August Update

Dear Family and Friends,

“I love arts and crafts!”

One of my new friends, pictured below, exclaimed this loudly one afternoon as we were cleaning up magazine cuttings, putting away gluesticks, and gathering scissors back to their box. It made my heart so happy to hear his enthusiasm!

My favorite activity this summer has been working with the Summer Day Camp Program. The program ran for six weeks for kids in grades one through six. Each morning they gathered at Bridge of Hope Church to hear a Bible lesson, recite memory verses, and worship together. At noon the kids were brought over to our Ministry Center for lunch and an afternoon of electives, gym activities, and time in the game room.

We offered many elective choices for the kids each afternoon, including drama, dance, newspaper, LEGO robotics, and drawing. I was the arts and craft elective teacher three days each week. It was such fun! While we sat and colored, cut, pasted, folded, glittered, and even snacked (edible crafts were incredibly popular) we also chatted about everything under the sun from family life to horse teeth. I really enjoyed the time I had with the kids and watching their creative minds go to work to make fun and silly and beautiful crafts.

Not only do these times provide a fun outlet for creativity, they also connect us to the kids on a much deeper level. Recently we had a teenage boy ring our doorbell at the Center. I immediately recognized him as one of the youth I worked with as an intern two years ago. That year he was very involved in our summer programs. Shortly after the summer ended he moved out of the city with his mom. He was back in our neighborhood visiting other family members when he and his uncle got into a fight. When the situation got out of control he ran to our doorstep. He knew, just as the kids this summer are learning, that this is a safe place full of people who really care about him and are willing to help him any time. Our doors are always open for them.

Our summer programs are nearing an end as the kids get ready to start school again. This first week of August is the big finale as we take both children and adults from Bridge of Hope Church to Family Camp at Morning Star Ranch in Kansas. This is just one more opportunity for us to connect with families and get them involved with the church. Please pray for these kids and their families and for the ways God continues to work in their lives, drawing them ever nearer to himself and closer to the Body of Christ in this city.

For His Glory,

Beth