With a few dramatic glitches in the set up phase, 2:00 p.m. came around and the Parque Infantile was up and running! Little groups of parents and children came sauntering into the main “campo” in Aningas and, soon enough, the sandy area was crowded.

We pretty much sat back and watched the fun, until about 3:30 when we gave out ice cream bars and popcorn. Before the Parque closed, at 6:00, each child received a present (toys that were donated locally)!

There were lots of happy kids in Aningas yesterday.

Trampoline with the big slide in the background.

 Presents!

Bob Esponje!

Littlest kids’ slide. Joab with his little brother, Ian, at the top of the slide.

Gator fun

Soapy, slippery Soccer!

Dunk Tank!

Team of helpers: Jaise, Jillian, Shad, Layane, Natalia, Nadine, Rita, and her little sister, Ju.

Last year was a big hit with the Carnival-like party for the kids in Aningas. It’s a kind of Sunday School picnic, which rewards the kids that faithfully come out on Sunday nights and gives us a chance to make lots of new contacts with kids and their families.

Rita had found a place in Natal that rents those blow-up games/activities that the kids are crazy about, so yesterday we went to check it out. First, we took Jaise to the hospital for a treatment. Then, we headed across the city and the girls went in to get the prices. We have learned to keep our Gringo selves out of the picture when we want the normal price on anything! Working with a budget, the girls did an amazing job of choosing seven games.

Keeping in mind that, Lord willing, Shad and Jillian will be here to help us, we reserved the date for the end of December. The girls brainstormed having popcorn and ice cream and Jaise said she’d love to do a face painting table.

We had such a fun day together, thinking of all the things we can do to make this a celebration of our love for these kids and this community, and it’s a pleasure to share this happy news with you!

The light in the eyes [of him whose heart is joyful] rejoices the hearts of others, and good news nourishes the bones. (Proverbs 15:30 AMP)

Rita, Joab, Natalia, Caroline, Nadine, Layane, and Valda, right after their baptism.

The 14th of September, 2011 is a very special date for me. I was in my room praying to God because I realized that if I didn’t have Him in my life, I would have nothing. And so I asked The Lord Jesus to come into my life. He did! And He changed everything. Today I can say that I am happy because I have The Lord Jesus as my Savior. Today I am making a big commitment to Him, by being baptized.

I was saved when I repented of all my sins and all the awful things I had done and accepted Jesus as my Savior. Before Him, I didn’t have a heart, I had a stone in the place of my heart. When Jesus entered my life everything changed. Today I am made new in Christ Jesus.

I was seven years old when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I remember being so afraid that The Lord would return and my parents would go to heaven and I would be left behind. I was sitting in Gospel meeting, when the preacher read a verse that grabbed my attention:

Jesus said, “It is finished!”(John 19:30 NASB)

These were the last words of The Lord Jesus on the cross. I realized, right then, that everything was done for me and I accepted Him as my Savior. I’m so thankful to God that He saved me from Satan’s grasp 11 years ago!

When I was 16, I was in my house at night, looking for a book. I found a card that had the verse Romans 10:9 on it.

“If you confess with your mouth The Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

I already knew that verse, but when I was reading the card, it seemed like The Lord Jesus was speaking personally to me. (Go Natalia, confess with your mouth what your heart believes.) So in that moment I accepted Jesus as The Lord and Savior of my life and from that moment my life was changed. Thank You God for giving Your Son to die for my sins. Thank You God for letting me obey and testify this today.

Three years ago my mom was pregnant and the pregnancy was high risk. Every day I asked God for all to go well. On the 12 of December 2011, my sister was born, healthy and strong, against all odds. I thanked God and put my life in His hands. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior that very day and cried many tears. From that very day, my whole life has changed. God has blessed me so much and reminds me of His care for me. Every time I look at my sister, I remember the day that I was born into the family of God. Today and forward I will never be without Him.

Two years ago, I accepted Jesus, as the Savior of my life, because I believed that He died on the cross for me, and carried all my sin. Because of Him, I am accepted by God. Today the Holy Spirit within me assures me of my salvation. My baptism is a testimony of my obedience to God and a testimony to my family that I am a new person in Christ.

I gave my life to Jesus and I know that He is my Savior. He died on the cross and paid for my sins. In this baptism, I am testifying of the new life that I have in Christ Jesus.