HOPE QUITO CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION, SOUTH AMERICA

It was a meaningful Christmas for Hope Quito, Ecuador this year. We organized a water baptism for the poor Christian families in Pan de Vida last Saturday as many of them have never taken the Holy Communion or been through water baptism before. Many of our church members have been helping and teaching the Bible to these poor families for the past 3 years. It is such a joy to see the needier Christians grow in God and follow Jesus more.


The next day, we had a Christmas thanksgiving dinner in church. Before the dinner, I gave a Christmas message about the birth of Jesus, and how He is fully man and God at the same time. There was also a child dedication ceremony for 3 children in church. We prayed for the children and blessed the family so that the children can grow up in the ways of God.



Then we had games, Christmas carols and gifts for the children too. One of the highlights was the Christmas turkey roasted by one of the church members, Agus who is a professional chef. He prepared 7 different sauces for the turkey and it was really delicious. We had one of the best Christmas dinner in church.



Blank Christmas cards were made and everyone had one each to write words of encouragement for one another. The church also prepared a special thanksgiving card for my wife, Peiru and I. A thanksgiving video of what God has been doing in our church in 2013 was shown too. The fun-loving Ecuadorians ended the night with music and dance. We thank God that 3 visitors came to know Jesus for the first time that night.

Written by Timothy Ho Shen Teng, Hope Quito, Ecuador