Gotta Dance (Tengo Que Bailar!)

A couple of times a year, our site hosts parties for our different groups.  It’s an opportunity for the women, teens and girls to dress up, eat cake, and have fun together.  This morning, it was one of the Little Girls’ groups (ages six through nine).  Our wonderful outreach participants brought down decorations, gifts, stickers, and a Strawberry Shortcake game - kind of like Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey. 

Getting Stickers with Angie

The girls showed up – 30 minutes early! – wearing adorable dresses.  They flocked around Angie as she handed out stickers.  Before long, everyone had them – on their arms, faces, dresses.  The girls made sure not to leave us out, either! 

Daisy welcoming the girls and explaining that this party
helps to celebrate how much Jesus loves them!

To officially start the party, one of the girls prayed and they all joined in singing songs for us.  They told us their names, ages, and favorite colors, and wanted to know ours, too.  Like girls back home, Pink was one of the most picked! 

Kristina helping to guide one of the girls
to the Strawberry Shortcake game.

The girls had a great time playing the Strawberry Shortcake game.  Kristina was on Blindfold and Spinning duty.  The game was followed by yummy chocolate cake (thanks, Daisy!) and orange soda, and presents – a cute box they could decorate with stickers, and lip gloss. 

Caitlin giving a ballet lesson to the girls.

Of course, no party is complete without dancing, so Caitlin, a 16-year old dancer from Oregon, showed the girls some ballet moves.  Too soon, it was time to say goodbye.  The girls left after giving hugs to us all.  The perfect way to end our party morning!

In the afternoon we had one of our Teenager groups.  Last week we started a Bible Study called Living a Life that Shows Jesus to the World.  We’re using the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as our text, and hope to look at a different characteristic (fruit) each week.

Last week we talked about Love, and praying for others even when they are unloving toward us.  This week’s fruit was Joy.  It was wonderful to hear the teens recite their memory verses (the Galatians passage).  We had some lively discussion – not always on the topic, but that’s okay!  It’s great to hear them asking questions and trying to understand what the Bible says. 

The teens try their hands - and feet! - at ballet, too!

And… what better way to show Joy than to dance!  We headed out back again, and Caitlin walked (or danced!) the teens through some basic ballet positions.

Shining out the love and joy of Jesus

Before we knew it, it was time to close up the Site and head back to the Base.  Another wonderful day of ministry.  Wonderful, not because all the problems of El Callejon are gone, but wonderful because in these seemingly small ways, we are showing the women, teens and girls of El Callejon that they matter, that they are precious and loved.  We are showing them Jesus, and helping them show Him to each other, too.  Now that’s something worth dancing about!!