At age 15, I learned that I loved to work with children. I started serving in children’s ministry at my church at 15 and have been ever since. Leaving for the World Race was hard because I had to give up serving with the kids at my home church. Most of my months on the race, I haven’t been with a ministry that’s main focus has been children’s ministry. God has definitely been growing me through different ministries, but sometimes I just wanted to be with kids. I had been praying for the past few months that maybe in South America I will get that chance, and not just for a day, but for the whole month, so I could really invest and get to know the kids. Well last month in Colombia, my prayers were answered! We were partnered with Formavida up on a mountain in the city of Bogotá. Many of the kids in the program came from homes with single parents and many siblings. They have a before & after school program with the kids called “OASIS”. They helped with homework, devotionals, teaching English, & playing games! I was so excited this was going to be our ministry for the whole month!
I loved getting to know these kids! Of course there were a few kids who just stole my heart and I loved any opportunity to play with them. Some days we would jump rope, play Dutch Blitz, or tickle the kids until they couldn’t stop laughing. And of course, give many hugs! One of the days, we also had a chance to go to a preschool down in the city and these kids were the cutest. They spoke Spanish insanely fast, and they didn’t get that I could not understand a word they were saying. I would just respond, “Sí” and they kept rambling on. We did the story of Wall of Jericho with them and did silly songs. At the end we just played with them and when we had to say goodbye, the girls I was playing with all surrounded me and started hugging and kissing me all over my face.It was such a sweet moment
Working with kids brings me so much joy!! I almost forgot because it had been awhile since I had been around kids. It was so great that God showed me just how much I love kids. This past month, I allowed myself to start thinking about the future and praying into what God could have for me after the race. I still do not know what is next, but I have a lot of ideas! I started thinking about what brings me life and kids are one of the many things that do- this month reminded me of that. I started thinking maybe I should do something with children when I get back. I’m not sure what that would look like, but God has been opening my eyes to be invested in what brings me life and gives glory to God. Just thought I would share how God used this month: first to just have an incredible month and second that maybe this is something God is calling me to do in the future-I just needed to re-experience my love for kids!
