wwKids Christmas

This year wwKids has done some amazing things, and to finish the year out with a bang we celebrated Christmas in a new, but old school way. For the month of December, we asked families to come in and create a new family tradition by assembling Advent Wreaths out of trash, which created a new family treasure.

This event was truly wonderful. It was easy to see that these families were having a magnificent time working together to create something that was uniquely them. Plus in this process they were able to see the birth of Jesus in a new light, which was that Advent is a time of preparation for the kings birth. Not just a physical preparation, but an emotional preparation also. His birth was so extraordinary, that to fully grasp the magnitude, we need to prepare ourselves. This is what the advent wreath helps us do. There is a candle lit every Sunday during advent, to build up until the day of Christ's birth.

So overall, the magic of the season, can be seen through many different things, but we were able to bring some of that feeling to these families as they were able to work together to create a new family treasure. Which was a wonderful thing that we were able to do as a finish for this truly remarkable year.

hearts in the right place

now that we are gearing up for the holiday season in wwKids and in the personal lives of many, it makes me wonder how much of that gearing up is actually for the hustle and bustle, and how much is actually the preparation for the birth of Jesus. When it is thought about, many acknowledge the fact that Jesus' birth is celebrated at Christmas, but its easy to forget that ina ll of the crazy activity of December. To fully understand that, we need to prepare ourselves mentally to fully understand what really happened that night.

It was not just any baby being born, it was the king of creation and all of us in the form of a man. It was not necessarily the most sanitary place or the best of circumstances, but it was a gift to us all, and that is something that needs to be remembered and thought about so that we can fully be ready to realize what Christmas is all about.

Halloween

this past weekend, wwKids were privileged to get to take part in the Halloween activities of Westwind's. This was a spectacular event that was able to create many memories for these children that will be remembered. Along with the visual excitement the kids also learned about fear. this made me wonder, what are we afraid of? Not just in our own lives but also when it comes to how we influence these kids. It is very easy to think we are not good enough to play a part in making a difference in these kids lives as a rolemodel, but what it comes down to is that no matter how much interaction there may be, children see you and learn from what you do in every circumstance.

So why be afraid of the inevitable. These kids learn from us so we need to realize that who we are is perfectly designed by God and that God uses us in the state we are in to help these kids, even all the way down to a simple smile. So next time you see a kids maybe just a little conversation will change a child's day for the better and help them see God through you.

P.S. thank you to all the amazing volunteers who helped with Halloween on Sunday. It was truly spectacular and that was because of everyone involved. So thanks.

making a difference

One of the great things about being around kids is that you don’t even realize it when you make a difference. Kids learn a lot in the beginning stages of their life. The main way that they are able to do this is by observing others who are older then them, and how those people function. Because of this, programs for kids such as wwKids are vital in their lives. The teachers and the shepherds are making a difference in these kids lives even when we don’t realize it. It can even be the same way with parents. So the next time you feel discouraged that the kids are not listening, remember what you do and say can make a huge difference even on the children who seem distant.

hidden treasures

This week wwKids was a great place to be in general. Every studio had something great going on that helped the kids learn more about God and Biblical stories. Being able to see this each week has made me wonder, do we realize how unique this wonderful program this is. There are many different churches within the area of Jackson but not nearly as many church that have a similar program to ours. We try to reach these kids at the level they already are and help them grow in their strengths, which is a great idea. So next time you think about wwKids, let’s remember that this program is truly remarkable and one of Jacksons great secrets, so let’s try to make it known.

A day of rest

Something that the Bible prescribed for us long ago, is something that can be easily forgotten or pushed aside. This week in wwKids we got to talk about the Ten Commandments, and one of those is to respect the Sabbath day. This is an idea that has been carried through the Bible, but has been so easily forgotten. When was the last time you or I had a day of rest? Its something to thnk about when we consider what we are teaching kids in our lives. Rest can help renew the soul and help us become more focused on God instead of the earthly stresses that surround us. So next time you being your week, think about how you can incorporate some time of rest. IT can help you and your kids. After all, ts something that God even did and suggests for us.

This week has been such a great one in wwKids. It was the last week for our lesson on Joseph and the hard times he went through. Reflecting back on the lesson, it was great to remember the kids interaction with such a fundamental story and lesson for Christianity. Joseph went through a very hard time but was willing to rely n and believe in God through it all. This is such a good lesson to keep bringing up to the kids and build off of, because there will always be hard times, and it is how we deal with them that makes a difference. Adults (including myself) need to remember this sometimes also. It is easy to get upset and blame God for the things we see as bad in our lives, but it is those moments that God can use to help us grow the most and it is those moments we remember as defining moments of faith. So the lesson of Joseph can be very helpful and it was a great thing to get to see the kids hear this and embrace the lesson.

Baptism

This week it was absolutely wonderful to get to see some of our very own wwKids make the choice to become baptized! It was amazing to get to see Chase, Andi, Olivia, and Caleb make their decision to follow Christ and publicly announce it to their church family. They have made the most important decision of their life, so we want to congratulate them as their loving family and help them along in their journey.

This past week wwKids had our kick-off into the new school year. With this school year there were some changes that took place in wwKids but in the end we still have the main goal that we started with, which is to teach these wonderful kids more about God and be able to reach them in new creative ways so that they would understand better. This was really emphasized this past week with the story of Joseph that was taught. The kids got to learn about how changes happen in peoples lives (even sometimes bad changes) but God can work through them all. This was really a great lesson to kick off the fall with because it is a time of change for many of these kids with a new school year and it may seem hard but God is still there. That’s the way wwKids is set up also. Change happens but God is still present and working in these kid’s lives.

Change

For many kids around Jackson, this is a week of change, the beginning of a new school year being the main cause. But on top of this, wwKids also has some great changes going on for the school years’ kick-off like a new room for three year olds and new rotations for the experience studios.

After being involved in this, it is easy to come to the conclusion that not all change is bad. Sometimes change can be just the thing that people need even if they do not realize it. This is true in most cases because of the fact that many people fear that very change that can benefit them in the long run. God realizes this, but sometimes we can forget that. So next time a big moment of change comes around in your life or your kids, maybe it will be worth embracing so that something new can begin that is better than the previous.

Gifts

This week was a very unique Sunday for wwKids. They had the privilege of getting to hear the story of Beatrice and her goat, which was about a young lady in Africa who had her life changed by the gift of a goat. It is often amazing to hear about the results of people using their God given gifts to change the world. Even small little acts can help such as sending a goat over to Africa. It can change a person’s life for the better.

So I encourage you to look into what God has given you as far as gifts. If it is a personal gift of art or storytelling, use it! Even if you simply love to give money to good causes, go for it! You never will know what you can change if you do not try. This is what this summer’s theme was based around and is also a great lesson for anyone of any age.

Come and see the new sculpture inspired by walking in someone elses shoes! a great lesson taught in wwkids, with the flip flops being designed by them.

New Beginnings

Right now wwKids is experiencing a few changes. Another way to phrase that is a new beginning to a new school year. One of the beginnings that has started this week is the dividing of the Art studio into two classrooms. This week there is a wall being built so that we can create a brand new class for the children who are 3 and 4 that will cater to their developmental needs.

Because of all of these new beginnings, it made me wonder how often God sets up the beginnings in our lives. Each new day is a new experience and adventure that God has set up for us, so why do so many people take them lightly. Living the day out to its fullest to honor God is what should be happening, and many people including myself can forget that sometimes.

So in honor of this new beginning of a school year, lets remember this and try to instill this idea in the children we are in contact with, because living fully in Gods purpose for each day is something that will honor God and help these kids grow.

Superheroes

This month in wwKids, the main focus has been Justice, and how that relates to who we can be and how we act as part of Gods helping hands that heal the world. In the music studio, the kids were able to learn about superheroes and through this discover that they are like superheroes, in the fact that they are the advocates for the justice God desires.

Through the fact that the kids are learning about this, one of the points that is emphasized is that we are given power from God. It is not necessarily supernatural, but because of his constant presence we have the support we need from him to push for the truth and justice in the world. This is a great realization for anyone of any age because remembering that we have the power of God running through us is great because he is our help and support when we need it and that’s a great thing to know.

Nature

One of the main focuses this summer for wwKids has been how to see God through the nature he has created for us to enjoy. This theme has been especially prominent in the garden this summer. Seeing these kids interact in a unique and wonderful way, can be such a blessing because that’s what God wants. He wants to see his children interacting in different ways to what he has given us.

The future of the world is through these kids, so seeing them learn at such a young age to respect the earth and help it grow is truly a great thing. Through God’s guidance, these kids are growing not only in learning to help others and heal the world, but also internally, growing into amazing people. Seeing these pieces come together for them is such a great thing to witness in whatever way it happens.

Serve and Surf #3

This week wwkids had the opportunity to have the third serve and surf of the summer. This week we had the opportunity of going to the Ganton Center to spend time with the elderly residents of our community. The kids had a great time and it was amazing to get to see different generations of people interacting in a positive way.

During this event, it was amazing to see how much enjoyment the residents got out of simply seeing the children. At first the kids were hesitant, but by the end everyone was smiling and having a good time. Not because there was a lot of deep meaningful conversation, but because they got to see the children. Some of the kids simply said hello and then played the Wii, which the elderly enjoyed watching them do. It was a great experience and it is amazing what can happen when a little bit of time is given up so that many may benefit from simple actions.

Eco-Adventures Camp

This week some of the wwKids experienced the eco-adventures camp. During this week they we able to realize that nature was a part of what God created and that he has given us the duty to take care of it. Some of the activities included a bug hunt, working with the garden, learning that our food comes from the ground and how God uses nature to create it, making new objects out of trash and learning how to reduce/reuse/recycle. Overall, for everyone involved this was a great week of fun and learning that will help everyone to realize that there is a beauty to nature that we need to preserve. Overall, it was a wonderful week that was enjoyed by all.

One of the major points that did stick out this past week was that God gave us the five senses and that they define us as different from other animals with a purpose. It was great to see the kids interact with each other, but also interact with who they are and that they have a purpose. The kids all began to realize that they can do more things to make a difference, which is the point of the summer theme of helping hands heal the world. This was great to see in the kids, and they are helping to create a better world for tomorrow.

The Heart of the Matter

This week wwKids had the opportunity to go to the Second serve and surf of the summer;

This past Monday wwKids had the opportunity to go and help out at the Salvation Army handing out fresh produce to those in need. What they were able to do is bag up and hand out 4 ears of corn and bag some peppers to hand out also. It was amazing to get to see children help out in their community in a way that impacted many, and it was not that difficult to do for any age.

At this event, the kids were able to see the type of food given out. Some of the peppers had been frozen and were mushy, while the corn was a little moldy on the outside. It was a sad thing to see at first, but then we all realized with the corn that it was moldy on the outside but underneath there was good corn. This is a great lesson for anyone because it shows that God’s creation is a good thing even if it may not look so great on the outside, like this corn, there are some people out there who look moldy but may have an amazing story with a kind heart. It is worth looking past the bad to see the great in people. That is something everyone can learn to do and wwKids got to experience firsthand.

Walking with others

This week, the wwKids in the discovery studio had the opportunity to learn to walk in someone else’s shoes. This is a concept that many people have already heard of but seldom think of. When there is a problem it is so easy to quickly judge instead of thinking from their perspective. This can even be put into technical terms when it comes to personality traits and learning styles, because we are all wired differently, and part of that is because of the environment that we were in growing up and are in now.

Even though this is the case, it can still be hard to remember this and be willing to show mercy to those who may need it. So this week, because I had the ability to teach and interact with this lesson first-hand, I now want to be able to practice what I teach and encourage you to do the same. Be willing to show the love of God even though it is not always the first thing instinctively done. People still need it.

When do I need help?

In the past two weeks wwKids has had the opportunity to experience yoga in the motion studio. I was able to sit in on this experience and see what they did. A few of the poses they did involved another person and they would have fallen on their own. This made me think about the Helping Hands theme of the summer and brought on the question of when do I realize I need help and then ask for it.

Often when we think of helping hands we think of people needing our help. We don’t then reflect back and see when we need help. That is the other half of helping, realizing when we need it and being willing to accept it. Often we want to solve things on our own and not ask for help, but it is a necessity in human life to give AND take. So this week, just realizing when I need help and then being willing to ask for it may change my perspective and I can help someone else be able to help heal the world through me. It is something for everyone to consider.

A Smile Goes a Long Way

This past Monday wwKids had the opportunity to go and help out at the Salvation Army handing out fresh produce to those in need. What they were able to do is a kindergartener was able to hand out four pears and some older girls could hand out 4 peppers, while the boys went to work bagging a dozen ears of corn to give away. It was amazing to get to see children help out in their community in a way that impacted many, and it was not that difficult to do for any age.

There are many people out there looking for that helping hand and we were able to provide that for them, but this also got me thinking about what exactly service is. There are opportunities out there to do many things as big as becoming a missionary overseas or there are even projects in this community like picking up trash in a parking lot. It all depends on your view of service. Even a simple smile to someone who is having a rough day can be an act of service because it is helping someone in the community have a better day.

So no matter your age or your position in life, it is not hard to reach out and lend a helping hand. Those helping hands, are the ones that will heal the world. Serve and Surf was an experience that helped these children see that they can make a big difference with some food and a simple smile that could have made a big impact on those people they were able to meet, and maybe the people we serve can serve others and create that chain of love that will help heal the world.

Remember to watch out for more summer opportunities to “Serve and Surf” with wwKids!

Connections

Connections are key, and not connections that just benefit you. Some of the best connections are the ones made simply to gain the loving community they bring. This is the kind of connection that turns into friendship and is growing in the church.

This is especially true in kids because of how genuine their emotions are. Sometimes the greatest teachers in the world can be found in kids and often many adults don’t even realize it. In the simplicity of life and the relationships built by these children, there is a genuineness that is amazing. They make friendships based on how they feel, there is no ulterior motive and they build friendships that may last for the rest of their lives. It is such a blessing to be able to be here and work with this team to see those relationships being born and forming the future of the Church.

"This is for you to eat"

Looking through a child’s perspective can be an awarding and view changing experience. One of the major ways that I have seen a new perspective is through the kind hearts of children and how their focus can easily change from infancy, where it is all about them, to elementary, where they learn how to focus on others also.

In the Garden this summer, the kids are learning about giving away the fruits of their labor. I especially saw this giving concept when I looked at the cards that the kids wrote for the families who are receiving the fresh produce to. These cards say things such as “this is for you to eat” and “we are going to give you fruit” in these simple sentences it is amazing to see how easy it is for them to give this away with so much love dripping from every word, and then from this, these families are able to see the fruits of God’s spirit in these kids through actual fresh produce. Seeing all of this come full circle is a rewarding experience that has help me see that we do not always need extravagant words and long stories to be able to reach out and show Gods love, sometimes it can be as simple as a bag of lettuce and a sentence that can lead to the changing of that particular persons’ life. But, this is part of the magic of being a child and knowing that they can change the world one person at a time.

The Garden

The 2000 census found that 12.4 percent of kids under the age of 18 in Jackson County live in poverty. Can you imagine what those numbers are today, ten years later? At Paragon Academy alone over 40 percent of its enrollees receive food assistance.

This summer wwKids' Journey is adopting two families from Paragon Academy for the gardening season.

Under the experienced leadership of Sarah Crane, the wwKids' Experience Studios have put in a vegetable garden. With a budget of $300, we expect to produce 2,000 pounds of food, valued at $3,000! We anticipate that we will be able to provide 2 families with fresh produce from mid-June to September.

The Garden is part of our summer wwKids' theme "Helping Hands Heal the World." Each week the kids will learn about justice, mercy, and serving others (Micah 6:8). In the Garden Studio they will learn how God created the earth to provide food for us, how we care for the earth and how we can use what we grow to help those who are in need. The world is big and kids may feel that their hands are too small to make a difference, but by tending the garden they will learn hoe to be Jesus' hands and help heal a corner of the world!

Listening for God's Voice

I had the opportunity to catch the Storytelling room twice this month-with the kindergartners and the 3/4th graders. I loved the game of listening to your partner's voice while blindfolded. We had to listen carefully in order to distinguish the voice of our partner in the midst of the other voices. God's sheep (his followers) know His voice.

Do I know God's voice? To be honest, it's very hard for me to listen to God. I always find myself thinking about what to make for dinner, my to-do list, how annoyed I am with so-and-so, etc. It's hard just to think about nothing and to leave room for God to speak. But I find that when I make the effort, when I start this little time of "meditation" out with a prayer-asking God to speak to me, to empty my mind of all the distractions of my day so that I can hear His voice-I do hear Him. Often, God brings to my mind a person I may not have thought of in awhile. Or He'll lay on my heart, completely out of the blue, the burden to pray for a certain person or situation, to reconnect with an old friend, to right a wrong, to step up or speak out, to show someone an act of kindness. These thoughts don't come from me-I know because they seem to come out of nowhere. I believe that this is how God speaks to me-in quiet, provoking thoughts.

How does God speak to you? Everyone connects with God differently, and I'd love to hear your stories of how God has spoken to your heart to change, challenge, and love you personally. I'd love to share (anonymously if you'd prefer) a few stories in an upcoming newsletter. So, that's my challenge to you: email me a story!

Connection Studio comments

Today was a great day and the kids did really well with response time. As we were wondering today a child, who used to have major behavior issues, asked, "So these stories are, like, real? They really happened?"

We talked about the Bible and told them all the stories in the Bible are real, that they really happened. The little kid said, "Cool!" It was really cool!

Psalm 23

Last weekend I was priviledged to shepherd in the Art Studio with our kids.

They created a poster based on Psalms 23. Here are just a few items the kids

wrote on their posters:

Don't be afraid

Jesus has my heart

My cup overflows with blessing

I live in the Lord's house

Beth Shafer was our teacher and she continues to inspire me with her grace

and love for Jesus in spite of the hardships she has endured. What an amazing woman of God.

What kids are saying

Here's a funny convo of stuff said in the Kindergarten room yesterday.

Aubrey (Devine): My last name is Devine.

Me: Do you know what divine means?

Kids: Noooooo

Me: It means "wonderful". As in, THIS CHOCOLATE CAKE IS SIMPLY DIVINE!

Another girl: I want chocolate.

Lisa (the teacher, Noah's mom): Get used to it honey, you're a woman. You'll want chocolate your whole life.

Other girls: mmmmm I love chocolate. I want chocolate too!

Noah: I don't get what the big deal is. I like chocolate, but not as much as all of you.

* Laughter*

I just thought it was so cute!

I was also TOTALLY surprised when Noah first came up and started talking to me when I first entered the classroom-he's never really opened up to me before or wanted to talk at all!

Showing up is huge! Laughter, fun, learning life together! You have to be there to have a relationship!

Psalm 23

Who would have thought that when we choose Psalm 23 as the scripture for January that it would touch so many individuals’ hearts. A mom asked her 2 grade son, what was his favorite part of Psalm 23. The kid said where it says, “even if you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” When the mom asked her son why that verse was important to him, he replied, “because when I’m afraid, I know that God will be with me.

Another family just began coming back to church after the death of their mother/grandmother. Psalm 23 was her favorite verses. Another young girl just lost her uncle, and another family just lost their dad/grandpa.

Even though I don't like to have Psalm 23 associated with death and funerals it has a way of speaking to those who are hurting. It provides hope! and that is a good thing.

Beyond 1000 is Westwinds’
ongoing mission initiative
that gives
wwKids Journey
$1000 per quarter to creatively invest in our community
- beyond the walls of
1000 Robinson Rd.

Whenever we do this type of outreach-Beyond 1000, the wwKids volunteers work real hard to help the kids understand why we do these things and that they can shadow God and help heal the world.
Matthew 25:37-40 (The Message) “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
We give to others because hurting people matter to Jesus. He cares that little kids are hurting and when we help others we make our love real to Jesus. We want the kids to participate in giving to others.

Beyond 1000 - First quarter initiative

1Q wwKids’ Beyond 1000 Initiative - video systems and games for the kids at the Aware Shelter.

WHAT: We need gently used video games and systems to donate to the families at the Aware Shelter. We are looking for Game Boys DSs, Playstation 2’s, Playstation 3’s; XBox; Wii, V-smiles, etc.
WHEN: We will collect these items through February 28. Depending upon the types of donations received, we will purchase additional items.

Several things to share with your kids:
1) Describe the Aware shelter’s purpose. The Aware shelter, located on W. Michigan Ave., provides a safe place for moms and kids to temporarily live. Some times because of violence and abuse, moms have to leave the place they are living it so they can be safe. Most of the time they have to leave very fast and leave a lot of their personal things behind. NOTE: As a parent you know best what kind of information your kids can handle. Share what is appropriate and what you are comfortable with.

2) Ask your kids if there is anything they can do to help these moms and kids who have left everything behind. See what the kids come up with. This can be an amazing time as kids share from their heart. This type of discussion can happen in the car or around the dinner table.

3) Remind your kids about how blessed they are to have all their needs met as well many of their desires (page 56, Heart of Gold*, gratitude and appreciation)

4) Invite your kids to sort through their things (page 58, Heart of Gold, combat hoarding) so they can bless someone else who would enjoy these items. While you can do this with any of their toys, for Beyond 1000, we are suggesting you do with exercise with their electronic toys. Perhaps they have a couple of games that are very similar and would be willing to give one away. Perhaps they have received a new game that they didn’t care for or perhaps the game is no longer age appropriate. Ask your kids if they would be willing to give to another boy or girl. NOTE: Your older kids may be aware that they could trade in their old games at Game Stop or sell them on Ebay. This is another time to help your kids be aware that they “lack for nothing” and perhaps they could give to someone who has nothing.

5) Enlist your kids help to package up the items they will give away. Make sure all the wires and accessories are included. As you work together, perhaps you can pray for the kids that will receive the game.

6) Bring the donation items to church and drop them off at the main wwKids checkin table by February 28. OR as a family take your donation directly to the Aware shelter and then share that experience and story with us at wwKids. We are always looking for stories that will encourage others in our community.

Thank you for participating in this Beyond 1000 initiative. If you have questions contact me at lori.tate@westwinds.org.

Heart of Gold: The Joy of Living Generously, by Dr. David McDonald. Available at Sound Words and also through amazon.com.