Once again, we thought we would do something a little different with our blog! :) The following was written by a young man who is a member of 8/28 Productions, which is the name of our Drama Group. He wrote in Spanish and each paragraph is followed by a translation. Last January, we invited him and other members of the group to a Christian concert in a mountain community outside of Santiago called Lajas de Yaroa that was put on by a worship team from a church in Santiago. After the concert, a message was preached and those who attended were given the opportunity to accept Christ as their Savior. This young man and two other members of the group who were with us went forward and accepted Christ! In the next play we presented, he was awarded the Responsibility and Punctuality Certificate and was one of the members who sold the most tickets to the performance! Recently, he began visiting our church, and God is clearly working in his life! Here is his story …

Mi nombre es José Argenis Ramos. Naci en el año 1994 hijo de José Agusto Ramos y Ana Luisa Paula. Desde muy pequeño fui alguien activo me gustaban las travesura y las cosas extrema. A la edad de 10 años mis padre se separaron vivía con mi madre pero mi padre también quería tenerme. Ellos llegaron a un acuerdo que vivirías con ellos por temporada y así aprende distinta cultura de distinto pueblo. Me llamo mucho la atención la actuación porque mi madre veía novelas, y mis pasatiempos son ver tv, escuchar música, explorar e intentar cosas distintas. Quizás muchos creen que no soy buena persona pero cuando me conocen ven que soy y siempre vivo alegro buscando el lado positivo de la vida.

My name is Jose Argenis Ramos. I was born in 1994 and am the son of Jose Agusto Ramos and Ana Luisa Paula. Ever since I was very small, I have been very active and liked adventures and extreme things. When I was 10, my parents separated, and I lived with my mother but my father also wanted me to live with him. My parents came to an agreement that I would live with each one for different time periods and in this was I learned about different cultures in different towns. Acting gets my attention because my mother watches soap operas, and my hobbies are watching tv, listening to music, exploring and trying new things. There may be many who think I am not a good person, but when they get to know me they see that I am always happy and looking for the positives in life.

Al principio cuando tuve la oportunidad de integrarme al grupo producciones 8:28, me sentí un poco extraño. No sabía si le iba agradar, pero tenía una meta por delante y eso me impulso acercarme más a Amaury y Catherine lo cual me brindaron una sincera amistad. Al pasar el tiempo fueron tantas las cosas maravillosas que compartir con ellos y el grupo que ya no lo veía como amigo sino como una familia, y me siento agradecido por su sinceridad y su amistad incondicional.

When I first had the opportunity to join 8/28 Productions, I felt a little strange. I did not know if the group would like me, but I had a goal in front of me and this led me to get close to Amaury and Catherine who reached out to me with sincere friendship. As time passed, so many wonderful things happened that I shared with them and the group that I do not see them as friends but as family, and I am grateful for their sincerity and unconditional friendship.

En el grupo he aprendido muchas cosas. Sobre todos que es una experiencia única que nunca podre olvidarla. En las dos obra que he tenido la oportunidad de actuar, gracia le doy a Dios. Cada una me a enseñado algo diferente. Por ejemplo la obra Navidad: Tiempo para Cambiar fue una obra que me identifique con ella pues ahí pude ver que lo más importante no es el dinero, que el amor y la solidaridad valen mucho. Es bueno pensar en los demás y compartir con los que menos tienen.

I have learned many things in the group. Above all it is a unique experience that I can never forget. I give thanks two God that I have had the opportunity to act in the two plays. Each one has taught me something different. For example, the play Christmas: Time for Change was a play I could identify with because I could see that money is not the most important thing, that love and solidarity have a lot of value. It is good to think of others and share with those who have less in life.

En la obra La Elección pude aprender que el amor es el lazo más fuerte, no importa la diferencia que pueda a ver entre dos personas, familias, países, etc. Pero cuando el amor llega se cambia todo, trayendo paz, armonía y tranquilidad. Es importante dejar fluir en nosotros el amor. Si todos practicáramos el amor, este mundo fuera diferente y todos fuéramos iguales.

In the play The Choice I was able to learn that love is the strongest tie, regardless of the differences that can be seen between two people, families, countries, etc. When love comes it changes everything, bringing peace, harmony and tranquility. It is important to let love flow in us. If we all would practice loving one another, this world would be different and we would all be equals.

Me siento orgulloso de pertenecer al grupo de teatro. Sé que en un futuro seré un buen actor, gracia a Dios y a Amaury y Catherine. Ellos dos cayeron aqui como del cielo.

I am proud to be a part of this Drama Group. I know that in the future I will be a good actor, thanks to God and Amaury and Catherine. They both fell here as if from heaven.


Below are some picture from other areas of our ministry this past month - enjoy!

Members of 8/28 Productions learning how to work together and being instructed by our Leadership Team .

Handing out parts and rehearsing for our next play, Christmas With Mama ...

Amaury teaching a Protocol and Etiquette class at a local private Christian school ...

Visiting residents at a local nursing home and giving a Drama Workshop at a local church with members of 8/28 Productions ... 

Graduates of Amaury's recent Protocol and Etiquette class in the men's prison ...

Catherine and her SCS students celebrating an Anglo-Saxon "feast" as they shared their Modern Epic Hero poems, telling stories of how they went out and were someone's hero!

Dios les Bendiga!  God bless!

Con el amor de Cristo (With love in Christ).
Amaury and Catherine