Mano con Mano Staff Christmas Party

1. CROSS WALKS Stories of faith, hope, & love . . . . . . from Gerry & Barb Normand serving in San José el Yalú, Guatemala with Mano con Mano. Mano con Mano Staff Christmas Party • Prior to 2011, the annual staff party was normally held in el Yalú. When he heard last year that the el Yalú staff rarely traveled or had not visited sites in their home country, we decided to try something new and went to an ecological park for the day. It was a HUGE hit. • This year we thought we’d visit Iximche, an archaeological site in the western highlands of Guatemala. The new capital of the Kaqchikel Maya kingdom had been established for only about 50 years before the arrival of the Spanish, who would enlist the Kaqchikels as allies in their quest to conquer the K’iche’ and other Mayan peoples. • Iximche is the most easily accessible of Guatemala’s highland Mayan ceremonial sites and is an interesting place to learn more about the Mayan culture and history. Thanks to the guide and the small museum located on the grounds, the staff learned so much about their rich heritage this day, and asked many questions during their visit to the ruins. • A Mano con Mano fiesta navideña would NOT be complete without some good-natured activities and competitions. These included: pin the nose on Rudolph, women’s scavenger hunt, men’s lime eating contest, marshmallow spitting contest, and many others. Everyone had a great time and all were quite famished for lunch. • Prior to serving a delicious fried chicken lunch, we thanked the staff and their families for their dedication and hard work during the year. • We also reminded everyone that while there were ceremonial events being performed by Mayan priests at the ruins, God’s greatest gift to all of mankind is his son Jesus Christ. • For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23 (NIV) • A piñata was then trotted out with many of the kids eager to whack away at it. Tradition is we start with the youngest age then work our way up. It took several children to finally rip open the piñata, but when they did it was a mad scramble to grab candies. Some kids even brought plastic bags along anticipating a good haul of candies! • It was a tired busload of people that left the Iximche park today. Everyone enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to next year’s celebration. • You know, despite it being a lot of work to pull it off...so are we!  Thanking the staff Learning early – piñata protocol Visiting Iximcheruins Fried chicken and side dishes ● December 2012 ● Read more stories at www.bgexperience.com ●

2. Mano con Mano Annual Fiesta Navideña Christian ministry is teamwork with a difference because God is charting the course. It is a keen sense of obedience and dependence to being God-focused, with a concerted effort of many diverse talents and skills to accomplish a common goal that cannot be accomplished alone. - Mano con Mano Core Value It’s with this core value in mind that a small passionate team of 35+ volunteers and the Mano con Mano staff planned and carried out the ministry’s annual Fiesta Navideña for over 350 children and mothers. Iglesia Los OlivosSumpango youth group set up several activity stations located in various areas of the building and sports court. It was a picture perfect day as the kids had a blast playing to their hearts’ content. A Guatemalan organization (Soñando con Esperanza) had a group out helping with the face painting. Good friends of ours from Spanish language training in Costa Rica also came to lend a hand!! A hearty traditional lunch of pepián was served over two sittings that was prepared by the Mano con Mano kitchen team and helpers. Over three hundred children were blessed in receiving a handmade teddy bear as well as the message of the love of God. These bears are a true labor of love, knitted by a dedicated group of Canadian ladies that make it their mission to bless children in impoverished parts of the world. Thanks to one of the 2012 Heart Lake Baptist Church team members for connecting us. It was awesome seeing the kids’ reactions receiving the gifts, probably the only one they will get this Christmas. Through Soñando’s generosity, the ministry was able to share four piñatas and candies with all the children. Additional children’s gifts, tamales and chuchitos were distributed to everyone as they left the feeding center. It’s certain these will all be shared with their families. An incredible day! Thanks to all the volunteers and supporters that enabled us to make this happen. Learning Center Choir Traditional pepían lunch A few of the MANY happy kids Today’s INCREDIBLE team We are humbled at how generously you bless us with your financial giving, prayers, and encouragement. We simply would not be able to serve here without your faithful support! Thank you!!! God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is love; the radiance of Christmas, which is purity; the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice; the belief in Christmas, which is truth; the all of Christmas, which is Christ. (Wilda English) Feliz Navidad , Joyeux Noël , Merry Christmas! Gerry & Barb