Hands and Feet

This Saturday, we were able to do an outreach in our local community of Shai Hills for 300+ kids.  Challie and Andrea spent a couple of weeks chatting about it and planning it out, prepping our kids for serving others there.  And at the end of the 4 hours that we were there, all I can say is that I am incredibly proud of our kids.  I felt blessed to be ministered to by them.

Our outreach started out by registering the kids by placing them in age groups so it would be easier later on to feed them and play games.  Then, once we finally got started (you know we started on "Africa time"), the kids led a little time of worship, and then performed a dance for them.  After that, Emily taught the kids a verse, 2 Corinthians 5:17, talking about being a new creation in Christ.  After that, Robert and Aaron got up and taught the kids about Saul and his transformation into Paul and how Christ changes each of us into new creations for His glory. 

Grace and Rosemary smile as they prepare for their dance.

I was so impressed by Robert and Aaron.  They are growing up...physically, but spiritually too.  Their hearts for ministering to the kids were so precious.  Robert preached with great passion and Aaron helped by reading through the word and supporting him in the message.  So rich!

Robert and Aaron preaching.



Kaley, Kassidy, Andrea, and two of our kiddos help hand out food to one group of kids.

Afterwards, the kids were separated into groups and served food.  Usually, this part of any outreach is where I run and hide.  But, Andrea and Challie had thought through separating out the food and putting the kids into groups.  There was no pushing and shoving.  There weren't any older kids snatching food out of hands.  It went so smoothly.  Almost everyone got food (there were quite a few that came out for the outreach and missed the registration window, so weren't able to get food), but many even shared with the ones who didn't get any.


Aaron, Mary, Grace, and Emily handing the kids their food.

Some of the best moments were to see our kids gently guiding the kids through the lines, letting them know that God loves them, so sweet and such a blessing to these kids.  I was blessed by their kindness.  By being the hands and feet of Jesus to these little ones.



Eating together

And then, we regathered, sang more songs, got them up and active in the songs, refreshed the memory verse, and then played one round of hokey pokey before taking our leave.

It was so beautiful to see our kids being the hands and feet of Jesus.  To see our volunteers step up and serve in new ways.  To be a blessing to another church community in our area. 

I came away intensely tired, but beautifully encouraged by the work that God is doing in our children to love on others.