Operation Get Wet!

Over 500 water balloons.

A water slide.

A lot of kiddos who wanted to get wet.

And patriotic popsicles.

(Because they were on sale for 88 cents a box)

Let the fun begin!

Destination: San Diego!

Q: What do you get when you set up a compound of 6 tents (more or less), a camper, two vans, a Sprinter, and a car?

A: An Aim Right retreat weekend!

Breezy, coldish San Diego was the location for the retreat, with lots of good food and conversations, a time of both reflection and relaxation. Darrell challenged us to think about endurance and also the question, "What in your life requires faith?" To paraphrase, God has trouble working in a life that is predictable and self-sufficient and does not require Him.

Recently, I visited with the director of another local youth ministry, and we discussed how some kids "make it," while others don't. Do you give up because you don't see the fruit you long to see? No, you don't, because you are, by faith, a seed planter who knows that God, the Master Gardener, is ultimately the only One who can make that seed grow (See I Corinthians 3:6)!

Now, for a few photos of San Diego....

Egg McMuffins in the making (Watch out, McDonalds!):

Just enjoying life together:

And chillaxin' (as a teen would say) on a chilly beach:

Rally Night

Once a month, we have a Rally Night at Kids Klub. That means we're just one big, happy family in the auditorium instead of segregated into classrooms. Rally Night is led by Ro and usually involves a combination of singing, games, and a review of the past weeks' Bible lessons.

This past Wednesday's Rally Night ended up being Giveaway Night. There were brand-new bicycles.....

Games...

Stuffed Animals....

And much more!

Tutoring -- The Grand Finale

They run. They hit. They yell. They push in line and whine. They yank branches from trees and gleefully come up with sticks to aid in their hitting. They jump over walls and jump off walls and jump on top of walls. They roll in the sand and dig in the sand and throw the sand. Heaven knows, they probably even eat the sand.

This phenomenon is called a little boy.

Believe it or not, for the majority of our tutoring program this year, we had a roster of only boys, ten of 'em, in the 7-to-8-year-old range, quite possibly the prime age for the above activities.

It was often a challenge to subdue them into a "Let's get down to business and learn" mode, but somehow it happened. I even have photo proof of little boys in learning mode -- along with patient tutors in encouraging mode!


While tutoring is finished for the year, I pray that the connections that have been established throughout the year will not stop, but continue to grow. Some of these energetic little guys will go with us to Youth Haven Ranch this summer, and Lord willing, all of them will be able to attend VBS. In fact....all of those water games our VBS curriculum recommends? Right up their running, sliding, jumping alley!

YARD SALE!

Tomorrow
and Saturday

HUGE
Yard Sale

8 a.m. - noon

at the corner of 13th & Roosevelt


We're sure to have something you
(a) need

--or--

(b) don't need!


How's that for honest advertising?

The best part is--It's ALL for a good cause!


Furniture, Household, Clothing, Televisions, Couch, Washer/Dryer Combo, High chair, Toys, & Much More!

18

When the DDC* team begins plotting, you know that something good is about to happen. That "something good" turned out to be an 18-hour lock-in held this past weekend. That would be 18 hours of fellowship, worship, food, service, and delving into the deeper issues of life.

Fellowship

(Who knew it could be so much fun?)

Worship

(Led by Tim & Co.)

Food

(How can you go wrong with late-night pizza?)

Service

(Blessing families in the community with food boxes)

Delving into the Deeper Issues of Life

(On Friday evening, Darrell shared about being created for the purposes of worship and fellowship. On Saturday morning, Danny Malakowsky (pictured below) of Apprenticeship to Jesus shared about becoming Christ-like through the disciplines of solitude, fasting, & reading Scripture.)

(Small group discussions--bringing it home & making it real)

*Darrell, David, & Caleb