Feeling De Evening Breeze & More

[Compry]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze & More

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChurchDude</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Reflections...</span></span>

In trying to teach them, they helped me to discover something about myself I was not consciously aware of. </div></div>

Waiting patiently.

Goes without saying, I was also waiting patiently to read about this year's mission trip. Kudos to your church and those who volunteer their time.

God bless.

[Stormmey]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChurchDude</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Reflections...</span></span>

I post pictures from home so the day time allows me time for some reflections. For me, these are an important part of the journey, so if you're wanting the &quot;touristy stuff&quot;, hang in there as that comes after VBS.

<span style="font-weight: bold">One of the most interesting things about working with children is the challenge it poses to those who are not naturally gifted at it</span>. The theme for VBS was centered around love with each day having its own theme - love for God, love for self, love for others (friends, parents, neighbours), and love for people. We would start off with the &quot;rah rah&quot; (welcome and singing), followed by an object lesson, the theme text, the main lesson, games, arts and crafts with lunch somewhere in between. Among other things, I had to do the main lessons and though I have developed cirriculums and taught different classes in our local church, nothing in my six years of Bible College to date prepared me for that experience.

Prior to this VBS, I have never worked with this varied age group (ages ranged from 4-15). Teaching them is a lot different than teaching young adults and adults, and so along with our team-lead who did the object lessons, we were out of our element. Thankfully, three team members are directly involved in the Christian Ed Department in our local church, and during our daily briefing and debriefing meetings they gave us some tips and pointers in getting the lessons across. Getting some of the kids to volunteer as helpers during the lessons was exciting for them, and the crescendo of voices as they repeated their main verse reminded me of my early years in Sunday School. It was quite the nostalgic moment. We must have done OK at it because as the week progressed, I was pleasant surprised at how much they remembered of each prior day's lesson.

On day 2, we had 109 kids; on day three, 117; and on day four, 126. Some of them came from different churches in the area, and a few actually left the VBS they were attending to join ours. Maybe it was due in part to the fact that we were providing every child with lunch, but whatever the reasons, it was a great experience being able to share principles with them that could shape the way they live their lives and the decisions they made as they grow older. What better time to present those principles to them than in their formative years?

Did I mention that the object and main lessons had to be five minutes long? These little darlings didn't have the longest of attention spans, and that only added to the challenge of relating to them on a level so that the youngest among them could understand. By the end of the week I was relishing every moment of it, and actually looked forward to every lesson. I also have a tremendous amount of appreciation for those who teach our children every Sunday. Teaching and working with kids in this setting was fun. In trying to teach them, they helped me to discover something about myself I was not consciously aware of. </div></div>

Sweet CD!!

why oh why dont I have patience with children. I will admire them from afar, smell them up when they are sleeping but from they start giving me challenges...well not really challenges do normal things children do like, crying,need attention and especially do not ask me to change them I am outtta there.

One of the reason I like your report from I read your first one some eons ago it grabbed me the first twenty seconds. It is different not like the usual reports.

Loving it, carry on

[goldilocks]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

Look at all the precious ones! Nice work you do ChurchDude and crew!

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: goldilocks</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Look at all the precious ones! Nice work you do ChurchDude and crew! </div></div>
Thank you; we really enjoy what we do - investing into the lives of others. It was only last night the team lead and I were talking about the possibility of expanding the mission and related activities to include other churches in the area after next year. God willing, we'll see how that goes, but the good news is that we have quite the waiting list of people wanting to be a part of the 2010 JA mission experience.

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Compray</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChurchDude</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Reflections...</span></span>

In trying to teach them, they helped me to discover something about myself I was not consciously aware of. </div></div>
Waiting patiently.</div></div>
What I discovered was that though I would not want to deprive those who are so gifted, I really enjoyed the challenge of working with the kids. Prior to all of this, it isn't something I would have readily volunteered to do. As a matter of fact, I &quot;resigned&quot; myself to it as a necessary part of the mission but didn't for one moment thought I would have had as much fun doing it. The experience &quot;stretched&quot; me, but it was extremely rewarding and I am better for it.

Thank you for tagging along.

[hannahcommunications]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nylah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Well it is official - I need to get knocked up

All of those kids are beautiful looking to me </div></div>

Nylah you are cracking me up!

[hannahcommunications]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

CD - A lovely report and thank you for doing what you do...I am inspired by all those who choose to work with youth anywhere. They are our future...

[Seveen]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

abu and i want to go for 2010

[Nanook]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

This is great ChurchDude! I love the photos and wouldn't even think of skipping reading your wonderful reflections. This is great and the children are so sweet!

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<span style="font-weight: bold">StAnnMuse, Seveen, Nanook:</span> Glad to have you guys on the journey, and good to know you'e enjoying the reflections. Thank you.

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

Singing our theme song, &quot;Love is a Flag Flown High&quot;, and boy did they ever sing! I haven't received the videos we took as yet, so unfortunately I'm unable to provide a clip of them doing the song.







Love is a flag flown high
From the castle of my heart
From the castle of my heart
From the castle of my heart
Love is a flag flown high
From the castle of my heart
That the King is in residence here

So fly it high in the sky
Let the whole world know
Let the whole world know
Let the whole world know
So fly it high in the sky
Let the whole world know
That the King is in residence here

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

Volunteers helping a team member with one of the object lessons.

Squeezing the toothpaste from the tube...


Trying to put it back in


The lesson: Be careful with the words you use. Like squeezing the toothpaste out of the tube, once they are out (spoken) they cannot be put back in. They understood.

Having fun...






Contemplative

[mountaingal]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

Nice pix of those kids, CD. If a did me, mi woulda do a test run of the patwa bible with them.

thanks for sharing.

[Diplomat]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MGee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nice pix of those kids, CD. If a did me, mi woulda do a test run of the patwa bible with them.

thanks for sharing. </div></div>
My pleasure, and thanks for dropping in. Re the patwa bible, nice thought I don't think I could get away with using it though, because I found out that one of our darling helpers had the nerve to ask another team member if I understood patois! Aye sah...

[St_Bess]

Re: Feeling De Evening Breeze &amp; More


Great report and lovely photos. The children seems to be enjoying themselves. This reminds me of when I attended bible school many, many summers ago. We had a &quot;missionary&quot; from the states who came every summer with coloring books, crayons and other stuff. I have to tell you that most of the stuff I have learned about the bible was done right there in that little church in St. Elizabeth. Well done CD who knows - you and your team may have reached some 6 year old child who may learn some christian songs or a bible verse and remember this 'summer' even after say 50 years.