A week after all the incidents we wrote about in our last post happened, Kristy found herself with the task of writing a lesson on hope for the kids in the soccer league. This was not an easy task given the recent experiences of coming in contact with the depravity of this fallen world. But in this society especially, it is hard to see hope for many of these kids. The chances of them rising from poverty are slim and so the chances of escaping the cycle of violence and desperateness even slimmer. Sometimes we need to be reminded as Micah 7:7 says “to watch in hope for the Lord.” Our God is more powerful than the violent and desperate world. We have had the opportunity to be a part of several ways that God’s hope and love are being shown to the youth of this country.
June and July are packed full for both Union Biblica and the church we work with. We feel like we have been going non-stop since our last blog! In addition to our normal weekly responsibilities, we have had the opportunity to be involved with some great events in the past few weeks.
As we briefly mentioned in our last blog, we spent two weekends doing camps for teens and young adults who work with HIV/AIDS patients in their communities. It was very encouraging to see such enthusiastic, gifted young people that give selflessly to their communities.
We spent one weekend doing a camp for 6th graders from all over Siguatepeque. This weekend was an opportunity to openly share Christ with these kids. They all came from classes where Union Biblica has volunteers in place teaching Biblical values every week. But in these classrooms times we have to be careful to not openly evangelize. So at this camp through games, worship times and Bible studies we pray that these kids were reached by the Word of God and that the seeds planted in their hearts will grow.
Our church’s annual conference for adolescents also happened this month. The theme this year was “A Heart Conformed to the Image of God” using the life of David for the teaching times. Churches in the denomination from all over the country were invited to send their teens to participate in this event. About 200 teens showed up and it was a great weekend of fellowship, fun, worship, and hearing God’s Word.
Last week we were invited to spend the week in Tegucigalpa with North Avenue Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. (Home church of good friends from Princeton, Patrick and Kate Jinks) We joined them in what is now their 10th year of working with a small village outside Tegucigalpa. NAPC helped relocate these families after Hurricane Mitch. The houses, previously situated alongside the riverbed, were wiped out by the hurricane. NAPC has helped them rebuild their village on higher ground with better constructed houses and a water system. The village is very poor and does not have electricity. This year we joined NAPC in doing VBS for the kids and a women’s group for the women of the village. We were also happy to lend a hand in the old language barrier area. It was wonderful to spend the week with good friends and see first hand the rays of hope NAPC brings to that little village.
Our busy 2 months continue (see prayer requests)as we look forward to short term mission teams starting to come in less than 2 weeks, one being from our own Presbytery! Feel free to browse the updated photos from the activities mentioned in this blog.
