Volumne 14 Number 1
September/October 1997
Av/Elul/Tishrei 5757/5758

Kehilat Ariel's Youth Group Reaches Out to Mexico.

By Alan Savarese, Age 13

On July 30, 1997 to August 1, 1997 some of the Kehilat Ariel Youth Group along with Yeshua's Youth, the Drama team from Denver, took a ministry trip to Mexico. Our first stop was the Abba Padre church, in Tijuana, who was our host during the trip. After unpacking our stuff, we went to a nearby park where we distributed Messianic literature (tracts). I noticed that most of the people who we offered them to took them, unlike here in California, where many people often turn them away. At the park, a member of the church, who went with us, led a man to the Lord after sharing with him about Yeshua. During our visit to the park "Sparky the Clown", who also came with us, was giving out balloons to the children and also used his program to present the message of salvation to them.

That evening we went back to the Church where we had a time of worship with the members of the church. We were blessed to see the Mexican youth group perform dances to Jewish music. A drama presentation was given by Yeshua's Youth to the audience. We were fascinated to see a model of the Old City of Jerusalem that a member of the church had made.

The next day after having devotions, we headed out for Rosarito Beach. We handed out tracts in the shopping area and then went to an outdoor Amphitheater, overlooking the ocean, where Yeshua's Youth put on a Drama presentation. We had fellowship with the members of Abba Padre around a Bonfire that evening and listened to a testimony from one of the members, which was translated into English for us.

On Friday, our last day in Mexico, we went to an orphanage where we visited with the children, taught them a dance and did a presentation. Our group then went out into the neighborhood, which was one of the poorest ones in town, and knocked on doors giving out tracts and inviting the people to a drama presentation we were having.

When that was over we went back to Tijuana where we went to do our last minute souvenir shopping before returning home. We went by a certain variety shop and the owner tried to get us to come in. Rabbi Barney said we might come back later. On our way back from some other shops, we came back in and the owner remembered us.

The Lord must have had a reason for bringing us back there, because there was a couple in the shop who were Orthodox Jews on vacation. They noticed our Kippahs and were happy to see fellow Jews in Mexico. Then they found out that we were Messianic. Rabbi Barney shared with them and discovered they were from New York and had been aware of a Messianic congregation there. I had the opportunity to let them know that my family was also from New York and my parents were also Messianic Jews. This showed them that this movement is not just isolated to a few people but whole families are involved all over the United States. Our group then headed back to San Diego having learned a lot about a different culture and experienced a special blessing from being able to share with others and the fellowship we had with our hosts. The new friends I had made, with the brothers and sisters in the Lord from Denver also blessed me.

"I also will make you a light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isa. 49:6)

URL:http://www.kehilatariel.org/9_10_97.html

Last Modified May 10, 1999