Quinceañera!

Daisy welcomes the teens to the party.

A Quinceañera is a special occasion in the life of a Latina girl.  It's when she goes from being a little girl to a young woman.  It’s similar to a ‘Sweet Sixteen’ and typically involves a party, cake, dressing up, and friends and family.  This year five of our teens have turned 15. 

To celebrate, we held a small Quinceañera party at the Site.  Balloons, streamers, a cake… and most exciting of all, a ‘photo shoot’ with the girls and their friends. 

Anna getting the girls organized.

Anna, one of the missionary kids (and truly, a missionary herself!) is also a great photographer.  She came and took lots and lots of pictures to help remember this special time.

Mira las chicas bonitas (Look at the pretty girls!)

Posing on Kimberley's car in front of the Site.

Several of the teens have been coming to the Site for a long, long time.  It’s been fun to see them growing up.  Our prayer is that as they continue to transition from little girls into young women, they will grow in their relationship with Jesus, too. 

The concerns and priorities for a 15 year old in El Callejon are similar, and at the same time very different, from those in the US. 

In both countries, there is the desire to be pretty, have stylish clothes, beautiful hair, good friends, and, of course… boys!  Here, sadly, the pressure is not only to have a boyfriend, but to find a ‘husband’ or companion. 

Please join us in praying for these precious young women.  Please pray we will be able to share with them the wonderful truth that they are of great worth in Jesus.   That because of His sacrifice, they can have hope for their futures.  That God has a perfect plan for each one of them. 

Please pray that they will stand up to the pressure of starting to live with a man, often many (many!) years older than themselves.  That instead, they will wait and seek someone who loves God – and them!