Over the holidays, we took a break from classes in El Paraiso. We did go out on Sundays and Fridays for Sunday School, worship, and youth activities. On Sunday, December 22, we had a Sunday school Christmas party for the kids. We played games, sang songs, had a pinata, and handed out presents. I told the story of Jesus' birth using a recently donated felt board set. It was a lot more interesting telling the story with visuals!
On December 30, we had a New Year's bonfire with the youth to celebrate the good start to our program. About 25 to 30 youth showed up to play charades, sing songs, eat hot dogs, roast marshmallows, and reflect on the past year. We got really good feedback from the youth about the activities. A lot of them said that they were thankful to have something to do on Fridays since there is not really anything to do in El Paraiso. One youth even said it has helped them to relate and build relationships among themselves, where before they hardly even spoke to each other. We hope to do more fun activities every few months and continue encouraging fellowship and fraternity in Christ with the youth of El Paraiso.
The church in El Paraiso continues to grow as well. This past Sunday, we had 40 adults attend, which is double what we usually have. The big miracle is that it was "cock fight Sunday." At least one Sunday a month, the community has cock fights that most people attend, and we usually have a very low attendance those Sundays. However, it seems that God is really working in the hearts of these people and placing in them a hunger and thirst for His Word!
So we are having a good start of the year in El Paraiso! We finally started back the sewing, cosmetology, and carpentry classes this Tuesday. The women in sewing are continuing to work on scarves, creating new styles for Spring (please let me know if you are interested in buying or selling). The cosmetology students were excited to start back classes after they came to a halt because the last teacher quit. We were very fortunate to find Pilar Munoz- a sweet, experienced, responsible, and godly cosmetologist to continue teaching these girls. Nevertheless, we need to pay dear Pilar for taking out 5 hours of her time twice a week to ride an hour all the way to El Paraiso and an hour back to teach 2 hours of class. If you are interested in sponsoring one of these young ladies for $20 a month, please contact me or Tamara Price. This sponsorship might be a good project for a women's group or Sunday School class!
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| Pastora, Maria Jose, Pilar (teacher), Deisi, and Ismara |
I've got different projects to work on while I am waiting for Annabelle to come and even when I have to stay home with her:
- I started a blog to share Annabelle's progress with family and friends. You can check it out: http://babyquintanafox.blogspot.com
- Of course, I will be working on Annabelle's nursery, getting her stuff together, and preparing everything for her arrival. Problem is that we're in the dusty season, so I can't set up everything just yet or it'll get dirty! Once I do, I'll take pictures and post them on her blog!
- Last Monday, I began teaching our friends Yeral and Karla English. I'm going to try to teach them as much as I can up till my due date and see what we can do after that. I am hoping that further down the road I can start having private classes in my house to bring in some income.
- I have had the idea of writing different kinds of books: devotional books, collecting different writings and testimonies from other pastors and missionaries, children's books, fictional books, etc. I might start working on something like this, even though it will be a slow and long process.
- Lastly, but definitely not least, I will be spending more time in the Word and in prayer. I know that God is teaching me and showing me that praying for our ministry is just as much important as doing it. He has answered so many of my prayers lately that it has amazed both me and Luis. I am thankful that He hears me and I know He is calling me to step up to be more of a prayer warrior and be more disciplined in this area.
So this is what I'm starting with. There are so many more things that I have in mind to do like having a girls' Bible study in my house or even looking into creating our own ministry to work with youth in other areas or to feed old widows that beg on the street. Luis has things he would like to do, too. He wants to study a technical career like mechanical engineering on the weekends. He also might do some gardening work for different people.
Proverbs 16:1 says, "To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue." Verse 9, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."
I think I've said it many times before that we can plan and try to do many different things, but we can only do what the LORD allows us to do. I think a lot of times God places desires on our hearts for a reason, but we have to trust in Him and listen to Him in guidance of when and how to pursue those desires. God's timing is perfect for "He has made everything beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11). And again my favorite verses, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13) I want to be obedient in following His direction so that I may live out God's best and most beautiful plan for me and in doing so seeing more of God's glory and giving Him the glory.
Thank you again for reading and for praying. Please continue to remember us and the ministry in your prayers. May God bless you and keep you!
