{"id":72878,"date":"2022-06-03T17:23:30","date_gmt":"2022-06-03T23:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/?p=72878"},"modified":"2022-06-03T17:23:30","modified_gmt":"2022-06-03T23:23:30","slug":"ludoteca-making-impact-in-panama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/ludoteca-making-impact-in-panama\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Ludoteca’ making impact in Panama"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than 150 people of different age groups\u00a0participated in the Ludoteca (toy library), a Nazarene Discipleship International tool from the Central District of Panama.<\/p>\n

The Ludoteca program is designed by the district NDI council, and the slogan is Jugando aprendo<\/i> (Playing I learn). The goal is to share knowledge through playing games, for\u00a0both\u00a0children and the elderly.<\/p>\n

The Ludoteca games rely on mental and\/or physical abilities and artistic activities to affirm biblical teachings. They were designed to stimulate the physical, mental, and spiritual development of people\u00a0as well as promoting teamwork and solidarity.\u00a0District leaders hope that other churches will adopt this program.<\/p>\n

Apolinar Monegro and his wife, Anyi, lead Nueva Esperanza Iglesia del Nazareno, which helped develop the Ludoteca. They created games that involved dancing, singing, jumping rope, and more to help the children learn about the Bible.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the children liked it, so we agreed to do the activity again together with other churches,\u201d Anyi said.\u00a0\u201cWe are doing playful games every Sunday with biblical content.\u00a0They really enjoy each activity, and the most important thing is that they are learning a lot about the Scriptures.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several of these Ludotecas have been utilized in Panama,\u00a0the first at Juan D\u00edaz Church of the Nazarene with a group of older adults.\u00a0There the children\u00a0played games to the rhythm of music and ate a healthy snack.\u00a0The group was encouraged and its value and importance in society was affirmed.<\/p>\n

Another Ludoteca is located in Los Libertadores, headquartered at the Pan de Vida church (Genesis Church).\u00a0There, six Nazarene churches volunteered to serve the more than 100 attendees\u2014\u00a0children between the ages of 2 and 11.<\/p>\n

A Ludoteca was also held in Anc\u00f3n with the assistance of 25 young people and adults. In addition, the Nueva Esperanza and Paso Blanco churches joined forces to create their own Ludoteca where 20 children participated, and the churches of Altos de Cabuya and Tocumen also held their first Ludoteca with the attendance of 35 children.<\/p>\n

“We pray that God [will bless]\u00a0the church through this strategy, which we have contextualized to disciple and reach more people for the Lord,” said Alejandrina Corpas, district NDI president.<\/p>\n