Neighborhood Kid's Camps

In September, we hosted in our home a four day kids' program for the children of our neighborhood.  This was an attempt to draw the children from our street into closer contact with Christ.  Children's Ministries Coordinators Gabriela and Ana helped to organize and implement the program which included games, the creation story, T-shirt painting and songs.  Our program was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and end at 12 noon each day; and when 8:50 a.m. came and went on the first day with no kids pounding on the door except one very eager and helpful thirteen-year-old named Remina, I wondered if any kids would come, despite the fact that they had all said the day before that they would. I sent Remina out to round them up, and by 9:15 we had most of the 16 kids from the neighborhood present.  On the second day, when I came  out of the house at 8:50 a.m. to check on the chairs in the courtyard, all 16 kids were already there sitting quietly in their chairs and waiting for the program to begin. We started early that day.

I was delighted that the children entered so enthusiastically into all the activities. For the closing event, we hired a Christian clown troupe to entertain and encourage the kids.

At the conclusion of our four-day program the children asked when the next program would begin.  When I said, "Next summer," they were sorely disappointed.

Our hope is that these children will be transformed through Christ into caring, constructive and committed Christian adults.  The process is an exceedingly slow one, and something that will take time, prayer, and dedication.

This reality is brought to our attention almost daily.  The other day, as I came out of the house with Tristan and Katherine, I saw two brothers who had attended our camp fighting with each other in the alley.  One had found some large pieces of broken glass and was flinging them like frisbees at his brother, Renis, who was featured in our previous newsletter.  I rushed up to stop them from injuring each other and also to keep them from throwing glass at my own children who were passing by These brothers, along with a third, are left unattended by their parents and often fall into violent and destructive behavior.  During our kids' program, which they attended, they were cooperative and engaged, proving that the right supervision and constructive activities do much to improve their behavior.

Some of the children from our neighborhood have been attending our Saturday program at church, but not all, and those that do come, do not come consistently.  This shows the need for continual follow up, which takes time and much effort.

I had hoped to have more ongoing contact with my neighborhood children, but it hasn't happened naturally.  Therefore, I started a Saturday craft project with the girls in hopes that through extended interaction and conversation while painting together, we could introduce to them the message of the Gospel and what it means to live a life in Christ.  All of the junior high girls in the neighborhood came to our first class.  Children's Office employee Joana Moçka also joined us to facilitate the activity and conversation.

The boys were not happy about being excluded.  To express their disapproval at being left out, some of them lit fireworks and threw them into our courtyard during the class.  I decided then that perhaps I ought to organize something for the boys.

       Please pray that the children in our neighborhood will come to know Christ and that we will be patient and persistent in showing love and attention to them.