For many people, Valentine's Day is a romantic and special holiday; for other people, it is a commercialized, dreadful reminder. I am one of the few people who would be labeled "indifferent." However, since Valentine's Day isn't really commercialized in Czech as it is in America, I found myself taking the day rather to think about God's love for me and for the kids that I work with. I thought it would be good to talk about the American culture surrounding Valentine's Day to my Kid's Class, and during my teaching I jokingly turned to my translator and said "Maybe my knowledge about this holiday will be brief since I have never had a boyfriend." To which he responded, "You don't need a boyfriend, you have all the kids!" The love from these kids can be really overwhelming as God continues to show me His love through these little hands and toothless smiles - I was reminded this Valentine's Day that love is truly a universal language.
In English Class, we are continuing our topical study on "Clothing." By only introducing a handful of vocabulary each day and encouraging the students to recall the previous vocabulary, I am noticing they have greater confidence in using the words. Teaching topically has many advantages in that the students find comfort in the consistency of the topic while being introduced to new vocabulary and activities within the theme. While the kids have been enjoying the games and activities surrounding the topic study, the part of the class they have recently been most excited about is writing letters to their American Pen Pals! It is fun watching the kids use their English in a very practical way as they are excited to read and write their letters - and I am hoping they also see the value of learning a second language!
English Class Games
They did interviews with their classmates using English.
Writing to American Pen Pals
Our Bouncy Castle gets lots of use as the kids from both clubs love the time jumping and using all their energy that has been bottled up from sitting in school all day. This week, the club kids in Boskovice enjoyed rotating groups on the bouncy castle, but we realized quickly we needed another activity for the kids in Letovice to use up their energy too! We pulled lots of the mattresses off the sofas and made a "wrestling mat" and had the kids take turns pushing each other around the mat. I also taught some of the kids how to play Hide-N-Seek Sardines, so we had fun trying to find the one person hiding and joining them in their hiding spot. I am definitely enjoying all the new girls coming to club too! It seems that all the girls continue to invite their friends from school, and I am praying they feel connected and return for more activities.
Silly Faces
The Wrestling Cheerleading Squad ;)
While at club this week, one of the kids came running into the club room saying "Why didn't you guys ever tell us there is a mini-swimming pool here?!" Baptisms were this Sunday at church and the church leaders were preparing the baptismal pool in the chapel during Thursday club. However, it did give us a great opportunity to simply share with the kids about baptism - and break the news that we would not be having a pool party in the baptismal.
I was really happy this past Friday when so many of the kids came to Bible Study! We had a few smaller attendance weeks as there were many other activities and illnesses, but it was a blessing having almost the whole group back together again. I enjoy creating games for this group of kids that focus on team-building and also introduce biblical concepts and morals that they are learning about. This week, they had to get in a line without speaking - "tallest to shortest," "longest to shortest hair," "oldest to youngest," etc. Then, they had to do the same challenges in a line but without seeing. It was encouraging watching these kids problem solve as they helped each other accomplish the different tasks!
Tallest to Shortest Line
Working with kids brings me so much joy during the week, and God continues to remind me the blessing I have to be able to watch them grow. I have known some of them for many years, but this Friday, I definitely felt old when I realized about six kids from my first LetFest Children's Class were at the LetFest Leaders Meeting for this upcoming LetFest 2017! LetFest and Elim are truly a legacy - and I see that though these kids. They have leadership roles with clubs and now at LetFest, they have developed friendship bonds with others they may not have known before, and somehow during this journey through time they became more than my English Students - they became some of my closest friends.
LetFest Team Meeting 2017
LetFest Kids 2012
(all four of these little friends are in the previous picture!)
We are excited to continue preparing as a team for LetFest this summer, and we are praying that God will be able to use this year to really touch the hearts of the people in this city.