Week three began with preparations for the kids week of week 4. As the graphics designer, I was put to the task of making flyers to stuff into letterboxes. Then we printed and cut 2200 of them. We spent Friday and Saturday stuffing them into letterboxes. With the help of Teen Missions, we were able to distribute 1,900 to homes around the community centre and put the rest in local stores. I was paired up with Ron, the AWANA Missionary from Iowa to letterbox. We were running out of the flyers on Friday when we ran into some kids. I got to talking to them about what we were doing and how they should come! The kids seemed really excited about it and one kid ran in the house to tell their mom right away. They came out really sad saying their mom wouldn't let them go. I was really sad and so were they but they said they'd try to get her to bring them. They also helped us know where kids lived on the street so we didn't waste any of our pile that was running out. I really wanted these kids to come. We all prayed they would.
We had three more team members arrive on Friday and Saturday. Haley from Arizona and Cam and Sammi from Michigan. Over the weekend I went around Dublin some more, got some pub food, took silly pictures, and rested for the big week that was to come. Teen Missions did a presentation at church including songs, puppet shows, testimonies, and dramas.
Monday morning arrived and we finalized what we were doing that day. We planned to use the Wordless Book as the theme for the week so we would teach on one color a day. I made up Wordless Book Handbooks which had a verse the kids had to memorize each day that corresponded with the color of the day. I taught the first lesson which was gold. I taught the kids about Heaven and how it has a street made of gold, 12 gates made out of a huge single pearl each, how angels live there, and there's a crystal sea. But most importantly how God lives there and how he loves you and wants you to live there with him someday. I told them about the Lamb's Book of Life and how they can know if their name is written there. I then gave them the opportunity to talk to me if they wanted their name written there. No one came back to talk, but that's ok. Seeds were planted. As we reviewed day one each day, you could tell the kids soaked it all in. We had 15 children on day one.
Day two my job was totally different. I sat at the registration table all day. Alyssa from Kansas gave the lesson on the Dark Page and how you have a sin problem that keeps you from Heaven. She showed how ALL people have sinned (Romans 3:23) and sin separates us from God. We had 16 children.
Day three was the Red Page. Paul from Kansas taught how Jesus loves you so much that he came down to earth as a baby to one day die on the cross and shed his blood for you. He could do this because he is perfect. He never sinned. Jesus dying on the cross is your solution to your sin problem. 20 children attended.
Day four was the Clean Page. Lois taught about how if you know you have sinned and believe what Jesus did to save you from your sin on the cross, you can be forgiven! 16 children attended.
Day five was the last day. Rachael taught on the Green Page. She told the story of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus but only one came back to thank him. She pointed out that when Jesus saves you, you don't want to be like the unthankful lepers. You want to live a thank you life to Jesus. Two ways to do that are to read your Bible - and obey it and to pray. You want to grow to be more like Jesus. Teen Missions also came to do a special presentation for the kids. 20 kids attended.
Over the course of the whole week we were able to minister to 26 children. To God be the glory! Please pray for each of these children.
Today we will go out to have a picnic in the park for the families of the kids who came. We are praying the parents will come and stay and we will be able to witness to them as well. We are praying the kids will bring more friends. We are praying for seeds to be planted, watered, and come to salvation. That will be an end to Kids Week 2014. Please keep praying for Fairview Hall (the church we work alongside) as they keep praying about starting a year round Awana club for these children.
In Christ,
Sarah
