It has to rain... today?

Steady rain.  Well, it’s early in the day. 

There’s time to come up with plan B.

It’s Thursday, public school project day and 

it’s raining...

Last week we started off inside the “Mais Educação” room.  We had a plan and put it to action…tried to, at least.  Forty plus kids that wouldn’t obey instructions lead to complete chaos.  This week needed to be different.  I was hoping we would be outside….my stomach started turning in knots.

Well, right away, a friend of mine came to visit.  Fear stopped for a chat and reminded me of what a disaster rainy days at the project had been.  I had not been able to control the constant activity around me….and the Shame of failing surrounded me.  Fear had brought Pity with him and Pity started talking about how all the work fell on me and there was no one to help. Would the helper come or would the helper not come? Fear said not to ask--I would be better off not knowing.  Well, the helper came, whistling. But why didn’t the helper help? Pity engaged in a longer conversation until he transformed to Overwhelmed.  This is all wrong! The project was not about Fear, Shame, Pity or Overwhelmed! It was about Jesus. Those that would be willing to hear, let them hear!

We arrived at the project. Lots of kids were missing today because of the rain.  Half the group was present. Well…that made the group was manageable. The first hour, a couple handfuls of kids joined to play games.  We transitioned to an English game –finding the opposites to words (ex. Black/white or Front/Back).  Since the kids love games—we played another game that was an introduction to the lesson: The Price is Right*.  A kid from each team guessed the price of an item and whoever was closest without guessing over, got a point for their team.  Transition/Application: Items cost money. Typically, you don’t receive items for free…there is a cost involved.  In fact, a price was paid for us to go to heaven and live with God forever.  This beautiful place, this perfect place, was paid for with a large price!

We talked about how our sin separates us from God and the need for Someone Perfect to pay for our sins.  Jesus Christ is the bridge between God and us. The gift God offers is a free gift.

I looked at the kids seated on the synthetic green rug on the floor.       

"Anyone want this gift bag?"

"Me!" they almost simultaneously shouted. 

As I turned to give the gift to the first one that called out to receive it—the group immediately began to argue about who should receive the gift.  Even the one who was receiving the gift began to defend why he should receive it.  “Wait!—Look—Here he is selfishly defending why he should receive the gift, but you know what, he didn’t have to work for this.  I didn’t say—'pay attention and don’t talk and I’ll give this to you'."  The room got silient. “All I said was, ‘Do you want it?’ And he gets to get it…..but guess what…I brought some for everyone." Handing out the M&M's I continued,  "You see, God doesn’t offer His gift to the smartest, the biggest, the happiest, the one who has worked the hardest—His love extends to every person, regardless. And that includes you."

Hard to believe how well they listened. 
At the end of the hour, four kids testified to have believed on Jesus as their Savior. 


Was I disheartened by rain?

This was a great project day.

*used www.creativeyouthideas.com for the evangelism/game idea