Tuesday 11 December 2012

Family Fun Day aka Sunday School Outreach

Family fun day, the outreach the day after the first youth movie marathon. The posters were passed out and it invited the community to come out. It was a outreach to the community but at the same time the Samoan youth stayed and helped and I was very happy to see that. We worked together as the body of Christ.

The event had a bouncy house, which I had to be the mature adult and watch over, popcorn, face painting, cotton candy (candy floss) and sausages. The teen leaders created games for all the kids and I was glad to see them standing up and reaching out. As I was watching over the bouncy house because I signed my name to the person who delivered it. I felt it was my responsibility to watch over it. A few kids got rough and one mother went after them. The tough part was not watching the kids going in but the young teens wanting in.

A rough guesstimation the Church outreach brought in over 100 people from the community. It was good to see so many people from Takanini. After a certain time everyone was brought in and we all watched the play the youth put on. They worked on it Friday night. The theme of the story Noah's ark. The children whom got their faces painted were the animals in the play (it was all the kids). It was a funny to watch and see the kids getting into the story. Some kids it was their first time in Church.

The outreach was successful. It helped people in the community know about the Takanini Church of the Nazarene. A Church that is changing to help the community, to be a missional Church.

Youth Movie Marathon

Movies for me are connecting instruments to a family unit, what I mean by that is that in my own family we used it in that way. We would work on different parts of the farm. Good work. Hard work. When it was time to stop dinner was ready. A nice hearty meal and we would all surround the television set in the living room and watch a movie. I would pick a movie that would be proper to watch with my parents. Something that would draw their attention to the aspects they enjoy in a movie. We would not speak to much but sometimes we would discuss the movie. That aspect of my own life, be it not the best way to bond in a family unit, was a way I used too. Movies meant family time with me.

I opened up the first Youth movie marathon for Takanini. The laptop supplied by someone, the projector supplied by someone else, the movies supplied by one of the youth, and speakers supplied by another youth. The event was bringing both congregations of Takanini together. The youth were excited and wanted to spend time with each other. After each movie would be a game to keep the youth awake all night and into the morning to do a youth outreach.

As Friday 6:30pm came around I got everyone together and started telling them how glad I was to see them and the plan for the night into the next morning. I started with a icebreaker and had one of our Church leaders put a play together with the youth for the coming Sunday, another outreach.

However, the speakers were missing in action. The first movie with little sound found boredom as some went out for food at the save value store across the street. I had to keep a watchful eye on the youth with the help from two amazing ladies from the Church to help me.

Through each game I recognized who were the natural leaders from the group and it was good to see them encourage everyone else. As each game brought out people's personalities I could also see the tiredness in people's eyes. The chairs were converted into beds and slumber claimed several until it was time to wake up once more for the light of the Sun revealed a new day. Some had no sleep including myself...lol. We taught them a devotion, which some did not know what that was. I sent out three groups of teens into the community to put posters of the Church's events in all the mailboxes. They walked like zombies and in groups, it was funny to see.

When everyone got back I done them we are done. Everyone can head home but not a single person stood up. I asked them why is no one moving? I was quickly replied to with the answer that they want to spend more time together have more games and learn more. It was a moment of praise to God in my eyes. We did quizzing on Bible characters and I realized the teens did not know their Bible characters...lol.

It was a great time and the second movie marathon is this Friday night.