Spring weather has arrived for us!
Spring Break
During the second week in March, our region had its yearly Spring Break. The kids were all looking forward to time off of school, and us leaders at club also enjoyed in a couple days of rest. Though the kids still wanted clubs and youth groups to be open during the break because they can’t imagine a week without clubs! Some of the older youth kids helped the guy leaders with a renovation project on our building one day, and we kept youth group as normal on Friday since the students are so eager to come. The girl leaders and I led a Girl’s Night for the girls at club one evening during Spring Break. One of the leaders planned a theme of “Self Confidence” for the evening. Together with the girls we listened to encouraging music, created inspirational t-shirts, discussed how we can encourage each other and ourselves in self-confidence (how God has created us unique and with the opportunity to share His love and confidence with others), and wrote encouragement letters to each other. It was a wonderful night with laughter and deep heart-to-hearts among the girls. We are so grateful for the ways we are able to connect with these youth deeper and intentionally.
Club Boskovice - ULTIMATE NERF BATTLE
Over the past month, we split our team of leaders into three groups and each group created a Special Club for one of our three club locations. Our clubs students have become so familiar with the routine of club, and while they enjoy the regularity of club, we also wanted to give them a special organized activity to look forward to. My team picked our club location in Boskovice. We had a lot of fun planning and executing our Special Club: ULTIMATE NERF BATTLE. I created a training board, and as the students arrived, they had the opportunity to win candy for making the targets. We then played and Ultimate Battle of Nerf where my other two leaders each led a team in a Nerf-Capture-the-Flag. The catch — when you are hit by a Nerf bullet, you are not out of the game, but need to go to the Nurse Station for “medicine” (candy)! The kids and leaders all loved this new take on the game as they could continue playing. Some of the kids (and leaders) wanted to go back for the candy so much that they would call to other team, “hey! I’m open! Can someone hit me so I can go back for another candy?” We had so much fun that when we finished two battles, the kids and leaders all wanted to continue, but we were all so sweaty, red-faced, and exhausted. It is definitely a game we will need to repeat soon with this group!
With the Nerf Training Target Board
Check out the video of the ULTIMATE NERF BATTLE
At our newest youth club in Velke Opatovice, I feel I am always meeting new kids! While many of the kids are now coming regularly and we are developing relationships with them, I am really happy that they are still inviting new friends to join us. One such student this past week would not stop smiling! We played multiple rounds of Foosball and Ping-Pong, and he was so happy to be at club and to get to play all the games. When talking with this kid, he asked “How do you know how to play Foosball and Ping-Pong so well?” (To clarify… I’m no expert, but I can play.) I answered, “It’s my job to know how to play, so I can play with all of you.” The kid said, “You’ve got a really cool job!” Yeah, the best.
Club Letovice
Many of our club kids in Letovice are in their final year in Middle School, and that means they are studying for big final exams to be accepted into High Schools throughout the region. Clubs in Letovice have been a huge break for these kids as they simply move the group of friends from one sitting area to the next - what I have now begun referring to as the "tour of sofas." With a quieter atmosphere, I've been enjoying the conversations and table games with these youth! They will be back to their full energy of games of ping-pong and foosball soon - the spring weather seems to be the best cure for that.
We realized rather quickly that we should have started on a bigger table, but it was a new challenge!
Little Linguists
Little Linguists had been a smaller group for a couple weeks, though we had a couple new toddlers and young moms join us this past week! The new toddlers joined in on all the regular activities quickly - circle time, songs, games - they loved it all! One new Little continued to ask me for tickles, another new toddler wanted to sit in my lap and chat, and another new child was content bringing me multiple different toys one after another. These sweet little smiles definitely light up the day. The Littles who come regularly have taken to asking for songs from previous weeks to be repeated as they hum the tune and make the actions. They are clever kids, and their moms and I really enjoy watching them grow and learn.
This week's lesson was all about HATS!
Trying on new hats
They even decided hats were necessary in the LEGO Castle they made.
English Class Level 1
My First Level English Class has been growing. We've added another two students! I am happy the kids are telling their siblings and friends how much they enjoy English Class and inviting them along with. My rockstar translator has adapted well to the slightly larger group (we went from having so many kids out with illness and now having nearly a dozen students each Monday!). We have almost finished our theme about the Sea; we just have one last week for review before we start a new theme. The students are looking forward to what the translator and I have planned for our third and final theme of the year. The kids keep guessing — the Zoo is a popular guess, Travel was another, the Galaxy and a Toy Store were quite creative ideas, and two of the boys have guessed, or rather wished, to have a theme about Soldiers and Tanks — so far no one has guessed what the translator and I have planned for the last theme, but we are certain the kids will love it! If you are curious too... stay tuned next month to read what theme we chose and the students’ reaction to the first few lessons!
Following the instructions to create a LEGO castle
I was surprised with how much my students liked this simple game! We would ask the students, "do you like more dogs or cats?" and each umbrella was a different answer. We played many rounds as the kids liked changing which umbrella they stood under. Thankfully, my translator's arms didn't get too tired holding the umbrellas for so long!
Outside Games (Finally!)
English Class Level 2
These past few weeks in Second Level English Class have been so fun as we studied Sports, Health, and Food. We were hitting "spring fever" as the weather just starting to warming up, and the kids realized there is still a long time until summer vacation (which in Czech starts in July). I noticed a couple students getting a bit antsy and pulled out a few lessons that always go over well just in time. Whenever the kids can move around while learning English is a win, so Sports fit right in! (We often have movement activities with each lesson, but they needed a little more than normal.) With a Sports theme, Health flows in naturally. We learned how to describe different injuries and illnesses through some funny (and dramatic) Charade games! To top it off, I had been saving a bag of American Jelly Beans for just this occasion of rebooting our energy into English Lessons. The kids had the best time taste-testing, describing flavors, and learning all about food.
Happy in a mix-matched food game
Describing food while looking for the hidden piece of candy.
Sorting food pictures
Doctors finding Patients in a silly game of Charades
ELIM Leadership Academy
At the start of the school year, we introduced ELIM Leadership Academy (ELSA) as leaders in our team began praying intentionally for a couple specific mini-leaders in our youth club. This past month, we started ELSA fully with regular meetings (and even application assignments) for the students. The goal is for each leader to have a couple mini-leaders they will intentionally disciple in leadership with a foundation of faith. These mini-leaders are so talented and have so much leadership potential! I am really excited to see all God will do through this group and the ways they will grow in this program.
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