Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Tuesday, May 25

We had a smaller group tonight. It was cold and rainy out, which may have affected attendance. We had around 38 kids and about 22 helpers. It was pizza night, which is always a big hit. Ruth did the story of the ten commandments and the golden calf. The theme idea was Choose God, Choose Life.

Kevin, Greg and Caleb are doing great things with the boys group. I peeked in for a bit, when they were having a prayer time and was amazed.

I'm seeing so much growth, not just with the kids, but also with the helpers. We had two new helpers out tonight. Because it's the last few practices before the musical at Western, a number of helpers weren't able to come. However, the Lord continues to provide, and we had sufficient helpers.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Tuesday, May 17

I think we had about 48 kids - lots of helpers too - at least 16 high school helpers, plus the rest of us adults, lets say, around 25 helpers. God is good - all the time. The mother of one of our regular attenders was supposed to be discharged from the hospital this past week. She had to have part of her leg amputated due to blood poisoning. We have been praying for her and her family, and I know that prayers will still be needed for some time now.

Ruth combined the story of Rahab with the walls of Jericho, so we're going to have to think about how to change things a little in the upcoming weeks. I don't think that crossing the Jordan - the 12 stones of remembrance will be sufficient for her to spin it into a story long enough and the week after that will need to be changed anyway. Perhaps we can add the "choose this day whom you will serve". Ruth and I will need to do some planning here.

This is two weeks now we've had five groups instead of four; Kevin and a few helpers has taken the older boys and worked with them separately instead of having them integrated as part of the other groups. That's gone very well; they get positive attention instead of just attention as we try to corral them back to the group they're supposed to be in.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The last two sessions

Last week there was a bingo at school on Tuesday night so we couldn't use it. We went back to the park where we met all summer. The only catch was that it was windy and cold. We didn't have as many kids because the bingo was for kids that attend school. I was happy to go back to the Steiners. Their house is small; we were crowded, but there was space enough for everyone. We did a large group story instead of breaking up into groups. It was pizza night, which is always a big hit - and there weren't any left-overs. In fact, we cut the last box of pieces in half to ensure it all went around. I think we likely had more helpers than kids last week, but it was all good.

Last night was a slightly different story. We had at least 54 kids out; and 24 helpers - and two mothers who stayed as well. That's a new record! The weather was beautiful and we were able to have one group outside. Instead of breaking up into four groups, we broke into five - with the group of the oldest boys (who need separate attention) not circulating but staying with Kevin and Greg. We still had groups of 9 or 10, but it was doable. Snack went over well - we had chocolate cake and orange slices. I had brought a 5 lb sack of oranges and cut them into sixths. However, the oranges only lasted through the first two groups, so Jeff ran out to Extra Foods and purchased a second 5 lb sack for us. God is good, because things went well for all I think.