I know it has taken me a long while to get this report on the summer activities out, but I hope that will just be a testimony to how busy a summer it was. It was a very busy, and very fruitful, summer.
We began our activities in June with the arrival of a group from the US, including two ladies who stayed for 2 weeks, 2 interns who stayed for 6 weeks, and some of our family members who were here with us for 3 months. All of these brethren who were with us for the summer activities have spent time in Woodlands in the past, and it was really wonderful to have these well-loved friends back with us. With all of the activities that went on, and which will make it into each of our respective reports, I think the thing that can not be overlooked is the richness of the fellowship we share together, and the blessing that is to the congregation here when we have these brethren spend their holiday time helping us in the work here.
While the 2 ladies were with us, they put together a very nicely-run VBS. We were so impressed with the creativity that went into it, and the resourcefulness. The stories were well-told, and the kids had a great time. We still talk about the re-enactment of the calming of the storm, and all the great “special effects” that helped bring the story to life for the kids. The ladies did such a wonderful job putting the VBS together, and it got the summer off to just the right start for us. There were 16 kids in attendance during the week, about half of whom were visitors. Of the visitors, one was from the neighborhood, a new visitor, and the rest were friends of our members. The new visitor is a secondary school student (late Jr. High or early High School in the US), and actually a little older than our target audience for the VBS. The 2 interns who were here with us took a special interest in helping him feel comfortable, and he continued to meet up with them after VBS was over, even attending the ongoing study we have for boys his age.
In addition to the VBS project, I have to commend these two ladies for their kind and willing spirit of service. They constantly presented to us an attitude of putting others first, and always looking out for the good of others. It brought such an upbeat, positive spirit to everything we did together. They were such a blessing to us.
The two interns were with us for an additional 3+ weeks after the ladies departed. They did a good job following up on the VBS. They spent time with the boys in the congregation, and made a special impact on two families, I think. These families each have 2 sons, and they spent a good deal of time with the interns. They went through the Force 410 material together, which is a series of lessons aimed at teaching the boys the basics of the faith, but also how they need to conduct themselves as men in service to God.
This was a special ministry that the interns were involved in. One of the issues this congregation has struggled with since we began back in 1999 is a lack of male leadership. It is an issue we have prayed and prayed about. Somehow, it seems that our prayers are never quite answered as we expect, because shortly after we began our earnest prayers for this problem, we had an influx of boys into the congregation — boys too young to fit the idea of “male leadership” that we had in mind, I suppose. But all the same, they were eager and willing to serve, and to be trained. The problem that then arose was how to effectively train these boys. It’s one that we have left largely unanswered before this summer, despite trying desperately to figure it all out.
The time that our 2 interns spent with these 4 boys was outstanding, and I think it will have a long-term impact on the congregation here. For two of the boys, their father is a new Christian, and he is not yet stable himself, nor is he overly involved in the regular leading of the congregation. The two sons spent a weekend with our interns, learning how to serve better, and discussing what things they are each willing to do as they begin on the path to greater service. They are still young, but their response to the things they learned has been very encouraging.
For the other two boys who were able to spend a good deal of time with the interns, their father is not a Christian, though their mother is. These two boys still have a lot of decisions to make, and a lot of thinking to do, but the time spent with the older guys who were here for the summer was invaluable. They soaked up the attention given to them, and the interns really did focus a good deal of their energies on helping these two boys, spending time nearly every day with them and their family. I have noticed a marked difference in the younger of the two boys since then, and in his father. The interns did a work this past summer with that family that may only bear its fullest fruit some years down the road. This sometimes can be a bit of a thankless task, rather out of the spotlight, but it is one that I know this family will remember for a long time, as I will. I am pleased with what they did, and with the willing and giving spirit with which it was done.
That, actually, can be said of everything that the interns did. They spent their time doing whatever was needed, and whatever was asked, and doing it with a good attitude. Whether it was painting the gate, teaching and preaching, developing a questionnaire aimed at helping the men get more involved, or visiting with the members, they did it willingly and happily. I think it was a very positive example to the congregation.
For the family members who were visiting with us, they did the usual good job they do of encouraging and uplifting the congregation here. While it would be easy for them to come and spend their summer relaxing and enjoying time doing their own things, that is just not how they operate at all. They are always involved, and always serving. The teaching and preaching that one of the men brings is especially welcome, his wife fits naturally and easily back into the roles of service that she has always played here, and the involvement of the kids is likewise encouraging and enriching to the members here. Their absence, now that they have returned to League City, is felt very accutely. We miss them, and we look forward to their time with us again next summer. And, we are grateful to all of those back home who sent them over and helped make this summer so special for us.
and other course materialsI am preparing this for my first lecture of the semester tomorrow night. It is one of my least favorites of Shakespeare’s plays. I am, however, still looking forward to the session with the students all the same. For all that I don’t really love the play, I have to admit that it does bring up a lot of interesting ideas for discussion. And, I have some fun video versions that we’ll watch too.
