On Saturday, March 23, 2024, Amelia held her first Bible Club for our church neighborhood. We spent days passing out invitations and tracts to the houses and people on ALL of the surrounding blocks. We were not sure how many would come, but we prepared a fun day for them in anticipation. Mark built a corn hole game (big hit) and Amelia prepared a bunch of games, a lesson, and Gospel Bags, while I did my favorite thing - the candy toss! In the end, we had 14 children show up and participate. Praise the Lord!
This event was useful on so many levels. We saw our church unite together to do good and reach others for Christ. One of our newest couples even brought a car load of children. One of the single moms who has been absent and out of church for almost a year, showed up with her little boy. What a surprise! I was so thankful to see her again and I was able to spend some time talking with her about her problems last night after the Bible Club. She said, “Mrs. Sheri, my life is just so upside down.” I said, “Well, you know what my response to this will be… you need God!” She agreed and I’m hoping she will be in services today at church. It is also so rewarding to see one of our own children giving their life to serve God full-time on the mission field. I watched Amelia as she led the event yesterday, and saw that delightful smile on her face as she sang and taught the children about Jesus. I know God is going to bless her efforts and lead her as she follows Him on this path of being a missionary. I am one happy mama today! As we prepared for this Bible Club, we wanted to give away something that would be useful to the children. Of course, we automatically knew we would give each one a Gospel bag, but we wanted to have a couple of special prizes and we decided on a school backpack filled with school supplies for one girl and one boy. You would have thought we were giving away a million dollars! They were so excited when they saw it all. I was shocked at the prices of notebooks ($50 Reais/$11 USD) and backpacks ($150 Reais/$35 USD) These families who live on one salary of $1,400 Reais or less, can’t afford to purchase these items for all their children. One mom present yesterday, told me they just buy one notebook and the all the children have to share it. I think we will continue looking for ways to help them with school materials and always with a Bible. The little boy who won the backpack is pictured above and I think his smile says it all! We will be holding these Bible Clubs once a month at our church, and eventually in other neighborhoods. If you would like to be a contributor to Amelia’s efforts to prepare food, give away school supplies, and print invitations, please let her know ([email protected]) because she is going to need the support. I am using the money I earn from my books to help cover costs as well, and when we go to Florida for Wyatt’s wedding in May, we are going to make a supply run at the Dollar Tree for erasers, pencils, notebooks, and pens so we can bring them back here for future events. We’ll take advantage of our suitcase space and load them down with supplies for these little ones in need! We tried our best to shine the light of God’s love in Lages yesterday. I know it was not in vain, and the Scripture given out, along with the Gospel tracts, will make an eternal impact in the homes represented. I have no doubt that this avenue of reaching children for the Lord will continue to grow and bring people to the Lord. Pray for us as we are going to be adding a Teen Night and a Family Night in the near future at our church. I looked around at the faces of our members as they each did their part yesterday, and everyone was smiling and happy. I believe they enjoyed serving the Lord as much as I did. It was all kinds of awesome. Praise the LORD! Only God.
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