Friday evening was PCYC free for all. The word must be getting out...we had the largest attendence yet (at over 50)...problem was that the age range expanded too--from 5-12 to 3-18. Just too much of an age difference to keep everyone entertained and busy with games. I didn't have much energy and played a minor role last night but the team did well and several really stepped "up" to make the evening a success.
Saturday was the long-awaited swimming day at the Moree Public Hot Mineral Baths. About 32 kids showed up though the day threatened rain. At least there weren't too many others in the pool when we invaded. Again the team stepped up and did a good job assessing which kids needed to be doing what...and with which coach. I got the "littlies" who loved the "hot pool" and could only just hang on (for dear life) to the cement "railing" around the pool. By the end of the morning most of them were able to let go of the railing and push themselves off the wall into my waiting arms. Somehow the timing got a little off and instead of "swimming" to me, catching their breath, and then returning to the wall...they started leaving off the last step and I was standing there with kids hanging off me like so many barnacles on an old boat. (Loved it!) I particularly enjoyed encouraging the little boys to "take risks" (albeit only a risk in their minds!) and then affirming them when they overcame their fears.
Because the air was a little cold outside of the hot pools, we had our morning Bible session in the corner of the public pool with about 50 other patrons (mostly European travelers there for the spas) hearing the gospel out of the mouths of babes as they shouted out their answers to simple questions. They had no trouble in letting their immediate "world" know that...
God is love...
God loves everyone...
God gives good gifts...
I am taking lessons from these little people. And praying that some of them will come to Jesus both as an immediate result of the outreach...and through the continuing work of the Salvation Army follow-up team.
It was really enjoyable for me to see smiles all around. I fixed nachos for the team as a late afternoon tea and passed over the hot pools Saturday afternoon as we had been in them all morning.
Saturday night back to the PCYC with a few less...back to strict 5-12 age group. I was the ever popular lollybag awards presenter...nice to be so well-liked...though I question the motivations.
Everyone safely home and meeting now with team for debrief and stir-fry. Seems appropriate for how we are starting to feel--stirred and fried. Gotta go!
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