What do free hugs, bubbles, stickers, and prayer have in common??? They were all apart of “Bubbles in the Park!” This is a ministry that one of my teammates came up with, and I didn’t participate until the end of our time in Guatemala at Leadership Development Weekend (which was held in Antigua). This two hours of ministry is one that I will always cherish!
Imagine this: there is a group of 15 ish white people in Central Park. These people have bubbles or signs that say “Abrazo gratis” (free hugs) or “Puedo orar para tu?” (Can I pray for you?). Some of those people are dancing. Other people are walking around the park. These include people selling different items, tourists, and other random people doing their own thing. There was no actual organization to this ministry, but in that lay the beauty of seeing God work in ways we might not even think possible.
During this time at the park, I blew bubbles for a baby and his dad. I had the opportunity to talk with a guy on vacation from Honduras. I was able to pray with several people. I gave and was given some hugs. Towards the end of our time in the park, I blew bubbles with several kids, the first being a little girl named Maria. She wanted to keep the bubbles, and at first I said no. I decided to give her and the other kids stickers instead. I brought several packs of stickers with me on the Race, just because, and I had felt like I should bring them to the park with me. They were a big hit with this group of kids! They would have taken all of them if I had let them. The girls loved Frozen and the boys loved Paw Patrol. One little boy took 4 stickers and stuck them all over his face! The older kids wanted them on paper, I assume to save for later. At the end of the “event”, we did give each of the kids a tube of bubbles, which they loved! Before we left the park, the kids took us to meet their parents and other siblings which were across the street.
I had so much fun that day in the park! I learned that simple things make for amazing ministry; you don’t need much to cause someone to smile. I, in turn, was blessed by the joy on people’s faces when we prayed for them or hugged them or gave them stickers.The simplicity of the “Bubbles in the Park” allowed us to see God’s presence; no one could deny that He was the one at work in the park that day!
