Hi everyone! I am so excited to share with you what we were able to experience today. God has moved in some incredible ways and it is so amazing that He is gracious enough to include us in making disciples and getting a taste of heaven worshiping cross culturally!
Today (5/19/26) we had the privilege of visiting a more mature compassion site called Paradise Church, that has been for over a decade. It was an honor to get to see what God has been doing in that community with such faith filled people and we had the blessing of joining in for a day! This site had a survival section for newborns and places for students all the way up to 18 years as well as an extended program to help support people who had graduated the program.
When we arrived at the site we were welcomed x XP with beautiful decorations, the staff and many students! The pastor was introduced to us and told us about their churches mission to make leaders and stronger community members out of every person because we all have the potential for it! After this the church presented the different parts of their ministry to us and it was amazing. We first were told about heart behind these programs, how each one has a specific need in the community that the church is working to meet. The first part of the presentation that they gave was from the youth portion called Kings Castle, their youth program. This demonstration was provided by their student leaders who work with the younger kids and they taught us an incredible dance to a song that will be stuck in our heads the rest of the trip! We also got to meet 5 students who had graduated with a certificate from one of the three various technical programs they have, carpentry, welding, and electrical work. The dance ministry at the church showed us one of their dances they do at the end of a service and we got to meet each staff member and hear a little bit about their respective roles.
During the next part of our visit, we were given a tour of where each amazing things happen! We were shown the survival site similar to the site yesterday where babies and mothers play and learn. Next we were shown the 3-5 year old classes and each student had their own Bible with pictures in Spanish! The church members also showed us how students communicate with their sponsor. They explained that students write letters to their sponsor with their parents until about 11 years old and then are able to write on their own! Each letter is written in a journal the students get to keep their memories in and they are each able to print out the letters they receive from their sponsors to keep! We also got to hear about the other various ministries and partners that work with Paradise Church. Next we were shown a station where girls and moms can learn to make bracelets to sell and then shown the soccer field that is open to the community! We then got to see the technical school with a workshop for teaching the students downstairs and upstairs more classes for students. Additionally, we got to see the building that is in progress to be a daycare! The women who make the food at the site made us delicious cupcakes and taught us how to make them like they do with moms and daughters! After this we had the opportunity to eat lunch with some of the staff and get to know them! Next we were able to visit the homes of some of the students in the program and Hanna was able to experience the gentle push of the Holy Spirit to comfort and hug a girl after a time of prayer in her home visit! Hanna felt the girl relax and then was able to pray for her, experiencing and sharing the love God has graciously provided for us!
After our home visits we had a rest portion in our day and many of us enjoyed playing games in the pool at our hotel! We had dinner at a nice Italian inspired restaurant where many students pasta or steak and we were able to say thank you to the chef! After dinner we had a sweet time of debrief where we talked about how we saw God moving or showing up for us personally today! The overwhelming consensus from today was awe and encouragement from the bold and expectant faith they have at Paradise Church! One story that really impacted us was that the church, located in a place active with gang activity, had prayed to purchase a plot of land behind the church but were unable to because of gang activity. A few days after many members of the church fasted for 21 days and covered the permitter of the church with prayers, there was a wind storm and later a heavy rain that destroyed the building on the land. The property owner said he had no choice but to sell and now that part of the church is the soccer field! Additionally the church is still asking God to move and has left a portion of their wall unpainted asking God for the land next door to turn into a senior center! The bold faith and assurance in Gods movement in the church was inspiring and we are so grateful we were able to be encouraged and encourage Paradise Church today!
¡Gloria a Dios!
Today (5/19/26) we had the privilege of visiting a more mature compassion site called Paradise Church, that has been for over a decade. It was an honor to get to see what God has been doing in that community with such faith filled people and we had the blessing of joining in for a day! This site had a survival section for newborns and places for students all the way up to 18 years as well as an extended program to help support people who had graduated the program.
When we arrived at the site we were welcomed x XP with beautiful decorations, the staff and many students! The pastor was introduced to us and told us about their churches mission to make leaders and stronger community members out of every person because we all have the potential for it! After this the church presented the different parts of their ministry to us and it was amazing. We first were told about heart behind these programs, how each one has a specific need in the community that the church is working to meet. The first part of the presentation that they gave was from the youth portion called Kings Castle, their youth program. This demonstration was provided by their student leaders who work with the younger kids and they taught us an incredible dance to a song that will be stuck in our heads the rest of the trip! We also got to meet 5 students who had graduated with a certificate from one of the three various technical programs they have, carpentry, welding, and electrical work. The dance ministry at the church showed us one of their dances they do at the end of a service and we got to meet each staff member and hear a little bit about their respective roles.
During the next part of our visit, we were given a tour of where each amazing things happen! We were shown the survival site similar to the site yesterday where babies and mothers play and learn. Next we were shown the 3-5 year old classes and each student had their own Bible with pictures in Spanish! The church members also showed us how students communicate with their sponsor. They explained that students write letters to their sponsor with their parents until about 11 years old and then are able to write on their own! Each letter is written in a journal the students get to keep their memories in and they are each able to print out the letters they receive from their sponsors to keep! We also got to hear about the other various ministries and partners that work with Paradise Church. Next we were shown a station where girls and moms can learn to make bracelets to sell and then shown the soccer field that is open to the community! We then got to see the technical school with a workshop for teaching the students downstairs and upstairs more classes for students. Additionally, we got to see the building that is in progress to be a daycare! The women who make the food at the site made us delicious cupcakes and taught us how to make them like they do with moms and daughters! After this we had the opportunity to eat lunch with some of the staff and get to know them! Next we were able to visit the homes of some of the students in the program and Hanna was able to experience the gentle push of the Holy Spirit to comfort and hug a girl after a time of prayer in her home visit! Hanna felt the girl relax and then was able to pray for her, experiencing and sharing the love God has graciously provided for us!
After our home visits we had a rest portion in our day and many of us enjoyed playing games in the pool at our hotel! We had dinner at a nice Italian inspired restaurant where many students pasta or steak and we were able to say thank you to the chef! After dinner we had a sweet time of debrief where we talked about how we saw God moving or showing up for us personally today! The overwhelming consensus from today was awe and encouragement from the bold and expectant faith they have at Paradise Church! One story that really impacted us was that the church, located in a place active with gang activity, had prayed to purchase a plot of land behind the church but were unable to because of gang activity. A few days after many members of the church fasted for 21 days and covered the permitter of the church with prayers, there was a wind storm and later a heavy rain that destroyed the building on the land. The property owner said he had no choice but to sell and now that part of the church is the soccer field! Additionally the church is still asking God to move and has left a portion of their wall unpainted asking God for the land next door to turn into a senior center! The bold faith and assurance in Gods movement in the church was inspiring and we are so grateful we were able to be encouraged and encourage Paradise Church today!
¡Gloria a Dios!