If you have followed this blog from the beginning, you know that we have had a job change within Vida Nueva. Adam and I struggled with what kind of job title to give ourselves, after a couple of conversations we settled on “life enrichers”.

One of the things that we miss the most being in self-quarantine is that we no longer have weekly Bible studies on Wednesday with the kids of Vida Nueva. They are all currently at their homes with their families, because school is out.

We started the Bible studies the last week in January by having a meeting for the kids to find out what they were interested in studying. Noah, Jonah, and David were the answers given when we asked. One young lady, Cristina, also asked to study the book of Matthew. We couldn’t say no to teaching the kids about Jesus, so that’s what we have been doing! I’ll share more about that in a minute.

In addition to providing weekly Bible study, where the kids usually come to our house, we go to Vida Nueva at least once a week to do life with Jenrri, Glenda, and the kids. They occasionally come over to our home at other times as well. Our new job as life enrichers includes but is not limited to: overseeing bike races, providing snacks, taking the kids home sometimes, making birthday cakes, leading Bible studies, playing games, giving out candy, starting water fights, teaching the kids to pray, playing lots of fútbol(soccer), helping them clean their dorm rooms, and every once in a while we get to take care of them at Vida Nueva, as well.

Our Bible studies follow a similar schedule, but my favorite study so far was the time we taught them the parable of the Good Samaritan, so that is the one I’ll tell you about. We always start our time reviewing the Bible verses I have been teaching them. So far those are: John 1:1-2, Romans 3:23, and Romans 6:23. Then, we have one of the kids open in prayer and Adam takes over with Bible study. After the Bible study is over, we play a game that may or may not review the lesson. In the case of the Good Samaritan lesson, we drew character names out of a hat and acted out the story as it was retold. It was very fun! Time permitting, after our game, we eat a snack. On this particular day, during snack, we had a trivia type review game of all the lessons the kids had learned in February and March. After we are all finished, we have free play until it is time to go.

We had a pizza party at the end of February because the kids all knew their Bible verses from memory. We had talked about taking them out for ice cream or to the movies at the end of March as an incentive when they, again, knew their Bible verses. Then COVID-19 shut-downs happened and the kids all went to their homes. We miss them terribly. They asked us, before they left, if we could continue having Bible study, but then Parras shut down so we couldn’t leave town to get the kids. Now we continue to pray for them and greatly anticipate the day that we can again hug their necks and share a Bible study together!