CMS workers Martin & Julie Field serve in Córdoba, Argentina with Año Puente (‘Bridge Year’), a one-year program designed to help school leavers prepare for the next stage of life. In this article, they share the stories of three students involved in their recent production of the Mark Drama.

“His word will be made known, despite our frailty or difficult circumstances.”

Meet Mali

Many of our current Año Puente cohort struggle to express themselves in class, which somewhat complicates casting a production! Although Mali is one of our shyer students, we took a chance on her in the key role of the disciple Andrew and were delighted with God’s work in her over this past weekend. She shared:

“I surprised myself greatly in my ability to overcome embarrassment and anxiety to act out the role of Andrew, given that by nature I struggle in these areas. In acting as a disciple of Jesus, I learnt that despite making mistakes, missing the point or even being incredulous of Jesus at times, he loves us all the same and chooses us to follow him despite all this.”

Mali has been praying for years that her father might come to a personal trust in Jesus, and she was delighted to receive this message from him after the presentation: “I loved it! I enjoyed the presentation right from the outset! If you were to repeat the presentation more times, I would definitely be there to watch it! I was moved, I laughed, I cried and above all it made me reflect on who Jesus is. I have started reading the book of Mark to check it out.”

Meet Maxi

Ordinarily a gentle and even-tempered teenager, during the week of the presentation Maxi was struggling with conflict in some relationships. After talking it through with Julie and attending a coincidentally-timed workshop on managing our emotions in a God-honouring way, Maxi was humbled to work on forgiveness. As Maxi reflected: “Through acting the role of Jesus, I learnt the importance of forgiveness, because it heals relationships. Jesus calls us to forgive others, not just so that we might receive the Father’s forgiveness, but also so we might love our neighbour, classmate, friend, teacher, anyone.”

Meet Simon

Like Mali and many of our students, Simon struggles with low self-confidence. Recently when Simon had to stand in front of his 13 classmates to present group projects, he was very anxious and unable to speak clearly. But on this weekend, the Lord worked miraculously in Simon—not only was he able to stand and present before 250 people, but he was also able to take on increasingly demanding roles in Mark Drama. In the end we entrusted him with the role of the High Priest who condemned Jesus to death on a cross—an incredibly difficult role for anyone to assume. Right until the final rehearsal, Simon found it difficult to deliver the lines and keep his emotions in check. But his two performances were incredible. It was yet another reminder to us that God’s Word will be made known, despite our frailty or difficult circumstances. As we learnt from Mark’s gospel: “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 13:11)

PRAY

Give thanks with Martin & Julie for the Lord’s faithfulness in drawing together large groups to hear His word faithfully presented through the Mark Drama, and pray for their follow-up conversations with those who attended. Pray also for God’s miraculous work in each Año Puente student, as individuals and as a group.