A Lot of Absences And a Smelly Prankster

We've had small numbers coming into either club these last few weeks. I'm blaming it on the warm weather keeping them all outside. While I'm happy that they want to be out and about and not watching tv being couch potatoes, I'm sad that I've not seen many of  the kids in weeks. And what makes me even more sad is the fact that we only have a few weeks left of actually having clubs. When schools close for the summer, so do the clubs.

While I'd be all up for keeping the clubs open to occupy the kids in the summer months, not everyone is up for it. After all, they will be the ones who will come back and continue working after the break. I will be going home, and only God know's if and when I will return and see these kids again. 

Moving on to a less depressing subject: This past Tuesday the GYC went out to a nearby playground to enjoy the sunshine with the kiddos. Well, I say kiddos plural, but we only had one kiddo. This boy is one who hadn't been around in quite awhile and we learned that he had actually moved away and was only visiting this week. He was one who was known for getting into the most mischief; sneaking and hiding in the parts of the church where kids aren't allowed, or finding the loudest, squeakiest hinge in the building and making it as loud as he could until one of the leaders had to chase him away from it. He was always pushing boundaries and this has led to his expulsion once before in a club that pretty much never expels a child. He's a handful, but those kids are the most fun, right?

So we went to the playground, about 6 of us leaders and the one kid who showed up, and found some other kids playing there too. And later two of our regular girls came to the playground to find us so we had all of 3 kids from club! We played some combination of baseball and rounders and had players both from the club and the playground playing. After a while, the boys got very serious about the game, so once I was taken out, I stepped off the field to chat with the two girls who had shown up late. They both said that they were hoping to have another dance night! I was encouraged by that; that they had both had fun doing it. 

After the game, we went back to the church and invited the boys at the playground to join us for toast and hot chocolate and the Jesus talk. They all declined saying that they had to go home. I had seen a few parents watching their kids, and I know I wouldn't be comfortable letting my kids go off with strangers who promise them goodies, but I'm hoping that their parents will let them come later. 

We had our God talk, which involved a lot of chastising the kids to try and get them to listen for 5 minutes. It didn't work very well. I've never seen a group of people with a total lack of respect for each other and their leaders. It may just be that they aren't aware that the whole room can hear them when they whisper during the talk, but it's still very disrespectful.

And as a grand finale, the button pushing little boy thought it would be funny to spray a stink-bomb all the way through the church on his way out... That was fun. The whole place smelled like manure. Thankfully, I'm fairly used to the smell, having grown up driving past cornfields as the farmers were distributing the fertilizer. 

All in all it was a pretty good night that ended with a great big smelly bang and all the leaders shouting this boy's name as he ran out of the building. Gotta love kids. I've got to admit it was a pretty good prank.

Please pray that the kids continue to come in these last few weeks and that we would be able to have meaningful conversations with them. Pray that they will open up to God's message of enduring love. Thank you for praying.

An Evening of Dancing and Mummies

So we had an impromptu dance workshop at club last night. I was getting a lift from one of the leaders last night on the way to GYC when she mentioned that she just found out that I can dance. She then asked if I would do dance with our kids that night.

Ordinarily I would have felt hesitant and unprepared, but since I'd done the dance class in Tremorfa that dance was still in my mind, so I said yes. Then I realized that I was even more prepared than usual, because on that particular night I hadn't had a chance to run home and drop off my work stuff, so I had my laptop with my music and everything on it!

It went great! The kids were mostly getting into it and some of the other volunteers were getting involved as well, making everyone feel comfortable. We started out warming up with the Drive the Bus song/dance, which anyone from my home church can tell you is a boat load of fun and goofiness. It's a dance made entirely of the cheesiest dance moves out there. Things like the "Shopping cart" or "Sprinkler". It makes everyone look like a fool, but that's the best kind of fun: when everyone looks so silly that no one can criticize.

We went on to learn a dance to the song "Never Alone" by Barlowgirl. Some of the younger girls were very enthusiastic to learn these new moves, but their energy made them jump up and down while trying to do the moves, resulting in a bit of chaos. And some of the older girls were outright saying that they couldn't do it, but when I watched them attempt the moves, they did it either spot on or just a slight adjustment would make it spot on. 

 Later, during the God slot, we ran through the mummy game. We divided the kids into two teams and had the teams compete to make the best mummy by wrapping toilet paper around one of their teammates. 

It was good fun, and all in all it was a great night with a great message. 

At one point we separated into groups to talk and pray. And in this time one of the girls in my group went off explaining everything Christians believe about the Gospel. She said that Jesus died so that we can go to Heaven. I interrupted her at this point to say that even though Jesus paid the price for our sins, forgiveness and Heaven are gifts that need to be accepted to be of any good. I asked her and the other girl if they've accepted this gift yet. The girl, who was first explaining all about the Gospel, immediately said that she doesn't believe in God. She said that she's just interested in Religious studies. 

The other girl said that she's a Christian. She said that she's a Christian because she was christened as a baby. We tried to explain that that isn't what makes you a Christian, but accepting Christ for yourself is what makes you a Christian. I don't know if either girl understood the ultimate message.

Please pray that God would work in the hearts and lives of these kids. Pray for revival in their individual lives as well as in this nation. Thank you so much for your prayers. God is really doing something.

Plant the Seed and Wait

It's Sunday morning. We've just had a morning filled with worship music and a sermon taught on how you can plant a seed, but you have to wait for the harvest. The person up front spoke about a man who had prayed for 5 of his friends over many years, and after a few years 2 were saved, and then over a matter of 20 years, two of the others were saved. This man prayed for 50 years for this last friend to be saved, but then the man died, not knowing if his friend would ever be saved. Then a few months after the man's death, the 5th friend came to Christ. The moral being that it can take years of praying for someone to be saved, and sometimes, you may never find out if this loved one has come to Christ of not.

The church is packed. I'm sitting up near the top of the theater-like seats in the back of the church. I can see most of the congregation from my vantage point. At the end of his sermon, the man up front did an altar call. As I watch these people make their way to the front I started to get emotional. I'm watching the family of God grow before my eyes! I was so happy that we now have new brothers and sisters in Christ!

I spotted one of the people going forward and realized it was the boyfriend of a friend of mine. The girls in my small group had been praying for this guy to come to church and I know his girlfriend has been trying to get him to come for a while. I was so happy that this guy was going forward! He had no idea that all these people who he's never even met had been praying for his salvation. Those of us girls who had been praying started rejoicing from all over the sanctuary when we saw him step forward. God does answer prayers!

While I was crazy happy to see all these people come to Christ on this Sunday morning, I became sad as well, knowing that most of the kids that I work with in Tremorfa have not yet realized their need for Christ. As I thought on it more, I began to weep for these kids. I want so badly to be confident that I will see these kids in Heaven in the end, but at this point in time, all I can do is pray and wait for God to move. I will continue to do what I hear God telling me, but I know that no amount of talking about God can actually bring these kids to Him. Only God can change their hearts. I want so badly to have an altar call in Tremorfa where these kids come to give their lives to Christ.

That's when the message this man up front was giving started to really sink in. I know that I can pray for these kids, but I may never know if and when they come to Christ. I may never know if my work and effort to get God's message across will actually have an impact on these kids' lives. All I can do is pray, like the man in the story. 

Please join me in praying for salvation to come over these kids in Tremorfa. I want God to completely turn around this community and to bring His kingdom to earth. Even if I go to my grave before I see any results, I will continue to pray for my kids here.

I Am Never Apart From My Family In Christ

So after the last few weeks of being busy and putting so much out, I was just feeling exhausted! I'm not used to being busy all the time. Turns out it's hard! Thankfully, since I did spend my weekend in a tent in the name of ministry, Ignite graced me with an extra day off. 

I will tell you, I got spiritually drenched this week! It was great. After an initial day of rest, I was swept away to a women's conference called Colour Conference that's put on by Hillsong. There I was surrounded by women of faith and everyday was filled with worship, inspirational teachings, and long lines.

Okay, the long lines didn't necessarily add to my faith, (aside from maybe increasing my patience) but the rest was uplifting. We had 3 main speakers who are great Christian communicators, Beth Moore, Dawnchere Wilkerson, and Joyce Meyers! All of whom have impacted my thought life over the last few days.

Dawnchere spoke about her father and how when she was in trouble, he would always rush to her rescue, and how God was like that. He rushes to you when you need Him. While I recognize that having a great father figure is a rarity in this day and age I really appreciate my father and what a great example he's been of the Heavenly Father. Hearing Dawnchere speak about her father rushing to her rescue made me sad in that I know that if I'm in trouble over here, my dad can't come rushing to the rescue. But it was a good reminder that our Heavenly Father is always with me and will come to the rescue when I call on Him.

And if that wasn't enough, I then spent Sunday and Monday with people who have encouraged me and have spoke God's truth into my life. I have been so blessed by the ladies who have come alongside me and helped me when I was feeling down and have kept pointing me to God. 

Anyone can have friends who say nice things when times are tough, but to have friends who are constantly bringing it back to God and saying "Let's pray about it" is such a blessing and encouragement. We can do nothing without Christ. It's good to be reminded of that. I love my sisters in Christ.

Thank you all for your prayers. I have been truly blessed this week.