February 2011

Here is our February Newsletter. Click on each page to open. Then scroll down to see more photos of our Banana Race to conclude our study of "Fruits of the Spirit."

Banana Races!!
After studying the Fruits of the Spirit for 2 weeks, the kid's club made banana cars to race!


The kids got to decorate their banana, add wheels (most were 2-liter bottle caps, some cookies, some cardboard.) Then they practiced on a ramp to make sure their car would roll!


Abraham brought a backpack full of car parts to add to his banana. He worked in "secret" decorating his car. His had wheels off a toy car. He won "Most Creative." (We had another parent come to be our judge - they all worked so hard on their banana cars!!!)

Lacy making sure her banana could roll. She used pipecleaners on the back to make flames. Must have worked - she had the fastest car!!

Vasti used scissors to cut the peel of her banana - not sure what her stategy was but it sure made for a "gooey" car!!

Noah used Tinker toys and wheels from a toy truck. He had to use 2 lanes when it was his turn to race. It was speedy but wobbly!

Angel was the winner in his first round. Unfortunately, after that his banana didn't move on the track for his next 2 races - not sure what happened!

Alia's banana car turned into a Banana Tricycle! She tried turning the banana upside down to make more of a VW Banana. Didn't work so well for speed - but sure looked cute!!!

Karen decorated with pom poms and pipe cleaners. She had cookie wheels to begin with but switched to caps - cookies just didn't work as well.

Brandon won Most Biblical Banana for adding a bible verse to his car. (Not sure what Molly is frowning at in the picture!!)

Gracia and Molly had fun making their cars but weren't all that interested in hanging around to see who won each time their cars were in a race. Chasing each other was much more fun!!


Uciel had a good time laughing at his car as it crashed!

And they're off .......

The Final Race!!!! Lacy vs. Vasti

Persecution in Mexico

This month we met Pastor Diaz, his wife, and a couple from their church. They are from a small village of about 100 people, 3 hours outside of Oaxaca City where we live. They have been thrown out of their village and are waiting for help from authorities to be able to return safely to their village. (You can read their whole story in our Feb. Newsletter.) Here is a blog that was started to record their story. http://intoleranciaoaxaca.blogspot.com/?spref=fb and a link to translate the page - http://translate.google.com/translate_buttons




A meeeting that took place in Oaxaca City with officials.




While discussing this with another friend here in Oax., she mentioned another type of persecution that Christians here in Oaxaca are faced with. Churches (in rural villages) are often told they must participate fully in all village parties and festivities. They must contribute money to the Catholic Church for their festival of saints and other work projects. If they do not comply, their water and electricity will be shut off.



We are told that there are currently about 10 villages around Oaxaca City that Christians are being persecuted, threatened, or not able to meet together. Laws in Mexico give everyone freedom of religion.



Voice of the Martyrs, which tracks persecuted Christians around the world, lists Chiapas, Mexico (the state to the east of Oaxaca) as a "Persecuted State." You can read more about it at this link - http://www.persecution.com/public/restrictednations.aspx?clickfrom=bWFpbl9tZW51