And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<span style="font-weight: bold">e_p</span>: Thanks for dropping in and for your kind words. Much appreciated

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Tuesday...</span></span>

The question we asked ourselves - how many kids would there be today? We had 119 the day before and we hadn't seen some who had been there in 2009 as yet. The second question we pondered - given the different communities and churches they came from, how did they know about VBS? This wasn't the only one in the area; there were two others relatively close by but their combined numbers wasn't even close. Whatever the case, God had entrusted these ones into our care and it was a responsibility we took seriously. When all was said and done we had 126 kids on day two, and we graciously received all of them.


Always checking themselves out on the camera after every picture...


Before the classes started: rehearsing the moves for the theme song. These kids were eager to learn!


They teased her but by this time she knew some patois; they were impressed.


Brothers...

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives


Doing double-duty. Her first time back in Jamaica in ten years and she was amazing...
.

Don't be fooled by the demeanor. She was probably the kid with the loudest voice...


Mr. Cool. He had grown up so much compared to last year...


Quiet kid..

[R00TS]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

Sorry about you Mother CD. Hope shes making progress

These children are so special!

always look forward to seeing
this trip every summer
CEW

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

The story of Joseph is covered in chapters 37 to 50 of Genesis. It is quite the read but we had the pleasure of hearing it told in about 42 seconds.

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Her English teacher wouldn't have been happy with some of her choice of words, but she did a great job! Really smart kid.


My shadow's sister. She wants to be a &quot;children's doctor&quot;.


Because of the heat we had arranged for a tent to be set up outside so the kids could take turns getting some outdoor activities in.

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

One of the highlights of the days was the impromptu talent shows where some of the kids could come up and do their thing. On this day some of the guys decided to put down some moves. They were a bit uncoordinated and obviously there were no rehearsals, but they got an &quot;A&quot; for an outstanding effort.

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Maybe they'll get it right for VBS 2011


Activity time...


One of our awesome teen helpers...


Some from Team Ghiza...

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: R00TS</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sorry about you Mother CD. Hope shes making progress

These children are so special!

always look forward to seeing
this trip every summer
CEW </div></div>
Thanks, R00TS! My mom keeps fighting and did finally get clearance from the doctors to start physio. The doctors say they don't know how she is still alive but we do

[R00TS]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ChurchDude</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The doctors say they don't know how she is still alive but we do </div></div>


PTL

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Reflections...</span></span>

I can only post pictures from home so being at work allows time for some reflections. As always, please free to skip over.

One of the difficult moments we had last year was watching some of the kids eat a half of their lunches because, as we found out when we asked them why, they had to take some home for a brother, a sister, or even a parent. In some cases, it was their dinner. I recall some team members breaking down in tears during our daily debriefings then because that was a tremendous responsibility for a child to bear. In some ways we understood the difficult times some families face. We knew some of our 2009 kids showed up without eating breakfast, and so the lunch we provided them had to last beyond the lunch break. This year was no different and though we had braced ourselves for it, nevertheless it did hit us like a ton of bricks when we had to deal with it again.

The thing that stood out strikingly was the discipline of the children affected. To be able to eat half of their lunch when just about everyone else was having all of theirs couldn't have been easy. Yet there they were, carefully eating just enough to keep hunger at bay. It was heartbreaking. However, it occurred to me that if they were this disciplined at such young ages, given the right opportunities and support these kids could excel. That was why it was important to fan the flames of thier hopes, their dreams and aspirations. We couldn't possibly help every child but we had managed to assist the church in setting up a kitchen with a view to providing meals to the seniors and children in the community. It seemed like a drop of water in the ocean of need but to look at the size of the problem was to set up ourselves for defeat. Sometimes the best way to break down a wall is to take it apart one brick at a time. That's what we committed ourselves to doing.

[Compry]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

Can you elaborate on this please?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We couldn't possibly help every child but we had managed to assist the church in setting up a kitchen with a view to providing meals to the seniors and children in the community. </div></div>

Will your church in Canada provide ongoing support for this project?

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Compray</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Can you elaborate on this please?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We couldn't possibly help every child but we had managed to assist the church in setting up a kitchen with a view to providing meals to the seniors and children in the community. </div></div>
Will your church in Canada provide ongoing support for this project?
</div></div>
Our church in Canada is a supporter of the mission trips because all but one of us on this trip are members there and corporately, we do have a vested interest in what happens at the church in JA. However, the trips fall under another ministry which is headed by one of our ministers and it is this ministry, in association with our church, that spearheads the fundraising efforts. So, short answer, yes, we have and will jointly be providing ongoing support.

[Compry]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

What if folks outside of your church want to contribute?

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Compray</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What if folks outside of your church want to contribute? </div></div>
No problem whatsoever as those contributions would be sent by us directly to the local church in JA.

<span style="font-weight: bold">ETA:</span> Because cash contributions are being sent outside the country, my understanding is that CCRA rules doesn't allow for the issuance of tax receipts for such contributions. When we were doing fundraising events and advised potental donors (and team members) of those rules, we were pleasantly surprised that nobody had a problem with it.

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives


Focused...


More helping hands...


A real cutie...


Showing off their handiwork...

[Diplomat]

Re: And the Kids Came: Touching Hearts, Changing Lives


Just about everyone of them wanted their own picture...




Still working...


Helping hands are always close by...