Kids Games Begins!

We had a truly South African day on Saturday. We had a brai, a South African barbecue, and went to the SA Springbok vs France rugby game. The Springbok team dominated France 42 to 17. On Sunday we attended various churches in Stellenbosch. In the afternoon we went through training for GCG, Global Community Games. We learned about resources available and plans in place for sports ministry worldwide.

Monday was a big day! We began Kids Games with the opening ceremony at Kuyasa. The kids moved through different stations where they had their faces painted, learned the Kids Games' song, committed to participating in Kids Games, and competed in a relay race. It was a rainy day, so we got to put our flexibility to the test. We changed plans multiple times, swept water out of the building we were meeting in, and had fewer kids than expected. But, the kids were all smiles! Most of the children do not speak English, so we got to work closely with the older kids/adults from the community who do speak English. Their excitement and commitment to the programs at Kuyasa are what make it all work. We can plan all of the activities, but without them we cannot communicate the Gospel to the children.

On Tuesday, we headed back to Kuyasa for Kids Games. It rained off and on during the day. We started the morning off by marching through Kayamandi with the children making TONS of noise to attract more kids to Kuyasa. We made an interesting parade! The kids we had with us were great at getting others to join. Once we were back at Kuyasa, we learned how difficult it can be to take a plan from the drawing board and put it into action. The kids gathered into the APEX building, the largest indoor space we have at Kuyasa. They were given a headband of different colors based on their age. The headband was their meal ticket at lunch time and helped us split them up for games. Members of our team and volunteers from Kuyasa led the kids in ice breakers to get them excited. Our drama team from SCAS put on a skit, and we went through a memory verse with the kids. We have a poster for each day with the verse written in Xhosa. The kids chanted along with the Kuyasa volunteer who led them through the verse. The kids broke into their groups, and we attempted to play In and Out. After the game each group talked about including people and how you feel when you're left out. We spent a long time after that playing with the kids while waiting for their food to be ready. After lunch there was a big screen showing of the World Cup game in the APEX building. We faced many obstacles on Tuesday: rain, facilities, miscommunication, TONS of kids, and language barriers. But, at the end of the day, we know that kids were safe and loved.

Every Wednesday is Compassion Day. We will be going to different locations to do acts of compassion-- whatever the people there need from us! Our group went to two locations in and around Stellenbosch. We spent time playing with the kids and also cleaning up around the community. Jason made a buddy in Jonkershoek. This little bundle of energy loved to fly and had no fear. Jason spun him, threw him in the air, and created a swing out of a hula-hoop! The look on this boy's face as he moved through the air was unmistakeably pure joy!