The 2010 YWEA Project will focus once again on hurting children of the world.  Under the theme “Hope for the Hopeless–Operation Rescue” the YWEA 2010 emphasis will target Nogales, Mexico and Bogota, Colombia.

In Nogales we will raise funds to construct an orphanage for the abandoned and abused children who’s parents gather at the border in search of a better life.  The children of Nogales are abandoned as familes disintegrate leaving the children to fend for themselves.  These childern are forced into prostitution, gangs and child labor just to survive.

In Bogota, Colombia we will enlarge and expand a “safe house” for children.  Currently a “safehouse” for girls is in operation but is limited in scope.  YWEA 2010 will help to relocate this “safehouse” and enlarge it to include young boys also.  Children in Colombia are targeted by the guerillas who force them to serve as soldiers in the guerrilla armies.  They are sexually and physically abused and neglected.  It is estimated that in  Colombia an average of seven (7) children are killed every day–One Every Three Hours.  Your support of YWEA-Operation Resuce will provide a safe secure home for many abandoned and abused children.

Remember 100% of your gift and donation will go directly toward the projects in Nogales and Bogota.  For more information contact us at ywea@churchofgod.org or visit the website at www.yweaoperationrescue.org

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We were invited to lead a children’s outreach service in a small rural community. When I say rural…. I really mean it. We drove 1 hour south of Quito, and then after we got off the highway, we drove another hour over the mountains and through the woods. But right in the middle of nowhere, a community popped up.

This church has been around for 35 years and they have one of the most successfully discipleship programs of any of the rural churches we’ve seen. There were approximately 120 children in attendance. They were so excited and engaged in every part of the service. This is a really great group of kids – eager to worship and learn more about God.

The kids loved the clowns and games and songs. Jaciel, one of the SEMISUD students who travels with us, taught an interactive lesson on the Fish & Loaves miracle. We were blessed by how intently the children were listening and soaking up the Word of God.

After the service, the community honored us with a special meal. They served us chicken soup, then a plate of potatoes with guinea pig, lamb and rabbit. To us, this meal seems hard to stomach, but they were giving us a royal feast in their terms. This was such a sacrifice for them to bless us so richly. We always feel awkward in these settings, because just outside our building, all the kids were sitting in the dirt eating just a bowl of soup while we were presented with this feast. We would so much rather give the food to them, but at the same time we would never want to offend these precious, generous people … so … we eat.

I mentioned earlier, how this church has one of the best discipleship programs we have seen. This event was a special, extra outreach because we were coming. But, they do have a children’s service EVERY Saturday. A former community member travels from Quito each weekend to teach the children. It shows! This group of children already knew more of the Word than we expected. We are so encouraged and hopeful for this generation of children who are growing up with solid guidance and teaching. Please pray for this church and consider helping them provide food on Saturdays or expand their building with classrooms.

>> More about the Lynch’s ministry to Ecuador <<

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1. FACES … Fighting Child Labor in Ecuador

A few years ago, the Lord gave us a creative idea for a way to celebrate Children’s Day and the World Day Against Child Labor in Ecuador.  Young people from area middle class Hispanic churches, who have never had to go to work in the streets the way the FACES children have done, volunteer to change places with a working child.

This June, 70 volunteers came out to our ministry center to meet their assigned partner for the day.  The FACES kids bring their shoe shine kits or boxes of candy and turn them over to their volunteer “buddy.”  Then the volunteer teens hit the street shining shoes and selling candy and gum, while the FACES children go on a field trip, play, and relax all day.  The Christian teens compete informally among themselves to see who can earn more money for their child worker buddy, which they turn over to them at the end of the work day at a special ceremony.

All the excitement serves to draw attention to the problem of child labor.  The volunteers wear bright yellow tee shirts that say “Childhood is for studying and playing, not working.”  We invite the area media to come out and do stories featuring the event.  We have found that it is one day in the year where “everyone wins”.  The young people learn a little of what the life of a working child is really like.  The child workers get to really relax, knowing that even though they are taking a time off, at the end of the day they will get as much or more earnings that they need for their essentials such as rent and food.   And the public is reminded once again that child labor must not be the norm and that as a society we must work together to eradicate child labor once and for all in Ecuador.

“Boy, I never knew how hard shining shoes could be,” said one teen.  “My back is killing me.”  One teen came back to the center.  “Can I change my shoe shine kit for a box of candy?  This shoe polish is getting me dirty.”  “Wow, the public is so rude to you when you try to sell them something,” said one. “I’m never going to be rude to the street kids again.”

Visit the FACES website

COGWM Project # 1024038071

Related posts:

1. FACES … Fighting Child Labor in Ecuador