Since I have been home, I had the great blessing to be able to help start a new ministry through our Saturday Visitation Program at church.
This new ministry is called the
SMILES & SUNSHINE MINISTRY
It consists of children ages 4- 12 yrs old.
While the adults & teens go out on door-to-door, follow-up, or bus visitation,
we go out into the community or to one of our shut-in's homes.
Maybe I am really a kid at heart,
but I greatly enjoy being a part of this ministry too.
Every week, we make encouraging cards for someone.
We practice our songs by the piano....
...or while Mr. Jim drives our bus to the next visit.
We talk....
...and we sing...
...until we get to the place we will visit.
We arrive at a shut-in's home with enthusiasm.
The children are excited to see someone that they have been praying for.
The group may sit around to fellowship for a while.
We share a little sunshine through song.
Many times we like to play a game.
This is a Bible character charades game.
We got alot of laughs from this one!
Sometimes we get to see the people's pets.
(The children love to see 'Cocky" a cockateil)
The purpose of the S&S Ministry is not only to bring sunshine & smiles to the people we visit by being an encouragement, but the other purpose is for the children to learn how to share thier testimonies & how to relate to others.
We were so glad to have the opportunity to visit Mrs. Berry,
before she went home to be with the Lord.
We went to be a blessing and we all left blessed.
The other side of our ministry is to go out into the community
to share the Gospel.
We have been to the local park, nursing homes and the local police barricks.
On the way home, we talk about lessons we can earn from the day's ministry, have a challenge from the Bible and share testimony of how we saw the Lord work in the ministry we took part in that day.
I will miss these children, but am thankful for the lives we were able to encourage, the Gospel we were able to share,
and the memories we have made together.
I am looking forward to hearing reports from their new leader
on how the ministry will continue on while I am in Zambia.