Tag: Youth Group Page 2 of 3

…that is, last Friday night at Youth Group.

The coolest part is that we get to have this much fun and call it our job.

Adorable nerds.

Nerd games: Tangrams, Rubix Cube, Scrabble.

Jedi Fights

Nerd Dance-Off

Secret Nerd Handshakes

The cutest nerds of all.

When Grace found out that we were all dressing up, she insisted on being a princess. Later that night she came to me almost in tears and said, “Mommy, one of the boys said I’m not a nerd!” Hmm…doubt that will break her heart 10 years from now.

Gil is technically the Bible teacher/Chaplain at HOPAC, but we see our role as much wider than that. The local churches in Dar rarely have any kind of youth ministry; even the international, English-speaking churches aren’t big enough for a Youth Group.

Which is why we hold Youth Group in our house on Friday nights. And why we put on Youth Camp. And why we are always looking for new opportunities to stretch our students spiritually.

So this year, we wanted to take some of our students on their own missions trip–even though many of them are MK’s. The week of July 6-10, we took nine of our students, as well as the Hillside team, to an orphanage about 3 hours away from here. Agape Children’s Village was established by HOPAC parents and is home to about 30 kids.

Great times!

Singing during devotional time in the evening.

Making crafts

Lovin’ on the kids!

Ruben from San Jose won the award for the most mosquito bites on a single person that I have ever seen, EVER.

Jenai and Anja (two of our students) washing clothes

Emma working in the garden

More singing. It was a toss up as to who was the most exuberant: our team, or the kids.

Coloring

More lovin’

Grace, of course, was in heaven with all the kids.

On one day, we piled all of us and all the kids–50 people in all–into a bus meant for 25, and took them to Mikumi Game Park to see the animals, about an hour and a half away. The kids were ecstatic, screaming at the top of their lungs whenever anyone spotted an animal. It was great.

Definitely an experience worth repeating!

On Friday night we held an “80’s Night” for our youth group. It was a “totally awesome” success. Despite the fact that our students never lived in the 80’s (I am SO old), and the lack of thrift stores around here, our students did remarkably well in coming up with authentic outfits. Just for the record, our girls normally look much more sweet and innocent than this (thankfully!).

Grace kept saying, “Mommy, what’s on your eyes?” Gil, by the way, was going for the “Bill and Ted’s” look.

Yep, that’s the man I married!

Despite how much fun they were having, I was thinking, “Do we really want to be corrupting our students with 80’s culture? Shouldn’t it be left back there where it belongs?” 🙂

I told Randra and Savannah that if they had lived in the 80’s they would have had hair to die for.

Any guesses on what they are doing? 🙂

Breakdancing attempts

Let’s hope these styles never return…..

This was the first time we had done a theme night with our kids and they had a blast! They want to do parties for each decade now….

HOPAC Kids’ Camp 2008!

About 50 kids came…what fun!

The songs and accompanying dances were their favorite!

Craft time

Thanks, Hillside team! HOPAC kids don’t often have much to do during the summer…so this was such a treat for them! Thanks for impacting their lives with your wonderful example!

On safari last weekend

This was such a special team for me…I’ve known Pete, Patty, Sarah H., Brent and Sarah for years and years! And how wonderful to get to know Robbie, Stacy, Ian, and Trevor as well! You all were such a blessing…come back soon!