The Virag's “SoZo Skate Fest”

Over 6000 people heard the message and there were 240 salvations!
As a result of our first “Bike and Skate Fest” we did 6 shows at local schools and at a skate park in Guatemala city. We were on T.V., in newspapers, and on all the radio stations! 1000’s of people attended the Bike and Skate Fest and heard the gospel.

The message was simple, Jesus loves you and he wants a personal relationship with you. We had a group of 18 from Ezekiel Ministries and Barachel Bike and Skate from Florida bring their youth group which included pro and amateur skateboarders and BMXers to help us spread the gospel. Skater Alex Vestal graciously joined us last minute from Missouri. We performed demos at the schools on Thursday and Friday and invited everyone to come to our event on Saturday. It’s easy to get the attention of youth when you are performing 360’s, 20 feet in the air, or jumping over 4 of their teachers or friends. We need to be relevant. We need to show these kids that we can use our talents for God and we don’t have to be perfect to do it. People shared testimonies who came out of drugs, alcohol, suicidal backgrounds, regular Christian. One young man had cried out to God, before hanging himself, to save him and the knot in the rope undid. That man skates professionally for Jesus today. He travels the world telling people about Jesus and we were blessed to have him with us. Together we spent countless hours and a lot of money on this event and it was all worth it when we saw 240 youth give their life to Jesus! Thank you for your support, you too made a difference for eternity.

Real testimony of how Jesus changed a skater’s life!
A young man we do ministry with just privately shared with us that he was on the streets when he was 5 years old. He started doing drugs and joined a gang when he was 12. He was involved in drug and gun trafficking, and multiple murders. When the gangs came to kill him a skateboard saved his life as he rode away as fast as he could. While hiding out for 1 1/2 years and being heartbroken by what this world has to offer he found Jesus. He skateboarded when he was young because of the attention, but now he skates for Jesus. He is such a godly example to many. Today we are proud to have this young man skating for SoZo Skate and a part of our home life. He will travel with us sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen and when the pain lessons he will share his testimony and offer hope to many. Please pray for protection and complete healing for this young man. Some of the most difficult things we have to overcome as Christians aren’t the horrible things done to us, but the horrible things we have done to others. Jesus has paid for all of our sins. Thank You gracious and merciful God for the gift of forgiveness.

We need your financial support and prayers in order to be in Guatemala and see God use us as His hands, feet, and mouth. We need monthly partners to get behind us so we can make a difference together. God calls us to be interdependant in all that we do, bringing glory to His name.

Financial needs: $500 to cover the rest of the plane ticket to get a pro skater here last minute for the Sozo Skate Fest after the one that was scheduled to come sprained his ankle. Sponsors were depending on us keeping our word and offering the show we promised. We also need money to build the indoor skate park so we have a place to minister to these youth.

Prayer needs: We need a place to skate in two weeks before we get the permanent Skate Park up and running. We also need all the final details ironed out for the use of the building for our permanent skate park. Thank God with us for favor with man.

Thank you so much for sharing in what God is doing in Guatemala. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT. WE COULD NOT BE HERE WITHOUT YOU, OUR FAITHFUL SUPPORTERS!!!!

God Bless You!
The Virags
Missionaries in Action
SoZo Skate
www.thevirags.com

Mail Canadian donations to:
WIA151-10090 152nd St, Suite 314,
Surrey, BCV3R 8X8
write VIRAG on separate paper tax receipt provided
or use PAypal at www.thevirags.com

Make US donations to:
Shining in Florida Inc.PO Box 120966
Clermont, FL 34712
tax receipts provided
or through PAYPAL at www.thevirags.com