Children's Day in Monterrey, Mexico

April 30th is one of the happiest and most anticipated days of the year in Mexico. It’s “Children’s Day”, a special celebration and treat just for kids. By far the most grateful children we know in our Santiago area are from the mountains where we donate food to the local Catholic food kitchen. Two neighboring La Familia mission centers worked for two months to organize and request donated items and funds to host a special fun event for those 250 children. Though stormy rain was predicted, it was a gorgeous, sunny day and an event that we and they will always remember!

The bare, run-down local park transformed into a colorful, decorated full-blown fiesta, with flying banners, eight large swinging piñatas, recorded and live music, a great puppet show, outdoor game and toy areas, and seating for the audience.  Several volunteer friends aided our 23 members of La Familia in serving and overseeing the crowds. About 500 mothers and children attended and each received a delicious free lunch, a bag of toys, a backpack with school supplies, clothing and shoes, a ball cap and lots of candies.

A very special thanks to our sponsors at Activated Ministries, who sponsored 500 of their beautiful children’s books, coloring books, magazines, Jesus posters and tracts for each mother and child! Receiving such special and meaningful books and literature as gifts was like a very big Christmas present to each of these families. Now both the mothers and children will remember the Christian message we shared with them that day. Thank you so much, dear sponsors and friends!

All almost 500 attendees prayed with us to receive the gift of eternal salvation, and everyone joined in for the action songs and games presented by our teen band. The mothers were so touched by all their families received that many hugged us warmly in gratitude. Many said it was certainly the best surprise ever and one they never expected.

One special highlight was when the twelve women volunteer cooks for the food kitchen were asked to come to the stage for special recognition. We presented them each with a very large gift bag of nice new kitchen accessories for their homes, as well as a new set of large cooking pots, with utensils, pitchers, containers, etc., for their local community food kitchen.

This event would not have been such a success without our dedicated missionary youth. Their zeal, dedication and outgoing concern made everything extra fun for the children. Everyone left with arms loaded with so many goodies. We all just kept smiling for hours; it was so much fun and so very rewarding! We’re already looking forward to next year’s Children’s Day!

Children’s Day at our Local Barrio Bible Study Group, May 3

Pinatas, candies, cakes, songs, games and gifts; this was the liveliest Bible Study class yet in our three year’s time! Twelve Family volunteers from “La Familia Internacional en Monterrey” hosted a second special Children’s Day Event for the 50 families in our local community, El Barrial, Santiago, Mexico.  The 50 mothers received their Bible class and their gifts of Activated magazines, while the Family teens worked apart to make a very special day of the Children’s Day activities. The special feature was the 100 children’s books, activity books, tracts and posters sponsored by Activated Ministries.

After inspirational action songs, the Family teen teachers each read the stories with small groups of the children, had some interactive discussion, then prayed with all the children to thank Jesus for His wonderful love and supply of these treasured items. Next came the piñatas, games, and snacks. These precious families felt so loved and appreciated to receive such beautiful materials. A very special thank you to Activated Ministries for their kind sponsorship.

 
Centro De Salud, May 1

“La Familia Internacional en Monterrey” has been donating medical equipment to the main office of Centro de Salud, Santiago, N.L. for 3 years. This large clinic offers medical help to underprivileged and low income families from the entire area, including those from the nearby Sierra mountains.  We sometimes volunteer there for special events for needy children and offer counsel along with donated stuffed toys. Thanks for the sponsorship of Activated Ministries, the Centro de Salud of Santiago received two sponsored sets of the excellent children’s “Treasure Attic” video series for this year’s vaccination drive. The head physician will take the second set to the Sierras where the Centro de Salud is opening a new medical branch to assist those who cannot get transportation down the mountain.