Olimpia's December Newsletter

Celebrating Christmas at 90 degrees Fahrenheit was really a new perspective for me, but praise the Lord that the blessing has nothing to do with the temperature or everyday details. This month of December was full of events, but I’ll just share with you some of them that really blessed me.

The night of the Bible Club presentation for parents the youth performed a drama which was written and directed by one of the teens. After that the youth had their Christmas party which ended with a sleep over at my apartment. I’ve been teaching the youth about rejecting projections and thinking with God. It blesses me so much to see them touched by what the Lord is doing.

Our Bible Club children had their Christmas presentation , and after that they all received gifts. I am so blessed that these children come faithfully every Saturday morning, especially since most of them are not from Christian families. They invited their parents, their parents came, and many received Christ.

On Sunday after service we had the traditional Christmas dinner at the church. As you can see, these people really know how to celebrate the birth of Christ.

The last, but not the least, event that happened this month was handing out the certificates to those who completed Bible Institute classes.

I really have great expectations for 2009; let us enlarge our tents (Isaiah 54:2), for the blessing is coming.

In Christ, Olimpia

Bible Institute Fall Semester

Olimpia Dragu (left) taught an English class. Receiving certificates are Emanuel, Stephanie, Gloria, and Jessica. Not pictured: Abigail, Adrian, and Noemi.

Eduardo Valle (left) taught a class on 1st, 2nd, 3rd John and Revelation. Students present to receive certificates were Osiris, Gloria, Stephanie, Olimpia, and Alfredo. P. Mike is on the right. Not pictured: Carlos and Abigail.

P. Mike (right) taught a Foundations class. The following students were present to receive their certificates: Lucy, Olimpia, Enrique, Gloria, Stephanie, and Rafael. Not pictured: Carlos and Gladys.

Congratulations to all - especially to Gloria and Stephanie who completed the trifecta!

Object Lessons

We include object lessons for the kids as a regular part of the church service. They range from the spectacular (exploding volcanos...swinging hammers...flying eggs) to the dramatic to the occasional flop. Here's Sue, presenting a drama about someone who came to church wanting everyone to notice that she was there, but who settled in for a nice nap after hearing the topic of the message. God urged her to not only listen, open her Bible, and take notes, but to APPLY the message right then and there.

Tuesday Morning Evangelism in the Park

The photos speak for themselves.

Actual Christmas Eve Service

We didn't expect many people on Christmas Eve as most are with families as Christmas Eve dinner is traditionally eaten at midnight. But we had a time of sweet fellowship with those who came: Mike's teaching, along with egg salad sandwiches and chips by candlelight. How good can it get?

Christmas Dinner

We had a delightful Christmas dinner and time of fellowship after the Sunday evening service, December 21st. There were presents for all. Thank you, Mark Cahill - who wrote and donated the books we gave to all the adults and teens for Christmas. Thanks to Toby Erwin and David Dalkey who donated the toys and toothpaste and such that were given out as well. Thanks also to Maria Burbano organized the dinner.
After supper we had kind of a praise sing-along-kareoke time. In the photo you see Emanuel on electric guitar, Raphael playing guitar, and Johnny and Sue singing I've Got Peace Like a River.

Natalie Marin and Mike. Pray for the recuperation of her eye. So far, the treatments don't seem to be doing much to straighten it out.

Myriam and Maria serving dinner.

Bible Club Christmas Presentation

The Bible Club leaders - Gloria Barriga and Olimpia Dragu - planned a presentation for the parents of the children in Bible Club. Gladys and Rafael Marin worked with the children to present a Nativity scene and some choreographed Christmas music. (As you can see in the photo, the choreography was not exactly synchronized, but was joyfully danced!) We had never seen most of the parents before this night, but they came to the presentation. We rejoice that the church was full of first-time visitors and that many parents were moved by the Spirit of God to receive Christ as their Savior.