Park Duty

During our Tuesday prayer meeting, with our children’s teachers unavailable, I decide to take the kids to the park.  My mistake!  How was I to know that the park around our hall would be saturated with children getting out of classes in the evening?  The temptation was too great! 

I began teaching about the components of the New Testament: Gospels, Pauline letter and etc.  We started with a craft describing the different parts of the New Testament.  They ran through the craft with a desire to swing, slide and run through the park.  We managed to finish the craft, but I lost most to the temptation of playing.  The adults, after prayer meeting, judged the craft to see who did the best.  The kicker?  All the kids won!  Now I need to bring a prize for ALL the kids on Tuesday for their winning entries.  A lesson learned: don’t take kids to the local park if you want to teach them something.

A No-Show!

As men in the congregation, we meet regularly on Thursday to discuss and study the Bible to benefit us at work, in the home and even in the community.  Our desire is to make his word a priority in our lives daily, but some of the men have been unable to meet because Mondays are their only day off during the week. 

So we did an experiment to see how serious these men were in getting together.  Some of our Thursday night men gathered on Monday to study a different topic hoping to draw in those who can’t usually make it to the regular meetings.  To our surprise none of those we invited came.  So those of us who are regulars watched a movie intended for the others.  The movie reiterated our need to keep a watchful eye on our kids and the young people in the church.  Have you ever seen it? “To Save A Life?”

Our Team TO the OTHER teams

The youth video taped themselves greeting Keila and Kiana in their respective countries telling them how proud they are of them and wishing them safety and success.  This summer has got lots in store for each of our teams. 

We’re praying that God brings a team next summer to encourage our teams and the work that we’re doing in Mexico.  Would you be interested in coming?   We could sure use your help!

Our “Team” IN Kampala, Uganda

I got to SKYPE with Keila on the weekend.  She sounded very excited and at the same time tired.  “I love working in the Pharmacy giving out the specialty medicines,” she commented.  Keila works on a medical brigade that visits needy Ugandans on the outskirts of the city.  She’s been able to take the vital signs of the people that come for medical attention as well.  One of her highlights is being able to play an African drum each morning to help lead her team in worship.

Our Team IN Lima, Peru

I’ve heard back from Tracey and Kiana, and they are having an incredible time working with Global Expeditions.  Tracey helps the young people and Kiana participates in their program.  Tracey mentioned, “The people are so open to listening about Jesus.”  She mentions how she would love to take a team of Mexicans to help the local church reach the community.  During the few breaks that they get, someone took a picture of Kiana enjoying the rest time with her friends.

Our Team FOR La Guadalupana

The youth have been practicing a skit that they will perform on the last Saturday of July.  Our sister church will have a concert in the park, or at least near the park.  They hope to make new contacts and share Jesus especially to the young people in the area.  Our youth are also learning a new choreography to present at the VBS this summer.

Our Team IN Los Héroes

For the past few weeks, the women have been gathering every Friday in the park to plan for our upcoming Vacation Bible School (VBS.)  Tracey gave instructions to Maria and left her in charge of the preparations.  The women are practicing each week on how to teach each lesson.  Then they take time to work on the crafts and other details related to the activity that will begin near the end of July.  They’re doing a great job!