Part 1 was focused on the most memorable point of what God taught me at Ridgeway Baptist in Memphis. Here's more on how clubs went and some other random stuff.
Romans 15:5 - "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus.."
We had a fairly small club (which I honestly like better than a big group). There are a few little girls who vividly stood out, just because of their joy in being there and their maturity in listening and participating in the lessons. One girl, Kenley, every session without fail, remembered what building we were "going to next" in Happy Heart City. The last day, she gave me an envelope with a picture in it, and told me she drew it for me; later, she asked to show it to the class. So, during craft time, she stood up, faced the circle, and gave a beautiful presentation of what she had drawn "for all the teachers to keep" , with a poise that would shame most public speakers. ;) She's only six. We have the picture-- which is Olaf and a penguin in a top hat underneath a bright sun, by the way -- in our Happy Heart lesson folder. Another little girl, Sophia, was attentive and energetic every day and was positively enamored by the stories. But beyond just getting excited with the songs and such, she was latching on to every word we said and caught the message within. After the Salvation lesson, when Jennifer was asking some review questions, she asked what the sin, the "black", stood for. Sophia raised her hand and said something like "Sin comes from that bad place, Heel, and the guy from Heel will try to make us think that what God says is wrong is actually good." I had explained to the kids about the light and goodness of Jesus and how his enemy, Satan (using the picture of a hero and a villain) is just darkness and will try to tempt us, but that God is much stronger and is powerful enough to help us say no to those temptations. Several other kids had very clear and wise answers, yet they didn't just repeat what I'd told them- they phrased them in their own words, making us see that wow, they really had been listening and they got it. One thing that really hit me this summit... Theses kids really don't need to be convinced of anything. Belief isn't really an issue for them. It's so plain in their faces that they believe in Jesus, believe in what He says, believe He has certain things He wants us to do and not to do, and it is so clear that they actually WANT to please Him. It's so cool. So, as teachers, our job is not so much to give them reasons why they must believe and try to convince them, but rather to display and explain 1. the gravity of sin 2. the goodness of God and 3. the love and joy Jesus wants us to share with others.
And here's some random things that happened this past week!
I started really dedicating more time to learning piano, spending about an hour or two a day getting more comfortable with the keys. I got to play a game of Stratego with my team brother Andrew (yes, he beat me terribly, but since both of us admitted to not having a strategy, I'll say it was luck. ;) But we agreed on a rematch sometime.) A few memorable crazy moments....when my sis Amanda and I went off waddling and stomping down the halls (doing my "angry walk").... putting on a construction hat and a fairy princess dress while playing a time-filler game with the Happy Heart kids Wednesday night (I was feeling so goofy that night!)....oh, and our dinner at Cracker Barrel Thursday night was absolutely hysterical. Friday, I rode in the semi truck cab with Amanda and Andrew and we had a fabulous drive! I was able to call my sistee Becky and talk to her for a few hours. It was so good. :) Andrew and Amanda and I had some really great conversations and I am incredibly grateful for both of them and for opportunities to all externally process together. :)
We have too much fun. We really do. :)
So our summit in Memphis is over and we're now in Fort Mills, South Carolina at Tega Cay Baptist Church! I'm so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us all here.
I'll update more in a few days.
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