So the other day as I was browsing through my email I discovered a folder I found of my old cannery emails. I have no idea where I found the time to write these extensive emails, but it brought back great memories. I forgot a lot of the things that had happened and am glad I wrote them down!
I was able to sit on babies Saturday! As I sat there in the nursery, my child voice came back. It's like Spanish. Even when I haven't been around Spanish-speaking people and feel like I've forgotten all Spanish, each time I go to Mexico it just kick-starts back up. Bam. Same with child voice. All of the sudden I start simplifying my words, and answering their questions in way too much detail. I love it. Then on Sunday morning Marisa and I helped one of her roommates with Kings Kids (like a Childrens Church). The kids were just as kids should be: rowdy. I love how there's always that one kid who constantly interrupts and shoots you these "what if" scenarios. It reminds me of my nephew. My favorite of the day (when talking about missionaries and spreading the gospel):
Cute kid: "What if you stood on someones porch because you wanted to tell them about Jesus, and they didn't want to hear you, so they close the door, and you knock, but they don't let you in even though you tell them they need to hear what you have to say...so what you could do is go get a chainsaw, and just saw their door down because really, they HAVE to hear what you have to say. They need to know. So you could just saw their door down and tell them so they can hear you."
Amberkay: "Yeah, you could do that."
Me, shaking my head giving the "absolutely not" motion...: "Yeah, you probably shouldn't do that..."
I was so glad to be there with Marisa, because after sensing the kids were a little too energetic and not paying attention, she jumped right on it and said "Donica, let's do a CEF song!" I looked at Amberkay for permissions to interrupt (I really did feel bad because it all happened so fast), but all of the sudden our CEF mode was switched on. Immediately I held up my fingers and taught them the two fingers rule (when I hold two fingers everyone hold their fingers in the air and becomes silent [boys try to beat girls], one of the best ways I find to quiet them down) and we stood them up to do some Child Evangelism Songs. Sure, some of the kids were a little hesistant to get into it, but they were so much better behaved after! All of the sudden we were applying what we've been trained to do, and it went great! I realized just how effective these skills are that we have been trained on summer after summer.
After that, I remembered my passion for children. I'm loving being here at college doing college ministry, but I never felt a "calling" to do this (although I will never regret the experience of it!). But I loved Child Evangelism Fellowship. I loved good news clubs, VBS, and Awana.
I know when I was at college in Alaska and I wasn't sure if I was gonna leave, I knew I wanted to involve myself more with CEF and Summit Ministries. Summit was too far, but CEF you can do anywhere. However, I left and came here to North Dakota. But I see a need. I see a need not only in the children, but also in the junior high-high school crowd. How amazing would it be to get these kids trained in CEF and send them out doing good news clubs in schools?!
I'm going through the membership process at my church and am excited to get more involved (worship team and possible children's ministry), but I'm feeling like there's something missing. I know I need to be here this summer, and I assumed it was for LIT college ministry, but I still have felt like there's something else. I talked to Marisa about it and told her how desperately I want to get CEF involved here in Grand Forks. I don't know the process. I don't really know where to start. We looked up to see where the local chapter is, and luckily there is one half an hour away, so I figured I could start there and see what options we have.
Ugh. The unfortunate part is that I need to get a THIRD job so I can make a dent in these two rents, and on top of a 20 credit load, I'm not sure how much time I'm gonna have to look into this! Oh I have so much on my mind in this area, but I feel like I must bore everyone with my endless words. Again, kudos to those who actually read this in one sitting.
TOODLES
-Donica
5 comments:
Yes! Busy busy busy!
Wow Donica, what a blessing to read about how CEF is continuing to impact your life. I'm definitely passing this blog post on to Bev and Steve! I love that your heart for children is showing up even in the midst of a college setting and that you see the need for jr highers to get involved. We have been so blessed to grow up with CEF, definitely something worth passing on!
Hey Donica!
I just saw a few adds in the student campus jobs, maybe you can apply for helping with the freshman getting started program? its on the UND webpage in the student jobs for on campus/ institutional jobs.
For CEF children's ministries, there is usually an older couple that comes and promotes the programs each spring to the youth group. I only know of a few families that have gone through the program, it sounds amazing! Maybe you can help them, I think at one point the couple needed help in taking on some of the training responsibility. Megan Peterson would be an excellent person to talk to as she helps lead many children ministry things at CCC.
Thanks for sharing too about what's going on in your classes. I will pray for you and keeping your heart encouraged through your class! "because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 2 John 1: 2, 3
That would be awesome! Thanks, Jaimie! I'll look into it
I actually called my friend Luke J. who is finishing up his process along with his wife Jess to possibly go on staff with CEF. I got your application and thought...I need to tell him about you two. Needless to say, talk to me, I can get you hooked up with CEF for sure!
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