Arenales

On Saturday Jacque, Tara, Melissa, Kristen, Chris, Jessi and I went to a small puebla (lower income area outside of the city) named Arenales. Jessi has been doing ministry with the children (ages 3-12....and a youth program ages 13-19) there for years. She uses the house that was her parents, both have died, to run activities for kids and youth. We went hoping to watch her and get to know the kids a little and to determine if this could possibly be something we would be interested in helping out with on a regular basis. We left Saturday knowing we would return.


The house was musty and dirty when we entered. It was clear to us that this was a much different living situation than we were used to in our comfy part of the city in Las Fuentes. We also knew it was a nicer house that those from which most of the kids would be coming. There was no running water in the house and very little light. We used what we could find to get the snack we had brought with us prepared for the kids.


As the approx. 30 kids began to arrive, we were closely examined and quickly accepted. :) We were able to hang out with them for about 40 minutes before the Bible lesson began. We colored, played foosball, played jenga, watched them try to juggle and supervised as some attempted to ride the tiniest bike ever. Jessi started the Bible lesson in the largest of the three rooms in the house and we participated...without knowing the words or the actions....in their songs. We then introduced ourselves and watched Jessi review with them the lesson from last week on faith and trusting God....having faith only as little as a mustard seed. She then taught a new lesson about how badly God wants us to be with him and that we have been invited to be with him....more than that, that his house is ours. The kids had a great time and so did we.


We plan to return regularly and help Jessi to plan events and activities for the kids. What an awesome opportunity we have to go into this small area of the city and minister to kids and their families. Please pray for direction in what we plan each week and that the kids would respond to each activity and instruction. Please also pray for the kids and their families; for safety and that God would draw them closer to him.

Singing and dancing with the kids in "the big room"

Four of the older girls eating their snacks and trying to remember our names (somehow mine became "Maggie")

Two of the biggest gigglers hamming it up

Me and my three new friends...including Lalo (left)...he was all about making friends with us and was chewing the biggest wad of gum I've ever seen