Bible school activities began a few days before the actual event. As the out-of-town visitors arrived they were taken on trips to the beach and volcanoes and to special dinners. Newly-baptized Bro. Cristian Mamani came from Bolivia, Bro. Nahuel Carmona from Peru, Sis. Marcela Castellanos from neighbouring Honduras and Bro. Dante Berbetti from Phoenix, Arizona. In addition, brethren and sisters Jorge, Encarnación, Victor and Marina, bussed in from Guatemala.

On the eve of the school a meet-and-greet dinner was held at the San Salvador hall, giving a chance even for the Salvadorans who would be unable to attend the school itself to get to know the foreign visitors. Early the next morning we undertook the trek north to our usual venue in La Palma, a picturesque town in the hills near the border with Honduras. The trip was much slower than normal due to road construction but eventually all arrived safely.

Bro. Jorge García of the Sonsonate satellite ecclesia gave four uplifting adult classes on the letters of Peter, while the men’s class and the Sunday exhortation were given by Bro. Sergio Armas, also from Sonsonate.  The senior young people’s classes were given by visiting brethren Dante and Nahuel, aided by Bro. Alejandro Alfaro of San Salvador. There were about 20 in the group and it was lovely to see their enthusiasm. Sis. Marcela organized the games after each class, giving out as prizes the coveted Hershey’s kisses brought down from the US!

Jean led the intermediate classes on “The Birth of Jesus—the Real Story”, provoking some excellent feedback as the group was encouraged to follow the example of Jesus in the temple when he was a young boy, by asking good questions!

The young people presented a dramatic skit which included a toddler who obediently stayed limp in his mother’s arms during the 10^th plague! This was followed by the evening bonfire and hymn sing until late into the evening.

The weekend ended at the San Salvador hall with another couple of hours of chatting and leave-taking, fueled by fruit salad and doughnuts.

Most of the Salvadoran young people, the visitors from South America and a few older brethren and sisters flew down to the Costa Rica Bible School over the New Year’s weekend. We are thankful that everyone had a safe and uplifting experience in both schools and pray that God might continue to bless and strengthen the family in the faith that is growing in Latin America.