Role Reversal
Enniael (second from the right), with kids from Kingston-Galloway.
By: Enniael Stair, Summer Intern in Kingston-Galloway
The first few weeks of Sonshine Day Camp have been a great experience. It has been challenging and humbling, yet so rewarding. I started with the expectation that I would be teaching kids about God, but little did I know that through their daily actions, they would actually be teaching me.
From teaching me new dance moves (that I have still yet to master), to the meaning of new slang words (i.e. to page someone means to confront them) and even new, interesting games, this has all been a learning experience for me. But the biggest surprise in this journey so far, has been that they've taught me many life lessons. Here are the top three life lessons:
1. Don’t Let Feelings of Inadequacy Stop You
When kids are presented with a new situation, they don't care if they don't know how to do it or if they have never done it before. They will always be so quick to volunteer and blindly try new things – even things that may scare them. By observing this on a daily basis I am reminded of Philippians 4:13 - “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Therefore, I shouldn’t fear any new circumstances because where I will fail, is where God prevails.
2. Forgive and Forget
Children at Sonshine Day Camp rarely hold grudges. If they get into an argument with someone, regardless of how big it was to them in the moment, once they talk it out, apologize to each other, and forgive one another, it’s like nothing ever happened and they are back to being friends and playing together. Ephesians 4:31-32 says “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” God calls us to forgive others, as any bitterness we hold is a result of not fully forgiving them. Watching the kids interact after an argument and seeing how quickly they forgive and move on reminds me that I should be doing the same.
3. The Significance of the Gospel
During small group Bible time, whenever we ask a question the kids are always eager to answer. No matter what, they always answer with the same words: “Jesus”, “forgive”, “repent”, “pray” or any other words related to the Gospel. Although we try to get the kids to go deeper and not to say things that they think we want them to say, these answers remind me to go back to the Gospel regardless of the situation that I am in. Sometimes we may take the Gospel for granted, or even grow numb to it. But when the kids continually answer questions with words related to the Gospel, it reminds me that I should always go back to the Gospel as it is the foundation of my faith. And this helps me to be thankful for the sacrifice that Jesus made for me as said in John 3:16, “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
In only a handful of weeks, I’ve already learned so much. I'm thankful for the opportunity to not only teach kids about God’s love, but to be reminded of it everyday through their actions. I’m so excited to see what the rest of the summer holds, and to witness what incredible things that God is going to do next, in both my life and the kids’ lives.
Enniael is a first time summer intern at TCM. She loves to work with kids and desires to build meaningful relationships with the children she minsters to at Kingston-Galloway. Enniael is most looking forward to teaching them what it means to have a personal relationship with God.