As part of the Body of Christ, we should look for opportunities to serve and help and encourage the other parts of the body. If you're really looking, it won't take long to find something that needs doing!
The Vida Nueva Children's Christmas party was a great example of the body working together to achieve great things! The church was able to participate in Samaritan's Purse Shoebox Gifts this year. We were very excited to be able to see first-hand how the shoe boxes, packed in the U.S., impact little ones in other parts of the world.
One requirement of Samaritan's Purse is that all the congregations in the area strive to have their "Festiniños" (Kids' Party) on the same day. There are lots of reasons why this is a good idea, but it does make it interesting for pastors who have congregations in several villages or for leadership teams who are accustomed to sharing resources (like sound systems, instruments, even Crayons) with other congregations. This is where having a large family comes in really handy!
Rather than trying to be in 3 places at once, the leadership teams for the churches in Tamazula, Tecomate and Alamito decided to divide the youth into three groups. Yadira quickly snatched Caleb to work with Alamito and Eugenia just as quickly grabbed Sarah. The Petits were claimed for Tecomate and the only thing left to figure out was how to get three groups to three different villages at the same time with only two vehicles. Caleb solved our problem by choosing Andrew to be his only helper -- they rode Andrew's motorcycle to Alamito.
Singing time!
My God is so BIG!
Love God! Love your neighbor! Ya! Ya! Ya!
(Some songs just don't translate to English very well!)
Golf ball races
(Some songs just don't translate to English very well!)
Game time!
Golf ball races
That's using your head!
Races involving citrus fruit
More races involving citrus fruit --
we missionaries are really good at using what we have on hand!
we missionaries are really good at using what we have on hand!
Story time!
Sarah shared the parable of the talents. The kids were tickled that they got to keep the U.S. pennies that she gave out as visual aids.
Caleb shared the story of Jonah -- complete with rain and thunder
(see the spray bottle in his hand?)
(see the spray bottle in his hand?)
Gift time!
We were blessed to be able to have boxes for every single child who attended the parties in all three locations. Praise God!
While we realize that the shoe box gifts aren't the most important part of the Festiniños, we also realize that they definitely attract the children. Thank you to everyone in the US who participated in Operation Christmas Child this year. And praise God that we have something to share with these precious little ones that will last longer than a plastic toy!
Psalm 136:1 -- Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
His steadfast love endures forever!
Psalm 136:1 -- Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
His steadfast love endures forever!
1 comment:
Praise the Lord! It's so good to see how the OCC shoe boxes are used for evangelism and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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