Monday, June 1st marked the beginning of the valley part of the project. We had high hopes and aspirations for the work we were about to begin but I think no one truly imagined what was about to happen. We had been praying for this project for a long time, in my case for about a year now and we began to realize it was here we were about to begin. Things have gone way better than we could ever have imagined.
On day one, we continued with the valley orientation and spent most of the morning going over material and activities that would help us in the work we were about to begin. There was a lady named Ruth that came to visit us and explained what she had been working on, to better serve the kids we were gong to been helping with. We finished with the orientation around three and prepared for about an hour before we left to Primera Iglesia Bautista to start the VBS. After we finished VBS we grab some food and then headed back to the encampment for worship and discussion regarding our work.
Day two was similar. We spent most of the morning preparing for VBS working on the things we felt could be improved. We were able to get a hold of some puppets which we added as part of the program and restructured some of the games along with going over the stories for the day.
We began, as I said earlier with high hopes yet God has truly been good. When it comes to the team it is really wonderful to see how God has been using us as a team and how everyone has been very involved in everything we have done. We have simply been asking God to work through our lives that we would be able to share with the kids what God has done in our lives but more than that, what he wants to do in their lives. We have been able to see how God has been working since the beginning. Most of the students we have been working with are students that are bilingual but some of them only speak Spanish so we have been giving all our classes in Spanish and some times translating them to English depending on the students and there needs. We usually start with a general assembly including songs and a short skit with puppets. The songs were in English and Spanish the first day and only in Spanish the second day because the Spanish ones were easier to understand. After the general assembly they go to there classes where they go over the a bible story with one of the leaders. The stories are usually from the old testament and have simple ideas the kids can understand. After the classes they either have crafts or a game activity. Then they have a reflection time where we have a chance to go over the material we have talked to them about. there is when we present the message of Christ and the opportunity to make a decision for Christ. Then is the missionary story at the end with a daily cliffhanger that hopefully leaves them with the desire to come back.
Things have been really great and students have begun to respond to work we have been doing with them. I can only give God the glory for everything. For the unity of the team, the privilege of serving him, the favor with the students and the countless thing she has done.
A. G
