Sala Sala Kids Club - Fall 2012

I hope you enjoy these pictures from our most recent Tuesday Sala Sala Kids' Club gathering.  I literally took almost 200 pictures...but, I think these are some of the best.

It is such a hit when one of us brings our camera.  I might have a picture of every child that was with us on Tuesday, literally.

The Merry Go Round...though I think most people here call it a Round About.

Having fun in the sand.

Many of the older kids bring their younger siblings.

We always have a coloring picture or a craft that is related to the lesson for the week.

A wide view of the playground at HOPAC.

Doing back flips is so much fun.

They also love playing with water and "kitchen" stuff and making mud pies.

"Arhhh!" I think he's going to get me!

Having some fun making silly faces on the slide.

Steve, out playing some soccer (or "football" as they call it here) with the bigger boys.

Washing our hands before we go to story time.

Karen and Benjamin Graham, sitting and waiting for the Bible lesson to begin.

The story today was about Moses.  Jen gave the lesson and Laura translated for her.

This was the little guy leaning on my lap as I was taking pictures during the Bible lesson.

Shaun and the kids.  Shaun and Karen Graham are the couple that started and facilitate the Sala Sala Kids Club each week.

Sitting in a group, listening to the Bible lesson.

Bob and Christine...I think the little guy was looking at something because none of them are shy about having their picture taken.

Saying the closing prayer together.

Snack time.  Michelle had her hands full handing out the drinks.

We usually provide a drink and something to eat.  This week was the local mandazi bread.

Steve handing out the mandazi.

Harry and Steve...sitting and listening.

Behold, children are a gift from the Lord. - Psalm 127:3 (NASB)

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above. - James 1:17 (NASB)

Lego Creations

I believe that Gwangi wants to self publish a Lego Idea Book.

He's got a pretty good start if you look below.

 These are just pictures from the last two weeks.

I'm not kidding, he comes to me everyday to take pictures of a new creation.

The boy has no end to his building and imagination.

Enjoy!

He'll be a famous Lego Architect someday, and you can say you knew him...way back when!

The Underground Base

The Contraption

Home Base

A house

Inside of the house

Watching instructions on how to build Mario and Luigi

A completed Mario

Ships fighting

The Cruiser

The Sonic Ship

The Flying Battleship

A completed Goomba

An outside "world" set up for Luigi, Mario, and the Goomba.

Amazing N's Fortress

Amazing N's Landing Pad

The People and Places in our Lives, Part I

I've had many people ask me about the people and places in our life.

So, here are some pictures to share with you.

This is Abdul, he works at our local "green grocer," where we get our fresh produce once or twice a week.

A view of what he has to offer.

Sissi is my helper.  We always stop here on Sunday on our way home from church.  If we need to, we'll swing by on Thursday or Friday to get us through again until Sunday.

Helping to pick out some oranges...yes, they aren't orange here :)

He is so sweet to Sissi, always giving her little things for free...a piece of passion fruit or a banana.

The sign outside of the green grocer

Next door is a duka, or little shop, where you can buy basic groceries like milk, yogurt, oats, and toilet paper.

Photogenic Kids

Testing out new settings and lighting on the camera....
Got some great shots, but of course it helps when you have such photogenic children. ;-)

My Amazing Gwangi!

Our dog, Smokey.

Outside, in the garden.

Making faces at her Mommy.

In the tree.

Laughing at herself.

Thinking pose.

Love her...not the shadow though, not sure how to get those all gone without buying an external flash.

My big boy, Krypto.

Laying in the big tree.

Can I just say that I love all of my kiddos expressive, big, blue eyes?!

This was my bed on Saturday morning, before I signed them up for Lego club and the interest turned from a Playmobil Dino Island to building Mario characters.

The Day After...

Have you ever had one of those moments where you feel like you really "got" something, and then not more  than 24 hours later you are tested in that very same area and come up lacking?

Oh yes, whether or not you can relate, this seems to happen to me all the time.

I am such a fallen creature.

Today was the 5th Sunday of the month, and so we were trying to make things easier in Children's Ministry and do a movie, so no one had to prepare for teaching.

I think the kids would have done better with a lesson this morning.

About 60 of our 70 kids had to go to the bathroom, and not all at the same time.

I had kids come to me complaining about neighbors spitting on them, pinching them, kicking their chairs, and sitting on them.

I had kids rolling in the aisles, jumping and dancing down the steps (my youngest was doing some of the jumping and dancing)

We ran out of snacks and didn't have cups (someone had to go out and buy some...oh, and water, too)

I found myself getting irritable, impatient, and by the time the 50th child was asking me to go to the bathroom I was more than a little merciless and asking them, "Do you really need to go to the bathroom?  Can't you wait for 10 minutes.  Why didn't you go before you came in to Children's Church?"

What was my problem?

I think it was my level of expectation.

I was thinking it was a much needed "down week."  We would get the kids set up with a snack and then watch a movie...a sit down and relax event in my house.  Of course, I have just THREE kids.

It wasn't a relaxing event at all.

Now that I know that, I won't go in next time expecting something that isn't going to happen :) and I won't feel so let down.

But, why can't I be more flexible and "go with the flow."

Why does change and the unexpected get me riled up so that I forget what I just read about in James 2 days ago and wrote about yesterday.  Where was my patience, where was my mercy, where was my ability to turn the kids' complaining into a character lesson and have them learn from it rather than me just getting a bit angry?

I'm still working on this, I'm still trying so hard to meet up to the standard, and I'm still thankful that God is merciful, slow to anger, and patient with me!  There is still so much to learn!