Clowning around opens doors for the Bible
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — As a team from the Bible Society of Costa Rica arrives in an old people’s home to talk about the Bible, the home’s staff and residents chuckle: among the sensible-looking young volunteers from the Society’s children’s club are four garishly-dressed clowns and a number of people dressed in giant animal suits – the mascots of the children’s club. This colourful team immediately puts the old people at ease, entertaining everybody with music, jokes and dancing. Some of the elderly residents join in while others, too frail to stand up, sit in their chairs and applaud. Some dance with young family members who are visiting. The home has about 60 residents, some of whom suffer from senility. The Bible Society’s visit is a welcome interlude for them, giving them something positive to focus on and enjoy. Sweets are handed out while Hector the Clown (Hector Ramirez, the Society’s Program Coordinator) produces a bottle of honey which he uses to start talking about the Bible, quoting from Psalm 119:103 – “Your teachings are sweeter than honey” (CEV). The old people and their families listen attentively as he talks about the Bible, and react with delight when they each receive their own Bible. Mr Ramirez and his team of 36 volunteer clowns are well-received wherever they go, allowing them to take the Bible into many different environments.“The clown service has opened a lot of doors for us,” he says. “We are being welcomed to places we have never before been able to go to – old people’s homes, for instance. Now we are sincerely welcomed, we get to talk about the Bible and people thank us for coming. We visit schools, clubs for children and young people, institutions, companies and other places. Sometimes we do a purely commercial job for companies to make money to be able to continue this service. I always thank the Lord for giving me this opportunity to serve him.” (WR 385/5 - 4/5.04) 
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