Day 2 - PandaMania

Sometimes I feel like I'm wasting more time than actually doing something. I guess that's part of the frustration with just doing worship, and even when helping with games, sometimes I really question if anything is making a difference. Come to think of it...I didn't pray before we started today. Look at me getting all cocky. Thinking I can make a difference, or lead worship, and get kids excited all on my own, and yet leaving feeling like something just wasn't right (and I'm not just referring to my attitude). I think it's important when doing God's work, to turn to God first. It's not about how well I can jam to these songs, but ultimately everything I do should be pointing to God. If I expect these kids to be excited about God, then I need to get on the same page.

Silly Christine....

Well tomorrow...erm today is another day. Maybe I'll stop being stupid and actually turn to God.

Thanks for tuning in. Please keep praying for Friday + Saturday.

--xtinee

Day 1 in Anchorage

What a long day! I figured I'd legit update to help me fall asleep, so here goes.

Our days here are going to be set up as workshops from 2-4 at the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club. My workshop was hip hop, and while the piece (which I used from National Dance Day's Nappytabs routine) was very basic, I realized that even so, it was still difficult to teach because many of the kids didn't feel confident in being able to get the choreography. But it was amazing to be able to use dance, something I'm passionate about, as a means of personally getting to know the kids better. And of course now I'm sore -_-. But aside from that we had our first Bible Camp, and while a very small number of kids showed up, it was both a "good" and a "bad" thing. Of course it's disheartening to not have many people sign up the first day, but it worked because we were all so exhausted, if we had more kids, we probably wouldn't have been functioning. The good thing was that the kids seemed to enjoy the skits and our songs and stuff, and pay attention to part of our message.

Since working with kids and teens, I've been noticing a lot of characteristics that these kids have that I used to have when I was their age. It was strange for me to try to remember the things I got mad about, the nothingness I filled my life with. Very eye-opening.

Prayer Requests:
- That God will give us a new passion to do his work in Anchorage, and that we can keep up our strength for the next two days
- Praise that we're mostly over our colds now (Team members)
- Pray for Perry's safety as he flies back to Jersey
- That tomorrow God will open doors for us to be able to reach those he wants us to reach and that he will open their hearts and ears so they can absorb the Gospel

That's it for now! Good Night!