It's Saturday night about 11:30 and we have had a FULL day! We spent the entire day with the student leaders from Metro Kids. Our day began at 7:30 at Stellenberg Church - pretty much home base for us. We begin each day with team devotion time. It has been a great time of sharing - organized by David and Vironetta - but others participate as well.
Today we had a leader appreciation day for the student leaders. These children are all of the helpers and leaders at Metro Kids. They range in ages from 12 to 24. These kids are truly amazing kids. They are from the townships in which the SideWalk Sunday Schools are held. The helpers help manage all of the children - sometimes up to 700 or 800 kids during the Sunday Schools. We have gotten to see these kids in there service roles and it is incredible to watch. The younger kids attending the Sidewalks really have respect for these student leaders. Let me give you some information into how kids become leaders/helpers. Once kids reach the age of 12 (even though there were some that were younger) if they have been attending Sidewalk regulary some are asked to be leaders. They begin helping in the managing of the children - and running the games. They meet either once a month or once a week and get training about MetroKids and how it works as well as dicipled by James or other older leaders. Some kids serve at more than one Sunday School a week. They have such servant's hearts and are amazing leaders.
So today we took all the leaders - about 70 kids to a water park. This waterpark had 3 slides. The kids had soooo much fun. Some were scared of the slides and most of them could not swim. Some of the kids went right for the big slides and some took more convincing. It was tons of fun to go down the slides with them and just interact and have a blast with these kids. From the water park - we went to a park for a Bry (BR-long I) Don't know how to spell it - but a bar-b-que. The staff from Stellenburg was amazing in organizing all of this. We had grilled lamb sandwiches - and potatos. It was delicious. Some kids had 3 or 4 sandwhiches. They could not get enough. We also had cake - all made by members os Stellenburg Church.
Then we had were able to minister to these kids in an amazing way. We read the story of then Jesus washed the diciples feet. Then we told them that we would like to wash there feet as Jesus did. We started by washing there leaders - James and Janet's feet - which I think then made it "okay" for the others to participate. We had 14 washers set up and the kids came and we washed there feet. It was so incredible. These kids have never had anything like this. It was such an HONOR to serve them. It was also amazing to see how the older leaders made sure all of the younger leaders went first and then they came. Even if the kids didn't completely understand it - I believe it will have an everlasting impact on them. The fact that we as adults (white American adults at that) were washing (and rubbing and drying) there feets - they don't experience that ever! I think they were truly touched!
We were then all divided into teams - 6 teams total - student leaders, "American friends" and members of Stellenburg church. We participated in a variety of games from cake eating and stuffing marshmellows in mouth - to MetroKids favorites - "The Chocolate Jump" Really everyone was a winner today. We also gave out t shirts and backpacks to the students! They were sooo greatful! It amazing me - there GRATITUDE and the love there show all of us. Today will be a day that I'm sure none of us will forget!
The evening ended with our team planning out our "free days" ie - Let's be a tourist day - and then grabbing some dinner!
Oh yeah - I forgot - we also took pictures of each of the students today. We have frame/cards to put them in with a note and the verse 1 Tim. 4:12 - "Do not let anyone think less of you because you are young.." (sorry I forgot the rest of it and it's now 1am - and just to give you some reality of South Africa - the adaptor I was using for the laptop didn't work and the battery died - so I've snuck down to the computer in the lobby. Also we are buying internet time and I currently have 2 minutes left on this passcode.) So goodnight - or goodmorning or good afternoon to whoever is reading this wherever you are!
Thank you for your support! Until next time!
Cape town team - Katie R
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3 comments:
Katie and all the team member, "Thank You for what a wonderful ministry you are doing for these children!!!!!!! It brings tears of joy to my eyes to read the blogs everyday and to hear about the wonderful ways in which the Lord is using you all. You are a unique group of young men and women and the Lord is richly blessing you all as well as the children you are touching on your trip. My prayers are with you all. And hello to my son, Justin! I am proud of each and every one of you!!!!!! God Bless!
Yeah Katie! I'm so glad y'all are having a great time - it is so neat to hear what awesome things God is doing. We are praying for you here!
Vironetta, God Bless you and the other members. I am so very proud of you guys for spreading the love of God and for allowing him to guide your footprints. Continue to be blessed and to provide blessing to others. You are all in my daily prayers.
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