The Star Still Shines Brightly Over Bethlehem

During the Christmas season many people here in Medellin, Colombia, spend their time partying and shooting off fireworks, celebrating in a fleshly way the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Why?  Because most do not have a personal relationship with Him.  That’s why they remember our Redeemer’s birth in this way; they know no other way.  Life is lived for the moment with drinking, drugs and immoral affairs.  “Paisas,” as the people are known in this northern Andean mountain region, are known as hard working, industrious people, but they also love to indulge in drinking and other worldly ways of celebrating the workday’s end.

Through the use of video production equipment provided by Speed the Light funds, we are assisting Monday through Friday of this week the Templo Belén (Bethlehem Church) in the production of a Colombian version of The Christmas Carol.   The drama is being performed in a new community auditorium in barrio Belén (Bethlehem).  Two tickets for the production were given to each member of the church to hand out to friends and family in the community. The auditorium has been filled to capacity each night. This Charles Dickens story adaptation, which gives Mr. Scrooge a Colombian name (Señor Restrepo), shows the personal human struggle with greed, pride and selfishness; but through miraculous intervention, his life was changed forever.

 At the conclusion, Pastor Isaí Avendaño asks the people to think about their personal lives – past, present and future.  The miracle and wonder of Christmas is realized by many of those in attendance when, for the first time, many are asking Jesus to come into their lives to forgive them of past sins, to give them peace of mind in the present, and to give them hope for a bright future with an eternal relationship with the Savior of the world.  For this, we see that the Star still shines brightly over Bethlehem, as both humble and wise men still seek Him.

Merry Christmas!

It's Good to Be Home!

After spending 17 months in the US, with itineration and family medical needs, we are now back in Medellin, Colombia, and are excited to be here once again, ready to serve!

Our first order of business upon our return was to prepare for the Medellin Bible School graduation.  We shared in the celebration with eight students who, after many years of study and hard work, completed their schooling and are now better prepared for the harvest!  Praise the Lord!

We are now trying to get settled as a family.  We are still house hunting, and we are living at the Bible school during the interim.

The City of Medellin is in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, with beautiful lights and lots of traffic.  Yet, midst all the celebrating, there is a sense of darkness, as so many celebrate only the season and not the Savior.

It is our desire for this new term of service that many would come to understand the true meaning of Christ, of Christmas!

May God bless your Christmas and the upcoming new year!

Blessings,

Kevin, Cindy & Christopher Elder