VBS! Iglesia Impacto

VBS! Iglesia Impacto

Posted by Ashley Hoover

So, it's been a while, I know, I know, each time I promise to get better and post more regularly. It's my new goal to post something once a week. I can't say I'll post each week on a certain day as ministry schedules can change from week to week, but I will do it!

Earlier this month the church I attend here in Honduras, Iglesia Impacto (Impact Church) held their second VBS of the year and I was able to help out. They hold two a year, one in January for the children in traditional public schools and one in July for those in bilingual schools that run on the same calendar year as schools in the US. (Kinda confusing huh? Two different school year schedules can make some of the ministry here a challenge)

Average daily attendance was around 108 children with a total attendance of about 120 during the week. Of those 120 that came 50+ were counseled by mature Christians that made up the evangelism team (an aspect I'd never seen before but really liked. This group was dedicated just to counsel children that showing interest or expressed a desire to receive Jesus as their Savior. They took those children one on one to a quiet place to talk to them, leaving the other teachers free to continue the activities with the rest of the group.) Of those counseled 26 made professions of faith in Christ.

It was a blessing to help with the 7-9 year olds. In my group were several children that other missionaries have taken off the streets and given a home. Getting to share the love of God with all the children in my group made me very happy and I was sad when the week was over. Some of the children I'll see around church but some I may never see again. I know seeds were planted and we saw God work in big ways.

Here are some photos to get a little glimpse of what our week was like.

Game time

Each day there was a short skit. This one was about how to board a train to Heaven.

The children loved this thing.

Even the adults got in on the fun!

Bible lesson time. They used the "Knowing Christ" lessons from CEF. Talking about how Christ is the Good Shepherd, Bread of Life, etc.

There were around 30 children in our group.

Craft time. They made doorhangers and a mobile based on the lessons each day.

Singing "If I were a butterfly" that one took me back a few years. ;)

Water balloon toss!

This game I never quite understood...the idea is not to get touched but the rules kinda of escaped me. The kids played it all the time.

Snack break.

These little guys and I became good friends during the week. from L-R Resueh, Fernando y Jafeth, rescued from street life, they have seen them change over the years they have been coming to church.

Learning the memory verse.

Working on their door hangers. Somehow I didn't get a picture of a finished one.

For the closing ceremony the last day each age group gave a short presentation of something they learned during the week. Here the little guys are reciting the memory verse: "I am the Good Shepherd..."

The 10-12 girls did a short drama from each day.

The 10-12 boys presented a drama on Bartimaus. I don't have pics of my group since I was helping.

Each child received a gift for attending.

Those with the most points (for saying memory verses, inviting friends, etc.) also got a prize.

The three boys with the most points.

Hitting the Streets

Hitting the Streets

Posted by Ashley Hoover

Sometimes I have the privilege to be able to help hand out food to homeless people here in the capitol with some friends. Usually we go Tuesday nights about 7:30 to begin the rounds visiting several places until what we prepared runs out, finishing up sometimes as late as 11:00pm. We take enough for around 200 people and sometimes it's not enough. It may not be much we can do for everyone but they are thankful for the warm food. Sometimes they are also able to take sweaters or clothes that are donated. I have enjoyed being able to help out when I can and the smiles and hugs that we receive are the highlight of my day. Here are some photos of one of the trips we made. I haven't been able to go for a little while now since my Bible classes in the schools keep me really busy but I'm looking forward to when I'll be able to go again.

Getting ready to hand out food.

They love to take pictures with us. :) This group is pretty special.

Jóvenes Con Visión, El Paraiso

Jóvenes Con Visión, El Paraiso

Posted by Ashley Hoover

This past week, Feb 4-8, I held my first and Honduras' second Jóvenes Con Visión (CYIA) training in El Paraiso, Honduras. This small town is about 2 1/2hrs from the capital city. Another instructor and I arrived Monday morning, meet the pastor and his family and set up for the training which was from 1-7pm every day. It was a somewhat spontaneous training with just a week's notice to prepare. God was faithful like always and it was a blessed week. We started the training with four students and ended with three graduates as one had to drop out due to his work. One thing that surprised me was that all of them were guys! Usually for about every 10 girls we might have one guy so that alone excited me from the start.

The first day we started out teaching the Wordless Book. They were eager and attentive listeners. From there we moved onto how to teach an evangelistic Bible lesson, memory verses, how to counsel someone for salvation along with several other topics. It was an intense week as they had work or studies during the day and training all afternoon but they soaked it all in like sponges. After the graduation on Friday afternoon they all said they were going to sleep! :)

Here are some photos of the week:

Preparing for the final evaluation

Christian giving his Bible lesson

Me evaluating while the others listen in on the lessons. The two people behind me are their pastor who also took notes and shared their tips with the students.

Howkinz giving his lesson

Orlin giving his lesson

Some words of encouragement during the graduation

The happy students finally breathing again!

The Pastor giving some words of encouragement to the students

Diploma time! Orlin

Howkinz

Cristian

The happy grads with the pastor

and instructors

Class time

We taught handpainting using the colors of the WB and right as they started to practice some children showed up so they got to practice in real time. :)

Studying. We were all tired by the end.

Thank you so much for your prayers. The students were very grateful and learned a lot. As instructors we did also.It was so neat to watch these fairly new believers (from 8mo.- 1 1/2years in the faith) and their eagerness to learn. God blessed all involved and we are now looking ahead to the four more trainings programmed for this year!