The children at Kingston-Galloway (KG) children are one of the highest energy and animated kids you will ever meet. The small space we have sometimes makes it hard for them to run around. So often, the children will get in trouble because they are not listening when we ask them to stop.
The past few weeks has been a challenge for the leaders because we are consistently finding ourselves disciplining the same children. By the time they are ready to join the group, the day is already over. When we have those days in programs, it is so easy to be discouraged and feel like you didn’t do anything effective.
But there was one day during our program when I was playing connect 4 with Adam*, one of grade 6 kids who has been in our program for five years. We spent 15 minutes playing the game quietly. Each time I won a round, Adam would say, “Let’s play again.”
In that very moment, I realized God has been working in Adam’s life drastically. Adam used to be one of the children who we would be constantly given timeout or being sent him home for his anger and behaviour. When he used to lose in games, he would be very angry and not want to play. There was a time, when Esther asked the group, “What do you do when you are mad?” Adam responded to the group, “I don’t get mad like that anymore.”
Five years later, Adam is growing, and learning how to be a leader in the program. He helps the younger children and knows when to not throw the ball hard in dodgeball if he sees younger kids. And of course, he doesn’t get mad when he loses.
It is takes time to see fruit and witness how God is working in one’s life. Too often, we are tempted to want to see fruit instantly but God works in a different way. His timing is perfect.
It was 5 years ago when the initial seed was planted in Adam’s heart. We now get to witness how God is working through both the small and bigger things within the community.
Please pray for Adam and the children at KG. Pray that they will continue to grow and be more like Christ.
*name has been changed due to confidentiality