Chocolatada for Christmas
Hot chocolate and the love of Jesus were shared with a poor community by BMS World Mission workers in Peru this week.
At Christmas time, Peruvian communities traditionally gather together and celebrate with hot chocolate and Paneton (a cake of Italian origin, popular throughout South America), as small gifts are given to the children.
Such a festive feast is called a ‘chocolatada’, and it’s a great way to reach out to your neighbours, as BMS workers Scott and Anjanette Williamson have discovered.
Scott and Anjanette’s church, El Puente Iglesia, has long been trying to show the love of Christ to the people of a poor community on the outskirts of Cusco through teaching in the local school, running medical campaigns and a holiday club, but Christmas is the perfect time for outreach. The perfect time for a chocolatada in the poor community of Huambutio. “When news got around that a chocolatada was being held, about 300 people attended,” says Anjanette. “Christmas is a great time to hold a community event and to share God's love and God's word.”
About 20 people from El Puente Iglesia were joined by the Peru Action Team in distributing hot chocolate, bread, new toys and second-hand clothes to the people of Huambutio. “It was a joy to see one of our newest church members reading the Christmas story to the community before Scott spoke about God's love and good news for us today,” says Anjanette.
El Puente Iglesia is hoping to start a medical clinic and a church plant in Huambutio. Please pray for Scott, Anjanette, the Peru Action Team and their church as they strive to be Christ to their neighbours.
21/12/2011
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