As I reflect back on all the experiences and opportunities that God has given me throughout 2015, it amazes me how much I have learned and grown over this past year. Since working with World Impact in June, I have been challenged to try new things and stretch my comfort zone. For example, I have a fear of talking in front of others, but since serving with World Impact, I have had multiple opportunities to speak publicly during school and community ministries.
At Newark Christian School, I have been helping out more in the younger classrooms by leading lessons, activities, having lunch duty, and substituting. When I am not helping in the classroom, I have been working with another employee, Johanne, on organizing different areas and decorating the school. The kids get extremely excited when we are able to redo the bulletin boards, or even put up new posters in the hallways. Before Thanksgiving break, we had an idea to hang about one thousand snowflakes for winter. To make this possible, we had all the students help to make some. The children had no idea what we were going to do with all the snowflakes, until they saw them hanging from the ceiling in the main hallway on the second floor of the school. The kids lit up with joy and excitement when they saw the end result. Seeing the kids get so excited about things like their handmade snowflakes hanging from a ceiling brings me pure delight and happiness.
Working at the school has helped me tremendously, as I work with teenagers from public and private schools in Newark who attend our Tuesday and Friday night youth groups. The sizes of these groups have grown this year. On average, we have approximately thirty to forty teens who I have enjoyed getting to know some of these teenagers, as we interact with them by playing games, being in small groups, and discussing who God is, and why each of us need Him in our lives. When building relationships with teenagers, being consistent is key. They are more likely to open up and share about what is going on in their lives. Some of the eighth graders in Timothy recently invited the youth leaders to come to their tap dance performance at their school.
Many exciting things are happening in the lives of the children and teenagers in Newark. These young people are the future of God’s Kingdom in the city, and it is a privilege to pour into their lives.
Learn more about Newark Christian School.
