Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Kid's Club in Buenos Aires

VBS is as much a tradition in the Nueva Vida village churches as it is for many churches in the U.S. In the past our teams from Calvary Free Church in Rochester, Minnesota would run a VBSwith help from Dominican translators and teenagers from the main church.

Last year the Montana church co-led a few days of VBS with our team and then finished after they left. This year we planned a VBS using Spanish materials on the life of Daniel. We held the club each Monday afternoon. Faith Community Church's VBS in Ohio bought the craft supplies and sent some money to buy snacks. Ingrid and Lumi led storytime. Rovian and Carla led games. Ramona and AnaMaria, with help from others, were the craft teachers. Rick and I were all-arounders, keeping things moving and subbing where needed.

We had a smaller turn out than expected, but 20-25 kids were enough for us to handle. The volunteers learned new skills in teaching and managing children. They also learned the importance of prayer as we had one session that was particularly difficult due to misbehavior. We regrouped, changed our strategy and prayed all week. The next session went smoothly and we all praised God for answered prayers.

The Christians in Montaña are now talking seriously about learning to be "Sunday School" teachers. This is encouraging since in the past they have expressed a desire to have a children's program during worship time, but wanted "someone else" to come and do it for them. We have an experienced Dominican Sunday School teacher from one of the other churches who is willing to train them. Securing materials and curriculum will be another step in the process. But we are excited to see the Christians taking this on as their responsibility to the many children who attend services in Montaña.

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Evangelizing in La Lomita!

In the Spring, Rick preached a message sharing at Nueva Vida's sharing it's history of church planting. Little did he know that the same process that he was describing, was beginning to happen again.
Emma grew up on a small mountain village called La Lomita. She left that village, like many others her age, in search of a job. And she ended up finding Christ. Over the past few months, Emma and her husband Alexi had been talking with others in the church about the need to bring the Gospel back to La Lomita.

This is how all of the church plants have started. Members of Nueva Vida want to bring the Gospel to their friends and relatives that live in the areas where they were raised. And now, there was a desire to do it again.

If you have been following our blog for some time, you may remember Jordan, a very sick boy. Jordan lived in La Lomita and died there about 1.5 years ago. Rick met Jordan and his mom at a medical outreach and later visited him to bring some medicine. This is shared in an our blog - "Mixed Feelings of Discovery" (December 1, 2008).

Where is La Lomita?
It it up on a mountain ridge behind the Jarabacoa's most visible mountain, Magote. There are no good roads to access it. An unmaintained dirt road brings you close. La Lomita is in an area of steep ridges. 33 houses are built on the side and top of different ridges.

Obviously, Getting there is a bit of a challenge. A 4x4 truck will get you close and you can walk the last part. With a motorcycle, you can go all the way there, but be careful. One recent trips, there have been a few accidents due to the steep inclines.

Sounds fun? Yes, for a day trip but if you are thinking of going there on a weekly basis....NO, not so fun.

Who lives there? What is the community like?
Typical of many mountain communities, most of the homes are occupied by older folks whose grown children have left the area to find work. Generally, the people live off the land. In some homes there is electricity. Others are totally self sufficient. In between the ridges are streams where people cool off. Presently there is only one church, a Catholic church that meets once a month.

What has happened in La Lomita?
On a Saturday in June about 20 people made their way to La Lomita. We got in groups of 3 and visited houses. Relationships were built and testimonies shared.

Different than the United States, people welcome you onto their porches to talk. Dominicans are very curious. They want to know who you are. They want to find out if they have mutual friends. And they generally, have the time to sit and talk. Bringing up God is not hard because all Dominicans believe in God. And most like to sit and listen to God's Word.
La Lomita was not different than other communities. We enjoyed getting to know them and before ending, shared the gospel.

In August, we returned a second time. A team came and ran a 1-day children's club and then I joined them in the afternoon to help show a movie.

Were there any decisions?
Yes, people prayed to receive Christ. But....

That's a hard question to answer. It's hard because people pray for many different reasons. Some pray to be polite. Others pray hoping to get something. And it is hard to know at this point, how many prayed because of a genuine understanding of the Gospel and a desire for Christ's forgiveness. We are called to share. God's Holy Spirit calls people to Himself. And we look forward to see the results. While God already knows, for us, time will tell the real results.