Connect (May and end of the year Update)

Connect Middle School Program: We wrapped up April watching The Passion of Christ the week before Easter. Some of the kids flinched and winced as they beat, whipped, and crucified Jesus. After the movie, we took some time to think through our lives, our sin, and confessing it to God, who loved us enough to send his son to die for those sins. We wrote them in permanent marker on a small representation of a cross. It was so quiet during those minutes of reflecting, I knew God was doing something. Although I tried not to read what others wrote on the cross, it was amazing to see their honesty and desire to admit to those sins.

Going into May, it was a unique month for our middle school students. Rather than having Bible lessons on Thursdays, three adults gave their life stories, their testimonies in order for the students to get to thinking about their own unique stories and how God is shaping them precisely where they are right now in life. We did a "hot seat" drill where the students each had 5 minutes in the "hot seat" where everyone could ask them any question that they wanted. Some of these questions were silly like, "What's your favorite color of carpet?", to more deep questions like, "Who has had the biggest impact on your life so far?"  It amazes me how much asking somebody questions about their life can communicate love and concern for them. I remember in counseling classes how important asking questions and really listening and engaging in their answers is to really caring and making connections with people.


Our last week of the school year, the students each painted a slat of our picnic table. I love art projects like this where multiple people flex their creativity and ideas into a single piece. It's so representative of life, many different people making up one world. To celebrate the end of the middle school year, we took a trip to St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest city in the country. We could've toured a really old fort, we could've toured the historical streets of this town, but no, we dared to go ziplining over some alligators and crocodiles.  Most of the boys that came were a little scared to zipline, so they went to the zoo part of the attraction. The middle school girls, although nervous, tackled the zipline and ropes course like champs. It was great to see them overcome their fears, and after the first long zipline, the rest was a piece of cake. I should also mention that one middle school boy did zipline. Way to go Christian!

As three of our students "graduated" to high school, our middle school group is getting smaller. I've seen God work in huge ways with our small numbers this past year. Attitudes shifted, hearts were more open to Jesus and conversations became more real and meaningful.

Prayer requests:
1.) Pray that God will go before us and open parents' and students' hearts to Christ's love.
2.) Pray for the right students to be incorporated into our program for this next school year.
3.) Pray for a safe and fun summer for our students.

Thank you, as always, for reading and I hope you have a blessed day.

The alligator farm crew

The ziplining crew

Nyla and Amaria on that ropes course