Team Work for Joy Kids

I have been thanking the Lord for what an amazing Team that I work with over here in Thailand. I have also been learning about how to let my perfectionism go...and let others help...rather than stressing myself out to do a project all alone. So, you are probably wondering what I am talking about and why I am bringing this up. Well, I am going to start with my friday. I had a packed day full of paperwork to-dos, brainstorming for upcoming events, recruiting on Campus, and individual relationship building with a couple of my students. In the evening, I planned to take it and put the craft together for Joy Kids. Joy Kids is one of our ministries at Mahatthai 3. It is similar to a VBS or sunday school. Joy Kids happens every Saturday from 10am-12pm. And these next couple months I am in charge of the crafts. This Saturday, the children were learning about how Jesus Calmed The Storm when the disciples were on the boat. So, for the craft they each have a black poster board, the size of notebook paper, were the words "When I am Scared...(and in Thai right below)I can tell Jesus because He can calm all storms." On this black poster board is also Three waves that flap open. Under each wave the children drew something that they are scared of. Then in the middle of the waves is a boat that they colored. The boat also flaps open. On the inside is the verse Jesus says, "Surely I am with you always"-Matthew 28:20. And on the inside of the boat each child drew a picture of themselves and Jesus. Friday, on campus around 3:00pm, this plan of having the evening to prepare the craft changed, because of unexpected events being put into place. So, at 4:30pm I went back to the office, made copies of waves, boats, and the sentences. P'Tang took me to a place in our market to get black posterboard. Then we went back to the office and 7 other teammates took out scissors and helped me cut out all of the waves (105), the boats (35), and Three Sentences/Phrases (35 each). So, when I came back to the house at 9:30pm, I thought ok 3 hours and I will be able to be in bed (I love to plan creative ideas...but I am horrible with the timing of things). So--3 hours and to bed was a BIG NO!! My roommate was so sweet as she sat up with me till 3:30am in the morning cutting out colored paper to go behind each cut item as I did the gluing. After she went to bed, I was determined to put the 35 crafts together...gluing all the cutouts in their positioned spots on the black poster board. Well, an hour later, I only had 7 done and I could not last any longer. So, when I (woke up 3 hours later), I went downstairs (in a panic) to where three of my roommates were and said, "I need help." And they were so sweet as they kindly put each individual craft together. That a half hour later, I came downstairs again and they said that they were finished. I was amazed! I looked at the crafts and some were not put together with perfection. The words were not centered or the waves were glued upside down...but, they were together...and ya know what?! The children did not care! It was so neat to watch them draw and color what they are scared of (or get an adult to help them draw things) and even more fun-was seeing how they drew Jesus. =) Lots of the children drew pics of ghosts, flooding, bombs, and some were scared of elephants, and robbers, and snakes. It was interesting to see what they drew. The Joy came in seeing that they understood that Jesus is right beside them, that He is personal, and that He cares! So above you see some pics of the morning. Many of the pics are the children working on their craft and then showing them off to me. Others are pics of the children pretending to be in the boat-scared to death because of the storm =) At Joy Kids we also do games and sing songs. So, see the video below of one them singing one of the songs. So, today I am thanking the Lord for the blessing of an amazing team who truly works in unity for our ministry. I am also thanking the Lord for continuing to teach me to let go of control and my perfectionism and let others help. The preparation of this craft was not about the perfect outcome of the presentatin but, about the children fully grasping Jesus in the midst of their fears. We can praise the LORD because,after seeing their pictures completed...they fully grasped this fact. Now we can pray they they remember and apply what they have learned. Here are a few verses that I have been going over in Thanksgiving as I think about the true frienships I have with my brothers and sisters in Christ: Psalm 133:1 "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in Unity!" Acts 2:46-47 "Every Day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Ecclesiates 4:10 "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one ot help him up!" Galatians 6:2 "Carry eachother's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." I am so incredibly blessed with these strong friendships revolving around a same servant attitude and Christ as our head.