by elfaro | Jun 2, 2013 | Bitácora, Blog
Today El Faro is having the combined Bible Club in the afternoon. ‘El Club Conjunto’’, as it is called in Spanish, is when all three clubs from the area come together to have a special day with special guests. It is a time to do something different from what is done each week in Club all the while still focusing on the Bible. Past ‘Club Conjunto’s’ have included a fair, a puppet and song show, magicians, and dance companies.
The Chldren’s Club has come along way and it makes us reflect on where it all started. David and Zita Vasquez had recently arrived to El Faro to serve as directors in 2006 when they had a desire to do a vacation bible school. It was a huge success and after the school ended they knew they needed to do something to help the kids grow spiritually.
We chatted with Zita Vasquez to know more about the Club.
Q. What is the mission of the club?
A. The mission of the club is that the children know more about the Word of God. That they know that God loves them and responds to their prayers.
Q. How has the club changed since it began in 2007?
A. One of the big changes is that it now has an official name-Exploradores. ‘Exploradores’ means Exploreres and each week the children are guided to explore the Bible and apply it to their lives through the different Bible characters and lessons. The club has also worked with different materials and we have created a year-long lesson plan that has to do with values. We have been able to share our material with other ministries and we are in the process of creating a new one.
Q. What are your dreams and plans for the Club?
A. Our dream for the club is to see the children become adults who transform their communities through lives filled with the presence of God and that this raises up a healthy community, one with many opportunites to grow. We also hope that families will be transfored through the power of the Word. The Club is growing and we pray that it can go to many more villages and that the children can know the Word of God in a nice and fun way.
Q. What have you learned through being a leader of the Club?
A. I have learned that many times you don’t see a fast change in the children, but the person who see the changes and growth is the Lord . He knows each one of them and knows when each one will shine. Sometimes it is hard for people to understand this, but with patience and prayer the children grow have come so far and we believe that they will be the transformers of their communities.
Club Exploradores meets every Sunday from 3-5 pm and we would love for you to pray for this growing ministry.
by elfaro | Apr 5, 2013 | Sin Categoría
To understand why my husband and I came to El Faro you’d first have to have a brief knowledge of our background. My husband, Osmar was born and raised in the Peruvian Amazon in the city of Iquitos. Like most Iquitanians, my husband was raised very poor and to this day he is still the only person in his family who has made it out of destitution. Even though my husband by the local standards is living a wealthy lifestyle, he hasn’t forgotten where he came from. Three years ago the desire in his heart to help others blossomed into a small gathering of kids in his mother’s humble bamboo and grass roofed home in the stricken community. It’s very simple, he went to love on them and they came. He started sharing the bible, teaching them to pray, played games and gave food and drink. Today our ministry, The Sunshine Kids Club, now has 160 members all children from 6 months of age to 16 years old.
What are 2 people to do with 160 kids?… that’s where El Faro comes in. Osmar and I heard about El Faro some time ago and that they were searching for people to come and work with the children of Punta de Palma and surrounding communities. At the time we didn’t feel God had told us to leave our ministry and our kids in Peru, but now our 13 yr olds are now 16 yr olds and so our ministry and the programs it offers also need to adapt to capture our older kids attention. So this year God made it possible for us to come on a “training expedition” if you will, to broaden our minds and our vision for our children home in Peru, and indeed we have truly been encouraged beyond measure. Upon arrival before stepping foot off the boat, El Faro is beautiful to behold. Not only externally is it a paradise on earth with its brightly colored tucans and palm trees but the family connection with the staff and teams is by far its greatest attribute. You will not go unappreciated, feel useless despite your talents or lack thereof, you simply feel at home among family and dear friends.
From my very first church service here I received an answer to one of my greatest cries. You see, we have been praying over this piece of real estate since ’09 for our kids ministry. This building is huge and as it has been sitting abandoned for some 20 years needs lots of repairs, but none the less it would be perfect. But to be honest a project of this magnitude is intimidating to undertake. And for the last 4 years I haven’t truly believed that God would give, or do something that big through me. And the more time went on the more I believed it was too late for our dreams, for this vision of ministry… BUT here God gave me a word. “IT’S NOT TOO LATE! AND IT’S NOT TOO BIG FOR ME!” Since this word we have new desires, plans, and visions seeping out from within. We can mirror the tutoring program, soccer academy and kids camp here at El Faro. We want to have a dance and drama club. We want to have a princess ball so girls know how their Daddy in heaven treasures them and self-defense classes for the men that don’t. We want to do all this and more. What a renewing of hope. And this word will stay with me until He has completed His good work through me! He will provide ALL we need, all we have to do is believe and obey. For me El Faro has inspired me to allow myself to be inspired more greatly by God.
Thank you David Vasquez and El Faro staff for housing and feeding us, for investing your time and prayers in us and for sharing the many many laughs. And thank you All For Him and Hearts In Motion for your love and our transportation.
Blessings
Nicole & Osmar
To see more of their amazing ministry in Peru, Sunshine Kids Club, go to their facebook HERE
by elfaro | Apr 5, 2013 | Bitácora, Blog
To understand why my husband and I came to El Faro you’d first have to have a brief knowledge of our background. My husband, Osmar was born and raised in the Peruvian Amazon in the city of Iquitos. Like most Iquitanians, my husband was raised very poor and to this day he is still the only person in his family who has made it out of destitution. Even though my husband by the local standards is living a wealthy lifestyle, he hasn’t forgotten where he came from. Three years ago the desire in his heart to help others blossomed into a small gathering of kids in his mother’s humble bamboo and grass roofed home in the stricken community. It’s very simple, he went to love on them and they came. He started sharing the bible, teaching them to pray, played games and gave food and drink. Today our ministry, The Sunshine Kids Club, now has 160 members all children from 6 months of age to 16 years old.
What are 2 people to do with 160 kids?… that’s where El Faro comes in. Osmar and I heard about El Faro some time ago and that they were searching for people to come and work with the children of Punta de Palma and surrounding communities. At the time we didn’t feel God had told us to leave our ministry and our kids in Peru, but now our 13 yr olds are now 16 yr olds and so our ministry and the programs it offers also need to adapt to capture our older kids attention. So this year God made it possible for us to come on a “training expedition” if you will, to broaden our minds and our vision for our children home in Peru, and indeed we have truly been encouraged beyond measure. Upon arrival before stepping foot off the boat, El Faro is beautiful to behold. Not only externally is it a paradise on earth with its brightly colored tucans and palm trees but the family connection with the staff and teams is by far its greatest attribute. You will not go unappreciated, feel useless despite your talents or lack thereof, you simply feel at home among family and dear friends.
From my very first church service here I received an answer to one of my greatest cries. You see, we have been praying over this piece of real estate since ’09 for our kids ministry. This building is huge and as it has been sitting abandoned for some 20 years needs lots of repairs, but none the less it would be perfect. But to be honest a project of this magnitude is intimidating to undertake. And for the last 4 years I haven’t truly believed that God would give, or do something that big through me. And the more time went on the more I believed it was too late for our dreams, for this vision of ministry… BUT here God gave me a word. “IT’S NOT TOO LATE! AND IT’S NOT TOO BIG FOR ME!” Since this word we have new desires, plans, and visions seeping out from within. We can mirror the tutoring program, soccer academy and kids camp here at El Faro. We want to have a dance and drama club. We want to have a princess ball so girls know how their Daddy in heaven treasures them and self-defense classes for the men that don’t. We want to do all this and more. What a renewing of hope. And this word will stay with me until He has completed His good work through me! He will provide ALL we need, all we have to do is believe and obey. For me El Faro has inspired me to allow myself to be inspired more greatly by God.
Thank you David Vasquez and El Faro staff for housing and feeding us, for investing your time and prayers in us and for sharing the many many laughs. And thank you All For Him and Hearts In Motion for your love and our transportation.
Blessings
Nicole & Osmar
To see more of their amazing ministry in Peru, Sunshine Kids Club, go to their facebook HERE
by elfaro | Nov 6, 2012 | Sin Categoría
We are so delighted to welcome back our dear friends from Family Bible Church in Indiana. This is their fourth consecutive year at El Faro and we are so happy to see people that have are returning as well as those who are here for the first time. Last year they brought a team with the youngest member that we have ever had…this year they beat their own record and we are delighted to have a five year old here, Blake, serving with his family.
This is our first team to bring over to Punta Manabique and were are blessed to have made a good first impression. We went the first day with two dentists, an eye doctor, and a women’s doctor. In addition, we set up our famous photo studio, played soccer with the kids, colored, painted nails, and make wordless book bracelets.
by elfaro | Nov 6, 2012 | Sin Categoría
The week of Easter, or Holy Week as it is called here in Guatemala, is one of our busiest weeks of the year at El Faro. We are completely booked a good six months before and so we are always completely full. This area of Guatemala is a good location to come on vacation because of the white-sand beaches, tropical surroundings, hot weather, and the big beautiful ocean. Families come from all over the country to come and spend time together and we always have a great time meeting new people and playing games. In addition, a Nazarene church from Guatemala City comes with 125 people to have a family retreat.
Our week began on Palm Sunday when Meagan and Luis Pedro decorated the chapel with palm leaves and created a intimate atmosphere where we worshipped, read from the Bible, and took of Holy Communion together. It was a beautiful time and it set the atmosphere for the week as we reflected on what Christ did for us on the cross.
Katie Barnes, a Youth for Christ leader from Indiana, visited El Faro with the Family Bible Church and left us a booklet of group games. During Holy Week we played a couple of the new games with all the families that were here and had a great time getting to know one another and laughing until our stomach hurts.
As is tradition, we painted Easter eggs with the children at El Faro that we hid on Easter Sunday. Because we live in such a humid area, most of the Easter eggs began to sweat which left many of our hands stained and quite colorful.
By the time that Sunday afternoon came, there was no one left at El Faro except for the staff. We joined together for a Easter Dinner complete with ham, potatoes, salad, and Karlita’s famous jello. It was a beautiful time together to reflect not only the week that we had with new friends and serving lots of people from the Nazarene Church, but also to reflect on the true meaning of Easter and what it means to our ministry.
All of us at El Faro are very different. We come from different families, places, and even countries, but the one thing that we all have in common is Jesus in our hearts. We hope all of our friends had a wonderful Easter.
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