Observing Kids and Defense Papers

Week 2 started with a course called Understanding Today's Child. Throughout this course we learned about age group characteristics, different religious backgrounds, children at risk, and our choice between preschoolers or adolescents. I chose the adolescence track.

Age group characteristics taught us a lot of different characteristics that are common among all ages, but some that are only common to a certain age range generally. After studying, we took a field trip to a school to observe two different age groups. I got to observe 2nd graders first, and then 5th graders. After observing, we had to write a two page paper on our observations. You can email me or comment on this post if you would like to read my observations. I had a lot of fun observing these children and I learned a lot about how to teach according to age group.

For the section entitled "Different Religious Backgrounds," we got split up for a group project. Each group had a different religion to research, write a paper on, and give an in class drama showing what we learned. My group got to study Roman Catholicism. We learned a lot and ended up doing a "Panel of Experts" to show what we learned to the class. I got to co-host it. If you would like to see the paper we wrote up, please email me or comment below.

In the adolescence track I had to focus in on one chapter of the book, "Youth Culture 101" and find practical ideas that would help me be a better children's worker that works with adolescents. I chose a chapter on media, and realized the way media shapes our world.

In the final section, "Children at Risk," we had to learn about abuse. This was a very hard area for me to sit and learn about. At the end of each day, I would be so emotionally drained. How thankful I am that I have great parents who love me and care for me. How great it is to know that I can (with Jesus guiding me) help these children who struggle with abuse. It saddens my heart these children have to go through this.

Weeks 3 and 4 were a course called "Progressive Methods of Child Evangelism." This course just finished today and I learned a whole lot. This was probably the hardest course I've ever taken. We had just 7 days to write a 12-20 page paper on a Biblical Defense of Child Evangelism. We used passages like Matthew 18:1-14; Mark 10:13-16; Ephesians 1:1-3, 6:1-4; Colossians 1:1-2, 3:20-21; Titus 1:6; and numerical Deuteronomy passages to make up the body of this paper. Even though this was so much work, I learned a lot and now I am ready to give a better answer for why I do what I do. If any of you would like a copy of this paper, please let me know.

We also learned how to make our own visuals, counsel a child, determine personalities, and other things. Today, after I post this, I am heading out with my group to put on a Party club for some children. The theme of this club is watermelon. We will be playing watermelon games and telling them the secret of the watermelon. The secret is within the colors of the watermelon. The dark seeds show us that we have sinned. The red part shows that Jesus came to die and give His blood to forgive our sins. The white part shows that we can be clean of our sin if we trust in Jesus. The green outside means that we are now to grow in our relationship with Jesus. And last but not least, the yellow watermelon blossom reminds us of Heaven and God's love for us.

You can't study all day and not have some fun! My 18th birthday was earlier this month so everyone celebrated with me! I got bombarded with cards from friends here and from home. We had cake (Disney Princess, may I add - even though I'm older now doesn't mean I have to grow up!) and watched God's Not Dead as a class. My Dad shocked me and sent me flowers. Don't I have just the best Daddy ever? Another day we went to an old fashioned town and walked around the old shops and took pictures. Starbucks runs are also a favorite fun activity.

All in all, I've made great friends and I am enjoying my studies. Thank you all for your prayers. Please keep me in your prayers in a few specific ways:

1. Keep praying for our studying and completion of homework.
2. Pray for me here as things happen at home and other places that I wish I could be at. Please pray for me to be content where I am and concentrate on my studies. 
3. Please continue to pray for God to provide the remaining funding for me as well as the other students attending CMI. We are all trusting in God to provide.
4. Please pray for me as I try to determine what will be the next step in my Missions journey. God has provided many opportunities, with more just added this week, and I just pray that I will have the wisdom to do what I should be, but step back from what is not meant to be.
5. Please pray as I continue to be part of Good News Clubs while I am up here. I get to teach the Bible Lesson of Jesus turning water into wine this Thursday (9/25). Pray I can balance this with school.
6. Please pray for unity amongst the students. We have all been living together for 4 weeks, and we are starting to step on each other's toes. Pray we can work well together and be humble enough to apologize when needed.
7. I have been given an opportunity to begin training to become a "Trail Guide" (moderator) on www.wonderzone.com. This training is online, but half of it would take place while I am still at CMI. Please pray that I can manage my time well so I can take advantage of this opportunity.

Thank you all so much in joining me on this wonderful journey to strive to be after God's heart.

<3 Sarah

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