Written by Paul Kienzle, Director of Latino ESL
At Mission Adelante, we believe that God’s call to love our neighbor is at the heart of all His commands and finds a special expression in the way we extend hospitality, compassion and friendship to people from other places. That is why our end-of-trimester celebration is an important time, especially during this Christmas season, and one of the ways we express the love of God to our ESL students.
The beautiful thing about our end-of-trimester celebration is that it is not a one man show. It is a team effort. Volunteers and staff work together interdependently in relationship, each using the gifts and talents God has given them so that He might be glorified and that our students would be blessed. I believe this is what I witnessed on that special evening at our ESL Latino Christmas celebration. The theme, “Jesus, the best gift of all,” was woven into the program through its decorations, class presentations, message, and music. Over eighty people attended: students and their families, volunteers and staff! Chatter and music reverberated throughout the chapel! There was genuine laughter around a plate of food, students and volunteers enjoying each other's presence in ways they never could in class. Life-giving friendship was happening before my very eyes! It was beautiful. And, everybody knows that a party is not a party without food! Well, when students and volunteers started to come, the food started to flow and before long, another table had to be added to hold it all! It showed me that when relationships are interdependent, serving is reciprocal. It was definitely a life-giving team effort all around, from setup to cleanup!
Our Latino ESL Christmas celebration certainly was a joyous occasion, but everything about that festive evening will fade except for one thing, the Gift. It is a Gift that is eternal and life-giving. It will not break nor lose its value. It is priceless and yet it is free. It is a Gift that is ours to receive, at any moment, not just at Christmas. That Gift is Jesus, the best Gift of all!
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Mission Adelante Staff!
CURRENT NEEDS:
- Our Leaders In Training program is in need of volunteers! For more information or if you are interested in volunteering, please visit our website at www.missionadelante.org/kids.
- Are you interested in combining your love of the arts and disciple-making? We are launching Adelante Arts Community in January 2018 and we're looking for volunteers to help! Visit www.missionadelante.org/arts for more information.
- Do you have a gently-used acoustic guitar that you're not using? Adelante Arts Community needs it! We are in need of two acoustic guitars for our new program. Please email Gissell Vazquez at gissellv@missionadelante.org if you would like to donate a guitar.