Dear Friends,
This week in chapel Mr. M. talked
about covenants and commitments. He paired each student with an adult; then he
asked them first to define and discuss covenant. Then he challenged each adult
to ask his/her child about his relationship with Jesus and gave us time to pray
with the child. Part of his goal was to help the children realize that
following Christ takes a commitment.
My little
partner glowed as she reported she had accepted Jesus and had been baptized
last spring. But, another told her adult that she has tried several times to
ask Jesus into her life and nothing “happened,” and another point-blank told
her mentor that she was not a Christian and did not intend to become one. Two
of the older girls were reported as saying, no, they were not Christians. AM (along with her sister in my class) is a seeker, and the other (AR) said no she was not a Christian with real animosity. Her family is steeped in the traditional ways.
Some of the younger children told their adult what they think we
want them to say, but we are not witnessing the fruit of a transformed life at
all. One of the teachers reported that though the results were not encouraging,
it was enlightening to know where we stand. And we all agreed that the prayer
time was especially beneficial because the children still knew that we loved
them and asked Jesus to help them in their struggles.
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| The lines weren't too bad. |
R presents
different character traits in his class, but when the lessons get close to the
heart, such as Lying lips are something
God hates, then the anger rises and the behavior deteriorates. His students
weren’t interested in being peacemakers the week he taught that lesson, and
this week will be difficult because it is on forgiveness. So, that is a very real prayer request – for
them to understand the difference between a whole relationship (which many have
not seen modeled) and a broken one, and how forgiveness puts the two parties
together. It would be wonderful if even
one child in his class would know God’s forgiveness through
Jesus Christ and
start walking in a new kingdom.
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| The quizzing team and sponsors. |
My 6th
graders participated in Bible Quizzing Event this weekend. They did fairly well,
and I know they had a great time at Castles N’ Coasters in Phoenix afterwards.
I’m sure I’ll hear more about it on Monday. (photos)
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| Shooting a free throw |
Warrior
basketball season has begun. We have a talented coach, and he is interested in the
players’ spiritual development and their teamwork as well as their skills.
Unfortunately some of the players find it difficult to stay eligible due to
grades or attitude. On Saturday the staff played against the teams (3rd
– 5th) and (6th – 8th). Some of us aren’t as
young as we used to be.
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| That was fun! |
Pastor Dean
talked about our testimony in his sermon. The power of a testimony is a changed
life from a transformed heart and mind. When we tell our story, we can say to
someone, “I was in a place where you are.” The issue is sin and it needs to be
cleansed from our lives. We on the staff feel that God has us here to share our
testimonies with these children. I can say, “God has changed my life and made
me whole, and He wants to do the same thing for you. There is hope even though
your family is messed up and your childhood has been corrupted.”
Thank you for your prayers for us and our children.
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| Jammies |
P.S. I wrote most of this last night, and now it is Monday
night. R and I both had a difficult Monday. We’re praying for peace in our
classrooms on Tuesday.
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