Last week we had Peter drive us around in Portsmouth and Glanvillia and the surrounding neighborhoods. We talked to several familiar faces and probably just as many "newbies". Of course, ice cold popsicles were a great "interest peek-er" since it's so darn hot and sticky out here right now! The kids were SO excited and were really looking forward to our first session. Several of them, before we even handed them the flyers, said "Oh, I know dis. Dis is in.Light.in!". I guess a hoard of white ladies walking around handing out popsicles kind of gave us away! ;) But it was also such a blessing to know that the word has spread and that the kids look forward to our time together. Their little faces just lit right up!
So a group of us (Rebecca Aaron, Elise Strickland, Rachel Womack, Christy Wallace, and Andrea Fuguet) met yesterday to pray over this semester's in.Light.in and to talk about some ideas for the sessions. Some REALLY great ideas were thrown out and we can't wait to start putting them into motion. We are extremely optimistic about our volunteer base this semester. The new 1st semester spouses we've encountered so far have a real heart for children and ministry. That has been a huge blessing we could not possibly have seen coming! So with the extra help each week, we are confident that we can get a few new things in the mix!
Since by the end of last semester we had quite a hoard of older children, we thought it might be a really great idea to do a sort of split. Meaning everyone is all together for song time and game time, but we will split the group for the craft and Bible story time. That way we can still be giving the little ones stories from the children's Bible and we can make sure the message is on their level, but we can also start discipling those older kids. As Christy put it "feed them some meat"! We want them to start really learning about the nature of God, about faith, and about sharing the gospel with others. Because let's face it, we, as spouses and students, won't be here forever. What better way to perpetuate the message of in.Light.in than to truly ENLIGHTEN our growing children. Send them off into THEIR world with the light of the Truth to share with their community!
So this Friday marks our first official session. We will be running this session kind of like an intro session (so the splits will probably start next week). When you pray for us, please pray for a good turn out! Pray for the hearts of the children and volunteers involved. Pray for the parents and family members. Pray for the community of people that will see us with these kids...pray that their interest is stirred! And as always, pray for the health and well-being of this beautiful community of people; believers and non-believers.
Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)
Meet us at the bus shelter by the shacks tomorrow at 3:30 for FREE transport to and from Benjamin Park. We will return (with full hearts!) a few minutes after 5:00!
Love and Light,
in.Light.in Team Summer 2013
