Mexico City: Hundreds of Adventist youth walk for health awareness

More than 2,000 Adventist young people walk through Mexico City’s  main avenue on Apr. 6, 2014, raising awareness on choosing a healthy lifestyle through the Adventist Church’s “I Want to Live Healthy” initiative based on the eight natural remedies: water, rest, exercise, sunshine, air, nutrition, temperance and hope. The youth participated in exercises and medical check ups related to obesity and its effects. Images by Dania Aragon/IAD

April 8, 2014 – Mexico City, Mexico…Fabiola Quinto/IAD Staff

Seventh-day Adventist make their way through the main avenue of Mexico City.

Hundreds of Seventh-day Adventist young people took to Mexico City’s main avenue on April 6, 2014, to walk, raise awareness of healthy living and to counter the wave of obesity affecting millions of people in the city and across the country.

Some 2,000 young people and church leaders took off from the heart of the city from the Monument of the Angel of Independence landmark holding signs, banners and shouting “Quiero Vivir Sano” or “I Want to Live Healthy” towards the Monument to the Revolution where onlookers and transit goers were invited to participate in exercises and receive medical diagnosis related to obesity and its effects.

Adventist youth wait for weight assessment during the activity.

The two-kilometer walk on a closed transit lane saw groups of young people from dozens of Adventist churches in the city taking turns in shouting “I Want to Live Healthy” and the eight natural remedies the initiative is based on: water, rest, exercise, sunshine, air, nutrition, temperance and hope.

“We wanted to let the city know the health principles that the church has and the eight natural remedies that can benefit every person,” said Dr. Jose Dzul, health ministries director for the church in Central Mexico.

Participants engage in a series of exercises at the Monumento a la Revolucion during the four-hour activity.

Once at the Revolution Monument, young people were welcomed by the Federal District’s Ministry of Health Coordinator of the program Muevete or Let’s Move Araceli Castañeda. Castañeda applauded and thanked the church and its young people for the activity which supports the programs that the federal government has in promoting physical activity to lower the high percentages of men, women and school age children affected by obesity in the city and its surrounding metropolitan area.

“I am so glad to see young people participating in this activity and sharing the eight basic remedies that show that it is possible to live a happy and healthy life,” said Castaneda. “I congratulate you for the work you are doing so that society can improve its quality of life.”

Early Sunday, Apr. 6, young people gathered at the Angel de la Independencia at the heart of Mexico City to walk for health.

Young people participated in a series of exercises presented by the National Commission of Physical Culture and Sports (Conade), as well as donated more than 200 liters of blood to the National Blood Transfusion Center onsite.

Coordinating the walk between the two main church regions in Mexico City was not an easy task, said Pastor Javier Muñoz, Sabbath School director for the church in Central Mexico and coordinator of the walk.

“We are so delighted that so many of our young people took part in this activity,” said Muñoz. “We know that this walk will help our youth be conscious of the importance of taking care of their body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and they will be able to share this message of a healthy lifestyle in their churches and communities.”

Fourteen-year old Diego Gonzalez of the Pegasus Pathfinder Club at the Tacubaya Adventist Church said the experience was exciting. “I’m so happy I participated in this event, it was so worth getting up early,” said Gonzalez.

National Commission of Physical Culture and Sports (Conade), experts measure weight balance on participants of the walk.

Seventh-day Adventist leaders and church members across the five major church regions are scheduled to hold similar walks and activities promoting a healthy lifestyle with the program “I Want to Life Healthy”.

The walk was part of a series of Big City impact initiatives held in Mexico City since the year began. During the last two weeks, ministers and international evangelists from across the Inter-American Division territory have been holding some 200 evangelistic campaigns in the mega city to climax with a satellite program at the 22,000-seater Arena de Mexico this Saturday, April 12, 2014.

For initiatives and more information on the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Central Mexico, click HERE.