Hidden Treasures

"Come with us  hidden treasures we are going to find.

Together we will travel beyond the sea

the Bible is the map, 

the Spirit will guide us.

 (Chorus) Hidden treasures that God left us,

Hidden treasures that Christ found. "

This was our theme song for the Vacation Bible School (VBS) we held at the Noah´s Ark church in July.  A group of seven teenagers from Christian Heritage Academy in Brooklyn, NY came with my brother and sister-in-law to help with the big event.  It was quite the cultural experience all around!  The Mexicans were amazed at the size of these kids (Mexicans tend to be petite and these kids were big and tall), their zeal, laughter, rowdiness and the inner rhythm they have when they sing.  The "Brooklynites" were overwhelmed by the heat, the bugs (we housed them out at Camp Kikomar on the beach), the amazing food Pati cooked for them as well as the humility and love of Pastor Armando and his wife Elianet.  

For a couple of months ahead of time we were preparing skits, backgrounds, Bible lessons and workshops at the church.  Noah´s Ark church has been struggling to be a positive influence in this community plagued by dysfunctional families, poverty, apathy or downright hostility to the things of God.  Our prayer was that we would begin to remove rocky soil and plant seeds that will grow into healthy plants for God´s Kingdom.

Each day we taught a different parable such as: The Pearl of Great Value, The Mustard Seed, The Sower and the seed, The Good Samaritan and The Good Shepherd.  We shared how God´s Kingdom is more valuable than anything here on this earth.  We are of great value for our King Jesus who gave His life to make us part of His Father´s Kingdom.  The lessons were complimented by games, crafts, a workshop on missions and other activities related to the theme.

It was exciting to have new children attend who either had never been to the church or whose parents had stopped attending. The last day we took children and parents for an outing at Camp  Kikomar where we held one more lesson taught by my sister-in-law Heather, played some games and swam in the ocean.

Saturday afternoon we had a "cultural exchange" at the camp for youth.  There was a good group of youth from local churches and non-Christians we had met in town.  My brother gave his testimony how as a youth, he decided to follow Christ over his best friend who leading him down the wrong path.  Luis, a young Mexican man helping at the camp, shared his testimony of growing up in a dysfunctional and alcoholic family. In desperation, he cried out to Christ for help and was rescued him from these vices.  Afterwards  we enjoyed hot dogs cooked over the fire and we taught them how to make "s-mores" (Have you ever made those?  Know what they are?!)

It was a blessed, fun and exhausting week.  The Brooklyn teens returned home challenged and excited by what they had seen and done.  Rocky soil was indeed removed and seeds were planted in the Ochoa neighborhood (where Noah´s Ark church is) and  in Tuxpan.  Now we wait, water the plants and trust God for the increase. 

Last Sunday we held the closing program in the church.  Elianet prepared one more parable where Jesus teaches how the angels will come at the end of the age to separate the good fish from the bad fish.  What kind of fish are you?  Have you given your life to  Christ so He can take you to His Kingdom?  Or you living life as you wish, with no regard for Him?  At the end of the service we gave out a gift bag to each child and extra prizes to those who had learned the six memory verses and parts of Psalm 145. Sunday evenings they will continue to have a children´s class and once school starts up again, we begin our Friday afternoons homework club.  Pray indeed that God will use all these activities to build His Kingdom in this church and neighborhood.