Life is...
great/exhausting
The summer program began for the kids this week and its far more exhausting that I can even begin to describe. We have 11 kids who come, and for the first hour, we try to get them to play games with us, like catch or soccar or pictionary. Then usually comes the arts and craft time/boys play pool. After that is lunch and then the bible study and then everyone loads back up and we drop them off. Altogether, the program is 2 hours. The kids are obstenient, hungry, impatient, short-tempered, lovable. So far, I haven't had a day yet, in which fists fly at each other or verbal agression hasn't occured. I've gotten very good at breaking up fist fights: putting myself in the middle of two feuding boys, while tearing one off the other. For all of this, the kids are hungry: physically (i'm not sure how much food is in some of their houses) and spritually.
Greg origionaly said to keep the Bible study short-- like 5-10 minutes, yet i'm finding these kids so hungry to get into the word and to learn truth and to experience real love, that the past couple days i've budgeted 20-30 minutes for it (1/4 to 1/6 of the total progarm time). While most Bible studies that I've seen occur at the Den are about the Christian life, I've refocused them onto who Jesus is and faith. Some of our new kids haven't been exposed to God before, I dont' think, and they're asking questions like "are angles real?" and "how does Jesus heal people?" Question for my readers: what do you wish you had been told about Jesus when you were younger (12 and under)? What stories/truths did you like the best? What about Abba? The Holy Spirit?
I absoluetly love working with these kids. Sure its frustrating at times, and tireing (I need a 2-3 hour nap after I'm done with the program for the day), but its like Abba has taken my hand in his and placed it over his heart, as if to say, "see, here's where my heart lies, feel it beat."
Socially, a turning point seems to have been made. Monday, I spent ALL evening with the daughter of one of the pastors at the Russian church I do stuff with, and last night, I spent a while on the phone talking to anohter girl (same church, but shes American, not Eastern European). Yay for hanging out with people who are about my own age.
Meanwhile, technology hates me. My computer broke a few weeks ago (hardware problem, as of yet, haven't been able to get it fixed), my iPod that was such a wonderful gift from IVCF girls wont turn on (its under warrenty, so I'm sending it back to the company for repair)...and I dont know what to do about my car situation. As my parents point out, if I'm staying in Springfield for longer, then getting a car makes sense...BUT it does hinder my mobility (read: EUROPE) options. Part of my doesn't want to leave, especially leave those kids...not after this week (see 2 paragraphs above), but at the same time, commiting myself to a place (especially Springfield) is really frightening, cuz i dont really wanna give up that freedom.
great/exhausting
The summer program began for the kids this week and its far more exhausting that I can even begin to describe. We have 11 kids who come, and for the first hour, we try to get them to play games with us, like catch or soccar or pictionary. Then usually comes the arts and craft time/boys play pool. After that is lunch and then the bible study and then everyone loads back up and we drop them off. Altogether, the program is 2 hours. The kids are obstenient, hungry, impatient, short-tempered, lovable. So far, I haven't had a day yet, in which fists fly at each other or verbal agression hasn't occured. I've gotten very good at breaking up fist fights: putting myself in the middle of two feuding boys, while tearing one off the other. For all of this, the kids are hungry: physically (i'm not sure how much food is in some of their houses) and spritually.
Greg origionaly said to keep the Bible study short-- like 5-10 minutes, yet i'm finding these kids so hungry to get into the word and to learn truth and to experience real love, that the past couple days i've budgeted 20-30 minutes for it (1/4 to 1/6 of the total progarm time). While most Bible studies that I've seen occur at the Den are about the Christian life, I've refocused them onto who Jesus is and faith. Some of our new kids haven't been exposed to God before, I dont' think, and they're asking questions like "are angles real?" and "how does Jesus heal people?" Question for my readers: what do you wish you had been told about Jesus when you were younger (12 and under)? What stories/truths did you like the best? What about Abba? The Holy Spirit?
I absoluetly love working with these kids. Sure its frustrating at times, and tireing (I need a 2-3 hour nap after I'm done with the program for the day), but its like Abba has taken my hand in his and placed it over his heart, as if to say, "see, here's where my heart lies, feel it beat."
Socially, a turning point seems to have been made. Monday, I spent ALL evening with the daughter of one of the pastors at the Russian church I do stuff with, and last night, I spent a while on the phone talking to anohter girl (same church, but shes American, not Eastern European). Yay for hanging out with people who are about my own age.
Meanwhile, technology hates me. My computer broke a few weeks ago (hardware problem, as of yet, haven't been able to get it fixed), my iPod that was such a wonderful gift from IVCF girls wont turn on (its under warrenty, so I'm sending it back to the company for repair)...and I dont know what to do about my car situation. As my parents point out, if I'm staying in Springfield for longer, then getting a car makes sense...BUT it does hinder my mobility (read: EUROPE) options. Part of my doesn't want to leave, especially leave those kids...not after this week (see 2 paragraphs above), but at the same time, commiting myself to a place (especially Springfield) is really frightening, cuz i dont really wanna give up that freedom.
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