Encuentro was held June 30 – July 14, 2018 in Guatemala and Costa Rica. It impacted the lives of hundreds of people, from those in the communities where the participants served to the volunteers. El Salvadorian Diana Gonzales, 23, shared her testimony of her time ministering in Guatemala.
“In the first week of Encuentro and Timothy, I served in the New Vision Church of the Nazarene along with a group from Kentucky. A large part of our work was a children’s Bible School where we ministered to approximately 70 children.
In one of our devotionals, someone said that stories connect people, and it is important to know someone’s story to truly appreciate them. Obviously, it’s not to judge them but to understand them. Exactly that happened with some of the kids. They were restless and it was impossible to keep them quiet and attentive. They always wanted to socialize and distract everyone else. Many of them were being raised by grandmothers because their mothers had abandoned them, including going to other countries. Others had fathers who had died for one reason or another.
During the week we did our work, teaching the Bible, memorizing verses, games and snacks, but to be honest, I didn’t feel like I was having a great impact on the emotional life of these children. But on the last day one of the children came up to me sobbing and so sad because we had to go. He told me, ‘You are like my sister.’ It broke my heart and I wanted to spend more time with him. I wanted the chance to continue being a part of his life because his need for love was so great.
I pray that he and all the children we ministered to would be held by Jesus, and that they would feel his love and protection.”
Source: Dr. Milton Gay, Nazarene Youth International Regional Coordinator, Mesoamerica Region
