Nkulunkulu Unatsi!

Nkulunkulu Unatsi! (God is with us!)

 We have just finished Christmas Celebrations at the CarePoints!  We reached about 5,000 kids and though tiring, these were some amazing days.

 4 through 11 year olds had their own age groups.  They got to travel around to different stations after viewing a fun puppet show and drama about the birth of Christ.  At one station they got to eat and learn about how Jesus fed the 5,000.  At another station, there was a huge ball 8 foot in diameter and they learned about the resurrection of Christ.  At another, they got to cool down on a soapy water slide with a pool at the end, learning about the baptism of Christ.  Another station saw them fishing for stock sweets (suckers) as they had just learned about the calling of the disciples and being fishers of men.  Another station was a huge jumping castle and the children learned to remember the ascension of Christ as they were jumping up.  Two stations left!  One of them was dance where the children learned a dance to a popular Christmas song proclaiming the message of Christ.  Lastly, there was craft.  The children got to make their very own button to pin on their shirt.  It says, “God is with me,” and is a reminder they can take with them and will enjoy wearing. 

But, guess what!  After this amazing time, they still aren’t finished.  After we all gathered together again, huge birthday cakes we brought out and we all sang, “Happy birthday, Jesus.”  For some of these children, it was their first time to have cake.  I remember at one CarePoint, they were even eating the frosting off of the legs of the desk that had become our make-shift table. 

 And it wasn’t over yet.  Fireworks!  It was great to watch their reactions. At most CarePoints, the kids took off running and laughing at the sound of the noise.

 Upon leaving the CarePoint, each child was presented with a balloon, a face cloth, and a candy cane.  All in all, this day is one that the children will never forget.  And we pray that they remember not only the candy and the water and the fireworks, but that they remember the love they experienced, that they remember what they learned at each station- that God is with them, ALWAYS.

 At the same time all of this was going on, the youth (12-18 years) were having their own celebration nearby.  They also learned about God being with us and they got to play a version of the Amazing Race.  Great fun!  At the end of their celebration, in addition to a slice of birthday cake, each youth received their very own Bible!  Another first for so many. 

I am so blessed to have been able to witness and participate in the Christmas celebrations this year.  It’s amazing to see so many children so excited to learn about God and to play and laugh.  For some, I know they have very little reason to laugh and I had such great fun interacting with them and teaching them, and just absorbing the laughter that they couldn’t help but let bubble forth. 

God is good.

In a separate writing, I would like to tell you about the picture above.  This moment is one I will never forget.  We were at one of the Eastern CarePoints for the Christmas celebration.  There was this young boy there.  He happens to be blind.  As such, he had not been able to participate in some of the other activities like the ball game his group had just come from.  Upon being asked if he wanted to go down the water slide, his answer was a very definite, “Yes.”  He was so trusting.  I held him by the hand and ran next time him telling him “Gijima” (run), and he did.  I can still see his smile and hear the sound of his laughter.  Even as I told him to sit and pushed him into the pool at the end.  All of the stress, all of the heat, all of the tiredness and sore muscles, all of it was worth it just to be a part of his life for those brief minutes we had him.  All of it is worth it so many times over for each of those smiling faces.  Hundreds and thousands of kids.  All worth it.  

 

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