We Had Early Bird and Caught Some Worms

Week 1 of programming is complete! Last week was our first week of programming and was also Early Bird. This means that our whole area comes together to run a week of programming at one sight and Chattanooga was the site for our area. It was a stressful couple of days before the participants came. We welcomed the Atlanta and Birmingham teams to our home at The Gathering and spent countless hours practicing club, putting up signs, and planning the week together. Admits much laughter, we were able to get everything set and were ready to go on Sunday afternoon.

Here is a picture of our area (Birmingham, Chattanooga, and Atlanta ) aka Chatlantaham. This is Monday night evening activity at Lookout Mountain. We call ourselves district 9 (because we're area 9) hence the Hunger Games pose!

Our first group of participants was a group from Atlanta, Georgia and had only 24 students and 5 adult leaders. That means that there was pretty much a 2 to 1, student to staff ratio which was really nice to have. I was super nervous going into the week. I was starting two kids clubs, had never lead dinner before, and wasn't 100% sure how everything was supposed to run. I forgot how great middle schoolers are though. As soon as they walked in and I saw them my nerves went away. Even though it is clearly needed, I tend to get too caught up in the logistics and planning causing me to forget the true reason I am here this summer. To love God and love his people. It is so refreshing to be around youth and their energy.

Because we had so few participants and because it was the first week of programming, we decided to only run two kids clubs. One was held at a boys and girls club and the other was held at one of the 3 rec centers we will be going to. As the Kids Club coordinator, I give the main talk but let the youth come up with the crafts, games, and reading activities. This was (and still kind of is) hard for me to do. I am a planner and I want to have everything organized, planning it out by myself. Yet, this isn't the point. I need to empower the youth and encourage their adult leaders to do so as well.

I was blown away by what the students came up with and the passion that they showed. It was so refreshing and encouraging to see them teaching the kids, playing with them, reading with them, and doing crafts with them. I was able to see students love on these children who do not get much love anywhere else. The curriculum focus was kindness and the "superhero" was Ruth. The kids seemed to really grasp this concept throughout the week!! We had 15 kids memorize the bible verse for the week which just goes to show how amazing the middle schoolers were as they were the ones who taught them!

Here is a picture of some of the crafts they did! How refreshing it is to walk into kids club and see that the youth have had the kids write the bible verse on their coloring sheet!

Some of the youth leading the kids in a song at the Boys and Girls Club!

I just can not wait to see what God has in store for this coming week. Although we will be starting up 4 kids clubs, I just know that God has some amazing plans! Plus the kids at the kids clubs are hilarious. One little boy came to Kids Club the second day with a cast on. We asked him how long he has to have it on and he responded with, "3 or 4"...we asked 3 or 4 days or weeks? and he responded with "3 or 4". The same little boy also was asked if he wanted to play kickball. He said that he couldn't so he decided to run around in circles. A couple of my fellow staff members are trying to start at # on twitter for him #castkid so if you see me tweet about it, you'll know who I'm talking about!

This coming week is going to be a great week but will also be more challenging. We will have over double the amount of participants and less than a third of the staff. We are going from 4 service crews to 6 and had to move a couple of the rooms around in order to fit everyone. Although it is going to be harder, I am super excited to see what God has in store! Please pray that God would use Jonathan, Bryan, Kial and I as we work with the youth, their leaders, service partners, and kids at kids clubs this week. Pray for safety, laughter, and growth!

The theme for Kids Club this week patience which is a perfect reminder for the week. As week two starts, this summer is becoming more and more real and patience is something that has the potential to become harder and harder to have. I have a feeling I will be learning more than I will be teaching this week!

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. 

Psalm 27:14

(memory verse for Kids Club this week)