Bible Trivia Match with youth

With the youth group, we have been discussing the truth and value of the Bible as the Word of God and way to life. 

 As a fun activity to compliment our studies, we held a “Bible Trivia” match among the youth: dividing them into three teams

and asking them questions about people/places/events/teaching from both Old and New Testaments.

 The trivia match was a blast!  Now, as a group, we are challenged to each read the Gospel of John in the month of

March- to encourage the youth to be reading the Bible and knowing the Truth for themselves!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Carnaval" in Tlaxcala

Tlaxcala celebrates its own “Carnaval”, the Mexican version of “Mardi Gras”.  Each area of Mexico has its own traditions for this festival, and Tlaxcala has a unique set of costumes, dances, and traditions.

The Tlaxcala “Charros” dance on

the street- wearing very expensive costumes of ostrich-feather hats, hand-sewn sequin capes, identical carved masks, and colorful whips.  Their traditional dance actually involves whipping each other on the legs!  The whips make a tremendous sound, are definitely painful, and are even

dangerous for the surrounding crowd who might get too close!  The idea seems very strange to me as a foreigner, but is a beloved tradition here.  Even children dress as “charros”!  Besides the charros, others dress as animals, cowboys, or sequined-dancers for a large parade in the

streets, while local musicians provide music on the side. 

 The event last 4 days! All the streets fill with dancers, venders, and on-lookers.  Unfortunately, all the streets and highways also close, making travel around the town almost impossible these dates. 

 Though I enjoyed witnessing Tlaxcala culture, the event is saddening to see

crowds of people living for the flesh- spending days drinking/drunk in the streets, fights, expensive purchasing, etc. all under the farce of a “religious” holiday before starting Lent. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids' Outing!

Paco and I took my Sunday School class out on a special outing- as an opportunity to further shine the love of Christ into their lives.  The event was a huge blessing for the kids, and for us!

 

We drove into Tlaxcala City an hour away (10 kids packed into the car with us) for a Christian children’s show.  Unfortunately, the planned event was a bore, and had the kids squirming in their seats.  To save the trip, Paco and I left the show and took the kids to a nearby park, where we played games and took silly pictures. 

Quite a few of the children in our group come from poverty and unhealthy family situations.  During the outing, one of the boys even tried to steal Paco’s cell phone (probably something he has seen his parents do).  However, they all responded to our love

for them, each vying to take our hands or sit beside us. 

The Lord gave Paco and I strength with so many kids (even after losing one for a few minutes, being covered in vomit, urine, and drool by the end of the evening, and set-backs like the boring show and

closed highways coming home).  May the Lord continue to reveal Himself to these children!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conference: Technology and Children

A group from our church attended a conference (for parents and Sunday School teachers) on children and technology, hosted by a large children’s ministry in Argentina. 

Today, children switch “screens” all day long: from the TV screen, to computer screen, to video game screen, to cell phone screen… our children are a technology-generation.  The conference opened Mexican parents’ and teachers’ eyes to the abundant access to and

effects of technology on children. 

The speaker provided tips on how to monitor children’s access to technology, so that it would benefit, and not harm children by distracting them from the truth of God and His

path of life.

I was surprised to see how many Mexican adults at the conference are not technologically-savvy.  The other ladies from our church who attended do not know how to even turn on a computer, much less know of “Facebook”.  I hope that this conference prompts Christian parents/teachers to invest more time in learning the benefits of technology and monitoring their children in its use. 

Youth Photo Scavenger Hunt!!

 

 

Our youth group celebrated Valentine’s Day with a fellowship outing to the village square and a wild and crazy photo scavenger hunt!  What a way to promote friendship on the "day of love and friendship" (as Mexicans refer to Valentine's Day). 

Divided into three teams, we raced to take pictures of each designated category: a tattoo, the craziest hair, a superhero pose, crammed into a tiny space, person in uniform, a romantic moment, upside down, and more!  (The more creative the photo, the more points awarded)

The game had us all laughing (both together and at one another J).  A new youth even attended, and fit right in with the group.  We pray that he will continue to attend, and that the Lord would continue to strengthen the unity and love in His body of youth! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valentine Couples' Dinner

This Valentine’s Day, we planned a romantic, evangelistic dinner for couples in the church and the community.

The mood was successfully romantic- with red heart decorations and candles

prepared by the youth group, an Italian dinner prepared by one of the brothers in the congregation, couples’ photos, the movie “Fireproof”, a movie-ticket raffle, and a Biblical message on God’s plan and salvation for marriages in Jesus Christ.  The youth also provided childcare, so the

couples could enjoy a true date-night

Sixteen couples attended (a third of which do not attend church), and left floating-on-air!  One couple commented afterward: “Wow- is that what Christians are like?” in

amazement at the love they saw and felt.  Two of the couples had never experienced a restaurant dinner with their spouse before in all their years together- it was a romantic first for them!  Another of the new couple attended church the following week with us.

We pray that the LOVE of JESUS CHRIST will fill each of the lives and marriages of these couples!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regional Pastors' Conference

    

Calvary Chapel held a pastors’ conference for the central Mexican churches in beautiful Cuernavaca.  Paco attended, along with another leader from our church, and other leaders in our area.  The weather was warm, the facilities stunning, and the conferences challenging- such a blessing.  Plus, Paco had the opportunity to meet other Calvary Chapel pastors in our area, and remain informed on the

plans for our church movement.