Karla in El Salvador

We can learn to work hard

Ask:

What is something you can do that you are proud of? Can you touch your toes? Ride a bike? Maybe read a book with lots of pages, or maybe you play an instrument. If you could be great at one thing, what would it be?

Meet Karla! She lives in the smallest country in Central America, El Salvador. It might be tiny, but this country has more than 100 volcanos! It is famous for growing coffee beans and surfing. Karla and many of her friends in El Salvador love to play soccer.

Karla first watched soccer on TV with her grandma and little brother. She didn’t have a soccer ball, shoes, or a chance to try the game until her church invited her to play on a team at their Compassion centre. Once she tried soccer, she knew it was the game for her.

Karla played every chance she could get, eventually becoming team captain. Her coach and teammates noticed her talent and how she worked hard every day, no matter what! She had a positive attitude and kept trying even when things got hard.

In fact, when the coach for the Teen Soccer League in her state met Karla, he was so impressed he asked her to train with them until she was old enough to join the team. Karla’s coach thinks she could play for the national league when she is older. Her church is making sure she has what she needs to get there! Wouldn’t you love to see Karla play?

Do you think it would be hard work? Karla has learned a lot about hard work from her coach. He’s also taught her a lot about Jesus' love for her. He knows God has a great plan for Karla’s life both on and off the field and wants her to remember that while being asked to join a soccer team is amazing, being a part of God’s family is an even more amazing adventure!

Read the Bible verses for today together.

Ask and Discuss:

What is something you already work hard at?
What is something you could choose to work hard on this week?
Why do you think it matters to God that we work hard?

Pray:

God, thank You for creating us with passions in our hearts. Help us work hard and keep going when what we’re working hard at gets difficult. Help us remember that You have wonderful plans for our lives and that You have given us different gifts. Help us remember that You love us even when things are difficult and that You give us strength to keep going, keep playing and keep learning! Amen.