The Joy of Serving Together as a Family
30 Nov 2020
An air of unveiled excitement has overtaken our family here in Tarija, Bolivia. The thought of Christmas which is fast approaching, has directed all our focus to celebrate God’s fulfilment of our much-awaited Saviour; the birth of His Son Jesus Christ. As our Siembra ministry’s principal goal is to equip local churches with children’s Biblical resources, we have created an advent calendar based on the names of Jesus this Christmas season. As a ministry, we have always been cautious about producing and distributing Christmas resources in general. Many evangelical denominations in Bolivia, do not readily celebrate Christmas due to their desire to be set apart from the traditions of Catholicism. However, we were pleasantly surprised by the positive response we received from four local churches in our city to the proposed resource. The pastors were overjoyed with the prospect of the families in their church, reading God’s Word daily in order to focus on our Saviour throughout this memorable season. As an added bonus, we also designed a simple ornament name craft, to emphasize daily the reviewed name of Jesus. Over 100 families will be focusing on God’s amazing gift this season, utilising this distributed resource.
Many times, we do not realise that people are observing our family and we underestimate the positive influence we can have on others. These same pastors, who were overjoyed with the advent resource, are the same ones who have questioned our desire over the years to celebrate Christ’s birth. Slowly, prejudices due to overwhelming Catholic traditionalism, are breaking down. Over the years, they have seen clearly how much our daughters, Tabitha and Isabella, adore the Christmas season and how their faith is focused on Christ’s gift of salvation. These pastors now aspire to teach their children Christ-centred traditions, which they will carry through their childhood to in turn, one day teach their own children.
As this year draws to a close, we are encouraged by the prospect of recommencing teacher training due to the lessening of restrictions and the opening of country borders. Our main focus will be on designing and giving puppet training workshops. Teachers will have the opportunity to make their own simple puppet and be trained in its effective use to enhance their Biblical children’s lessons.
Throughout all the challenges and trials 2020 has brought, we rejoice in God’s amazing gift to us and remember:
‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ (Isaiah 9:6)
– Oscar & Elizabeth Urey, Pioneers workers serving in South America.
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