Our final day with the missionary kids was yesterday (Saturday). The day was filled with fun, faith and farewells. It’s hard to believe the trip is coming to a close.
A majority of the time was spent all together – younger and older – singing, signing T-shirts & journals, and walking along the shore to find a new beach spot.
For at least three hours, kids hung out in the sunshine and swam. Many chatted and goofed off while tossing a football or receiving henna tattoos. We concluded our afternoon the same way we did last year – by getting gelato with all the kids.
Full of Joy
“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” Luke 10:21
During devotion time with the younger kids, John Larsen (one of our teammates from the M28 church in Fort Collins, Colorado) read an illustrated story book about Jesus and the disciples crossing the sea. Jesus is sleeping when the waves become treacherous and he commands them to “Be still!”.
When John Larsen asked the kids if they had any observations, a few of the children had such insightful answers. One kid said, “Jesus didn’t control the disciples, he controlled the waves. He forced the waves to obey him, but he didn’t force the disciples to obey him.”
John also asked the kids if any of them wanted to “Be still” in their heart and make peace with Jesus. While many young children were distracted or anxious to move on to the next thing, one six year old said “I need to (make peace with Jesus).”
The kids were given a coloring page from the story to draw how they can respond and “Be still”. I expected most kids to draw ocean creatures, pirates and whatever they wanted – which did happen. But the boy who wanted to make peace with Jesus drew three pictorials representing “where he was”, and to quote him, “where he wants to be”.
His three sets of drawings were as follows:
- a heart with sin → a pure heart
- a person that’s empty → a person filled with the Holy Spirit
- waves in turmoil → waves that are still
Sweeter than Gelato
It was a privilege – sweeter than Croatian gelato – to witness this little person’s journey in submitting (like the waves) to Jesus. It seemed like a small taste of what Jesus was worshiping about in Luke 10:21. If there’s any doubt about God’s existence, His power, and ability to fill someone with His Holy Spirit, it is removed when a young child worships Him.
This trip has been a good reminder to all of us to be filled in His stillness. Even in the busyness of childcare, His simple, steady Spirit fills our hearts and weighs them down with joy and eternal significance.
Still in Him,
Ps. See you soon!
Posted in Missions