One of my great joys this year has been working with the “Whizz Kids” at my church, Hope City. Several of us are on the rota (British translation: rotation), so my friend Lindsay and I teach once every three weeks. On Whizz Kids Sundays, this is becoming the pattern: we go to church early and drop John off for worship team, then Lindsay and I go to Deli France to get a coffee and talk. We head back to church and get set up for the lesson, then herd in ten or more neighborhood kids that would live in the church building if they could. Last week we actually had 25 total. These wild and lovable little ones want to hug, color, and get toffees (translation: candy). They also often hit each other, but we’re working on that... Most of our kids are from the streets around Osu, but recently several families have been coming to church, so we’re getting more kids whose parents are actually sitting in the service, praise God! When the service starts, we put away the crayons and clap and sign along before we are dismissed. In the Whizz Kids room we work on our monthly memory verse, eat snacks, hear a Bible lesson, play a game, and do a craft. This picture is one of Lindsay’s instagrams of us doing a trust fall a few weeks ago.
God has so many insights to give us through little children. I often hear whispers from Him the most on Whizz Kids days. Like when I’m holding a tiny napping girl and we’re both drenched in sweat and her body is completely relaxed and heavy and I don’t mind because she’s that precious - isn’t that how God holds me and is that how I rest in Him? Or when one kid comes to me concerned because another kid has come to church in dirty clothes and slippers (translation: flip-flops) and he doesn’t think that should be allowed and I remind him that God doesn’t look at our clothes, but at our hearts - and His Spirit reminds me of James 2:1-13. Or last week when we were talking about how and why God made us and I was repeating their names, “God made Derek, God made Comfort, God made Ellie...” and the child next in line absolutely gasps and beams with happiness because she knows she’s next - do I get that excited about God’s purpose and love for me? Thank you, God, for Whizz Kids. Thank you for all kids!