I AM BLOG.

Some things I was blessed by this past Sunday:

     + On Sophia’s offering envelope: “God is the best!”
     + 5th grader David giving the only dollar he had to Haiti, rounding out $144 to a cool and even $145.
     + The children raising $145 for Haiti relief.
     + Celebrating two of my students birthdays. They’re happy with anything ice cream.
     + One of my students asking us to pray that the people of Haiti will turn to God during these hard times (seriously, awesome).
     + Receiving a car full of shoes from HOC to donate to Haiti. HUGE response from a last minute notice. God bless you guys.

These past few days have been great. Sure, it’s back to the grind of studying and such, but these past few days I have had the privilege to fellowship with brothers and sisters. And it was awesome.

Now it’s hermit mode time. Just kidding. If I can manage my time and studies well, it shouldn’t be a thang.

Adios fellas.

You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back. — 1 Kings 14:9 (emphasis mine)

A girl from the CM asked me what this word meant today. I think she was a first or second grader and I don’t think we’ve ever met before. She just came up to me and asked me what “provoked” meant. It made me so happy that she wanted to understand MORE!

Making some break throughs with my 4th grade boys too. With intimacy comes boundaries. They’re definitely getting better, but the better they get to know me and Enoch, the more they start pressing buttons.

I think it’s a good thing.

It’s been two months since I committed to the children’s ministry at our church. The first six weeks were pretty rough. Not rough because of the kids. I love kids and our kids are great. It’s just hard to initially build a relationship with kids, especially when you see them once a week. The CM has been going through a LOT of transitions too and a lot of order has been put into place since they got a new pastor. I’m almost certain these changes were hard on them too. In a GOOD way.

But over the past two weeks, things have really began to fall into place. It’s still difficult to have a relationship with the kids, but it’s getting better. I had a great talk with David Cha today about ministry. He’s been doing ministry for a long time and shared his wisdom with me. He really put ministry into perspective–you are responsible for young souls. That is a HUGE responsibility.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past two months it’s this–NEVER underestimate kids. They are cognizant of even the smallest details and they are SMART. They are also manipulative and lie! I didn’t know kids would lie to me! There’s also a lot that these kids go through and being at this age, they don’t have the proper outlets to talk these issues out. Some of my student’s have gone further in some life stages than I have. One of my students has to deal with the death of his mother. He’s 10.

I am learning to care for these students and to really love them. I’ve learned so much that benefits my own spiritual life as well. Grow in wisdom not to please man, but grow in wisdom to know God. The deeper we know God, our love for Him grows deeper as well.

And on a side note, if you ever teach children’s ministry or even youth, don’t peek while praying! There are going to be some kids who mess around during prayer, it’s guaranteed. But rather than glaring at them, just model what prayer should be. They’ll catch on. If they don’t, then you know what to pray:

“LORD, get them!”