to continue.

Teenager after teenager writes about how coming to our Bible Club has changed their lives.    All of them mentioned enjoying the games, skits, and fellowship with others.  This didn't surprise me- what teenager doesn't enjoy these things.  But what really warmed my heart was to flip through page after page and come upon comments such as, "I have learned to apply the Word of God to my life", "my homelife is better since I have learned how to trust God", "I have learned that God has a plan for me", "I am learning the Word of God", and "I am now able to worship God in Spirit and in Truth."

It was about 7 years ago that I first started visiting some of the villages of San José Pinula.  The children who wrote these comments were then just 7 and 8 years old.  My staff and I have watched them grow and been privileged enough to have been a part of their lives and to have given them a platform of faith off of which they are being launched into adulthood. 

I am humbled to realize how so many people, like threads in a tapestry, have woven in and out of the lives of these teenagers weaving something beautiful to behold.  My heartfelt thanks to the teachers who came after me to weekly sow the Word and love of God into the hearts of the Little Giants.  My deepest gratitude to friends and family who have sown prayers, finances, and materials into the Little Giants program.  A sincere thank you to the countless mission teams that have left their mark forever in San José Pinula. 

Together we are sowing seeds of hope and reaping eternity. 

...but still they came.

The day dawned bleak and dreary.  The rain poured down in one single sheet.  It was not a day to be outside, but still they came.

This was the day of our Mother's Day Event. 

Despite the horrendous weather, we had nearly 70 moms show up- most of them WALKING and those who didn't came in the back of a hired pick-up truck. 

The room was beautifully decorated by the super creative ABA Impact Team.  They turned an ex-chicken house, now chapel, into a dainty, feminie atmosphere. 

The day's theme was Pearls in Formation- allowing God to turn uncomfortable circumstances into something beautiful.  This is especially applicable to these women who have faced hard times and are coming through them. 

Aby and David lead the women in a fun coreography.  We presented a drama to the women which depicted the typical life of a busy mom.  David, Lili, and Xiomara led games that had the women cheering, laughing, and generally having a great time.  It was good to see these overburdened ladies let their hair down for a while.  Seeing them playing and laughing together in a relaxed atmosphere was in itself a reward for the day. 

 

 

 I was able to speak to the ladies about allowing God to work all things together for good in their lives.  We prayed for all the ladies present.

What is a celebration without food??????

Despite the cold and gray outside, the inside was warm and cheery.  All in all a great opportunity to share with and minister to the moms of our Little Giants, celebrating them for all they do and thanking them in person for trusting their precious Little ones to our care once a week.

The morning was much too exciting for some of the attendees!!!!!!

Silence is Golden

Silence is Golden they say.  I don't think that applies to blogs.  It has been a while since I last wrote.

You might think this means that there was nothing much going on.  On the contrary- between preparing a team retreat, preparing for a mother's day event for over 70 moms, going to school events, helping with school projects, doctor's appointments, banking errands, ministry purchases, sorting out mission teams, hosting my mom for 3 weeks and my dad for one--- well, I just didn't have time to sit down and put my thoughts together. 

On Friday I took my dad to see the ABA feeding center in action.  There is something so much more captivating about seeing the feeding center in person rather than just hearing about it.  When you see dirty children in torn clothing rushing eagerly down the hallway with grins as big as the Cheshire cat, well, it does something to you.  When you see matted hair on top and holes in the shoes on the bottom of children who are so generous with their affection it stirs something in you. 

Outside the children waited (im)patiently for the doors to open.  As children will do their was some measure of bickering.  Once the doors opened they tried to rush in like a flood.  I stood at the door to hold them at bay.  By greeting them individually and asking about school, family etc I was able to encourage them to walk up the stairs one by one.

They piled into our activities' room and the fun began.

Abi and Anita taught the children about Saying NO to temptation.  The children participated in the class.  They enjoyed the song and the game and wiggled a bit during the teaching.

And at last it was time to come back downstairs for their now full plates. 

It was rather poignant scene as smaller children sat quietly on the steps awaiting older siblings to help them carry away the meal.

What a wonderful way to end the visit with my dad who left the very next day.  I am so thankful that my parents are keenly interested in what CCJ does here.  What a blessing to have parents who are interested, supporting, and standing behind us.  Can't wait for them to come back and hope I don't have to wait another 2.5 years for that to happen.

And to all of you who help us feed these Little ones- THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Multiplication

Many, many years ago I felt a soft, almost silent, tugging at my heart to teach children about God and all of His wonderful promises.  That tug slowly and gently pulled me into the place I am right now, overseeing an energetic ministry that reaches hundreds of children and their families for Christ.

They say experience is the best teacher and over the past decade and a half I have lived so many exciting and not-so-exciting experiences that I feel I have at the very least been promoted a grade or two.

It would seem that others share that opinion because of late we have been asked more and more to help area churches and other missionaries in the area of chidlren's ministry.  When Pastor Antonio approached me a Little over 6 weeks ago to help him get a children's ministry up and running in his church I was thrilled. 

A very prevelant problem in Latin America is the lack of resources, knowledge, and interest in children's Sunday School.  This church was no different.  Despite being a thriving church of several hundred members, the Sunday School was basically non-existent. 

To start things off, the pastor invited me to speak at a mid-week service to get the congregation aware of the need and importance of children's ministry and to get them excited about the possibility of a vibrant children's ministry right in their midst.

Then came a series of 4 Friday night clases to train the interested children's workers. 

The first time we met several people expressed verbally that they had only come out of curiosity.  Others because as parents they wanted more tools to apply in the home.  A few stayed quietly behind and with an embarassed darting of the eyes confessed that they could not read but vowed to do their best anyway.

Needless to say, it was a motly crew that was only half interested.

But the atmosphere became charged with expectency as more than 30 students gathered to gleam from our knowledge and experience.  Each night the time slipped by un-noticed as the ABA Impact Team assisted me in making children's ministry come alive before their eyes with songs, skits, stories, dramas, prizes, and more.  Each Friday night our students became more enthusiastic.

By the time the series was complete we had been witness to the fact that the gifting and calling of children's ministry that had been laying dormant in so many had become stirred up by the laying on of hands.  Also that by making the visión plain this group of teachers was finally able to run with it.

On the very last night, before the diplomas were handed out, we asked for testimonies.  We expected to hear a few people share about how much they had learned.  What we Heard was so much more. 

One man told how as a child he had never recieved love in the home and although he WANTED very much to be an effectice children's leader he had no previous example to go by.  He now felt that he had recieved something from us he had never recieved before: unconditional love and a godly example of children's ministry.

Another told how he had grown up without a lot of guidance and had never been taught how to speak lovingly and patiently to children, he felt that through this course GOD had sown into his life a knowlege of how to treat others and speak words of life. 

One woman told how she had come to learn how to be a better parent, but that during the 4 weeks God had touched her heart with a passion for children's ministry and now she has decided to form a permanent part of the children's ministry team.

Another girl shared how she had never felt a desire to serve God at all.  She had only wanted to come to church but never serve.  Out of mere curiosity she came to the course and had since made a pact before the Lord to serve Him wholeheartedly in the Sunday School.  She was teary-eyed as she spoke of her eagerness to serve God. 

In talking with students before and after class we Heard testimony after testimony of how GOD touched and changed lives through this Sunday School Training Course. 

Just one more way your partnership with us is bringing the góspel to children in this town.  Just one more way the passion and visión is being multiplied.

A Beautiful Moment

The heat was unbearable.  At least for me.

I suffer each March and April in this house with no central air.  We are at the mercy of the climate.  March and April are the hottest months of the year in Guatemala.  They call it "summer".

So at 4:30am I could feel the sticky, wet hair clinging to the back of my neck and I just knew that my night was over and that the last hope of sleep had slipped out of my grasp like grains of sand.

I got up to put the coffee on and to read my Bible. 

Hey, at least I would get some quality time with the Lord in before the rest of the household began to stir.

I tiptoed through the house and down to the kitchen.  As silently as possible I filled the coffee pot and then stood near anticipating the rich flavor as the unique aroma of Guatemalan coffee began to invade my senses.  Sleep had left me long ago, but it was now that I was really beginning to wake up.

Finally I carried my warm cup of coffee to my spot on the couch and settled in to read.  Not one chapter had gone by when the delicous quiet of morning was interrupted by the patter of Little feet. 

Do children have a 6th sense that tells them when you have gotten up early specifically to avoid them, or what?!?!?!?!

My five-year-old appeared with a huge smile and snuggled up to me.  I admonished him to lay down .  I pointed out that it was still "night time".  I encouraged him to close his eyes, be quiet, AND LET ME READ MY BIBLE. 

But it was not to be.  He wiggled.  He chatted.  He finally sat up and declared that he wanted to read his Bible too.

After finding his Bible full of bright pictures he settled down again to "read". 

He glanced over at me almost as if to ask permission.  "I am going to read with my voice.  Not in my head like you."

It makes sense.  He can't even read yet, much less read silently.

So with a sigh I struggled to keep concentrating on the Apostle Paul's writings while a too-loud-for-this-time-of-day voice began to narrate the story of Noah based on the pictures.

At first I felt frustrated.  How could it be that I woke up an hour early to read my Bible and once again my plans were foiled?  How could it be that already my parenting duties had begun...AND I HADN'T EVEN GOTTEN THROUGH MY FIRST CUP OF COFFEE YET!  How could MY morning and MY routine be so rudely interrupeted. Yet. Again.

Almost as if someone was gently tapping me on the shoulder I felt His presence.  I felt as if God Himself sat down on that sofá with us at 5am.  HE was pleased. 

God's presence did not fill the room to overflowing with my selfish attempts to seek God MY way on My terms at the time convenient to Me.  God's presence came gently in to hear the voice of a 5-year-old who was seeking God with a sincere heart and struggling to remember the words.

It was a beautiful moment.

This, That, and The Other...

I am sitting in a small café for children listening to nursery rhymes play in the background while my toddler busies himself in the immense play área.  Sometimes this is the only way I can get computer time in!

And sometimes it is the only way my mind can wander just a bit and reflect on life in general. 

Every year I say the same thing to myself, "It can't possibly get any busier.  This year is busier than the last, this year is more productive, this year is more victorious.  We have surely hit our max potential."  The year marches on, the next one takes us by storm and I find myself shaking my head in disbelief as I repeat the same thing to myself again.

Surely the Lord's promise that we shall go from Glory to Glory is laid out plainly before us.

Let me give you a brief recap of all that is taking place.  Although we have so much happening all over theplace that I will most likely forget something.

We have been super blessed by Fielding and Carla Cage who came to pour their heart into these kids, their families, our staff, and the ministry.  They have helped bring about new programs and brought improvement to existing ones.  Words cannot express our deep gratitude. 

We have just hosted a family who spent spring break with us.  They shared the gospel to about 1,000 kids in the public school.  They bought food for "our" families, visiting the homes, touching and changing lives, and having their own lives changed in the process. 

The Little Giants Bible Clubs (all 3) are growing- more kids this year than ever.  With around 150 kids in the program and fresh new staff to teach we are seeing great things happen.

Fielding and Carla have started targeting the youth in our Little Giants- the one's who aren't so Little anymore!  They have also spoken specifically to the moms, another much needed addition to what we already do.

We continute to go weekly to Amishalom, a small private school who welcomes our teaching with open arms and hearts. 

We also weekly visit the older generation at the program Alfonso runs for seniors of our community.  So now we catch them coming and going!!!!!! (when they are born and when they are in their Golden years)

The feeding program is a much needed program for our under nourished children.  We are thankful for the interest we have seen both locally and internationally. 

Training another local church in the área of children's ministry has kept us hopping in March, consuming every Friday night and almost all the Sundays!  Shew!  Thank God for the Impact Team (Abi, David, Xiomara, Ana, and Lili) who have been such a support and given of their time and put their heart into these sessions.

Could we do more?  I don't honestly know.  We have invitations to continue church trainings.  We have invitations to enter nearly all of the schools in the área as well as some very remote (and needy) schools.  We are on good standing with a local orphanage that we visited for nearly a decade and would like to visit again.  We will just have to pray for the Lord's direction and for volunteer help to assist us in accomplishing all that God Himself has spoken into our hearts.

As I sit here worlds away from most of our supporters I hope that the blogs bring you here with us.  Even if just briefly.  Even if just enough to get a glimplse of the joys, sorrows, and heartaches and victories we experience on a constant basis.  After all, as you sow prayers and finances or visit us in person you are a part of the very essence of CrossCulture Jesús and Brazos Abiertos.