What's really neat about this particular event is it was inspired by our youngest members of our church. Our Wee Worship class (ages 2-5) collect offering for very specific purposes. A year ago, they started collecting money to host a packaging event and send the food to Haiti. Each week they talked about it and learned more about why Haiti needed their help. After a year of collecting coins, they decided they needed the help of the rest of the congregation. Together, we met and exceeded their goal! During the two hour packaging event, we put together over 11,000 meals. WOW!
Sometimes we get in the mindset that we are a small church from a small town in the middle of Kansas. We get accustomed to writing checks and sending money do various groups that do amazing things to grow God's Kingdom. But we don't always do the best job of "getting our hands dirty" and really serving right where we are. Not everyone can take a week off and go to Mexico to build a house or Africa to serve in an orphanage, but everyone can give up an hour to pour rice into a bag. This packaging event allowed us the best of both worlds. We were able to contribute financially and help with the actual pouring of rice and beans and other important stuff into bags, weighing them, sealing them, flattening them out and boxing them up. There was something for everyone to do. My 3 year-old might have had the best time of anyone in the room! His bags were not only flattened, they were karate-chopped, spun, shaken and thoroughly tested for sturdiness. Every single one of them held up.
Below are a few pictures from the event. I'm hoping this is the start of many opportunities to teach our children that they can serve with their own hands. If a 3 year-old can do something - the rest of us don't have any more excuses!
Thank you! We at Numana has a great time too! I remember your darling children. They did a great job at ringing the gong. Valley Center Christian Church was amazing!!
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