My Giggle Girls

The sound of giggles can be heard outside our window starting at about 3:30 every afternoon. Why giggles? Did someone just play "Ding, Dong, Ditch?" Nope. The giggles are in anticipation at what happens at 4:00. That is when I open the doors to our ministry room and my Bible study with the kids starts.

Each of the kids that come to our class have been given their very own copy of the Evangelios, "the Gospels". We always look forward to presenting each new child with their own copy. It brings joy to my heart and a smile to my face when I see the smile on their face. On many occasions the child immediately hugs the Evangelios. While presenting the child with their Evangelio I ask them to make a promise to me. "You need to promise that you will read this every day. Promise that you will read at least five minutes every day."

I can honestly say that I never would have associated the Bible with giggles before our time here. These kids are so excited to study the Bible and to learn more about their faith that all they can do is giggle. Their love of Jesus is heard outside our windows everyday. Their love for Christ is on their faces in the shape to a smile whenever I see them. My Bible study with these children started only with Ariza and Fiorela. My "Giggle Girls."

A few of the kids before class begins.
The two girls in front are Ariza and Fiorela.
They are my "Giggle Girls!"

These beautiful girls came to our house looking only for a rosary which we had and they left with an Evangelio as well. At that time I hadn't thought about having a Bible Study with the kids since we already had a Bible Study that the whole community came to, but God had other plans. The next day there was a knock on my door. Ariza and Fiorela wanted to learn. Not a problem I was just getting ready to start the English class I was teaching so I invited them to join not realizing that they had brought their Evangelios along. After my English class the two girls asked about the Evangelios. I opened them up and explained that reading them is really quite simple and the numbering system is exactly the same as a complete Bible which we had learned the night before during Bible Study with the whole community. The girls understood but they wanted more. And all I could think was "OK Lord, now what?" I asked the girls to read John 1:1-18 for tomorrow. They left smiling as our marriage prep got under way.

"OK Lord, now what?" I asked the girls to read John 1:1-18. That is the
only thing that popped in my head. After marriage prep all I could think was
now what. I have no idea what to say. The Lord came up with this.

God is so good. Where I am lacking He will fill me up. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given to him." James 1:5. Praise you Lord Jesus for your generosity. Upon going to the Lord in prayer He did fill me up and He did grant me the wisdom to put together this study in Castellano for my "giggle girls." At 4:00 the next day we started our first full Bible study. They we full of giggles and super excited to read out of their Evangelios. The three of us took turns reading the verses and when I struggled with the words they helped me. The study that God prepared actually went along perfectly with mass that night. The point that I highlighted in my study turned out to be the same point that Padre Paco made during his homily. God is so amazing!

Our studies are no longer just the three of us. The "giggle girls" have started bringing and inviting their friends to join us. Today we ran out of furniture in our ministry room. Some of the kids had to join me on the floor. Many times throughout the study today I was able to see people standing in the street outside our door just listening. One man was so excited to see all of the kids studying the Bible that he came in and gave each of the kids fifty centimos which is roughly $0.15. He praised them for wanting to know Jesus and begged them to continue to come and learn. 

Even though our Bible studies have grown one thing has remained the same- giggles can still be heard. I look forward to 3:30 tomorrow when the faint sound of giggles will be beneath my window! ~Katie

Practicing English while I learn all of the kids names and the names of their parents.