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Who loves kids? Me, me, me!

I am constantly reminded on this trip that unless I become like a kid, I cannot enter the Kingdom. God really wants me in his Kingdom because he keeps putting me with kids so I’ll learn something from them.

 
ice cream!We just finished a four-day kids camp. Four days of non-stop kids. About 20 kids lived with us, ate with us, and played with us. The ages ranged from probably six to thirteen years old. We started the week trying to be excited but almost dreading the sacrifice of our comfort (we so rightly deserve!) and ended the week not wanting to say goodbye to these incredible kids.

We speak NO Serbian or Hungarian…and the kids spoke hardly ANY English.

 
So we had to use church staff and kids to help us translate. And we had to be quite creative. We did all different kinds of things with the kids.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Children's church in SerbiaWe played the guitar and taught them some songs. We went to the lake and played volleyball, soccer, and football. We ate ice cream.
We visited a real shepherd along with some sheep, rams, and cows. We walked a lot.
We did skits and games. We did exercises.
We did Oh Lei Lei (as always).
And we just loved on them.
 
 
 
 

On the first day of the camp, I was hiding away in my room when someone knocked on the door. A little girl walks right in and just stands in front of me. So I asked her if she needed something, not really wanting to disrupt my own agenda. She spoke a little bit of English so she said yes and took me by the hand. As I followed her she led me into another room right next to mine and sat me on the bed. She went on by showing me all her things in her bag like her wallet, her clothes and a tiny tennis ball. All she wanted to do was play catch and be silly with me. We couldn’t really communicate but she did tell me her name was Christina and called me Bethy.

 
 
Throughout the week she always found me and gave me huge hugs. When we’d walk to the lake or to the farm, she always grabbed my hand to walk with me. The last night we had a bonfire and she sat on my lap and I just squeezed her so tightly. I literally fell in love with this little girl in these four days. Tonight we had to say goodbye. It broke my heart but at the same time I wasn’t sad because I knew I’d see her again. Afterward, I learned that she has a somewhat abusive home life and that she didn’t speak until only a few years ago. She is probably 10 years old. I couldn’t believe that this outgoing, courageous, playful little girl had already had such a difficult life. I am so convinced that Jesus is looking out for her and that her life and destiny are in his hands. And so I continually pray for her and thank God for such a beautiful friendship.