Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Chaotic Joy

They descend on us from all over our neighbourhood.

50 of them are between the ages of 16 and 25. They have been busy with their own lives/exams/malls/sport/movies for the past six months and we have seen very little of them. But when the word is out – they arrive with generous hearts and plenty of enthusiasm. They have signed up as volunteers for our annual December Holiday Club. They raise funds through washing cars, selling boerewors rolls, and assiduously scrounging donations.

Then there are the others: Anything up to 200 of them between the ages of 6 and 12. This is their first week of school holidays. Many come from single-parented homes, or homes where both parents are working. And their parents worry about how to care for their children during the day. And so we offer a week of free child-minding to our community.

Right now our buildings are screaming with children as they express joy and general enthusiasm. They cling to leaders like Velcro, copying the way the older leaders walk and talk. The leaders take away as much as they give: they learn life-skills in leadership, management of funds, accepting responsibility, and working as a team.

It is true that they trash our buildings, and enthusiastically tramp all over the gardens, and leave crisp packets and cooldrink cans lying in the sanctuary. But then it was Jesus who asked us to allow children to feel at home with him. And I know that God celebrates their chaotic joy.

6 comments:

digitaldion (Dion Forster) said...

Ah, YES, this is ministry!!!

My heart is glad.

Murray & Gina UK said...

Aaaah... I miss trashing your church buildings... those were good days!

I'm sure it will be a brilliant week as always!

Anonymous said...

It gladdens my heart - not just because the kids have somewhere to go and something to do, but that the leaders are experiencing the love of Jesus in a great way. Many of them need this "reminder" that they are children of God.

Bridget said...

Sounds fantastic - do you have a nightmare of paperwork to do to be allowed to do this work?! We would here... Not that that should stop us, of course... it's a good idea I may "pinch" for my plant in Belfast...

Paddy said...

What fun! Over here that would mean a ridiculous amount of bureaucracy. 50 criminal record checks, permission slips, risk assessment... the list goes on. Anything to get in the way of good work!

The idea of youth leaders is a great one though.

Denise said...

blessings to you, and good work to you-- thanks for finding the joy in it.