Sweet Beans

Just before Christmas, we had a "fun day" in Batey Prudencio where we've been working with some of the teenagers who live there.  We send a team of four out there twice a week.  Two English teachers and two who lead discussions on different topics related to faith.  We've had some very interesting discussions.  The group is improving in their language skills, and we're having fun getting to know one another. 

On this particular day, the group worked together to gather the ingredients for the traditional beverage they enjoy at Christmas time: Habituelas dulces.  This is beans, blended,  and then cooked with milk, sugar, cinnamon, raisins and a few other ingredients that I'm forgetting about. 

Here is Venisa cooking the beans over the fire.

Here are Belkis, Liliana and I watching Venisa cook the beans!

The guys having a good time in the shade.

As the beans were finishing up, we went inside for a special worship service.

Belkis shared a message encouraging the young people to put their trust in the Lord.

We wanted to do something fun together.  We decided to play pictionary, but since this was English class,
we could only guess using English words. 

We had a good time!

Finally, the beans were done! 

Sweet beans, Yum!  :)

It has been several months since we started working with this group.  We've made new friends, and we can see growth.  It has been fun getting to know them, learning about the Lord together and studying languages at the same time.  As you think of it, please join me in praying for these young people. 

The people in this community face many challenges associated with poverty.  While we can't solve the problems or take away the challenges, we can be their friends.  We can point them to the only One who saves us from our sins and the trials of this world and who gives us the hope of an eternity with Him in His Kingdom - where there is no pain, suffering, sickness or poverty.   We can point them to the One who knows all our needs, the One who loves us more than we can imagine and is there to comfort us and guide us if we will let Him. 

Praise God for sending His son, Jesus!  At whose name, one day, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.