Turn their Mourning into Dancing

This afternoon AFE had a dance contest. It was Pastor Jeony´s idea. The kids love to dance and are always looking for excuses to choreograph a “good-bye” dance for mission teams, or an interpretative dance for worship services. They formed their own groups…some called themselves “I can do all things through Christ,” others, “Rockers,” and they began to practice. They danced to Christian songs, some slow and worshipful, others with a Regaeton beat.
When the anticipated day finally arrived, everyone at AFE and friends from Linda Miller filled up the assembly room . Excitement permeated the air. Rey served as the host of the performance, and Vanessa, Fradner and I were the judges. The teachers each had a vested interest because most of them had helped choreograph a team, and they would stop at nothing to butter up the judges.

When the dancing began the whole event became a melodrama. Kids were holding up signs for their favorite performers, cheering and throwing confetti, booing at the judges, and getting up to dance spontaneously. The stakes were high. The grand prize was 1,000 Lempiras! (I´m not sure where the prize money came from, but I suspect Pastor Jeony´s pocket).
It came down to three groups or performers: five third graders, surprisingly talented for their age, the older boys of AFE (who were blessed with Jessy Ordonez as their choreographer), and some of the older girls, who had designed their own dance.

As each group danced, the teachers and leaders laughed with delight to see their shy students breaking out of their shells. I looked around the faces and saw pride glowing from the pastors, who remembered these young people when they were small children, and carried heavier burdens. Some of the dancers were the first to be rescued from the dump. Their faces were once set as stone, due to their work that no child should have to do. But now they were dancing, smiling and laughing. And then, wiping tears of joy from their eyes when they won. (Appropriately, it was “I Can Do All Things Through Christ” who won first place).
It was a day full of joy and fun. And I can´t wait until next year when I can also serve as a choreographer!