Back to School & the beach...
Bright and early this morning we got up and loaded the bus we drive. We were prepared and ready....a public school of 300 children were anticipating our arrival. We drove down to a place on the Pacific Ocean really close to the El Salvadorian border, called Las Lisas to minister in a elementary public school. The Principal had requested our team to come and share the love of Jesus Christ with all of her staff and students, many for the first time.
Again - we had to take a taxi boat to get to the large sand bar from the main land. Once we arrived and began setting up in the courtyard...kids began flocking from their class rooms. It was amamzing to see 300 children all together. God was wonderfully present and we began the program. I was an MC of sorts and had a great time working with our translator, Clarice. The children were quite participatory and they really enjoyed all of the presentation. Puppets sharing Jesus, clowns sharing a Bible lesson, a drama teaching the love of Christ....and much more.
After we were done - the clowns (there are photos coming, ha ha!) went from class to class to give the kids gifts. It was great fun - so much joy in giving, especially to kids! After we changed from clowns back to our everyday selves. I went out to meet some of the kids and they began talking and listening to what I was attempting to say. I met a young girl named Dorcas and she wanted to show me her classroom...so me and a hoard of about 30-50kids walked/pushed me to see all ofthe kids classrooms! Before I was called back to eat an early lunch cooked by the teachers for us, I asked the kids how many of them knew Jesus. They all kind of looked at me funny. Thanks be to God - I was able to leave them with Jesus. I reminded them that He is why we came and to never forget that it is Jesus - it is all about Jesus. I asked them if they wanted to learn a song - in Spanish. They said, "YEs!!" We sang - 'El amor de Dios esta maravilloso' - the love of God is marvelous.....and a few knew it and the rest learnt it. This was a climax - leaving these dear children with the name and love of Jesus Christ. I left with my heart soaring for the Lord and my stomach full of fresh torillas and fried sea fish.
God is so good! What a priviledge and honour to know and love Him and to share His love with others. As I said to the kids today - I will say to all of us - it is all in Jesus. If you never remember anything else about me or anything - remember the Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father, but through Him.
Off to Belize tomorrow - photos to come soon....working out some computer glitches.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Agua Dulce
This one was right out of a dream (yes...in the heart of God!)
As we waited for our "private boat" to pull up at the dock at Montericco I surveyed the larger taxi boats, knowing we would not be boarding such a one. Soon, a kind looking Guatemalan man docked, shaked the hand of Pastor Eric, the Pastor we were working with, and greeted each of us with a firm hand shake. We grabbed all of our supplies - a large bag full of puppets, a CD player, an amplifier, mics and sound equipment, and our personal gear and loaded up. We smoothly traveled through the mangrove lined river - we were heading to a church to serve. This was not ordinary, however, because the area we were now is was made up of many small islands. Every family lives on their own little island and travels by boat to wherever they need to go.
When we docked at the island that we were having church at, we walked up, and were greeted by many on the way. Some poked their heads out of their homes, others were seen as their homes were open. After some different techniques were used to gather the masses - plugging in to the amp and announcing to the islands that service would be starting soon - we began. God was faithful and many children were there and the people that made it for this day were touched by the variety of ways God's truth was presented. (They all seemed to love the puppets - adults too!)
We packed up our stuff and walked through the palm trees and beach area to the boat. The Pastor wanted to take us to see a local salt plant, so we weaved in and out of some more mangrove lined water ways and ended up at another island. Wow - I thought - factory style. But this was in someone's yard...using basic chemical reactions to dissolve and then distill the salt. Mmmmm -it was good - real sea salt! This family was so excited to have us for an informal toor. They remembered that durning Hurricane Stan our teams from Fe Viva delivered medicines to them. The man of the house shared from God's word with us and we prayed together and headed on our way. The kids who had stayed in the boat had caught crabs and surprized us when we got back in.
The Pastors one grandson, who was nine and very intelligent and comical, (Josue), gifted me the crab he had caught. I was really touched by his generosity and kindness. I was also really blessed by three of the Pastors granddaughters, who sat with me on the boat ride back to the mainland. We spoke in Spanish about a variety of things - they laughed when I made mistakes and it was all around fun! I blessed them all in Jesus' name as we hugged goodbye at the mainland - and let my new crab go back into the water. Sweet and smiling memories. What wonderful children of God :)
This day was such a blessing and encouragement - reminding me once again that simple child-like love and faith are invaluable and as Jesus says that we can not enter His kingdom without them. Soft, clean hearts and pure, innocent hands.
As we waited for our "private boat" to pull up at the dock at Montericco I surveyed the larger taxi boats, knowing we would not be boarding such a one. Soon, a kind looking Guatemalan man docked, shaked the hand of Pastor Eric, the Pastor we were working with, and greeted each of us with a firm hand shake. We grabbed all of our supplies - a large bag full of puppets, a CD player, an amplifier, mics and sound equipment, and our personal gear and loaded up. We smoothly traveled through the mangrove lined river - we were heading to a church to serve. This was not ordinary, however, because the area we were now is was made up of many small islands. Every family lives on their own little island and travels by boat to wherever they need to go.
When we docked at the island that we were having church at, we walked up, and were greeted by many on the way. Some poked their heads out of their homes, others were seen as their homes were open. After some different techniques were used to gather the masses - plugging in to the amp and announcing to the islands that service would be starting soon - we began. God was faithful and many children were there and the people that made it for this day were touched by the variety of ways God's truth was presented. (They all seemed to love the puppets - adults too!)
We packed up our stuff and walked through the palm trees and beach area to the boat. The Pastor wanted to take us to see a local salt plant, so we weaved in and out of some more mangrove lined water ways and ended up at another island. Wow - I thought - factory style. But this was in someone's yard...using basic chemical reactions to dissolve and then distill the salt. Mmmmm -it was good - real sea salt! This family was so excited to have us for an informal toor. They remembered that durning Hurricane Stan our teams from Fe Viva delivered medicines to them. The man of the house shared from God's word with us and we prayed together and headed on our way. The kids who had stayed in the boat had caught crabs and surprized us when we got back in.
The Pastors one grandson, who was nine and very intelligent and comical, (Josue), gifted me the crab he had caught. I was really touched by his generosity and kindness. I was also really blessed by three of the Pastors granddaughters, who sat with me on the boat ride back to the mainland. We spoke in Spanish about a variety of things - they laughed when I made mistakes and it was all around fun! I blessed them all in Jesus' name as we hugged goodbye at the mainland - and let my new crab go back into the water. Sweet and smiling memories. What wonderful children of God :)
This day was such a blessing and encouragement - reminding me once again that simple child-like love and faith are invaluable and as Jesus says that we can not enter His kingdom without them. Soft, clean hearts and pure, innocent hands.
Antigua....es muy bonita
Just a view of one of the volcanoes here in Guatemala from the touristic town of Antigua. Much history, much beauty and therefore many tourists - quite a shock seeing so many white people all in one place actually!
We were here for a seminar hosted at the YWAM base in mid-March. It is about 1 1/2 hours north east from Guazacapan...all up mountain. We passed a beautiful, challenging and encouraging day here. God is good!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Homemade Hammock
Four of the eleven children that live in this home enjoy the bulack sac made into a hammock. Sweet smile and laugher continue and brief conversation regarding needs, school and daily things while we are there. We pray for the families before departing, continuing to trust the Lord for His best for each one....seen in this photo and not seen. This is one of the sponsor families that Fe Viva serves through the sponsorship program. (see www.feviva.org for more info if interested...)
This was my first time visiting the some of the sponsor families and was touched by God's great love for them and also their great physical needs...things that we would so easily overlook...like a private, covered place to wash and bathe and more than one bed for seven people! Nonetheless - they love Jesus with all their hearts and many of them smile contageously and prove to be examples for people that have lots of "things", but who are poor in God.
Continual learning :)
Beginning of March, 2007.
IN THE BEGINNINGMy Fellow Students........
2007 Missionary Training School
Justin, Jasmine, Kerry & I.
All dressed up and a blessings banquet to attend. A team from Kelowna came to bless all of the missionaries, local Pastors and ministry staff in the name and Spirit of Jesus. They served in many ways. Many were touched by God's love, healed by His power and lives were changed, Canadian, American and Guatemalan alike. Beginning of March, 2007.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)