We got to the opportunity to join Sergey for two Thursday afternoons at an after school program for underprivileged, at risk children. There were only a handful of them 12 and under each week. They really loved to have Americans come and play with them though! We learned some of their games and taught them some of ours. We laughed a lot and at some points felt completely out-of-shape and struggled keeping up with them!
Natalie also shared each week a lesson from the Bible and encouraged the kids to know that God is with them all the time. He is with them while they are at school, sleeping, playing with friends, when they are happy, sad, afraid or upset. He is there to comfort them and to hold them. He is worthy of their praise and worship no matter what others try to say. The kids listened eagerly to what Natalie had to teach them.
Natalie had them draw pictures that showed a time or something that helped them remember that God was with them. One little boy about 5 brought a picture of a Bible (drawn by his bigger brother I am sure, but oh well) and when asked to explain it, he simply said, “Jesus lives in this Book.” It was so cute…and so true! Let us remember that for ourselves. Jesus is the living word! The living word that brings life wherever it is spoken! So speak the Word, people!
