One Wednesday, 60 kids along with parents and grandparents, learned about the courage and strength God gave Queen Esther to face evil Haman

For the twelve members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church from Edmond, Oklahoma, Vacation Bible School (VBS) in an all-Spanish speaking community was not a new experience.  For several years, they have taken the Word and love of God to children in Guatemala, but with the Covid pandemic still causing difficulties, the team decided to find a mission closer to home than to cancel for a second year in a row.

Children colored crowns and glued on gem stones to remember they are chosen children of God

“I was in seminary when I learned about Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) and the work they do in El Paso and across the border in Juarez,” Pastor Justin Bangert explained during the first informational ZOOM meeting, “So we wanted to see how we could partner with them for the purpose of bringing God’s Word to children.”

The team prepared for months, meeting every month since February to develop lessons, crafts meant to amplify, and a snack to fit the theme.  They learned to sing Spanish songs, and one of their team members turned the theme verse of Joshua 1:9 into a song to help the children memorize it.  Their plan was to share God’s Word with 150 kids, and a lot of time, energy and financial resources were invested prior to the team’s arrival at YLM on October 9^th, all of them ready to minister to the community around San Pablo Lutheran Church.

Skits to share the Bible story kept children involved as they helped

Despite the weeks of advertising the 5-day event to the nearby low-income housing development and the surrounding community, two little girls showed up the first two days.  The team gave them all the attention, without any sign of disappointment or discouragement.  These two little girls enjoyed the skits, games, crafts, music, and the team’s eagerness to share God’s love with them.

“We knew there had to be a change direction,” Karla, YLM’s Business Manager, explained regarding the change of venue for this mission team, “We discussed possible alternatives and after praying, approached the team leaders.”

Team members got down on the ground to help children cut out crosses and hearts to help them learn of Jesus’ love for them

John Grunow’s excited response to the suggestion of taking the team to La Santa Biblia in Anapra for the last three days of the week was heartwarming, and the presence of over sixty children plus teenagers and adults on Wednesday morning testified of God’s faithfulness going before the team in preparation for the works they were to do there.

Those last three mornings at La Santa Biblia had the team of twelve adults sharing God’s love and the strength and courage He gives His children to over 180 total.  What a joy to watch all the little children, along with their parents, grandparents, and older siblings, singing and dancing to Joshua 1:9, coloring crowns after learning of Esther’s courage against the plots of evil Haman, and shaking their toy maracas in praise of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

“We lavished all we had on the two little girls,” John shared in a devotion he wrote for Holy Trinity’s presentation of their mission trip through YLM, “As it turns out, God had us ‘cast our nets’ on the other side of the ‘border’ where there was a catch of ‘fish’…and we lavished all on them.”

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
~Ephesians 2:10~