Serving (Breakfast)

Singing before breakfast

This morning the students helped us serve breakfast to around 20 of the kids of El Callejon.  Along with a few of ‘our girls’ were some of the younger kids of the community.  There were also a few of the boys.  The students cut up ham and cheese and rolls, and served them, along with hot chocolate. 

Although many of us might not consider this the most nutritious breakfast, it’s actually a lot more than most of them usually get.  (A typical breakfast here is a pack of cookies or chips.)

Of course, more than the simple food, we want to show the kids of El Callejon the simple truth – that Jesus loves them!  Keilah (one of our Little Girls, age 9) prayed to begin our time together, and then we all sang some praise songs. 

What a joy to see the kids enthusiastically sing out about Jesus!  After eating, we sang some more, and then Fernando (age 10) prayed to end our time. 

We love the fact that when we ask the little ones to pray, several hands immediately fly into the air.  Yes, we know part of it may be showing off un chin (a little bit) for the American students, but it’s still so wonderful to see them eager to pray. 

We want to continue to encourage them to make prayer a part of their lives.  Both being comfortable praying out loud in front of others, and, of course, a personal life of prayer, as well.

This afternoon our Adult Women came… and kept coming!  The weather has been super hot and muggy, and many of the women walk more than 20 minutes in the heat and humidity, just to spend time at the site learning about Jesus and doing crafts together.  We feel blessed, and a sense of huge responsibility to teach them each week from the Bible. 

We began our time singing praise to God.  As with the little ones, it was a joy to hear voices lifted up in worship of our amazing Father!  During our Bible study we talked about I Corinthians 15:1-10, where Paul tells us that the gospel is that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and was raised again, all according to the Scriptures.

This is the only hope, the only truth, we have, and so each week, we want to help encourage the women to persevere in seeking Jesus, through reading His word, prayer, spending time with other believers.

The women display their hard work

After the Bible study, the women got to display the table cloths they have been carefully painting for the past several weeks.  Not only will this be something lovely for their homes, but we hope it fills them with a sense of accomplishment, too. 

Smiling faces and a job well done!

So often the women are told that they don’t have skills, don’t have value.  We want them to know that they have value as daughters of our King, and that they can create things of beauty as His image-bearers.

The little ones, not-so-little ones, Dominicans, mericans, boys, girls, women...  Each person who came to the Site today is known and beloved by God.  Whether it was serving a ham sandwich to Jafresi or helping Francia find I Corinthians, we praise God for the privilege of serving Him in El Callejon.