Just because I couldn't speak the spanish language these last three months while in Central America didn't mean I couldn't show the kids that I loved them. Check out the list and photos below to see how we found creative ways to love these kiddos!
Remember… and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corin. 13:13)
Sword fights with broken tree branches or plant stalks
Look at the kid on the right laughing. We had a good time until the woman who had been pruning the trees gave us the evil eye. (location: poor village near Chinandenga, Nicaragua; Month 3)
Clown around
We dressed up as clowns for a children's church service in El Salvador (Month 1).
Hold hands
A lot of our outreach has consisted of going into poorer communities (villages, towns, barrios, colonies, etc.) and showing them the love of Jesus Christ. This little boy was adorable and befriended us gringos quite easily. It broke my heart when his family asked us to take him with us (as in permanently). They were quite serious, knowing the impoverished lifestyle he would likely grow up in. This particular community existed next to Chinandenga's garbage dump. Many of the people's livelihood is finding metal scraps and other items from the dump. This is how they survive. (location: poor village near Chinandenga, Nicaragua; Month 3)
Perform dramas and interact with the kids
My team performed a variety of skits, though we perfected the sheep drama (shown here).
Check out the smiles on these kids' faces! All at the expense of someone narrating the parable of the lost sheep from the book of Matthew and the rest of us 'baaaaa'ing. (Months 1-3)
Hold them. Hug them.
Church services, colonies and homes for the disabled, El Salvador and Honduras (Months 1 and 2)
Spend time with them, singing or playing
El Salvador and Nicaragua (Months 1 and 3)
Toss the frisbee. Play soccer.
El Salvador (Month 1)
Put them to work with you
Moving dirt piles on the church property, El Salvador (Month 1)
Let them play games on your Ipod
(though I'm not encouraging this one!)
Riding to church on the school bus, El Salvador (month 1)
Play music for them and/or together
Specific photo in mind not available =)
Play choo choo
At a care home for the disabled, El Salvador (Month 1)
Pinatas!
Children's church service in El Salvador (Month 1)
Support a former street kid's cookie fundraiser for his education and/or extra spending account.
This is Fernando. He used to be on the streets in a poor colony in Honduras.
Now, he's studying and pursuing a better life. He capitalized on us gringos and our desires for treats when we could get them. (at Zion's Gate ministry in Honduras, Month 2)
Simply wave to them
Honduras and Nicaragua (Months 2 and 3)
Share your food with them
Nicaragua, Month 3
Water fights
Church property , El Salvador
Make bracelets together
A colony in Tegucigalpa, Honduras (Month 2)
Take photos together
Church service, El Salvador (Month 1) and one of the orphanage's workers' daughters, Nicaragua (Month 3)
Feel free to expand this list in the comments section! You see, you don't need to speak the language to show someone that you love them! Remember one of God's greatest commandments is to love one another!
We are currently in transit to Thailand. We left Managua, Nicaragua yesterday. We've been en route via Miami, Los Angeles and Beijing (yes, China!). We fly out to Bangkok tonight and then a long bus ride awaits us in a few days from Bangkok to Chang Mai, where my team will be stationed for the next month. Please keep us in your prayers. Thanks for your continued love and support!