Inauguration of the JOEL-Bugambilia’s Sports Field

The sports field was inaugurated on Saturday with one soccer game and three foot races. Three teams (two with young children and one of youth) were formed on Saturday for an active day of sports that brought together a total of 20 young people. They also got to enjoy a hot dog lunch.

The purpose of the JOEL sports field is to connect with youth people living in the area called “Ojo de Agua” (Eye of Water) so that relational bridges can be built for the presentation of the Gospel message.

Each Saturday Project JOEL leaders will schedule recreational activities (soccer games, races, martial arts) as well as educational activities (sharing lessons based in biblical values, classes for parents on parenting, classes of nutrition, etc).

It is important to connect not only with the young people but with their whole family as we meet the whole child needs: physical, emotional, spiritual.

For more stories from Mexico, visit the CPTLN—Mexico blog.

Limalama Love

The Limalama (a form of martial arts) program is yielding positive results. This LHM—Mexico sponsored outreach, through Project JOEL, to youth in marginal communities in Tijuana connected with local a Lutheran congregation. Interesting fact: Since the youth have received their uniforms (and walk from their homes to the church where the classes are held) the class size has increased by almost 100%. The children without uniforms are the new children who joined within the last few weeks.

The photo below was taken inside San Pablo Lutheran Mission in Tijuana.

Prayers for Paco

Paco is a member of San Pablo Lutheran Church and has worked with Project JOEL and Legna since its beginning work in San Pablo. He is a leader at 17 years old serving in the music ministry and in all the activities sponsored by Project JOEL and San Pablo Lutheran Church. He is in the hospital undergoing tests and dialysis. In this photo Paco, one day before going to the hospital, was fixing up the fence in the JOEL sports field.

He is a mature youth not only disposed to serve but find way to serve without being asked. He is a reserved youth but shows with his actions that he is motivated by Christ and a willingness to share with others what he know has in his life. Please pray for him.

Professor Develops National Educational Curriculum Using JOEL Materials

Recently, MEDUCA (Ministry of Education of Panama) introduced its Work Plan for the 2009 Curriculum, particularly in the "Integral Prevention and Education in Values” area. Professor Dayra Ruiz, a JOEL team member and volunteer for LHM—Panama, was selected by MEDUCA to develop the themes of values for the primary section, especially the fifth and sixth grade. For the "glory of God" the program presented by Professor Dayra was approved and officially it will be developed in schools across the country. This program contains part of the curriculum of Project JOEL and is supported by LHM materials.

We can officially say that Panama has a program based on Christian principles and values, which had not been given previously in Panama. I am sure that only God created the conditions to make it in this way.

Taekwondo… in church!

They clear out the pews in the little church of San Pablo Lutheran Church and Legna, the Project JOEL Director at LHM—Mexico, and her team of instructors lead the class of children. They talk to the children about what it means to have a healthy physical life, emotional life and spiritual life. Legna talks with such love about how amazing it is to get to spend time and know about the lives, the struggles, the hurts, the joys of these children and young people. The impact is BIG when you do things with a love for Jesus and a love for people.



For more stories from Mexico, visit the CPTLN—Mexico blog.

JOEL Goes to Jamaica

For nearly 13 years, Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) in Latin America has been successfully reaching out to youth with the Gospel message through Project JOEL (translated as Youth with Free Spirits). Now, after ten months of planning, that youth outreach ministry has come to Jamaica.

Lutheran Hour Ministries—Jamaica recently completed the first Project JOEL training seminars at Mona High School in Kingston. The event was attended by 33 students (half of whom are not Christian) and by the end 13 students volunteered to serve as volunteers in the school and community.

Having these student volunteers is especially crucial in this early stage of implementing Project JOEL in because they will be trained to lead future seminars and engage their peers.

“We trust God for what He alone shall accomplish in the lives of these young people participating in the project,” said Ite. “Pray for God to bless these youth as they faithfully attend the seminar sessions.”

Project JOEL began in 1996 as an outreach program to provide Christian guidance to youth in Panama and help them make healthy choices in their lives. Since then, the program has enjoyed growth and success in Latin America and is being integrated into the outreach efforts of LHM ministry centers in other parts of the world.