Celebrating Children's Day in Guasave
- Ryan Van Deusen
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Hello friends!
We just wrapped up the last day of celebrating Children's Day in Guasave. It started Thursday April 30th with the three younger ones celebrating at school. Their school day started late and ended early, getting to wear whatever they chose, playing games, being served free pizza and dessert, receiving gifts and lots of candy, and singing karoake. One of the teachers sent us a video of Jubilee singing Your Way's Better by Forrest Frank. It was sweet to hear her witnessing to her classmates and teachers by song without even realizing it. When they came home, it was time to celebrate Virtue's 14th birthday. Her health of continuing to be seizure-free now for more than 7 months is an amazing gift in an of itself. What a difference it makes for everyone to have health so that we aren't hindered in our abilty to serve others. And yet, it certainly solidifies my understanding that God truly chooses/permits the trials and sufferings of His children.
The next day we once again did a Friday night outreach in Palos Verdes, bringing goody bags for all the kids and youth, homemade corn dogs (not something you can find here unless you make it yourself), balloons, and bibles. After inviting everyone to help themselves to the corn dogs, the younger kids began playing while the older ones (mainly teenage boys) began talking to Ryan. After the younger ones had their fill of running around and playing balloon games, I pulled the younger girls aside and started sharing with them my own personal story of how I came to give my life to Jesus at 7 years old, at how I had to face my mother's death at 10, and how my relationship with God got me through it. Even Jubilee mentioned afterwards how attentive they were. After explaining to them what Christ did for them on the cross and how to pray to receive him, I asked if they wanted me to pray for them. And pray I did, entrusting them to the Lord, to do that work in them, bringing them to the knowledge of Him, of being born of His Spirit and having eternal life, of being able to truly fulfill the purposes He has for each of them, and that their own families would come to the knowledge of Him. After explaining to them the need to begin reading the bible, how praying was them speaking to God, and them reading the bible was the way they could listen to God and make sure they would know how to follow him and not just someone's religion be it a priest or pastor, they each grabbed a bible before they got picked up and went home.
Today, Sunday, Ryan taught from 1 Peter 2. With the kids pulled aside in the cafe, I read the first few verses, having them agree with me that newborn babies only need milk to grow at the beginning and how in the same manner, we too need spiritual milk to grow. After going more into detail of what that means, they wrote out the verse, drew a picture explaining it and several were able to memorize for a small prize. I have to say I am so grateful for the strength God gives me, and the joy to see these children beginning to understand. Just today I was told of how two of them are often sent to school without having any food (and here public school for them begins at 1pm and ends about 6pm and meals are not free) and treated harshly by their mom and stepdad. Another set of the kids are the grandkids of the older gentleman who got baptized a couple months ago. We are grateful the mom has started coming and bringing her kids. The three-year-old seems to have severe ADHD and we've yet to have him sit through a service without throwing tantrums and toys around. But each time I'm tempted to despair, I remember Jesus telling His disciples, "Suffer the little children to come unto me," and it's where the rubber meets the road: living out the gospel even with undisciplined, cellphone-addicted little kids. We handed them candy bags at the end of the service and then headed out to the river to let the kids play in the water.
This Saturday we are planning an outreach for mothers. The pastor's wife that we met with the other month will come and give her testimony as will I. We appreciate your prayers that the Lord would draw the women to come, and do that work in them that only He can do. That we would walk in obedience and abide in Him, so that no opportunity would be lost.
Thank you for your love; the support you give financially and your prayers!! May the Lord truly bring about the abundant harvest and allow us all to rejoice together at the reaping of souls!
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